Announcements: Week of November 2, 2012

Dear Parents,  

Our school is in good shape, and we plan to resume school on Monday, November 5, 2012. If power is not restored over the weekend (we're expecting it to come on tomorrow), we will send out an email alert to everyone on Sunday.  

We hope everyone is beginning to recover from a challenging and difficult week. It will be wonderful to see all of you and your children. Best wishes for a good weekend, and we'll see you soon.

- Sample Session & Parent-Child Classes Cancelled

Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy we will not hold the Sample Session or Parent-Child classes this Saturday, November 3rd.  We will contact you as soon as our power has been restored and we can resume classes.

For more information please contact Karen Talluto at

Karen.Talluto@newamsterdamchildhood.org

917-715-3554 or 718-628-0225

- All-School Parent Evening

- Monday, December 3rd 6:30-8:00PM

Our next all-school Parent Evening will be held on November 5, 2012. One family member is expected to attend.  We will start at 6:30 with a short discussion with our mentor teacher Louise deForest on first grade readiness and then move into our classrooms with your teachers.  >> more

- Parent Study with Louise de Forest

- Wednesday, November 7th 9:00AM

- Monthly Study Group

- Thursday, November 8th 9:00-10:15AM

A monthly study group to deepen our understanding of Waldorf education, Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy.

- Lantern Walk

- Friday, November 9th 5:30-6:30PM

We will celebrate our first festival of the school year. In consideration of space limitations and safety, we are able to extend this invitation to only the New Amsterdam Community this year. Join us in the Garden for this year's Lantern Walk. Check out the official invitation letter,  >> more

- Holy Mama/Holy Papa

- Wednesday, November 14th

Holy Mama & Papa has been rescheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 14th. For more information on joining this group that supports, honors and inspires the inner life of mothers and fathers, see the blog post

>> more

- Last Week's Announcements

Lantern Walk Re-Scheduled: Tuesday, November 20th at 4:30 PM

Please note the Lantern Walk has been RE-SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20th FROM 4:30-5:30 PM.  We will meet at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park on Avenue B at 7th Street. 

Dear Families,

We cordially invite you to join us on the evening of TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20th for this year's Lantern Walk.  In consideration of space limitations and safety, we are able to extend this invitation to the New Amsterdam Community only this year.

The Lantern Walk is a tradition of German origin that marks the midpoint between the fall equinox and winter solstice and offers a celebration of the light that glows ever brighter within us, even as the days of the year grow dark and cold. 

Our celebration will begin this year at 4:30 PM, shortly after sunset.   Please plan on finishing dinner early in order to arrive promptly at Tompkins Square Park, at 4:30pm.  We will meet at the entrance on Avenue B and 7th Street.  When you arrive, please gather together with your class.  Once everyone is gathered the lanterns that the children have made at school will be lit by our volunteers.  When the lanterns are lit our walk will begin.  Please stay close and walk together with your child as we follow along the designated path, singing our lantern songs. 

Once we have completed our walk the children will receive a small treat from their teachers.  When your child has received his or her gift, we ask that you quietly collect your things and make your way to the gate.  By this time it will be about 5:30pm and the park will be quite dark, so please watch your step when leaving. 

Please bear in mind that by this time the children will have enjoyed a full and magical evening.  We recommend that you head home for bed to allow your child to peacefully take in the events of the evening.  You will be receiving a copy of our lantern songs from your child's teacher next week so that you can sing with us if you wish.  Please let us know if you would like any help learning the songs.

We look forward to celebrating with you on November 20th!

Wishing you light and warmth,
The New Amsterdam Faculty and Staff