Snippets
WATERSHED High School
2344
Nicollet Avenue South, 3rd Floor, 612.871.4363 www.watershedhs.org
December 9,
2005
Our mission is to nurture the intellect and embrace the creative
potential of youth in a balanced environment that engenders reverence, respect
and responsibility for nature and the needs of human beings.
· Holiday Open MIC- December 14-Come to the Holiday Open MIC!
· Front Desk Assistance: We would love to have more parents assist in the office by answering phones, interacting with students and doing some light administrative work. Please let us know if you are able to help out for a morning or afternoon each week.
Thank You to our current Receptionists Volunteers
·
Dan Brady on Monday mornings (Nonny
Ravenscroft, 9th grade)
Betty Edwards on Thursday mornings (John
Jones, 9th grade)
Anne Fields on Friday mornings (Robin Stroth,
11th grade)
In this issue:
~ Calendar of Important Dates
~ Note from the Administrator
~ Faculty Update
~ Community Council Update
~ Board of Directors Report
~ Sports News
Calendar of Important Dates- See SIPS for more details
DECEMBER-JANUARY
For some, perhaps many, this time of year can create the sense of overwhelm and stress. If we imagine for a moment taking away the trappings of our commercial culture, and look strictly to nature for “advice” (sometimes I wish that Mother Nature had her own column J) we would notice that this “phenomenon” occurs naturally at this time of year. Even in regions without snow, there are “seasons” and during these times, the natural world draws in to rest and recover from the cycle of production and bearing fruit. Moisture is more scarce, as is the sun. This creates a “stress” that is a natural part of the order of things. Perhaps if we were attuned more closely to this natural rhythm, and less “dialed in” to the synthetic elements our culture has created that are so pervasive, we might more easily experience what Mother Nature intended, a restoration, and replenishment of our being. Our hope is that we can create some sense of this anticipation and expectation of the season for ourselves and our students that is aware of our connection to nature and the cycle of natural life. This experience can be enhanced if it can also be attended to on the home front. Can we imagine ways in which we might shift our attention or focus that would lift up our connection to nature and others in the communities around us? We are grateful to have the opportunity to be in the business of creating community around education. Thanks again to all of you who help to make this possible.
Faculty Update
As the year comes to a close, we would like to say goodbye to the students who have moved on from Watershed for various reasons. All who pass through the school make an impression and impact us in one way or another. We send our best to:
Grade 9
Jesse Carroll
Connor Soles
Grade 10
Ilyasse Darbaki
Sophie Norris
Jordan Terrazas Autenreith
Grade 11
Holly Henning
Azalea Mahedy
Jessica Saxon
Jake Thompson
Max Hagen-Fleck
Stephanie Calvit
Nico Fuellemann
Gabe Johnson
Stephan Turner
Please update your directories.
AND, Fond greetings to our new students!
Lilli Waknitz
Whitney Klumb
Morgan Klumb
Elijah Benson
Jamie Salim-Almanza
Erick Allen
Jasmine King
New students are admitted at the beginning of Main Lesson blocks if there is room in a given grade. We currently have openings in grades 11 & 12.
Last Thursday, Dec. 1, the class sponsors met with class reps to discuss their roles and
Responsibilities. Thank you to Bina Nikrin for facilitating and to all the parents who brought supper with them! We look forward to meeting again next semester.
Please make sure your students have clothes to go outside for movement class first thing in the morning. Many classes are held outside even when it's snowy!
Thank you to all who came for conferences. As we shared some of the gems we mined that day, the theme of gratitude for all who made the time and effort to attend was apparent. Please feel free to contact any of the teachers with whom you did not have time to speak to via SiPs. Thanks to Barbara Clarity and Scott Cole for making food appear!
An open letter to Jamie Hepner, Dean of Students
Dear Jamie,
Good communication between parents and school personnel is crucial to
supporting a teen's growth and development. I know your work is trying,
but don't give up. I realize that you are following through for the rest of the
faculty on implementing school policy. If anything, the Community Council wants
to partner with you and the faculty to make this communication even better and
more timely. These are hard times [for kids] to grow up - more so than in
the past. Parents like me are worried and feel we are losing ground in
our attempts to stay connected to our kids. One reason we chose Watershed
is because it is small and it seems more manageable to know their teachers,
their friends and the friends' parents. This is part of our effort to
feel we have some control at all in their lives.
Sincerely,
Bina Nikrin
Ideas for parents in the truancy brochures that gives me food for
thought:
Reminder to students from the brochure: "Remember, most problems can be solved if you work together with others.” These brochures will be posted on the Watershed website soon.
Please join us for an All School potluck supper Tuesday, December 13. This event is for faculty, students, and parents to enjoy old friends and make new ones. 4:00 - 6:00 PM. Please bring plates, cups, utensils, and food to share. Happy holidays.
Community Council meetings are held the first Wednesday of
every month. The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30. Parents
are encouraged to come a little early for socializing. Minutes of meetings are
available by email; let David Woolley (drwool@thinkofit.com)
know if you'd like to be added to the list. Feel free to contact either Bina
Nikrin (612-866-7409; bnikrin@yahoo.com)
or Andrea Bruner (612-827-7039; ajbruner@mn.rr.com)
for information or questions on the Community Council.
Board of Directors Report
By Co-chairs: Keith Dunder and Leslie Wilson
Please feel free to contact either Keith, 763.797.0019, dunde001@umn.edu or Leslie, 612.377.4655, lwilson@co.carver.mn.us with questions, concerns, interest in the Board service, committee work, etc. We look forward to hearing from you!
Medieval Feast
The Medieval Feast is a significant community and fundraising event; all hands are needed. Class reps will be calling in January to secure parent volunteers for the many, many tasks required to make the Feast an enjoyable and successful event. Please put it on your calendar, February 3rd and 4th. This event has a rich tradition in the life of this school, so for families that have not yet experienced it first hand, you won’t know how great it is until you’ve participated! It is always a key highlight in the school year for everyone involved.
The Basketball season has started under the direction of Coach Bob Anderson. Come and cheer the team on! Future games:
Tuesday, Dec 13, 7:00 pm Away vs. Ag. Science School, Vadnais Heights
Friday, Dec 16, Away vs. International Academy, Eden Prairie
***SPECIAL OFFER*** Wacky Chicken Show
This show is performed by our Medieval Feast director Lloyd Brandt and his
wife Rosie Cole. They are extending a special opening night offer of 2
for 1 tickets for the Thursday, December 15th show only!!!
The Wacky Chickens are performing their indoor theater show at the 2nd annual
MAGICAL ON 4TH STREET on December 15 -17, in St. Paul at the 4th Street Theatre, shows time are 7:30 p.m. The festival offers some of the Twin Cities'
Finest Variety Acts.
This may be the only opportunity to see this unique material all year.
Please pass this information on to anyone that might need a good laugh
this Holiday Season.
7:30 pm Nightly & 4:30 pm Sat Matinees,
4th Street Theater in Kellogg Building - St. Paul's Premiere
Variety Theater Venue. $12
in advance (CALL (651) 379-0871), $15 at door, $10 students/seniors/groups www.magical4thstreet.com
(click on the rubber chicken for tickets)