Week 6

Dear Urban Prairie Families,

It’s a short week, but we have a good number of reminders! Please read on for news and upcoming events.

Warmly,

Sharla

This Weekly Admin Newsletter includes:

  • Calendar highlights

  • School News

  • Board News

  • Community Connections Update

  • Important Reminders

  • UPWS Admin Contacts

Calendar

October 14  Board of Trustees Meeting: State of the School – in person

October 26 Picture Day (except grade 4/5)

Flag Football afterschool program begins

1st UP S.E.E.D. session – 4:30-7:00 pm

October 27 4th / 5th Grade – Picture Day and Parent/Guardian Meeting

November 4 NO SCHOOL (Diwali)

November 5 NO SCHOOL (Teacher Work Day)

School News

Indigenous People’s Day Land Acknowledgment

Urban Prairie Waldorf School sits on the ancestral homelands of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi tribes—and a place of trade with many other tribes, including the Ho-Chunk, Miami, Menominee, Sauk, and Meskwaki. We recognize that the land we occupy has seen the unfolding of a long and complex social history in Chicago.

In Person Meeting Reminders

I hope you are all excited for more and more “In Person” gatherings at the school like the E.C. parent/guardian this evening at 6:30 pm! If you are planning to come, we are asking for your vaccination status prior to your visit. You can share your vaccination status with us via this Google Form. If you have previously shared your status, please reach out to ad…@urbanprairie.org to confirm that we have your information recorded.

If you are fully vaccinated, you are welcome to join us outdoors and remove your mask while outside as you are comfortable. Vaccinated individuals can join the indoor portion of the event while wearing a mask while inside the school.

If you are unvaccinated, we ask that you have your mask on at all times while on campus, including outdoors. If you intend to participate in the indoor part of the evening, please plan to provide a negative, lab-based COVID test result that is less than 48 hours old. You can send that test to ad…@urbanprairie.org or bring it with you to the event. Those unvaccinated and without a current COVID test will not be permitted to enter the school building.

Warm Clothing Reminder from E.C.

We have had a beautifully warm fall thus far! As we’re enjoying it, it’s also a great moment to remind ourselves that the cold is coming! Please continue to pay attention to the whether to send your children in the clothes and outdoor gear that support their free, flexible, comfortable play. Refer to our Outdoor Gear Guide. Wool layering is an incredibly effective way to keep their temperature regulated and their bodies dry. You can size up so the items can last all year and possibly next year too! These kinds of underlayers are worth the investment, they last long, and can be worn many times before washing is needed.

Festivals Update

Halloween in School (Friday, October 29)

Prairie Roots and Early Childhood

Waiting on confirmation

Lower School (Grades 1-5)

Costumes: Lower school students are invited to come to school in costume. Costumes should follow guidelines shared by class teachers. Masks that cover eyes and media characters are never allowed. Costumes should be easy to move in.

Fall Fest at Simpson: Lower school students have been invited to attend Simpson’s Fall Fest. Simpson is the school just west of our building, there will be booths and treats for students.

Middle School Students (Grade 6-8)

Middle School Students are asked not to come in costume on Friday as they will be going on expeditions on this day.

Dia de los Muertos (Monday and Tuesday, November 1 and 2)

We will celebrate Dia de los Muertos with an Ofrenda. Students are invited to bring in pictures and favorite items of loved ones who have passed. Pictures should be of people, not pets.

Pictures should be in frames and be labeled with the students’ name on the back. Pictures can be brought in October 25 – November 1.

Goat Care Volunteers Needed!

Goat care slots are filling fast! New dates will be added soon if all current shifts are filled.

Sign up for a shift here: https://app.operoo.com/forms/978205/submissions/new. If you have trouble with this link the sign-up can be found in your Operoo “Form Library.” Contact sophie.ba…@urbanprairie.org with any questions.

See below as our Prairie Roots demonstrate goat care:

Urban Prairie SWAG

Are you looking to boost your winter wardrobe with some Urban Prairie Waldorf School gear? Contact kim.g…@urbanprairie.org to order hoodies, t-shirts, canvas tote bags, as well as our 2020-21 UP Family Cookbook and new round bumper magnets.

Urban Prairie Community S.E.E.D. Seminars

Sign up for our 2nd annual UP S.E.E.D.(Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity) seminar. Founded in 1987 by Peggy McIntosh (author of White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack), the National S.E.E.D. Project is a peer-led development program co-facilitated at UPWS by Rob Welcher and Jenn Zielinski.

Details: 8 monthly 2 1/2 hour-long seminars, exploring race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual identity, abilities, age, etc and how these factors currently impact their communities.

Limit 15 participants; must commit to attending at least 7 out of the 8 seminars.

Tuesday evenings, 4:30-7:00 pm via zoom (1st and last session in-person),

Oct 26, Nov 30, Jan 4 & 25, Mar 1 & 22, Apr 26, & May 24

Contact Jenn Zielinski at 312-858-4562 or jenn.zi…@urbanprairie.org to RSVP.

Board News

Vaccinated visitors are welcome to join us in Cricket Hall for the board meeting on Thursday, 10/14, at 6:30 pm. If you are unvaccinated, please bring a negative COVID test performed 48 hours prior to the meeting if you would like to join us. All attendees are expected to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth while in the building. If you have not yet, please share your vaccination status with us via this Google Form.

Community Connections Corner

Greetings!

Community Connections

The first Friday coffee was a great success. Thank you so much to everyone that attended and to Ann-Marie V. and Jenn Z. for hosting with me! Another warm thank you goes out to Joanna who brought churros for everyone, yum! The morning turned out to be beautiful and the coffee and treats made the day even better. Please join us for the next First Friday coffee in November. It’s such a great way to connect!

Community connections is always looking for volunteers. Have some time to lend a hand? Urban Prairie has several opportunities throughout the year that could use your help. Community Connections is always building our volunteer team and would love to have you! Please email me at anne.mc…@urbanprairie.org

Community Connections

Looking for someone’s contact to build community, connect with other families, get your children together to play? Find each other here!

https://www.urbanprairie.org/parent-guardian-resources/

Reminders

Flag Football Afterschool

Enrollment is still open for Flag Football! Led by Movement and Games Instructor Adriana Kondrat. Enroll at Operoo.

When: Tuesdays, Grades 6-8, after school until 4:45pm

Dates: October 26 – December 7

Session Fee: $120

Vaccination Status Updates

Middle school parents: Please update the school on the vaccination status of your child! Email ad…@urbanprairie.org with any vaccination dates occurring after the start of school.

Allergy/Asthma Action Plans

If your child has an Allergy / Asthma Action Plan please check with Kimberl…@urbanprairie.org to ensure that we have the most up to date information and medication. Medication should be sent to school in a ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name. This will stay with the class in their park bag as to be in reach at all times.

Your doctor should have these forms on file, and you can find them here:

Illinois Allergy Action Plan

Illinois Asthma Action Plan