Willow Tree/Friends of Willow Tree

We hope everyone is having a bit of an irrational type of day!
HAPPY PI DAY!

Are you looking for a different style of education for your child?
Willow Tree offers a variety of ways to enroll that can best meet your family's needs.

Check out all of our options at: www.friendsofwillowtree.org

We are NOW accepting applications for the 2023-2024 academic year!
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We are currently accepting applications to join our staff!

Visit our website for more information and to submit an application!
friendsofwillowtree.org/career-opportunities
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The Third Grade worked very hard during their fiber arts block to learn the whole process that goes into creating something from wool.

They began the block with a field trip to our handwork teacher's farm where they had the opportunity to learn how to shear a sheep.

They then learned how to card and spin wool.

After their wool was spun, they used marigolds they had planted months ago to create a beautiful dye which they then used to dye their wool.

Finally, they took their wool and created little weaving projects.

WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
A HUGE shout out to our Third Grade Teacher, Catherine Arena, Grace Spath, our Handwork Teacher, and Cody Patterson, our Nature Studies Teacher for making this whole process possible! The children's experiences are only possible because of our amazing teachers that go the extra mile!

OPEN ENROLLMENT is happening NOW!
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Our Third Graders have been very busy building houses from around the world! Their project included coming to a deep understanding of the surrounding environment and how and why houses are built in specific ways.

These are just some of the amazing structures that the children worked so hard to create.

THANK YOU to all of the parents who partner with us in their child's education to create these memorable experiences.

OPEN ENROLLMENT is happening NOW!
Apply at: https://friendsofwillowtree.org/application-process
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HAPPY SPRING BREAK!
We will be closed from March 6th - 17th for our Spring Break!

We hope everyone has a rejuvenating and relaxing two weeks!

OPEN ENROLLMENT is HAPPENING NOW!
We will review all of the applicants we receive during the break and schedule interviews when we return!

APPLY TODAY: https://friendsofwillowtree.org/application-process
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Some images to share from today’s Open House!
Thank you to everyone who came out today to support their child(ren) and to our prospective families for considering our program! 💕

Open Enrollment is happening NOW!
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OPEN ENROLLMENT starts TODAY!

Submit your application via our website: https://friendsofwillowtree.org/application-process
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Our handwork students have been busy creating little animals!
They selected which animal they wanted to make, created the pattern, cut the felt, then sewed and stuffed them. The students feel such a sense of accomplishment when they have completed the whole process. 😍

OPEN ENROLLMENT starts MARCH 1st!
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OPEN ENROLLMENT starts March 1st!
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Our Open House is just ONE WEEK away!
Come visit our classrooms, meet our teachers, and see if we would be a good fit for your family.

Our Open House counts as a tour if you are looking to enroll!

Please contact us if you have any questions!

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!
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Last week our amazing 6th graders participated with nine other Waldorf schools in the incredible Medieval Games hosted by Journey School!

They threw javelins, jousted, practiced their archery skills, played tug of war, and participated in many other fun activities but best of all they got to jump in a mud pit!

It was such a special and memorable day made possible by so many incredible volunteers and the extremely talented Games teachers.
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You are invited to our OPEN HOUSE!

Saturday, March 4th from 10am - 12pm
2000 Reche Road in Fallbrook

Meet our teachers
Visit the classrooms
Chat with current families
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Our 7th and 8th graders are learning to use sewing machines with our amazing handwork teacher. 🥰

They will eventually be sewing their own pajama pants. 😁
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Our second graders learned so much from our amazing parents who brought Lunar New Year celebrations to their class ❤️
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OPEN ENROLLMENT starts March 1st!

We are accepting applications NOW for the 23-24 academic year.
Interviews will begin in March and placements will begin in May.

APPLY TODAY!!
Visit https://friendsofwillowtree.org/application-process

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What an amazing day we had yesterday during Global School Play Day!

We had unstructured play along with almost 300,000 other people around the globe!

According to many of the students, “It’s the best day EVER”

We hope you were able to play yesterday too!
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Our 6th grade returned from their incredible week at the Pali Institute! ❤️

Most of these kids have been together since Kindergarten. It is such a joy to see them learn and grow through these memorable experiences. 🥰
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-inspired

What an AMAZING playground workday we had yesterday!

Thanks to a generous donation of soil from San Pasqual Valley Soils, we were able to refill our garden boxes!

Thanks to a generous donation of straw bales from the Blanchard family, we were able to surround our slide and sandbox.

We cannot express enough the gratitude and appreciation that we feel for those who came out and helped:
~ lower some of our shade structures
~ fill our garden boxes
~ clean our mud kitchen
~ plant new plants
~ clear drains that had been filled with dirt
~ seal our gaga pit
~ move stumps and straw and soil
~ put together shelves
~ blow away the dirt from the play areas that washed in after the rains

Oh my goodness - it was a BUSY day!

One of the most important parts of our program is the COMMUNITY! The support that our families show to each other and to our program is incredible.

It is on days like this that our hearts are filled with love and appreciation for the special place that is Willow Tree! 😍

Our third graders have been busy harvesting from their garden and cooking incredible recipes.
It is so wonderful seeing how excited they are to taste what their hard work has produced. They have prepared the soil, planted the seeds, weeded and watered and now they get to taste.

One of their garden beds is also full of plants that they will be using to dye different fibers when they get to their fiber block.
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We are so excited to share our Flower Power Fundraiser! 🌸🌷🌹🌺🌼

We are raising funds for new chairs and we would LOVE and appreciate your support! There are so many options for you to choose from and they will be delivered right to your home!

Please help us get new chairs!!
https://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/index.php/marketplace/seller/profile/shop/friendsofwillowtree

Happy New Year!
We are so excited to have our classes back in session starting today!
We hope everyone had a lovely Winter Break and are looking forward to good things for this new year!

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Our Winter Concert this year was such a lovely display of what each of our grades from 2nd - 8th has been working on within their class. Our morning classes each performed a song, as well as, our French, Spanish, violin, and ukulele classes.

The beautiful evening allowed us to come together as a community and celebrate some of the children's accomplishments.

Thank you to all of the families for your support in helping your child to practice and nurture their love of learning.
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The Winter Spiral is an important part of this time of year for many of our Willow Tree families. The spiral symbolizes finding light in the darkness.

Every grade takes part in helping in some way to prepare this special spiral. Our Kindergarten through third-grade families provide the greens for the spiral. Our 4th and 5th-grade families provide the sweet treats and cider we enjoy after we walk the spiral. Our 6th-grade families provide the candles and our middle schoolers help to create the spiral and prepare the apples.

The students then sign up for a time that will work well for their family and they walk the spiral accompanied by the beautiful music of the Fallbrook dulcimer group.

The spiral is a peaceful, meditative time for children. This festival offers a special cultural opportunity to experience personally the light growing and expanding within darkness. This is a quintessential experience, connecting us with the rhythm of nature and cultures around the world.
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Our 2nd graders led the Santa Lucia procession yesterday and visited each class spreading light, a beautiful song, and homemade saffron buns to every student 🕯

Santa Lucia wore a traditional candle crown as this annual festival celebrates the sharing of light during winter’s darkest months.

Thank you to all the parents who helped bake their love-filled buns! ✨
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Our sixth graders brought the celebration of Saturnalia to all of the classes.

Our sixth-grade students (along with the help of some amazing parent volunteers) baked a special cake for each of the grades (with a little special item hidden inside). Each grade was then invited to their classroom where they were served. The child who had the little item in their cake became the king/queen for the day in their classroom.

Our sixth grade students (along with the help of some amazing parent volunteers) baked a special cake for each of the grades (with a little special item hidden inside). Each grade was then invited to their classroom where they were served. The child who had the little item in their cake became the king/queen for the day in their classroom.
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We are so grateful for our Kindergarten families who helped prepare the little gifts that "Saint Nicholas" left in every students' shoe on December 6th.

St. Nicholas Day is also called Children’s Day and is considered just as important as Christmas day in countries like Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Holland where it is commonly celebrated.

It is a holiday that honors the spirit of giving in a gentle, magical way.

From our littlest to our biggest - each received a little bag in their shoe filled with an assortment of nuts, a small clementine, and a golden (chocolate) coin.

Our sixth graders were just as excited as the little ones to be able to continue in this yearly tradition. Many of our sixth graders have been receiving these special treats in their shoes since they were in Kindergarten with us.

It is always so wonderful to see even some of our biggest find their inner child and let go of all of their "middle school-ness" and get excited about the little things.
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In the weeks leading up to our Winter Break, each class shares a celebration or a custom from around the world with each of the classes.

Our first graders, began the special days by singing simple holiday songs with each of the classes. 🎼

This is their first time getting up in front of the other classes to perform and sometimes many of the little ones get quite nervous. All of the students they visited showed them so much love. It was so beautiful to have our little ones supported and encouraged.🥰
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$15 New Member Shopping Bonus! Join now, when you make your first purchase within 45 days, we'll give you an extra $15 bonus for Friends of Willow Tree. https://www.iGive.com/FriendsofWillowTree/?p=19992&jltest=1

iGive - You Shop. Your Charity Gets Money. For Free. iGive is a free service where shopping at any of 2041 stores like Travelocity, Macys, Overstock, and many more, means a donation to your favorite cause.

It's Giving Tuesday!!
Please consider a donation via this page: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/organization/Friends-Of-Willow-Tree

It's GIVING TUESDAY!

As we enter into the season of gratitude and giving, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our Annual Giving Dream Fund especially on this very special day of GIVING TUESDAY!

Friends of Willow Tree offers a unique program for families seeking an affordable Waldorf-Inspired education for children from Riverside and San Diego Counties. We work with families who have filed their own Private School Affidavit and families who are enrolled in Independent Study Charters.

We provide families with a CHOICE in how they would like to educate their children. Our program features small class sizes, credentialed teachers, amazing specialty classes, and a developmentally appropriate curriculum filled with art, music, languages, nature studies, and handwork! All specifically tailored in order to meet the needs of the whole child!

Your tax-deductible donation allows us to sustain our current offerings and helps us continue to grow to reach more families and children.

Please visit the link below to make your donation today and be part of our Giving Tuesday!

https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/organization/Friends-Of-Willow-Tree
As we enter into the season of gratitude and giving, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our Annual Giving Dream Fund, especially on this very special day of GIVING TUESDAY!
If you have already donated ~ THANK YOU ~ your generosity is greatly appreciated!

✨During this time of gratitude, we want to send a special thank you to our amazing families and supporters.

You all truly bring the "heart" into our community and help to make Willow Tree a special place to learn and grow. ❤

One of the many reasons why Waldorf education is special lies in the celebrations of the seasons.

Our beautiful Lantern Walk last night helps to provide individual reminders to look inward for strength and light but also helps to develop our community bond.

The weather was perfect, the soups, breads, and ciders were delicious, the sunset was glorious, and listening to the voices sing out in the dark of night was so magical.

Thank you to this wonderful community for being such a positive light as the darkness of this time of year draws in.
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Our Autumn Soiree was an amazing success!

With the help of our attendees, basket bidders, and the amazing community donors and sponsors we were able to raise a total of $12,568 toward our Dream fund!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We are so close to reaching our goal to be matched by December 15th!

A HUGE THANK YOU to the Willow Tree families and volunteers who made the evening possible.

Also, THANK YOU to the local community donors and sponsors who contributed to our silent auction baskets - without you, we wouldn’t have had such amazing baskets and the event would not have been possible!