Giving Thanks

Dear Friend of The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara Community,

This letter is titled "Giving Thanks," a title that could be viewed as false or out-of-touch in this fraught time. In reality, however, we at The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara have much to be thankful for.

Over these last months when many schools pivoted to remote, screen-based learning, we decided—after much reflection—to double down and renew our fidelity to our mission. And while this period of reflection was not easy (nor has it been easy to operate a school in such a time), we are proud that we were the first in Santa Barbara County to recommence in-person, on-campus learning for its children.

In other words, for twelve weeks now, our students have been doing geometry, making paper airplanes, spreading mulch in the orchard, scoring goals on the soccer field, practicing Pachelbel’s Canon, tending the chickens, making tortillas from scratch, learning about the Chumash, carving their own spoons, planting kale, throwing javelins, learning their times tables, developing crushes (for some of the older kids at least!), bringing in canned goods for the needy, and saying a blessing before every meal. (And, of course, they've been washing their hands, wearing masks, and staying home when sick!) To think how the last twelve weeks would have been without the children being here on campus experiencing all of the above is to know the gift of this community.

It’s been said that the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better. While we at WSSB don’t presume ourselves "better," we are uncommonly pleased with what we are practicing in this time of fret and strife. We are uncommonly pleased with the fruit of our WSSB community.

Says writer, scientist, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer: "Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift."

Indeed, joy is what our school gives our children daily; and for this we give thanks—great and humble thanks—to our faculty and staff; to our children; to the parents and guardians; to you, friend of the WSSB community; and to this wounded world which holds us and feeds us.

We invite you to support WSSB by giving today to our 2020-2021 Annual Fund drive. Your gift will help us remain resilient in these complex, challenging, mercurial days. So far we have raised $25,500 of this year’s goal, $45,500. We have $20,000 to go. Click on the link below to give today:

https://waldorfsantabarbara.org/annual-giving-fund

With deep and heartfelt thanks,

The WSSB Admin Team

PS -- The poem of the day is by Nobel Laureate and native of Santa Lucia, Derek Walcott:

Earth

Let the day grow on you upward
through your feet,
the vegetal knuckles,

to your knees of stone,
until by evening you are a black tree;
feel, with evening,

the swifts thicken your hair,
the new moon rising out of your forehead,
and the moonlit veins of silver

running from your armpits
like rivulets under white leaves.
Sleep, as ants

cross over your eyelids.
You have never possessed anything
as deeply as this.

This is all you have owned
from the first outcry
through forever;

you can never be dispossessed.