Today
Dear Members of The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara Community,
We want to let you know that this afternoon, after being directed by the local Sheriff's office, we moved the children inside for a little while as a man was reported to have a gun in the nearby open space. The children followed our guidance without difficulty, remaining safely inside while teachers continued teaching. The man was released at the scene (off campus, in the open space) and the gun was found to be a pellet gun, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff's public information officer, Raquel Zick. So the cause for the alarm ultimately was unfounded.
Such a situation can be tricky to discuss with children. We told the young ones they were brought inside because it was noisy. For the older children perhaps the less said, the better; but it might be appropriate to assure them (if such an assurance seems apt) that the cause for the alarm proved to be unfounded. What's perhaps most important is to stay calm and centered while talking to the children and assure them they need not worry.
Otherwise, we had a truly delightful Mayfaire this morning. The children danced around the maypole accompanied by live music (thank you, Ms. Hagen!), sang, did somersaults, and ate fresh strawberries in the grass under the May sun. Joy was had by all. The celebration was deeply restorative.
Also: there is no school for the children this Friday (May 7th) as it is a Professional Learning Day for staff.
In gratitude,
The WSSB Admin Team