Dear Hartsbrook Parents,

This is the time of year when we look ahead to next year and we would like to share progam and faculty changes with you!

EARLY CHILDHOOD

For the last few years, our early childhood classes have been full. We have decided to add a fifth mixed age kindergarten next year to accommodate the influx of students. Enrollment for next year from our own Cricket on the Hearth program and siblings of current students is nearly enough to fill our four current classes, and we usually see strong interest from new families at our March Open House and throughout the spring and summer. We have long seen a fifth early childhood class as an essential foundation for healthy enrollment in the grade school and high school and so are excited to add this class.   Current early childhood families will continue on with their class and teacher.  Please speak to Early Childhood Department Head Magdalena Toran with any questions or reflections.

The space in which to hold this class has not yet been determined as we are looking at all of our campus spaces to find the best home for our littlest students. We will also begin advertising for a teacher soon and will update you as space and hiring plans develop this spring. In the meantime, we hope that you will join us in our delight at this growth in the school.

FACULTY TRANSITIONS
Our dear Meg Fisher, who carried the nursery beautifully for many years, will not return in a teaching role next year, although she remains an interested and supportive member of the early childhood department and has been happy to stay in touch with her colleagues by taking notes this year at weekly department meetings. Ms. Fisher has joyfully taught nursery at Hartsbrook since 1999. She has especially appreciated being able to work w
ith verse, puppetry and story-telling at the early childhood level.  Her deep kindness taught all who had the pleasure of working with her; she was ever ready to bring a colleague a hot cup of tea or pick up wherever work needed doing.  Meg will continue to inspire the work of the early childhood department, as we remember her humility, wisdom and deep generosity.  We look forward to celebrating her years of devoted service to the children and to the school.

In the grade school, two long-time teachers are stepping back.
Marie-Dominique Corbière first came to us as a French teacher in 1999 when her family moved here from Williamstown where she had been teaching French to grades K – 8 at the Pine Cobble School. Over the years, she grew into carrying the entire elementary school French program and originated the very popular Montréal French field trip at the end of sixth grade. Madame Corbière’s love and talent for cooking is a gift she has exuberantly shared with her colleagues and students, baking baguettes, galettes, tartes aux pommes, and her famous quiches for innumerable occasions. Her enthusiasm for everything Waldorf led her to become a lifelong student, taking every opportunity to study and expand her pedagogical arts.  She has decided that this will be her last year at Hartsbrook, as she wants to spend more time with her family and her new grandchild.

Rebecca Rose came to Hartsbrook in 1991 as our strings and orchestra teacher.  She and her children moved here from California to enroll in the school.  Rebecca brought years of professional experience as a violinist and a great love of teaching children and of Waldorf education to her work at Hartsbrook.  With undaunted enthusiasm and perseverance, Rebecca has worked with many classes over the years, from third graders just starting out to accomplished eighth graders.  It is always remarkable to hear how much the groups have accomplished when the concerts are held.  Rebecca has also taught countless private lessons.  We are extremely grateful that Rebecca has shared her love of all things musical with us for so many years.  She will be retiring from her work at Hartsbrook at the end of the year and will continue to teach private lessons in the valley.  The Music Committee (Jan Baudendistel, Katharine Payne, and Elyce Perico) is making plans for the music program for next year.  These plans will be shared with the community this spring.

Sincerely yours,
Louise Spear, Faculty Chair