Tag Archives: Meadowbrook Rising

Thank You 401 Gives!

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A huge Thank You from all of us at MWS to everyone who made a gift during the 401 Gives event. Thanks to forty-nine donors, and a match grant of $225, MWS raised a total of $4,951! These gifts benefit the Giving Heart appeal and support the work of our teachers as they continue to provide a first class Waldorf education in the midst of the present health crisis. Thank You!

401 Gives is statewide initiative, organized by United Way RI, to benefit Rhode Island non-profit organizations. As well as highlighting the essential work of our local non-profit enterprises the April 1 (4-01) event raised more than $1,270,000 for 366 organizations. Of these, MWS ranked as 62nd in funds raised. By every measure, this is an outstanding success and all of us at MWS are thrilled.

We hope you enjoy this collection of the photographs that were posted on social media during the day of giving. As well as our own Frau Duda, we are lucky to have parents at our school who are professional photographers and volunteer their work. We thank Elizabeth Watsky Messina and Howard Chu for providing us with many of these lovely photographs. If you would like to give, click here to visit our secure giving page.

Grateful for Challenge

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Following the devastating fire of July 29, MWS received donations from 17 Waldorf schools and kindergartens across America. Faculty and Staff, as well as parents and alumni from Canada and schools around the world, also made individual gifts. As an expression of gratitude, MWS sent an open letter of thanks to the members of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), as presented here:

On September 29, two months to the day after the devastating blaze that destroyed our school, we returned to our home site to celebrate Michaelmas. It was a beautiful, clear autumn day and the children were excited to explore their favorite play spaces. For many families, it was their first visit to the school since the fire and the empty slab encircled by chain link fence that confronted them brought a poignancy to the festival. It seemed to inspire the students and, as they performed our traditional pageant, their voices were strong and sure. As the forces of heaven and earth united to bring aid to the besieged villagers, we felt a renewed sense of resolve. St. Michael raised his bright sword and the terrible, fire breathing dragon was tamed. The program ended, as always, with a blessing of gratitude and we stood by the cauldron enjoying the community soup as we contemplated just  how much we have to be thankful for.

The extraordinary outpouring of support that followed the fire was humbling and all of us at MWS are immensely grateful. We were able to move our school into a former public school building that was already home to a small nursery school cooperative. Their leadership graciously welcomed us to share the property with its bright spacious classrooms and extensive playgrounds. Donations of desks, chairs and blackboards arrived from schools and colleges around Rhode Island. More than 3000 pieces of additional classroom furnishings and equipment were received and curated by MWS community volunteers. Still more arrived by mail including donations of books and toys from other Waldorf schools. We were able to open on time with everything we needed for the school year.

The children have settled into their classrooms and we are becoming accustomed to our new surroundings. While a few minor challenges associated with the transition remain, we are also discovering unexpected joys. For example, while we love our woodland home, new ball games are made possible by the brick walls and asphalt playground, and our older students enjoy being within walking and biking distance of town. Parent volunteers continue to prove invaluable as we re-establish the systems that support the daily life of the school and we are grateful for their patience and grace.

Thankfully our families, including those newly or partially enrolled at the time of the fire, have stuck with us and we have not lost any enrollment from the disruptions of the summer. This is a testament to the power of community and the strength of the Waldorf curriculum. New families were welcomed in and trusted that MWS would recover in time to provide the high quality Waldorf education they were counting on. We are grateful for the moral and spiritual support of our fellow Waldorf schools who also believe that, because Waldorf education works with the essence of the human being, what matters most is our relationships with each other and the world as we perceive it. This shared understanding bolsters our teachers as they seek the unique teaching opportunities our present circumstances offer.

We are moving forward quickly and thoughtfully with plans to rebuild the school. Faculty and Staff, and community members with professional expertise in property development, are working with our architects to design the new building. Fortunately most of the grounds remain undisturbed and we can rebuild from the existing footprint. Before the fire, we had recognized that more space was needed to meet our program needs. Planning for a Community Center as well as enhancements for the Early Childhood classrooms had begun and the new design will draw on this work.

While MWS has insurance to cover the cost of replacing what was lost, the new building will require at least $1.75 million from fundraising. More than $191,000 has been received by Meadowbrook Rising – The Campaign to Rebuild Our School via our GoFundMe page and other gifts have been sent directly to the school. We are especially touched by the kindness and generosity of the Waldorf community. We have received gifts from Waldorf teachers, alumni and schools around the country. We are deeply appreciative of this support that gives substance to the spirit of community that will be woven into our new building.  Construction is expected to begin early in 2019 and, if all goes well, we will return the school to its beloved home campus in spring of 2020. We hope we will have an opportunity to welcome you there in the future.

Click to visit our GoFundMe page

About the Fire of July 29, 2018

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What happened?

In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 29 fire broke out at Meadowbrook Waldorf School in Richmond, Rhode Island. The fire was caused by a lightning strike that also destroyed the electrical and telephone systems needed to activate the alarm and emergency response. Despite the efforts of  250 fire fighters from 22 towns, the building was declared a total loss and the remains were demolished.

Was anybody hurt?

We are thankful that nobody was in the building at the time of the fire. Three firefighters were taken to the hospital during the incident, one needed extended treatment for a condition not directly related to the fire, but all made a full recovery.  We are so grateful to all who responded to the emergency call for their acts of bravery and their dogged determination to bring the blaze under control.

Did Meadowbrook Waldorf School have fire protection systems?

Yes.  The MWS building was constructed in 2006/7 with all of the fire protection systems required by the RI State building code.  The Fire Marshall inspected the building annually  in accordance with RI Department of Education requirements and consulted with MWS throughout the year.

Will the school remain open?

Yes!  On September 4th, we welcomed our students back for another year of Waldorf education in a temporary space. Our programs for 145 children in nursery through grade eight are accredited by the Association of Waldorf School of North America (AWSNA) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). We also offer classes for younger children and their caregivers. From our play based pre-school classes, through the building of creative thinking skills in the elementary grades, to the rigorous academics of middle school we will continue to foster love of learning in our specially prepared home away from home.

We have signed a one year lease with the Town of South Kingstown, with an option to extend for a further year, to use a former public school building on South Road in South Kingston. MWS teachers see these unexpected circumstances as an opportunity for the students, with teachable moments about resilience and the value of community.

Was the school insured?   

Yes. Thankfully the school was insured for the cost of replacing the building that was lost. However, we had recognized before the fire that the building was too small for our growing community and some improvements were needed to meet the needs of the children. Planning for the expansion, and the fundraising campaign needed to pay for it, had already begun before the fire. These plans have been revised and are now included in Meadowbrook Rising: The Campaign to Rebuild Our School.

How is Meadowbrook Waldorf School funded?

MWS is an independent school and receives no federal funding.  MWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that strives to make Waldorf education as affordable as possible to those who seek it. We offer a Tuition Adjustment program that allows a generous sliding scale for families of various economic situations.  While tuition covers a portion of the operating costs, the school relies on fundraising to balance its annual budget.

How has MWS community responded to the devastating loss?

Our school has a long history and has touched many lives. Before the ashes had cooled, current and former parents and teachers came together to reflect and immediately set to work. Volunteerism is at the heart of MWS community life. A team of current and alumni parents made 40 baskets with home baked treats and jelly, fresh picked fruit and flowers and Thank You cards from the students and delivered them to the emergency response crews that attended to the fire.

In a matter of days, a network of volunteer teams was put in place to manage tasks ranging from sourcing furniture donations and coordinating deliveries, to creating class libraries and stitching felt crowns for the nursery children’s dressing up box. Our extended families are using their businesses and connection to organize fundraising events on behalf of MWS. All of us at MWS are filled with gratitude for the outpouring of help and support we have received from our local community and friends around the world.

What is needed, how can I help?

We are enormously grateful for the many donations of goods and services we received to help reopen the school. We are now fundraising for the new building and to assure that, during the rebuilding process, we can continue to deliver the high-quality Waldorf education our families have come to expect while keeping tuition as affordable as possible. In addition, it will allow us to continue to prioritize the well-being of our Faculty and Staff. To be successful, we must raise $1.75 million.

  1. Online donations can be made through our GoFundMe page at:
    https://www.gofundme.com/8wxzy-rebuilding-our-school

GoFundMe asks that you pay a ‘tip’ for their services in addition to your donation. Their suggestion is 15% but you may select an alternate amount in a drop down dialogue box. If you prefer to give to MWS online without signing up for GoFundMe, you may do so through the MWS website: https://mws.inexi.com/online-giving

The cost to MWS from donating via GoFundMe or the MWS website is the same and consists only of the credit card companies’ charges.

  1. Physical checks are welcome and can be added to the GoFundMe page at no charge. These gifts will be posted as ‘anonymous’ unless you note that you prefer your name be shown. In that case you may also add a dedication to show with your name and gift.

Please mail checks via USPS to:
Meadowbrook Waldorf School
300 Kingstown Road
West Kingston, RI 02892

  1. For giving from an IRA or other investment vehicle, or for employer matching gifts, please contact MWS Development Coordinator, Beth Riungu development@meadowbrookschool.com

Is my donation tax deductible?

Meadowbrook Waldorf School is a 501(c)3 so your donation may be tax deductible.  A receipt letter will be issued for all monetary gifts received with the donor name and a physical address. The Meadowbrook Waldorf School federal tax identity number is 05-0383653 and our organization is listed as Meadowbrook Waldorf Association.

When will the school be rebuilt?

Work has begun and we are pursuing an aggressive time line. If all goes well, we will begin swinging hammers early in 2019 and return the children to their woodland home in January of 2020.

Further Questions? Contact Beth Riungu development@meadowbrookschool.com

July 29 Honor Roll

Scott W.  Barber, Chief of the Richmond-Carolina Fire District in the Town of Richmond, listed the fire departments that responded to the Meadowbrook Waldorf School Fire as well as EMS departments. He said that this was a historic and overwhelming response to a tragic loss for the community.

Hot meals were donated and delivered to the emergency responders by K&S Pizza, Kingstown Pizza, Town Pizza II and Alaina’s Ale House.

We are grateful to you all. In any case of error or omission in these lists, please accept our apologies and send corrections to Beth Riungu development@meadowbrookschool.com

 

We Are Meadowbrook

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On Sunday, just one week since our school burned to the ground, we gathered to mourn the loss of our building and its contents. Much of the wreckage has been removed but a huge pile of debris remains piled on the concrete foundation behind a chain link fence. For some, on their first visit, the sight was overwhelming and tears flowed. For the children though, quiet thoughtfulness quickly turned to spirit of adventure as they greeted their friends. They raced around the path that encircles the school, discovering the ‘bunny hutch’ and play yards miraculously untouched. Shouts and laughter again echoed through the trees from the swings and jungle gym.

The short farewell ceremony took place in one the playing fields, the sun high above the sheltering ring of forest. We joined hands in one huge circle, teachers and staff, parents and Board members. Alumni parents who built the now lost floors and cabinets stood with newly enrolled families that have yet to celebrate their first Opening Day Rose Ceremony at MWS.  We sang our school song together,  ‘Alleluia for All Things’ by A.C. Harwood, a song of thanks for the beauty of world and for human beings working in service of others with courage and integrity. We recognized how much we have to feel thankful for, from the bravery of the emergency responders to countless acts of incredible kindness by so many former strangers.

Only days ago we were a small community, the little school in the woods. Now, as Administrator Jennifer Farrelly said, ‘Meadowbrook Waldorf School is no longer the best kept secret in Rhode Island’. So many people have come from near and far to offer their help. Our GoFundMe appeals has been shared by Waldorf Schools from Maine Coast to San Diego, Toronto to Hawaii, in Detroit and Colorado, and elsewhere. Local businesses are holding fundraising events to benefit MWS. Our public school community and fellow independent schools are rallying to share their resources with us. We are grateful to them all.

There is something else too. There is a sense of something almost sacred, a moment of destiny. We realized that MWS needed more space a number of years ago and have done much work over the past three years to prepare to build. We worked with the teachers and families to identify what was needed. We updated our master campus plan. In July, we engaged Panorama Fundraising, a consultancy firm to help us launch a capital campaign. Our building was well insured so now the campaign for rebuilding can be directed to adding the extra space needed to realize our dream of welcoming in the community beyond our own enrolled families.

Thanks to our newly extended community, we are well placed to have a beautiful, well equipped school for our students on September 4.  While the MWS campus is a noisy construction site, the students and their teachers will be focused on school work in a spacious temporary home, lovingly prepared to be a home away from home for them. As MWS parent Monica Rodgers said, ‘There are disguised gifts everywhere’. At the gathering, long time Early Childhood teacher, Su Rubinoff, spoke this verse;


The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made. And the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination.  ~ John Schaar

These are exciting, heart-filled times. Thank you for joining us on the path!

We are heartened by the generous outpouring of support from around the world.  To make a contribution to the school rebuild and recovery, please visit our Meadowbrook Rising Go Fund Me page.  Donated goods & services can be offered  or email us at rebuild@meadowbrookschool.com.

Su Rubinoff – Early Childhood Teacher