What grade is your child in?

There's been an ongoing joke with people I meet these days. It goes like this:

Insert any Siskiyou School Event

Person: "So what grade is your child in?"

Me: "I don't actually have a child here at the school, but will next year."

This is usually followed by a blank stare and then the "and why do you volunteer so much?"

It's a good question because I am volunteering a lot of time and energy to the school and people see me around a lot. This evening was the Siskiyou School's Annual All School meeting. I was there working with the Hospitality Committee. A committee that I was very excited to be a part of.  I basically help set up the food and wine, make sure everything is taken care of in that department, and that people are generally happy. The meeting was very insightful to know the ins and outs of what is happening with the school and I witnessed something so incredibly beautiful. We heard from teachers who have been with the school since the days of it's fruition. To hear them speak of their trials and tribulations and to see where the school has been led, made me so happy to be a part of such an incredible group. To see the dedication that those teachers put forth to make certain that the school continued. Their sweat and tears and perseverance to make certain that my son was able to have a chance at such an amazing education. It is that core group that I hold with such reverence!

My real love for the school came when I signed up for an auction item last year. I signed up for a painting class with Christine Crawley.  This class transformed me. I am not sure what it was about the class, but something enbodied more than just the actual class. I remember a distinct feeling when Christine was teaching us how to do wet on wet painting, a feeling so profound as I watched the paints fall onto my paper, to start to blend in a harmounious way. The feeling of a group of us together, standing as one, and painting. In a world rather hurried, it was a moment of a teacher passing on her wisdom to her adult students. Listening to Christine direct us and watching my pictures come to life brought me to a place of wanting more. Wanting to bring this to my own children. To look forward to how I can have this feeling all the time. That painting hangs on my wall and everyday I pass it and am reminded of that feeling of the beginning towards something so much bigger than myself. I will always be thankful for Christine's class.

 I am there for more than just the volunteering. I am there for the community. I am there for the "feeling." This year I started working at the Siskiyou School as their aftercare provider. It has been such a change for me to hold the children for that hour in a time when they have ended their day. To keep them grounded for a little more time and to bring them together in peace. I have watched them grow and transform over the past few months. They have grown taller, they have grown in their being, but they have also grown in their inner selves. The kids have such great compassion and love. They have taught me so much and next week my position ends as the kids start to go the full day. I have many moments of heavy heart when I think of not seeing those kids every day. To not witness their growing personalities, to listen to their extensive chatter. They will never know what a deep impact they all had on me, but I walk away with such a feeling of happiness and fullness.

Oh the wonderful things I have gained.  I have walked in the doors of the school and have witnessed the beauty of what makes the Siskiyou School. I see a staff so well put together and a community of families that are dedicating themselves to the greater good of the school. I walk past beautiful artwork displayed on the walls by the students. I walk past the music room and hear the harmonious voices of students. This week the students have been singing Jack Johnson's song "Better Together" and I can't help but smile and think, we are.. "Better Together." The majority of my work has taken place in the kitchen as I prepare for the kids after school snack. The kitchen is one of the greatest meeting spots and a place where I have connected with most of the faculty. I have been met with such gratitude and such warmth.

So, no, I do not have a kid at the school. But what I do have is passion! I have such passion for the school and what is happening there. I have passion for Waldorf education. I have passion for learning more. I am blessed to have a beautiful friend that sets me in place to be able to volunteer so much. She has transformed my life more than she will ever know. My dear friend, Katie, such beauty and greatness. Such a blessing that she has shared so much with me.

It is with such heart that I continue to learn and seek more knowledge on how to better myself and my experiences. I do that with the people I surround myself with and these people are making such profound impacts.  Community.. such the root of feeling connected.