FRIDAY NIGHT KEYNOTE 

Tending the Spark: Lighting the Future for Middle School Students.

Betty walks us through some key questions: In the midst of changes in children, parents, and teachers, how can we develop healthy schools? She will share how earlier puberty is creating a “Vulnerability Gap” for our children and how we can respond by developing the values for the “Civilizing Mind.”

SATURDAY MORNING FOLLOW-UP TALK

 How to help middle school students walk the tightrope over the minefield of danger and opportunity. Betty will lead us to explore how popular culture, consumerism, materialism, technology, and sexual imagery are affecting middle school children and what we can do about it.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 

Friday Night

6:15 pm ~ Virtual gathering, coffee/tea sorting

6:30-8:00 pm ~ Keynote speech, Betty Staley

Saturday daytime

8:30 am ~ Virtual gathering, coffee/tea sorting

9:00 am-9:45 am ~ Follow-up talk, Betty Staley

9:45-10:00 ~ Questions?

10:00 am-10:07am ~ Break

10:10 am-11:50 am ~ Morning Workshops (Various Presenters)

11:50 am-12:00 pm ~ Conference Wrap-up

FRIDAY & SATURDAY MORNING  - presentations by Betty Staley

SATURDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS OPTIONS

A. WALDORF IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Betty Staley

Betty will share how the Waldorf curriculum in middle school can integrate thinking, feeling, and willing to shape values and healthy young adolescents. Small groups will work on specific aspects and share with the group.   

B. JOY IN THE GARDEN

Pam Coco

The garden can be a place of solace. While we are nourishing the plants and life of the soil, they are nourishing us with feelings of self-sufficiency, wonder, physical and mental well-being. Pam will share her knowledge and experiences gardening and answer your questions.

C. TISSUE PAPER STARS

Kellie Menard

Windows stars come in a great many patterns and colours, and they are easier than you think! Kellie will guide you through the basics and show you how to make window stars of your very own.*

D. PANDEMIC REFLECTIONS

Eoin Murray

Retreat from our unusual times on a journey of music, poetry and silence. Pack good headphones, paper & pen and a desire for quiet reflection. By journey’s end you will– hopefully–look back on your life in 2020 through clearer eyes.

E. BASKET-WEAVING

Mia Coco

Learn to create beautiful woven baskets, as Mia Coco introduces you to the peaceful art of basket-weaving. Experience the beauty of creating a practical piece of art with your own hands.* 

A special note about Packages! Although we will miss the catered lunch and time together, the Gateways committee has come up with a lovely package of special things to enjoy together, for pick-up at the school. Workshop supplies will also be included, depending on which morning workshop you choose. Special arrangements can also be made to deliver the package to you if pick-up is complicated.

Fee Details

Before April 15th, Single* - $45, Couple - $80

More about our Keynote Speaker, Betty Staley

Betty knew from childhood that she would be a teacher. From the time she rounded up the neighborhood children for a pretend class to the moment she discovered Waldorf education, teaching would be her life’s work. She has taught all ages, kindergarten, handwork through the grades, class teaching particularly from fifth through eighth grades, founding the Sacramento Waldorf High School and teaching there for several decades, as well as being a co-founder of Rudolf Steiner College and teaching adults for several more decades. Now, in semi-retirement, Betty continues to work with schools, in teacher preparation, faculty workshops, parent gatherings, as well as observing and coaching practicing teachers.

Her three children were educated in the Sacramento Waldorf School from kindergarten through high school graduation. Waldorf education has been a family affair. September 2019 was the first time since 1965 that no family member has been a teacher or student at that school. Another strong interest of Betty’s has been biography work. She has taught classes, given workshops, written books, and now has a website (BettyKStaley.com) offering a free biography course. Her love of travel, writing, teaching, and communicating has been brought together on the website as well as in conferences. She lives in Fair Oaks, California.