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Daisy Kindergarten Teacher Rebekah Schaeffer < Back Daisy Kindergarten Teacher Rebekah graduated from Cedar Crest College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in health and wellness. Upon graduating, she worked for two years with young children with learning and developmental disabilities. Rebekah discovered COS after previously working with students of the school. She simply fell in love with the children, teachers, and methodology that make up COS. Rebekah is grateful and joyous to be part of the mission of this unique school and community. In her free time, Rebekah enjoys staying active through hiking, gardening, and yoga. Her other interests include reading, cooking, and doing seasonal crafts. rschaeffer@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

GARDENING PROGRAM Circle of Seasons’ Gardening Program for elementary school students provides children with experiential learning opportunities across numerous academic disciplines, including math, biology, chemistry, nutrition, social science and visual art. The benefits to students beyond traditional academics are also numerous. Children learn about: The Gardening Program at Circle of Seasons Charter School addresses issues that many of our children face: a disconnect with nature, an excessive exposure to electronic entertainment, an overabundance of fast food and junk food and a scarcity of exercise and outdoor play. The Gardening Program also provides opportunities for partnering and collaborating with local businesses, organizations and farms. Circle of Seasons Gardening Program is focused on the following age- and developmentally-appropriate content: First and Second Grade: The Gardening Program for first and second graders emphasizes observation of the natural world. Nature songs and stories are utilized to communicate the mysteries of nature, the balance of life and the “circle of seasons.” Experiential learning includes creating and tending to a garden from planning to mulching and weeding to harvesting. Third Grade: The Gardening Program for third graders emphasizes elements of homesteading, including self-sufficiency, sustainability, subsistence agriculture and preservation. Experiential learning includes conducting germination tests, constructing a garden component (for example, a fence) and animal care. Fourth and Fifth Grade: Students in the upper grades learn about the water and nutrient cycles, botany and weather. Experiential learning opportunities include composting and building a weather station. Through EITC grants, the COS Foundation will provide materials that are crucial to the Gardening Program: tools, plants, soil, equipment for planting, harvesting, composting and animal care. EITC grants could also be used for field trips to local and regional farms and visits from guest speakers. When young students gain appropriate knowledge about the environment and how it supports life, the particular needs of various plant and animal species, the cycle of the weather, the importance of conservation and the responsible allocation of our natural resources, they obtain a wealth of insight into the impact of humans on the earth and on each other. Through COS’ Gardening Program, students of all ages gain practical knowledge and skills, and learn reverence, respect and responsibility for the world around them. Gardening Program, Grades 1-5 Instrumental Music Program, Grades 1-5 Manual Arts Program: Woodworking, Grade 5 -Environmental sustainability, connection to and respect for nature -Nutrition, the food chain, healthful food choices and lifestyle habits -The connection between a community and its history -Farming and agricultural practices -Responsible stewardship of the land and their school property -Collaboration, perseverance and patience -Spatial awareness, map skills and visualization techniques Ways to Give

Enrollment & Student Information Coordinator Karri Schreppel Enrollment & Student Information Coordinator < Back Karri joined the Circle of Seasons team as Student Services Coordinator in August of 2020. She previously served in the roles of Program Coordinator at the Baum School of Art and as the Office Administrator at Seven Generations Charter School. Prior to that, Karri spent 5 years living the “sweet life” as an entrepreneur, running her own custom cupcake and cake business - attending many local farmers markets and events with her adorable cupcake cart. Karri is a dedicated volunteer serving on the Emmaus Arts Commission since 2016 as commissioner and President and as a Girl Scout Troop Leader since 2019. Karri is passionate about the arts and enjoys watercolor, drawing, and zendoodling. She loves reading, cooking, camping with her husband and dogs, and is currently learning to play the ukulele. Karri will complete her Associates Degree in Education in the Spring of 2024. kschreppel@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Paraprofessional Anastasia Seader < Back Paraprofessional aseader@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Paraprofessional Lisa Ottaviani < Back Paraprofessional lottaviani@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Fiber Arts Assistant Emma Simms < Back Fiber Arts Assistant Emma Simms graduated from Kutztown University with a B.S in Art Education. Kutztown allowed her to explore a wide range of different mediums, but her concentration lies in both Weaving and Ceramics. Along with weaving, Emma has worked with knitting, crocheting, spinning yarn, and sewing. Before COS, Emma worked as a summer camp arts instructor, daycare teacher, and is currently a ceramics instructor at a local studio. There she works with a community of all ages, backgrounds, and stages to work through their projects and make pieces that they love. Emma is excited to be part of COS and the Waldorf style of learning. She wholeheartedly believes in the importance of working with your hands and being a lifelong learner. Outside of work, Emma often goes to escape rooms! Through her travels, she has gone to more than 70 escape rooms all the way from Florida to Montreal. If you ask her about them, be warned that she will talk your ear off! esimms@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Fifth Grade Class Teacher Tara Grather < Back Fifth Grade Class Teacher Tara found out about COS while researching Kindergarten options for her daughter. She was looking for a school that would embrace her daughter’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Circle of Seasons and the Waldorf philosophy seemed to be the perfect fit. She has spent the last year and a half learning and growing as a Waldorf parent and is beyond excited to now be a member of the Circle of Seasons faculty. Prior to her employment at Circle of Seasons, Tara was an elementary school teacher in the Parkland School District. She spent fourteen years in the classroom, most of them in fifth grade. Tara has many varied interests outside of the classroom. She loves yoga, baking, reading, and discussing good books. Her family can be found spending lots of time outdoors – two of their favorite places are World’s End State Park in central Pennsylvania and the beach in Ocean City, Maryland. tgrather@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Third Grade Class Teacher Sarah Johnson < Back Third Grade Class Teacher A love for exploring the environment and inspiring young children through artistic expression shaped Sarah's goal of becoming a Waldorf educator. Sarah earned her B.S. in Elementary Education (Grades 1-5) from Mount St. Mary's University after student teaching at an environmental charter school. For her senior project, she presented an independent study exploring the benefits of environmentally focused education and the Waldorf method in guiding creative, critical, and independent thinkers through community. Now, she is overjoyed to be beginning her journey in the Waldorf pedagogy at the school which inspired her to become a teacher. She is passionate about hands-on learning and creating a community to guide students in expressing themselves, with loving hearts, strong voices, and brave minds! While not in the classroom, Sarah can be found hiking in mountain forests, wading in lakes and creeks, or curled up with a cup of tea and her cat. Sarah is often singing, playing her guitar, or at the piano. She has a large collection of succulents and enjoys every opportunity to craft something colorful, through knitting, chalk, or paints! She is very excited to break out her bright yellow honey bee rain boots and dinosaur overalls to trek through the grounds of COS, inviting her students to explore their place in nature and together, strengthen both their stride and their song. sjohnson@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Director of Special Education Matt Smith Director of Special Education < Back msmith@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Intervention Teacher Ariel Sly < Back Intervention Teacher Ariel found her love for children young. She started working in a daycare as a toddler classroom teacher while she was still in high school. She continued working in childcare while furthering her degree, with a focus on Elementary Education and American Sign Language. Eventually, she helped open a new childcare center and became the Director. After running the center for a few years, she realized she missed working closely with the children. She became a TSS and worked one-on-one with students with disabilities. Although she loved this career path, she needed a more steady schedule. Ariel found her love for children young. She started working in a daycare as a toddler classroom teacher while she was still in high school. She continued working in childcare while furthering her degree, with a focus on Elementary Education and American Sign Language. Eventually, she helped open a new childcare center and became the Director. After running the center for a few years, she realized she missed working closely with the children. She became a TSS and worked one-on-one with students with disabilities. Although she loved this career path, she needed a more steady schedule. Ariel found COS and knew it was perfect for her. She loves the Waldorf approach to learning and preserving childhood. Nature, Art, and Music are big parts of her life, so she knew this school was the perfect fit to continue her love for teaching. She started as a paraprofessional and moved into the Intervention Teacher position where she can closely work with students to help them excel! In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Another passion of hers is making music. She is a lead singer and acoustic guitar player who finds that making music helps her to decompress. Other hobbies she enjoys are hiking, kayaking, gardening, macrame, and painting/drawing. asly@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Paraprofessional Jasmine Rich < Back Paraprofessional jrich@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

ARP Esser Plan Information < Back