Search Results

Contact Information Circle of Seasons Charter School 8380 Mohr La ne Fogelsville, PA 18051 Tel. (610) 285-6COS (610-285-6267) Fax. (610) 285-2444 Find Faculty and Staff Parents of currently enrolled students can join the "COS Parent Information & Announcements" group on Facebook

Title IX Information At Circle of Seasons, we strive to create an equitable and welcoming learning environment for all students. As stated in our school's vision, we honor the diversity of humanity and thus believe wholeheartedly in the spirit of Title IX. The US Department of Education defines Title IX as follows: Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. ("Title IX and Sex Discrimination" ) In response, Circle of Seasons has adopted the following non-discrimination policy: Circle of Seasons Charter School values diversity and welcomes students and families, and talented faculty and staff, from diverse backgrounds. COS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, veteran status, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, religion, national or ethnic origin, height or weight, marital status, family status, ancestry, mental or physical disability, or any protected class that may be required by law in its employment practices, educational policies, programs, activities, or other school administered programs. Questions or concerns regarding this or other policies should be directed to the administration. (Policy 103 ) Acting Title IX Coordinator Joey Huber jhuber@circleofseasons.org 610-285-6267 TITLE IX POLICY Title IX Team Training Presentations

Facilities Manager Doug Keller Facilities Manager < Back dkeller@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

BUILDING FUND CIRCLE OF SEASONS CHARTER SCHOOL MEETS GOAL PURCHASES FOGELSVILLE PROPERTY FROM PEN N STATE FOR $2.75 MILLION Unique Public Waldorf School Serves 275 Students in 29 School Districts in Pennsylvania Circle of Seasons (COS) Charter School, the only Public Waldorf School on the East Coast, has purchased the former Pennsylvania State University Lehigh Valley camp us at 8380 Mohr Lane in Fogelsville for $2.75 million. The purchase of the property marks the successful conclusion of the school’s Building Fund campaign, which raised more than $121,000 – 21% above the $100,000 fundraising goal – for the down payment of the property. Seventy-five percent (75% ) of COS parents and 50% of the school’s faculty and staff supported the campaign. The fundraising total also includes a $10,000 grant from the Peoples Security Charitable Foundation. The purchase of the property was made through assistance from SVN Imperial Realty and Plunkett and Graver, P.C., both in Allentown, and a loan from the Reinvestment Fund of Philadelphia, a federally certified community development financial institution (CDFI). Circle of Seasons’ campus property includes a 40,000-square foot facility and more than 35 acres that feature open spaces, wooded areas and trails. COS students enjoy activities such as gardening, hiking, picking apples, raising animals, outdoor instruction and recreation, which are integrated into the COS curriculum and enhance student learning in all primary subjects: language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. “We are so grateful to the entire Circle of Seasons community for their generous support of our one-of-a-kind public school,” says former CEO and Director Phil Arnold. “With their help we were able to meet a challenging goal and purchase our property in only our fourth year of operation. Now, as we move from our start-up phase to our growth phase, we are thrilled to have a secured permanent home for our unique public school.” MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

German Teacher Krista Spradlin < Back German Teacher Krista studied at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Universität Duisburg-Essen and earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1999, graduating summa cum laude and immediately jumped into her teaching career. After earning her Masters of Science in Education in 2007 from Wilkes University, Krista continued to study the best methods of language instruction and earned a state certification in teaching English as a Second Language. Krista Spradlin’s affection for language and culture began as a child, growing up in a community where friends and neighbors spoke with thick accents, served food from the ‘old-world’, and danced to music that invoked joy, although it was sung in a language she didn’t understand. It is Krista’s greatest pleasure to share language with children in honor of the people who inspired her and gave her the wings to visit new worlds. She hopes this passion will shine through in her teaching, and that language will also inspire them to become students of the world. Over the last 20 years, Krista has had the pleasure to teach both middle and high school students throughout the Lehigh Valley. Krista has organized and executed numerous exchanges and guided many students in pursuing German in their careers. But, Krista has always wanted to see language instruction begin at a developmentally appropriate age and is thrilled to have an opportunity to be a part of second language instruction at Circle of Seasons. Krista presents authentic language through stories, play, imagination, acting and art and is confident that this method will align comfortably for all students at Circle of Seasons. This summer Krista and Tatiana, the Spanish instructor, attended a training in Philadelphia with leaders of CI movement to further enhance their instructional practices. Both are anxious to see students soar in their Spanish and German proficiency! When Krista is not dreaming of converting the world to multilingualism, she is probably gardening, hiking with her pooches, reading, running or trying to survive the teenage years with her own children, who are 17 and 13. Krista is also passionate about the environment and hopes to be involved with that aspect of education at Circle of Seasons as well. kspradlin@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

Substitute Teacher Rai Rex < Back Substitute Teacher rguatno@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM Circle of Seasons’ Instrumental Music Program for elementary school students provides children with the gift of learning how to create music. Music is a subject and an art that has been shown over time to enhance learning in many traditional subjects, mathematics in particular. COS teachers view music as teaching children a different language, one that connects them to each other and to the human experience. But the school’s approach to the Instrumental Music Program not just academic; it is therapeutic as well. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2013-2014, the number of children and youth ages 3 to 21 receiving special education services was 6.5 million, or about 13% of all public school students. At COS the statistic is higher: 20% (one-fifth) of our students qualify for some type of therapeutic intervention. Learning to play a musical instrument is beneficial to all students, but for children with special needs it offers an experiential learning opportunity that simultaneously develops cognitive abilities, physical abilities and social skills. Circle of Seasons Charter School’s Instrumental Music Program is focused on age- and developmentally-appropriate experiences with musical instruments. All grades utilize instruments such as xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels and percussion instruments from around the world. Instrument programs for each specific grade are as follows: First Grade: Students learn to play the tone flute, of which there are three different types. Students are grouped according to the type of flute. Each flute plays three notes and is associated with a bird based on the letters of notes the flute plays (e.g. Avocets, Doves, Eagles). Altogether, the class can play a total of five notes when they play together. Students also play the lyre, an instrument similar to a harp. They continue to learn to play the lyre through second and third grade. Second Grade: Students learn the pentatonic flute, which gives them the ability to play all five notes individually. Children develop their fine motor skills through mastering the difficult fingering of the instrument. Children also learn patience and control through mastery of the quiet breath; persistence through the mastery of playing simple songs; and respect for craftsmanship through the care of their flute. Third Grade: Children progress from the pentatonic to the diatonic flute, which expands the number of notes they can play as individuals and allows them to play more complex melodies and harmonies as a group. Fourth Grade: Students continue the diatonic flute and learn a stringed instrument, either a violin or cello. Fifth Grade: Students learn the soprano or alto recorder and continue with violin or cello. EITC grants from the COS Fo undation to the Instrumental Music Program will provide much-needed instruments to students who cannot afford them, as well as practice instruments for students to take home to support and/or further their learning. EITC grants will also provide opportunities for students to take field trips to experience live music performances and to bring musicians to the school to meet with and perform for students. Learning to play an instrument, both as an individual and in an ensemble, teaches lifelong skills that help students develop academically, collaboratively and creatively. Students learn an awareness of themselves and of those around them. They learn to listen to each other and to express themselves both individually and with their peers. Research continues to demonstrate the importance of instrumental music education in school and the positive impact it has on our children. Gardening Program, Grades 1-5 Instrumental Music Program, Grades 1-5 Manual Arts Program: Woodworking, Grade 5 Ways to Give

School History Circle of Seasons Charter School (COS) is a public school guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education and a member of a growing educational movement that equally values intellectual growth, social-emotional learning, connection to the creative, and the freedom, time, and space to do meaningful work. Circle of Seasons seeks to support the development of the whole child by educating the head, heart and hands. In the fall of 2013, Circle of Seasons Charter School received the keys to a former Penn State Lehigh Valley Extension building days before the first day of school. Along with the school’s founder, Phil Arnold, a dedicated group of families and educators worked tirelessly to transform the building into inviting classrooms and play spaces for the 110 students in grades kindergarten through second who walked through the doors on the first day of school. Circle of Seasons Charter School received charter authorization for the first three years and was the only member of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Schools on the East Coast, a pioneer for the Public Waldorf Education movement. The spring of 2016 brought Circle of Season’s first charter renewal resulting in a reauthorization for five years. Another momentous event was reached the following spring of 2017 as COS purchased the building and 35-acre property it had previously leased from Penn State. The purchase would not have been possible without the efforts of devoted fundraisers and volunteers from the Circle of Seasons community as well as monetary contributions from the school's families, faculty and staff. During the summer of 2018, COS endeavored to complete a $2.7 million renovation project that transformed the school into a facility that included learning spaces for school’s growing student population. Again, such a transformation would not have been possible without the tireless commitment of Circle of Seasons families, faculty, staff and administration. The conclusion of the 2017-2018 school year also brought about an achievement by Kaitlin Moore. Mrs. Moore was the first COS teacher to complete a first through fifth grade loop with a class that joined her for first grade the day COS opened its doors in 2013. In 2018, Circle of Seasons swelled to embrace and educate a student population of 376 children and will continue to grow. By the 2020-2021 school year, Circle of Seasons will reach full capacity with double tracked classes in grades Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Circle of Seasons’ enthusiastic and committed faculty, staff, and families continue to invest in the advancement and development of Circle of Seasons, a school dedicated to awakening each child’s full and unique potential. Circle of Seasons continues to develop a campus master plan to fully utilize the school’s expansive campus. It is clear that the Circle of Seasons devoted community strives to support the individuals who learn and teach within the welcoming walls and rolling campus of the school and that the virtue of each community member is living and thriving therein.

Student Services At Circle of Seasons Charter school, we meet children where they, supporting each individual's unique needs. Supporting students physical, emotional, and intellectual development is at the heart of what we do here, and our robust student services support this goal. Please click the buttons below for information on these services, and please let us know if you have any questions. SPECIAL EDUCATION MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SAP) TITLE IX INFORMATION ENGLISH LEARNER SERVICES

SEL Teacher Casey Faurl < Back SEL Teacher cfaurl@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >

ABOUT COS Circle of Seasons Charter School is a K-8 public charter school that offers an approach to teaching and learning that is both whole child focused and student centered. We are the first, and one of just a few, public charter schools on the east coast that is guided by the core principles of Public Waldorf Education. Circle of Seasons campus is located in Fogelsville, PA and is positioned on a 35 acre hilltop with access to outdoor classrooms, hiking trails, woods and playing fields. COS nurtures a supportive academic learning environment and classroom community by helping students develop respect, confidence, acceptance, in addition to other positive social values. We believe that happiness, inspiration, creativity and fun are compatible with public education and should not be limited to those who can afford a public school experience. Using a Waldorf approach thoughtfully synced to Pennsylvania State Standards, students are immersed in a curriculum that emphasizes teaching and learning from where the students are physically, emotionally, and developmentally. This approach encourages developmentally appropriate engagement in both math and literacy and also includes nature based exploration, creative arts, movement and music. All of these components are embedded intentionally throughout all areas of the curriculum and the students' experiences.

Special Education Administrative Assistant Perri Lipsky Special Education Administrative Assistant < Back Perri has worked as a highly qualified paraprofessional in the public school system for 20 years. She is looking forward to bringing her diverse work experience to the students and faculty of COS. She is ecstatic to join the COS family as both a staff member and parent. Along with her young son, Perri also has two grown sons and several pets. She enjoys spending time with her husband and boys, as well as reading, crocheting, baking and working in her yard. She also finds the occasional hike good for her soul. Additionally, she is active in local community theatre along with her youngest child. plipsky@circleofseasons.org < Previous Next >