Every Now and Then You Have to Say Thanks.

Letting the community know that Wisteria hopes to make Buffalo its home is no simple task.  Yet our friends from the Western New York Minority Media Professionals make it look so easy.  They continue to donate a tremendous amount of time and resources to getting the word out about Wisteria.  So from the Founders of Wisteria to the Board of the WNYMMP we say...

THANK YOU!

You Have to See it in Action

We showed this video during the first phase of public meetings held citywide.  The images and "testimonials" highlight the richness of a Waldorf curriculum in an urban environment.  Although Wisteria plans to use Waldorf methods to meet State education requirements, parents and students can expect a school experience much like the one (demonstrated above) at the Brooklyn Waldorf.

A Clear Mission / A New Logo

Wisteria believes in the power of community.  In that vein, we took some time to refine our mission after hearing some really amazing input during our introductory outreach efforts.  During this time we also developed this amazing logo thanks to artist Edreys Wajed.  Edreys is featured in this month's very upscale Traffic Magazine.



Wisteria Charter School cultivates socially conscious, critical thinkers by addressing students’ intellectual, emotional and physical needs.  Utilizing an arts-integrated Waldorf-Methods approach, students are fully prepared to meet the challenges of a multicultural and ever-changing society.

Meaningful- knowledgeable, sound decision-making

Responsive- timely, mindful, purposeful action

Inclusive- Expansive, in-depth, universal

The Prospectus Is In! Let The Road Trip Begin

Whoa, we can hardly believe that things are moving so fast (in a good way).  The momentum that Wisteria is picking up keeps the Founding Group energized AND expanding.  The Wisteria's initial phase of community outreach wrapped up with the submission of a Prospectus to the State!  To celebrate we feel that it is always important to recap and review the successes we've experienced "On the Road to Chartered Territory."

• The Buffalo News ran two stories about Wisteria --One on the Front Page of the City and Region Section and the other in the School Zone Blog
• Buffalo Rising had a write-up about the school
• We held four fantastic meetings at public libraries and on the campus of the Univ. at Bflo.
• We were on two radio talk shows: Living Now and Kirkland's Korner
• We were on the Community Billboards websites of Channel 7 and YNN
• We conducted a survey that was available on our Website, Blog, at each of the public meetings and at the Better Schools, Better Neighborhoods Headquarters
• We introduced ourselves and made our intentions known at the January 26th Buffalo Board of Ed Meeting
• We met with a host of Civic Leaders and Elected Officials 

However, we are not done...a matter of fact we are just getting started.  Phase 2 community outreach starts today.  Please subscribe to the Wisteria Wind Blog for continuous updates and events. 

Back on the Air Again

On Tuesday January 25, 2011 tune into WUFO 1080 AM at noon because we'll be speaking with the always enlightening, sometimes controversial Ted Kirkland on his radio show "Kirkland's Korner".  Call in and tell us what you think, ask questions and be heard.  You can listen online with live streaming audio on WUFO's website.

On the Airways-- Living Now Radio Interview Tomorrow Jan. 17, 2010

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, several of our founders will be taking Wisteria's message to the airways.  Our mission is to discuss Wisteria and the goal of integrating Waldorf methods into an educational program here in Buffalo, NY. 

As a founding committee, we conciously work broaden our outreach activies in an effort to introduce this progressive educational philosophy to as many communities as possible.  We are confident that every meeting and interview brings us closer to creating a diverse and culturally inclusive school.  The Living Now Radio Show airs Monday's at 9AM on WUFO AM 1080 and L. Nathan Hare is our host.



Listen Live with online streaming shows at:

http://www.wufoam.com/onair/talk_shows.php

Please Complete the Public Survey

WCS Public Input Survey is now available. Please follow our blog link to the right labeled "Public Input Survey" to take our short questionnaire. Thanks so much!

Public Meeting Schedule for the Month of January

We are breaking bread and want to share it with you. 

 So Please Join Us!

For an informational session about the city’s most exciting charter school proposal that utilizes

 Waldorf Methods

Public Meeting Dates:

Westside Meeting

Niagara Branch Library  (280 Porter Ave.)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

5:30-6:30 PM

Eastside Meeting

Merriweather Library (1324 Jefferson Ave.)

Thursday, January 13, 2011
5:30-6:30 PM

North Meeting

UB’s Allen Hall (Main Street, South Campus)

Friday, January 14, 2011

5:30-6:30PM

Elmwood Village Meeting

Crane Branch Library (633 Elmwood Avenue)

Saturday, January 15, 2011 

4-5:30PM

Remember...Refreshments will be Served :)

We Are Officially a "Dot ORG"



As we progress in the development of the charter school we will continue to identify ways to make information readily available to general public, and what better way to do so than by purchasing a domain name.  Visit:  www.wisteriacharterschool.org for additional updates and a full Events Calendar that provides meeting dates and event notices.

Information Session

An informal information session was held at "Explore and More" in East Aurora on Sunday, December 19, 2010. The goal of the session was to get a general idea of some of the requests of parents, educators, planners and civic leaders.
Some of the topics covered in the meeting were:

• location of the school
• grades to be served
• target neighborhoods
• available facilities
• academic program for students with diverse educational need

We are looking into a number of promising properties, and will keep you posted.

We'll Be Visiting Soon! Public Outreach for the Wisteria Charter School Initiative

In the coming days the Founding Members Committee will be hitting the streets, knocking on doors and holding meetings to spread the good news and encourage additional support for our proposed charter school's efforts.  The official Wisteria Charter School Initiative's website provides updates and has a calendar of events to keep eveyone informed of what's to come.

What's in a Name?

It is said that once most of the spring flowers have passed their zenith, the wisteria continues to bloom with mature beauty and a sweetly alluring aroma.

Naming our school was no easy task and our Founding Members didn't take it lightly either.  While on the phone discussing the direction of our group and the focus of the school's curriculum, two of our founders, pondered the things and places that make the City of Buffalo special... and of course Frank Lloyd Wright's world renowned Darwin Martin Complex came up.  One of those members is an Official Chaperon and finished the docent class for the complex so had great knowledge of many of the details associated with this architectural masterpiece.  

Aahhhhh Wisteria.  

The flower not only has a very overt connection to nature, but also, great relevance in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and the notion of "Inside Out."   The other Founding Members agreed that Wisteria is right for this proposed charter school as we felt that like Wright's physical designs children, should also, unfold like an organism from the seed within.

Take a look at the video included for today's post...lovely wisteria wind.

Our Mission

We've been tinkering with the Mission of The Wisteria Charter School and here is what we've come up with (and feel free to tell us what you think):

Based on a developmentally-appropriate curriculum, the mission of Wisteria Charter School is to educate in ways that address each student's intellectual, emotional and physical needs. By emphasizing hands-on artistic expression and the exploration of the natural world, children mature as enlightened and socially conscious individuals; energized by the possibility of choice rather than chance. Through an interdisciplinary, student-centered approach, children are prepared to present diverse talents to an ever-changing and multicultural society.