Waldorf education was founded during a unique and critical time in history. In the aftermath of WWI, Rudolf Steiner created an education which honors the human spirit. The impacts of COVID-19 have been felt across the globe. During this unique and critical time in our history, we continue that work to adapt and provide a safe and quality curriculum that stays true to our identity as a Waldorf school.
RWS is currently offering on-campus instruction. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic affected all schools in the Spring of 2020, we began our Distance Learning program, taking Waldorf education beyond the classrom. We implemented and adapted our curriculum, holding these principals for our work with students, parents, and colleagues:
- Community – We value the strength of our community in its whole and in its constituent parts: the parents, the individual classes, the teachers, the students, the board, and the administration.
- Collaboration – Although farther apart in distance, we must work more collaboratively than ever. We appreciate the support of the parents as they move into a new role in their children’s education.
- Consistency – We are creating a new rhythm to meet the children in this new situation. We continue to develop teaching that is developmentally appropriate, artistically engaging, and academically challenging.
Improved Distance Learning Guidelines & Expectations
We have taken into account many suggestions and concerns about distance learning and reviewed our approach over the spring and summer. For the 2020-2021 school year, enrolled families may opt for “At Home Learning”, so that their child receives a Waldorf education while learning remotely. The RWS Pedagogical Task Team created guidelines and expectations for delivering distance learning, should we need to use that method again. Please see below links to review these documents.
A Glimpse into Waldorf: Beyond the Classroom
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After reading the book, Wish Tree, by Katherine Applegate, the fifth grade started our very own RWS Wish Tree in front of the building.
Wishing trees have been used for hundreds of years by many different cultures in countries such as Japan, Turkey and Scotland. While traditions vary slightly from place to place, wishes are usually written on fabric and tied to the boughs.
#richmondwaldorfschool #wishingtree #fifthgrade #rva #richmondva
📸: @grahamcopeland
Take an inside look at Richmond Waldorf School with our new virtual tour! We are inspired by the resilience, dedication, and creativity of our faculty, administration, students, and parents to rise up in these uncertain times.
For more information and to see the full virtual tour, follow the link in our bio!
🎥: @grahamcopeland
Have you heard the news?! RWS's Virtual Holiday Market & Silent Auction is LIVE today for previews! Click the link in our profile to browse the amazing list of auction items and vendor offerings, all carefully curated to be your one-stop holiday gift shop. There's something for everyone! Mark your calendars, bidding and buying begins on MONDAY, 11/23.
In this historic year, our Eighth Graders are in the middle of their history unit that studies moments of revolution in American History. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The Waldorf history curriculum not only gives our Eighth Graders a context for modern day life and supplies them with a solid historical foundation, but also affords them the opportunity to see how ordinary people made a difference using their natural talents.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As Bill Bryant, a fellow Waldorf teacher, pointed out, “The world community is immensely delicate and always in flux. The key questions are: can conflict be avoided? Is there anything good in it? Does conflict serve a higher purpose? How can we disentangle truth from the thicket of lies at large? At the root of these questions, is a search for light, hope and confidence in life.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Chalk Artwork by our talented 8th Grade teacher #chalkart #chalkboardart #richmondwaldorfschool #waldorfeducation #waldorfschool #waldorfart #waldorfplay #richmondva #rva #richmondschools #8thgrade #americanhistory
Our 5th graders are currently studying Botany. Instead of learning from a textbook, Waldorf students intimately study their subjects through the creation of their own artistic representations of their learning as well as lots of observation and categorization of plants on and near our campus. How beautiful is this?! #waldorfart #richmondwaldorfschool #rva #botany
In Spanish class, Waldorf students have been learning about Día de los Muertos. This is the day when we can honor someone who has passed away such as a family member, a friend, a neighbor or a pet that we miss and still think of. It’s an opportunity to remember someone we love and celebrate their life!
Celebrating this holiday also serves as a wonderful cultural lesson that includes lots of vocabulary and symbolism, as the “ofrendas” require certain elements that represent different things.
The children have been creating “papel picado” banners (cutout paper), sugar skulls drawings and started bringing in photos of their loved ones. This helps create a connection between the family member and the child, giving them a chance to learn about them and make an effort to make it special. #diadelosmuertos #dayofthedead #waldorfchalkboard #waldorfeducation #waldorfinspired #spanishclass #richmondva #rva
“The lifeline of Waldorf has been invaluable for our family. I feel that we get a good balance of Zoom time and self/parent-instruction time and am thrilled by how well our teachers have adapted…..I commend Mr. Trostli, Ms. Mac, Ms. Baranova, Mr. Thornton, and Ms. Walker for keeping the kids engaged, and for being a familiar, loving presence in our home.”
—RWS Parent