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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Today, our 5th graders listened with rapt attention as our 8th graders recited Dr. MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in its entirety. It was moving and heart wrenching to hear our youth recite these words, especially after the past year of civil unrest they have watched unfold. We are filled with hope that these children will soon become adults that stand up against injustice whenever they encounter it, and continue the work of MLK in their own lives. #mlk #blacklivesmatter #ihaveadream #richmondwaldorfschool #richmondva #8thgrade #5thgrade
In Physics block this week, 7th graders are studying electromagnetism through an experiment focused on figuring out how to make a nail magnetic.
In Waldorf education, we provide students with a “whole to parts” approach of learning new concepts. This means presenting the phenomena, in this case electromagnetism, through a series of vivid and hands-on experiments. After those experiences have been absorbed and wondered about by students, then we can begin explicitly teaching the concept.
Want to know more about what middle school looks like at RWS? Join us for a virtual info session on Wednesday, January 27th at 6pm. Send us a DM for more details!
#waldorfeducation #richmondwaldorfschool #waldorfphysics #7thgrade #rvaindependentschool #rva
Waldorf education seeks to bring students to the edge of discovery, uncovering concepts just as the first mathematicians did centuries ago.
Recently, the 8th grade explored Platonic solids as part of their geometry block. They were given the challenge of creating a dodecahedron or an icosahedron out of paper or clay. The results were superb! #waldorfeducation #waldorfmath #8thgrade #8thgrademath #geometry #rvaschools
Happy New Year, RWS community! Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about next school year. Re-enrollment for our currently enrolled families will begin soon, and new student applications are due January 31!
Watch our virtual tour in full on our website, and sign up for a one-on-one Zoom conversation with our Enrollment Coordinator to learn more about admissions, financial aid, and Waldorf education. Link in bio ✨
Video by @grahamcopeland
Richmond Waldorf School fondly remembers an essential person in the founding of our school, Maria Butler, who passed away earlier this month. Going through our archives, we found this photo of Maria during May Faire from the early 2000s. Anyone else remember those days??
We are so grateful for everything Maria did to ensure that Richmond had and continues to have a Waldorf school. We honor her legacy and Maria's beginnings with RWS on our blog. Give it a read at https://richmondwaldorf.com/remembering-maria-butler/
We celebrate the Winter Solstice with the Spiral of Light, a ceremony of light, movement and change. This ceremony heightens the awareness of moving from darkness to light in a simple way for the children. As each child kindles their light, the darkness grows slowly into a beautiful golden glow, with each child contributing to the bright warmth that envelopes us all. ✨ #richmondwaldorfschool #waldorfeducation #wintersolstice #spiralwalk #richmondva
“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