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. During this equally unique and critical time in our history, we continue that work as we move beyond the classroom and develop a curriculum that stays true to our identity as a Waldorf school.
As we implement and adapt our curriculum, we hold 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 been taking into account many suggestions and concerns about distance learning and reviewing our approach over the last couple of months. The Pedagogical Task Team created improved guidelines and expectations for delivering distance learning if we must use that method again. Please see below links to review these documents.
A Glimpse into Waldorf: Beyond the Classroom
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Our class of 2020 has done it! We will celebrate and honor RWS' eleventh 8th grade class tomorrow, Saturday, June 20 at 10am. If you are a current or alumni RWS community member, join us over on our Private Facebook Group at 10am.
Next year our students will represent RWS at high schools across the Richmond area. We know they will continue on a path of success and can't wait to see them online tomorrow morning!
#classof2020 #richmondwaldorfschool #richmondvirginia #waldorfeducation
At our core, Waldorf educators believe in the power of the human spirit to invoke positive change in the world. And as we celebrate our 8th grade class this week, we are inspired by the passion, creativity, strength, and goodness in each of these individuals. We are so proud and hopeful for their journey ahead.
The RWS Class of 2020 will graduate this Saturday, June 20 at 10am in a special ceremony at RWS. We will share a livestream of the ceremony on our Private FB Group so that our larger community can join in to honor and celebrate these students' accomplishments and future.
#richmondwaldorfschool #classof2020 #waldorfeducation
As human beings, we have to take note of recent events of our country, and in our southern city.
At the foundation of Waldorf education lies the mission of social renewal. As Waldorf educators, we hold the dignity of life and the human being at the center of our work. It is our responsibility to bear witness to what is happening in the world, to elevate the voices of marginalized people, to change the course of inequities, and to break down structural prejudice in all forms where it exists, particularly in Waldorf education.
We are here to listen, to learn, to do better.
#blacklivesmatter #justiceforgeorgefloyd #waldorfeducation
Artwork created by @stuffgracemade
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This week we celebrate the RWS 8th Grade Class of 2020 and all their growth and accomplishments during their time at Richmond Waldorf School. We thought we'd share some words of wisdom from a student who was part of our very first 8th grade class of 2009. "Biggest thing I learned at Waldorf is mindset. Having the mindset of being flexible, and being open to new challenges and being able to take a deep breath and say ok I’m finally going to take this class I’ve wanted to take. Being able to not think of challenges as something really scary, but as an opportunity. Optimism and enjoying a challenge is a thing I think Waldorf students gain." #RichmondWaldorfSchool #Classof2020 #wordsofwisdom #WaldorfCommunityStrong #Next100Years #rva #richmondva #richmondvirginia #waldorfkids #loveoflearning #waldorfeducation
Some bright and beautiful student work to brighten your Friday! We love this Guatemalen tapestry one of our Middle Schoolers created. 🌈
#RichmondWaldorfSchool #BeyondTheClassroom #WaldorfCommunityStrong #Next100Years #rva #richmondva #richmondvirginia #waldorfathome #waldorfkids #loveoflearning #waldorfdistancelearning #waldorfbeyondtheclassroom #wewalkinbeauty #naturalchildhood #waldorfeducation
Did you see our new blog post yesterday? Third graders in Waldorf education spend time discussing and studying all sorts of different primitive homes created by early human civilizations, as well as thinking more about their own shelters. Through this study, students are led through the exercise of choosing a shelter, and creating their own model version of it using any imaginative combination of natural materials.
Read more and see some of the excellent projects they came up with!
#richmondwaldorfschool #beyondtheclassroom
“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