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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We are looking for an outstanding Spanish Language Teacher to join our close knit team of faculty and staff for the 2022-23 school year! Please visit www.richmondwaldorf.com/employment to learn more. Link in bio.
Read all about our 25th Anniversary Mosaic Project on the blog today! The mosaics were created by @ceramic_hammer and the students of RWS to commemorate this important milestone in our school’s history. Link in bio! 🪱 🌱 🐿 🦅 🌙 💫
Last month, our 5th and 6th graders rounded out their year long study of Botany with an incredible 3-day camping trip at the Spikenard Bee Sanctuary. Alex, head beekeper at the sanctuary, provided our students with an enormous amount of hands on learning and interaction with these important pollinators. Our students came home invigorated by all they learned, and full of ideas on how our community can better support and care for the bees! 🐝 #waldorfeducation #savethebees #savetheplanet #outdooreducation #nomowmay #beeeducation #spikenardfarm
Congrats to the Class of 2022 on their graduation, and to the entire RWS community on a year well spent! 🥳
(8th graders performing at this morning’s beautiful Final Assembly)
1st grade ushered in the sweet summertime today, and brought back a bounty of berries to share! 🍓
This week, we graduate this beautiful group of “Suns” from our Early Childhood program. ♥️
Next year, many of these smiling faces will make up our 1st grade class and begin their Grades journey as the RWS Class of 2030…! 🌈
#kindergartengraduation #waldorfeducation #waldorfearlychildhood #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
