The Spiral Walk: Carrying Light Through Darkness
The annual Spiral of Light ceremony is a favorite of many in our school community. It is a truly unique and meaningful celebration of this time of year, a time of anticipation and preparation, as we look toward the midnight of the year. In all of us there is expectation and hope. As winter approaches in the northern hemisphere, there is a growing mood of outer sleepiness in the world. The earth is growing more quiet with every passing day. The fallen leaves, the animals in hibernation, the shorter daylight hours which bring us inside much earlier, all contribute to this […]
Our Bike Program: How it All Began
Two years ago, when my students were just starting first grade, I asked RWS parent Glenn Amey, who I knew had a lot of experience with family biking, if he thought that all first graders should be taught to ride bikes. And did he think that they could get to the point where we could go out riding through Richmond, explore its trails, and take trips to interesting places. Perhaps by sixth, seventh, or eighth grade, might we even go on extended bike tours and camp along the way? “Sure,” said Glenn, without hesitation. “They can do that. Let’s […]
Beyond Vocabulary: Connecting to History and Culture in Spanish Class
For the last few weeks the 7th grade Spanish class has been discussing the beliefs of the Aztecs. The Aztecs felt closest to the divine when communing with nature and listening to poetry. The students practiced a beautiful verse of Nahuatl (language of the Aztecs) that had been translated to Spanish while sitting among the beautiful trees that line our school. We used this nature vocabulary and reflection time to transition to an important cultural element of modern-day Mexico: Dia de los Muertos. Dia de los Muertos is a time in which Mexicans celebrate the memories of loved ones […]
Celebrating Halloween at RWS
Every year our Grades and Early Childhood classes celebrate Halloween with a parade and a special performance of poems and songs for friends and family. Upon first glance, these festivities may seem no different than Halloween at any local school. However, if you look more closely, you’ll notice something about the costumes Waldorf children, parents and teachers are wearing. For our elementary and middle school students, costumes worn at school come from the curriculum. Our first graders are kings, queens, knights, princesses, gnomes, and fairies. In seventh grade you may see Leonardo or the Mona Lisa herself. It’s wide open with one caveat: […]
The Meaning of Michaelmas
On Friday, September 30, Richmond Waldorf School will celebrate Michaelmas with a pageant performed for the community by the students in the grades, a community lunch, and a “Feats of Strength” field day for the grades students. The season of Michaelmas is also felt in our classrooms, from Early Childhood to grade 8, in the songs, verses and artistic activities that characterize this time of the year. Because Michaelmas is not commonly celebrated or well known in this country, we’d like to share a little bit about the nature and significance of Michael, whom we honor on this day. […]
The Meaning Behind Our New Logo
A logo is an identifying symbol that represents you to the world. It is your visual identity. A good logo speaks. It evokes something within those who experience it. It’s almost impossible to fully appreciate our new logo until you learn the intentions and thought with which it was created. Read more about it and you’ll instantly discover more about us. Enjoy! The circle represents wholeness in body, soul, and spirit. The color blue symbolizes trust, freedom, balance, and peace. The prismatic colors create a rhythmic flow and feeling of movement, are welcoming, and are symbolic of inclusivity. The energy of the circle moves clockwise […]
Annual Rose Ceremony
This morning we had our annual Rose Ceremony to mark the beginning of the school year for all grades students. Our 8th graders escorted the 1st grade students to a flower arch where they were greeted by their teacher and given a rose to symbolize this new beginning. It was, and always is, a wonderful way to start the school year!
Annual School Beautification Day
Our Annual School Beautification Day was held on Saturday, August 27th, and we had a great day sprucing up RWS for the new school year. Thank you so much to all the parents, volunteers, faculty, and staff who pitched in to make the school look so good! Thanks to our Parents’ Association who brought sweets for breakfast and pizza for lunch. It was wonderful to have such a big turnout and to accomplish so much.
