We’ll supplement this page with expert insight into the FIT between Waldorf Academy and YOUR CHILD. Just answer a few short questions. It takes only 5 minutes.
Or, dive right into our insights on Waldorf Academy:
To customize this school profile (and others), answer a few questions about your child’s needs.
Go to child profileOur 100th Anniversary! Waldorf Academy: the world renowned name in alternative arts enriched education. We offer a developmentally appropriate, experiential, and academically rigorous approach to education. We integrate the arts in all academic disciplines for children to enhance and enrich learning. Waldorf Education aims to inspire life-long learning in all students and to enable them to fully develop their unique capacities.
What learning looks like now: All classes have resumed in person. We adapted our delivery to limit cohorts. Each grade is taught by a 2 teachers co-leading. French is an exception but teaches behind plexiglass or outside. The middle school also has a math specialist behind plexiglass. Our periods are longer this year and many of the large gatherings have been reduced to simple social affairs. Parent evenings take place on zoom. We created a re-entry e-book for families outlining the staggered starts and dismissals to eliminate the chance of cohorts crossing paths. We hired a Covid-10 Compliance Officer to work part-time and oversee screenings. Touchless taps and paepr towels were installed. Grade 3 and up are required to wear masks as are all of our faculty. Outside time has been increased to offer students the opportunity to learn without their masks. Prior to school commencing a social worker worked with the faculty to explore the mental health and well being of the students, faculty and families. We are committed to providing a safe environment for everyone and to ensure contact tracing is accurate and efficient.
Curriculum delivery for 2020/21:
Grades | Living Arrangement | Delivery Model | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|
Day | Preschool - Gr. 8 | In-person | Full-time |
One of three yard spaces. Designed by Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds
Gymnasium
Movement and theatre complete with baby grand piano
The front of the main school on Madison Ave
1 of 3 yards for students to play and explore
The front of the Childcare Centre on Spadina Rd
Grade 7: students still have their crochet seat cover from grade 2, name tags made in art class.
Childcare room 1/5 rooms
Kindergarten- Stargarden- large rooms for painting, baking, building and circle
Garden Plots Kindergarten and Grade 3
Community Room: Library, Aftercare, Kitchen for lesson, Parent & Child
We often consider the ideal student for a certain educational setting, though with Waldorf schools, it's important to also consider the ideal parent. Instruction student directed; benchmarks are less important than engagement. Multiple intelligences, multiple-sensory learning, cross-curricular instruction, visual learning—it's perhaps the epitome of what we think of as alternative education: constructivist rather than didactic. Waldorf Academy is one of the first of its kind in Canada, and was created when a group of parents decided to come together to create the kind of school that they wanted for their children. It's grown since then, and the organization and infrastructure has been formalized as well, including the creation of a purpose-built learning environment. Nevertheless, the core concept remains. The successful student is one who thrives in an interactive, transactional, arts-enriched setting. The ideal parent is one who sees the value in a constructivist approach, narrative-based assessment (letter grades are given in Grade 6 and up) and who prizes a considered and careful approach to the use of technology.
Focus |
---|
Academic |
DIBELS Testing: This school does not use DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
Students remain in a regular classroom for the whole day, and periodically receive break-out support (individually or in small groups) within the classroom from a qualified special education teacher.
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Program | offered |
---|---|
Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
Curriculum delivery: Enrichment (The main focus is on enrichment. This means that while students may work at a marginally quicker pace than public school peers, the primary aim is to study subject in broader and deeper ways.)
Program | offered |
---|---|
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
In grade Gr. 8, Waldorf Academy students perform an average of 1 hour of homework per night.
PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Waldorf Academy | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 30 mins | 30 mins | 45 mins | 60 mins |
Site Average | 2 mins | 6 mins | 7 mins | 15 mins | 17 mins | 23 mins | 30 mins | 35 mins | 41 mins | 53 mins | 57 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 6 to Gr. 8 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | JK to Gr. 6 |
Academic achievement reporting | Gr. 1 to Gr. 8 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 1 to Gr. 8 |
Parent-teacher meetings | JK to Gr. 8 |
Competitive sports: 4
Recreational sports: 8
Waldorf Academy offers 6 clubs and extracurricular programs.
PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
Day | $18,000 | $19,150 | |||||||||
Day (Half day) | $4,160 / program |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
Full payment | Day | $250 |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | JK to 8 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 20% |
Average aid package size | $9,000 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 20% |
Total aid available | $300,000 |
This school works with Apple Financial Inc. for processing financial applications
Confidential and transparent process. Based on latest T4 assessments only and number of applicants to pool funds. 50% max of tuition only.
Covid-19 considerations are on a per family need basis via the finance committee.
This information is not currently available.
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Preschool to Gr. 8 | Coed | Day | 150 |
Total enrolment | 150 |
Average class size | Varies |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 5% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 5 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | NS - 8 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | ||
Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry:
Yes
Application fee: $150
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit:
$1,000
Grade school students must complete a 3 day visit after a family interview.
Kindergarten requires a family meeting and visit in the morning if senior kindergarten.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 20 (100%) | 16 - 18 (90%) | 8 - 10 (90%) | 2 - 3 (80%) | 5 - 8 (80%) | 3 - 5 (80%) | 3 - 4 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 5 - 8 (80%) | 2 - 4 (80%) | 0 (10%) |
“I have been asked, “Why did I decide to move to Waldorf Academy?”. The answer is a simple one; Waldorf education is the ‘art of awakening’ that aims to inspire life-long learning in all students and to enable them to fully develop their unique capacities. At the core of my educational philosophy is the belief that we must embrace creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, authentic assessments and deep inquiry to awaken a passion for lifelong learning. And through this belief, is the reality that it is no longer about asking students what they want to be when they grow up, but instead, we challenge and ask them what problems they would like to solve.”
September 27, 2020
The Science Behind a Waldorf Kindergarten
On the surface the warm and homelike environment of the kindergarten class feels intuitively good & old fashioned but there is deep purpose
Read full article
September 16, 2020
Routine & Rhythm: The Key to Transition Back to School
Ask any Waldorf educator and they will tell you that routine and rhythm are the foundations of a healthy and joyful early childhood program.
Read full article
April 27, 2020
How a low-tech school shifted to remote learning in 2 days!
What seemed like the impossible to many Waldorf teachers became an opportunity for creativity, innovation and thoughtfulness.
Read full article
The Trusted Source for Families since 1998
Interested in Waldorf Academy?
Visit WebsiteJoin the Our Kids roundtable discussion about [School Name]. Alumni and current parents are answering questions and sharing their insights—about the school’s culture, strengths, and weaknesses.
Oct 8
ZOOM MEETING