Roundtable Q&A Discussion About Waldorf Academy (2020)
Waldorf Academy alumni, current students, and parents shared their insights on the school’s culture, values, strengths, and weaknesses. Hear what Danielle, Ali, Desana Rose had to say about the school.
Highlights from the Q&A discussion
Danielle — current parent
Danielle chose Waldorf Academy for its warmth and teacher-student connection, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and creativity. She appreciates the school's commitment, especially during the pandemic, and admires how it fosters confidence, listening, and respect for Earth among students, embodying values of community, creativity, and environmental awareness in education.
- “I'll start with why we chose the school originally. So when I thought back to my school days, I realized that the years that I had made connections with my teacher, I remembered the year very well and I usually enjoyed it … . And when my children came into the world, I saw that they had a lot of personality traits like myself, and I knew that they were going to need a place that had ... had connection … . And the fact that the Waldorf teachers were often with their students for more than one year was also very attractive … . And over the years, there were even more features that drew me in further.”
- “I would say that the school exceeded my expectations in terms of the level of commitment and caring of the teachers. It has been absolutely phenomenal. They really try to understand my child at a deep level and see what's operating for them, and how they can help that child engage and overcome the obstacles.”
- “As a Waldorf parent, I've ended up doing so many things that I would have never, ever thought that I would do, from baking to making costumes to organizing events. And it actually has been really great because I love that stuff, and it's given me opportunities to learn and grow with my kid.”
- “For both of my children, the [biggest impact] has been seeing how they get the confidence to take on things that are difficult, and to struggle with them, and to make it through that struggle, and come out the other side having mastered something. And the things that they've mastered ranged from reading to knitting to acting in a play to public speaking to writing. Many of those things were very challenging for them initially. … They really are starting to feel, especially my older son, kind of unstoppable. And that's really exciting for me as a parent.”
- “My older son had the opportunity to … show [a prospective student] around … and he told this incoming student that she would be listened to, … that the teachers would incorporate her ideas. She had no idea it would be used and incorporated, it wouldn't just be put aside, and I think that really speaks to how valued he feels as a person at the school. And just the fact he's a student doesn't mean that he doesn't have a voice. So he always emphasizes how caring the teachers are … . And [my younger son] wanted to show me the ravine where they're doing a lot of classes these days because there's a lot of outdoor learning. And he was so excited to take me down this path and pass this little creek, he said, ‘Mom, it's like another world here.’ I think that speaks to the wonder that they're able to infuse into the learning here, trying to keep that magic alive.”
- “If [Waldorf] was a person, I would say that our school is Mother Earth. And I would describe her as warm, wise, and surprisingly deep. And part of the reason I chose that is because I think the Waldorf curriculum is really inspired by the Earth, by its rhythms, by the myths and the archetypes in the natural world and in the human world.”
- “And I think that's why it has such an enduring appeal because it really is addressing the whole person—giving them knowledge to develop their mind [and] developing the heart, and engaging with the heart and engaging … with their ability to create. And so it's very deeply satisfying on all those levels.”
- “The school values community. That's something that I've really had inculcated into me … . It was always about us as a community and how we can support each other. It definitely supports creativity, both in the children and amongst the parents. … Lots of opportunities to make things and come up with things. I think there's a strong value placed on collaboration, working together, not just the parents working together to do something, … even the way that the grades interact with each other.”
- “The teachers are always modeling for the kids. And it's wonderful when you get to see the older kids looking out for the younger kids, and finally, a respect for the Earth—having a strong connection with the Earth. And then, ‘How can we nourish that and increase that by doing the gardening and by doing outdoor education?’”
- “Waldorf also strongly values a learning environment that's caring and supportive. I've heard a lot of parents at the school say this is the right environment for my child.”
- “The teachers have been really great about communicating when the parent needs to come and all the children need to be represented. And there are, probably, [only] two to three hours per term where you have to commit and be there. … Some parents are going to be more available if they're going to do more. Some parents are less available. … I remember where a particular class parent was hospitalized a couple of times and we rallied around that family, bringing them lunches, taking the kids out, and whatever. So even when the parents are not able to do their regular duties, we still help each other.”
Ali — alum
Ali, a former student at Waldorf Academy, shared his appreciation for the tight-knit community, individualized attention within small classes, and the school's creative curriculum. He highlighted the school's social engagement and academic rigor.
- “The thing I appreciated most about the school was definitely just the tight-knit community. I don't see that anywhere else. We were all so close … . It really didn't matter whether we were at assemblies or doing various things, field trips, we're all together.”
- “Even the parents were super close as well. And everyone knows each other and it's just always a blast … . My perspective on the community is really just enhanced now because I still legitimately keep in touch with a huge portion of my old class. Some of my best friends are from that group, and I'm so grateful for that because I feel like not a ton of other people could really say the same about their respective elementary schools. But the longevity of those relationships are really just natural, and they just happen when you've been together for so long. And it's just super harmonious and it's really nice.”
- “Even people up to Grade 8, they were like, ‘Oh, I wonder how I'm going to integrate into this super tight class.’ But we're like a family no matter when you show up. There's no hierarchy of any kind. We're all just so close and it's amazing. There's no problem blending in or whatever it is.”
- “[What differentiates Waldorf:] I can't even stress how important it is to be in a class small enough for a teacher to really be able to cater to the individual needs. … It's impossible to even fall behind or anything. ... [Teachers] stay with you for multiple years, and so you really develop this relationship, so it's the class size compounded by the closeness of the teachers. You can't slip into the background and not be seen or whatever. You're always an integral part of everything. And I think the small class size accounts for a lot of discussion-based moments … It's not just like a talking-at-you type of vibe.”
- “The first word [to describe Waldorf is] ‘creative’ because the whole brand is fostering a creative atmosphere. We do plays and there's music. And there's so much outdoor learning, there's so much painting and art and movement, and there's just so much going on.”
- “My second word [to describe Waldorf] would definitely be ‘socially engaged.’ It can be super environmentally conscious as well. I'm just thinking back to these projects that you do in your last year; they're called the hero projects … . You basically pick someone who inspires you socially and you research them. You find books, you do everything you can. You immerse yourself in that whole moment, and then you actually end up putting it out into the world to an audience of parents and students and everyone, as you do a monologue.”
- “Waldorf is always thought of like this quirky alternative school, which is true, but it is not to be toyed with academically. And I mean, it's amazing. There are certain things that you do in the super early grades that are like, ‘Wow, this is nice. This is like a bonus type of thing.’ But then, you can tell that there's a lot going on … . I actually finished university-level French last year in Grade 11 because the French program was super good at Waldorf Academy. And so then, when I got to high school, it was a little easier and the math is great and … [the academics are] a tier above in terms of the quality of both the teaching and the material itself.”
- “[Even middle school is] so familial. There is no hierarchy of any kind … . If there was somebody entering a middle school, don’t start being stressed out about anything because you are going to be totally embraced without any second thought and that goes for all grades. You just integrate and it's just like it's so ironic because it's such a tight-knit group. … So I would say to not worry about any of that. And then, for kindergarteners, … you feel safe and loved and it's really great.”
Desana Rose — alum
Desana, an alumna of Waldorf Academy, shared her appreciation for the school's unique approach to education, emphasizing creativity, genuine teacher-student relationships, and the importance of community involvement. She emphasized the school's efforts to balance traditional learning with technological advancements, guided by the aim of nurturing well-rounded, socially engaged, and independent learners. Desana is currently completing her placement as the marketing and communications coordinator for the Waterloo Economic Development Corporation.
The fact that Waldorf teachers were often with their students for more than one year was also very attractive. My children have a lot of personality traits like myself, and I knew they were going to need a place that had warmth and connection. That was really important to me. When I think back to my school days, the years I had made connections with my teacher, I remember the year very well, and I usually enjoyed it. Years I didn't make a good connection with my teacher, I tended not to remember anything else that entire year.
I met a Waldorf Academy parent, through a mother-and-baby program. I started picking her brain, and it went from there. Prior to that, I knew that my yoga teacher was a parent of two alumni. When my kids got to be around junior kindergarten age, I started hearing more and more from people that their child had attended or they knew someone who had attended.
The school exceeded my expectations in terms of the level of commitment and caring of the teachers. It has been absolutely phenomenal. They try to understand my child at a deep level and see what's operating for them and how they can help that child engage and overcome the obstacles. Even my youngest, who just transitioned into Grade 1, is getting so grounded five weeks in.
For both of my children, the number one thing has been seeing how they get the confidence to take on difficult things, struggle with them, and come out the other side having mastered something. It's been remarkable to see how supportive they have been through that process, making them feel unstoppable.
Both my sons feel very heard at school. My older son had the opportunity to show a prospective student around the school. He told her she would be listened to here, that the teachers would incorporate her ideas. That has been very true for both of my boys.
My younger son showed me where they're doing a lot of outdoor classes. He was so excited to take me down this path and past this little creek. He said, ‘Mom, it's like another world here.’
I would describe the school as warm, wise, and surprisingly deep. The Waldorf curriculum is really inspired by the Earth, by its rhythms, by the myths and the archetypes in the natural world and in the human world. My children have really benefited from this, gaining a connection to the natural world that I didn't have growing up.
There's a strong value placed on collaboration, working together. The school values community. It supports creativity, both in the children and amongst the parents. Warmth, human connection, beauty, and kindness are central. And finally, respect for the Earth by having this strong connection with the Earth.
What I appreciated most about the school was definitely the tight-knit community; it really is unparalleled. At assemblies, various activities, field trips, we were all together, and even the parents were super close. This sense of community is enhanced now as I still keep in touch with a huge portion of my old class, and some of my best friends are from that group. We're totally a family no matter when you show up, and there's no hierarchy of any kind; we're all just so close, which is amazing.
The class sizes were definitely important for a teacher to cater to the individual needs of students. Teachers stay with you for multiple years. You develop a relationship that makes it impossible to fall behind. This close relationship with teachers, together with the small class size, creates a lot of discussion-based learning, which is great.
The first word I’d use to describe Waldorf is ‘creative.’ The school maintains a creative atmosphere with plays, music, outdoor learning, painting, art, and movement.
Waldorf is also socially engaged, with projects like the Hero Project where you immerse yourself in researching someone who inspires you socially. This engagement is part of Waldorf's approach to education, which maintains a high academic standard without sacrificing creativity, making the school bright in its academic rigor and creative expression.
I think two things that could improve are, first, the diversity within the student body and, second, more freedom within the arts curriculum. While Waldorf is known for its ‘artsy’ curriculum, there's limited freedom in terms of mandatory participation in artistic endeavors, like acting in plays, which might not appeal to everyone.
To new students, I'd say don't start being stressed out, because you're going to be totally embraced without any second thought. The tight-knit yet welcoming community ensures you feel safe and loved, totally destroying the negative stigma around those teenage angsty years. Waldorf's unique approach to education, from its community engagement to its creative and academic curriculum, offers a distinctive experience that shapes students in multifaceted ways.
Waldorf Academy's approach to integrating creativity into every aspect of learning is really unique. For example, during a geography unit on ancient Greece, students learn through reading and writing but also through creative projects like map drawing, sculpture, and theatrical performances. Waldorf's commitment to creativity gives students diverse skills, and prepares them for real-world applications. It encourages them to explore different talents and ways of thinking.
Waldorf Academy places significant emphasis on the personalized attention and care students receive from their teachers. From the early grades, teachers engage in individual discussions with each student to understand their unique needs, desires, and educational goals. Beyond academic support, the teachers also play a crucial role in the personal development of their students. They help students navigate social interactions and personal growth, teaching them skills such as community involvement and empathy.
Discussions on topics like peacemaking and community values are integral, similar to the Hero Project, which helps students understand historical figures and their impact on society. These encourage students to think about concepts like conflict and peace. These discussions instill a sense of social responsibility and a desire to contribute positively to the community, with students encouraged to apply creative thinking and problem-solving.
A significant aspect of Waldorf education is its commitment to minimizing digital media and technology in the learning process. This philosophy aims toward a hands-on, experiential learning environment that promotes real-world interactions over screen-based activities. While there are a lot of benefits to screen-free learning, I think the students might benefit from a little more technology education.
The school encourages parents to actively participate in their children's education, from assisting with projects to attending school events. This collaborative approach creates a supportive environment that enhances the educational experience for students. Such involvement not only enriches students' learning but also strengthens the bond between the school and families. It makes education a shared responsibility and joy.
For students entering Waldorf Academy, I’d say embrace the guidance of teachers and engage deeply with the material. Teachers at Waldorf are dedicated to understanding and meeting the individual needs of each student. Their advice is invaluable.
I’d similarly encourage parents new to the Waldorf community to immerse themselves in the school's activities and ethos. Their participation will support their children's education, and will also contribute to the community spirit that characterizes Waldorf Academy. Through active involvement and open-mindedness, students and parents can fully benefit from the unique educational experiences that Waldorf offers.
