At the heart of the Waldorf approach is a recognition of the physical and emotional changes that occur as a child matures. At the grade school level, our teachers take care to introduce skills, subjects, and concepts appropriate to the child’s physiological, emotional, and spiritual development. We use a multi-sensory approach, integrating the arts into each subject to engage the whole child in the learning process rather than simply imparting intellectual information.
Integrated, Experiential Learning
In the middle grades, we introduce courses in technology, business math, physics, modern history, and strings ensemble or flute. Students gain experience in giving oral presentations, debate, observation, and drawing conclusions. Inquiry and reasoning skills and moral, social and emotional capacities are cultivated across the disciplines.
Our comprehensive curriculum is carefully considered to inspire learning and understanding in preparation, both intellectually and emotionally, for the challenges of high school, post-secondary school and life. We encourage personal initiative, social awareness, and critical thinking.
The middle school years culminate with a year-long study and an oral and artistic presentation. In grade 8, students begin a gradual transition to high school through immersive experiences, including a week-long campus visit, inclusion in Friday elective classes, and participation in high school trips.
The developing adolescent values human connections, desires a strong moral compass and craves challenging academics. We strive to support our middle-grade students in their unfolding emotional lives by nurturing their emerging sense of self.
The Middle Grades
Students are held by their class teacher and supported by several subject teachers. The class teacher stays with a class from Grades 1 through 8 and delivers the core curriculum. Through their time together, the class teacher builds a deep understanding of each student while each student grows in confidence and security. Specialty teachers provide instruction in their areas of expertise.
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Annual class trips into the oceans, forests, and farmlands are designed to meet the student’s developmental level, help them gain self-confidence, and encourage their connection to the natural world and each other. There are also a variety of local field trips and excursions related to each grade’s curriculum.
- Grade 6: Caving Trip
- Grade 7: Canoeing Trip
- Grade 8: Wilderness Adventure Trip
Student volunteers meet regularly to train as student mentors and helpers. They learn conflict resolution skills and reflect upon their own experiences to bring understanding and empathy to their work with the younger students. The SAC contributes to the healthy social life of the school and community by taking an active role in supporting and guiding the younger students at recess under the supervision of the SAC Coordinator. They lead student training, conduct assemblies, lead role-playing and skits in younger classes, mentor younger classes, and participate in Circles of Friendship or No-Blame meetings.
“A philosophy of freedom must set out from the experience of thinking, for it is through this experience of thinking that a human being discovers his own self, finds his bearings as an independent personality”
“A philosophy of freedom must set out from the experience of thinking, for it is through this experience of thinking that a human being discovers his own self, finds his bearings as an independent personality”
~Rudolf Steiner
