family handbook 2017/2018 · waldorf academy family handbook 2017 page 6 of 46 3. our home waldorf...

250 Madison Avenue | Toronto, ON, Canada | M4V 2W6 waldorfacademy.org | [email protected] |416.962.6447

FAMILY HANDBOOK

2017/2018

Waldorf Academy Family Handbook 2017 of 46

Table of Contents

1. Our Purpose

2. Our Values

3. Our Home

4. Our Organization

a. Board Of Trustees

b. Facilitator

c. Administrative Managers

d. Pedagogical Managers

e. The Faculty

f. Parent Representatives And The Community Council

g. If You Have A Concern

5. Our Channels Of Communication

a. How To Reach Faculty

b. Class Email Groups

6. Our Code Of Conduct

7. The School Year Calendar

8. Administrative Procedures

9. School day Procedures

10. Social Health and Discipline

11. Health and Safety

12. Transportation

13. Videotaping and Cameras

14. Waldorf Education


"Our highest endeavor

must be to develop free human beings

who are able of themselves

to impart purpose and direction to their lives."

Rudolf Steiner, Originator of Waldorf Education


1. OUR PURPOSE

We have a vision

of a school community that ignites in children and adults alike a passion for the art of learning.

We have made it our mission

to build upon the foundation of

Steiner's profound understanding of child development,

and strive always to create a deeply inspired learning community.

Our community is carefully tended by all of us

when we foster healthy relationships

among young learners, their families and their educators.

Healthy relationships, in turn, support

a culture of caring respect and creative collaboration

in service of better teaching and learning.


2. OUR VALUES

Respect

for each other, for nature, for ourselves

Compassion to be caring toward each other

Empathy to feel the joys and sorrows of others

Curiosity to always wonder, always seek

Creativity to observe the world through an artist's eye and poet's heart

Courage to know and believe in yourself, and question convention


3. OUR HOME

Waldorf Academy is an independent, co-educational and non-sectarian

Waldorf school. The school began in 1987 as a one-room kindergarten. Over the

next decade the school grew along with its children adding a grade each year

until the first class graduated from the eighth grade in 1996. Since then, the

school has enjoyed a stability that allowed it in 2008 to became a great

innovator and pioneer founding the first ever Waldorf Education Childcare

Centre. Since then Waldorf schools in Canada and the United States have

begun to follow Waldorf Academy's lead establishing their own childcare

centers to meet the growing childcare needs of twenty-first century parents.

Located in midtown Toronto, at the foot of Casa Loma, Waldorf Academy is an

accredited member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

(AWSNA) and of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

(WECAN). The school is approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education and is a

registered not-for-profit corporation.

Waldorf Academy welcomes students from all socio-cultural and economic

backgrounds with differing gifts and abilities to share in an integrated Waldorf

curriculum. We educate young people to become free-thinking individuals who

offer innovative solutions for the problems of the day, fueled by intellectual

freedom, artistic inspiration and social care.

Our school derives its vibrancy and character from its larger community. On the

one hand, the school exists in the middle of Canada's largest, busiest

metropolitan city. On the other hand, it is nestled in the urbane midtown South

Hill neighborhood peppered with lush parks, historic sites, charming museums,

theatres and art galleries. The city and neighborhood are an extension of our

campus, enriching and enlivening our programs.


4. OUR ORGANIZATION

Waldorf Academy is a not-for-profit corporation in the Province of Ontario with

charitable status with the Canada Revenue Agency. All its employees, trustees

and community council parent representative are members of the Corporation.

The 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on:

Tuesday, October 24th, 6:00 pm at 250 Madison Avenue, Toronto.

Notice of the AGM is sent out two weeks in advance with the agenda. All

currently enrolled families are invited. The community council parent

representatives and faculty are required to attend. Voting at the Annual

General Meeting is restricted to “members” of the Corporation, who include the

principal class reps and the Community Council co-chairs.

4a. Board of Trustees

As of September 1, 2017:

Karen Koszo, President and Chair

Janine Lad, Secretary

Brian Dodd, Treasurer

David McLeod

Robert McKay

Gisbert Segler

Diana Miklos

The legal and financial affairs of the school are the responsibility of a volunteer

Board of Trustees drawn from the parents and friends of the school. The Board

of Waldorf Academy, like all independent school boards, has fiduciary duties

and an obligation to lead the school, which it oversees, toward the fulfillment of

its vision and mission. The trustees are elected to their terms at the Annual

General Meeting of Waldorf Academy Incorporated.


4b. Facilitator

Dean Husseini

o leads the administration

o manages the strategic direction

o manages school human resources

o facilitates the work of the managers

o oversees school operational effectiveness

4c. Administrative Managers

Business Operations Manager Matthew Denton

o manages financial operations

o manages business-to-business operations

o manages the facilities

Admissions Manager Jennifer Deathe

o manages admissions and retention

o manages marketing and public relations

o manages student records

Childcare Manager Lucia Amaral

o manages childcare operations

o manages childcare human resources

o manages childcare admissions and retention

o oversees childcare operational effectiveness

Office Manager Melody Bogin

o manages office operations

o facilitates the work of the administration

o provides front-line contact for parents and public


4d. Pedagogical Managers

As part of the administrative structure of the school, individual teachers have

taken on the roles of managing various essential aspects of the school’s

educational activities. There are four pedagogical managers. They report to the

facilitator. All managers and administrators consult closely with the faculty circle.

Student Assessment Manager Yasmeen Mamdani

o manages student progress reports

o manages academic support

o manages assessment processes

Social Health and Discipline Manager Lesley Moffitt

o oversees social health and discipline approach

o provides faculty with student discipline support

o provides students with social health support

Early Childhood Manager Bozena Ciepielewski

o manages kindergarten programs

o provides KG faculty with pedagogical support

o oversees KG staffing and scheduling

Curriculum and Teacher Development Manager

This position is currently vacant. The work of the portfolio doing this period is

carried by the Facilitator and the two committees of the portfolio.

o oversees teacher development

o oversee program syllabi and resources


4e. Faculty Circle

The Faculty meeting is the heart of our school's organization. Faculty members

are also a part of all decisions that relate directly to the pedagogy.

The Childcare Centre "CCC" (1.5 to 4 yr-olds)

Childcare Centre Manager

Lucia Amaral

Morning Star Garden ("toddlers" 1.5 to 2.5 yr-olds)

Natalia Gomez (Mat. Leave), Maria Mursalim, Rosa Goncalves, Aditee Tithee

Sky Garden ("preschoolers" 2.5 to 4 yr-olds)

Tayler Peterson, Jasmine Gure

Rainbow Garden ("preschoolers" 2.5 to 4 yr-olds)

Robin Linton

Fairy Garden ("preschoolers" 2.5 to 4 yr-olds)

Corina Liu, Fei Cong

Woodland Garden ("preschoolers" 2.5 to 4 yr-olds)

Lisa Gibson

Auxiliary Staff

Monica Darie & Charlotte Koen-Butt

The Kindergartens (4 to 6 yr-olds)

Sun Garden

Bozena Ciepielewski (EC Manager), Laura Wingfelder, TBD

Star Garden

Katherine Fulford, Mariela, Pasatir, Evelyn Komlodi (Aftercare)


The Grade School (6 to 14 yr-olds)

Grade One Vivien Carrady

Grade Two Paula Rosa

Grade Three Naomi Kalfa

Grade Four D'Arcy Colby

Grade Five Lauren Commeford

Grade Six Jessica Abraham

Grade Seven Amyann Faul

Grade Eight Robyn Stevan

Middle School Mathematics

Joseph Redican

French Daniela Kolarska

Middle School Language Arts

Amyann Faul, Robyn Stevan

Music Clara Hilts

Practical Arts Lesley Moffitt, Connor

Gordon-Martin

Fine Arts, Physical Education

Karanvir Singh

Educational Support

Yasmeen Mamdani, Shi-Ching Yu,

Michael Chapitis, Kristina Kiil

German Volunteers (GVs)

Each year the school hosts three young men from Germany who have chosen

to perform community service abroad. They assist around the school in a wide

variety of ways and are valuable members of our community.

In 2017/2018 the GVs will report to Karanvir Singh.

If you have questions, contact [email protected]


4f. Class Parent Representatives and Community Council

Each class (typically) has two parent representatives. These parents are

volunteers, who are invited by the teacher to represent the class.

The role of class representatives is to facilitate regular, healthy communication

among the class parents and between the class parents and the school, in

service of supporting an optimal environment for the students.

Position Profile

i. participation on the school-wide parent body, Community Council

ii. attendance at the Annual General Meeting

iii. becoming knowledgeable about the organization of the school and the

appropriate channels of communication to direct concerns

iv. acting as parent ambassador to new families to the class

v. practical and logistical management of the class community (e.g., make

phone calls and write emails to class families regarding group activities

involving parent participation, assisting with class events)

vi. promoting and organizing social activities among families

vii. encouraging individual parents to take concerns directly to the teacher

or parent with whom they have the concern

When possible a staggered-entry two-year rotation is recommended. Thus, one

parent will, in their second year as rep, act as the "principal class rep," while the

other will, in their first year, become orientated to the duties of the role.

The Community Council is a forum for parent involvement in the life of the

school. The mission of the Community Council is to strengthen and consolidate

parent volunteerism. It endeavors to develop a committed core of parent

volunteers who meet regularly to share information, experiences and ideas, and

take steps to help enhance school community and spirit.


The Community Council meets throughout the year. (See the "community

calendar" on the school website - waldorfacademy.org). The meetings provide

a forum for updating the parent community (through their representatives) on

school developments and activities in order to build a conscious community

that supports their children’s education through the school. The Community

Council may also wish to organize educational events for parents with the

appropriate faculty manager.

Typical Meeting Attendees

o co-chairs of Community Council

o class representatives from childcare to grade eight

o faculty representative(s)

o board representative(s)

o administration representative(s)

o any interested current parents


4g. Your Commitment: Each Individual Parent and Guardian

The entire school community is strengthened by the support of parents. Please

complete the “Opportunities for Parent Involvement” form included in your

summer package and return it to the office by the requested date.

School children thrive when there is a close relationship between their home

and their school. Parents and guardians are encouraged to become a part of

the community in some of the ways described below in addition to the ways

outlined earlier for parent class representatives and in the Community Council.

Parent Evenings (Whole Class)

Typically, each class teacher schedules three parent evenings during the school

year. The dates for these evenings are announced in the school newsletter. All

families in the class are expected to be in attendance at these evenings. Topics

typically covered include: the current stage of child development relevant for

the class, a detailed look at the Waldorf school curriculum for the current grade,

the teacher’s and parents’ views of the social life of the class, and class events

updates and announcements.

Parent-Teacher Conferences (Individual Families)

Formal parent-teacher conferences take place in November and February.

(Please refer to the school calendar online for this year’s dates.) Conferences

can be scheduled with specialty teachers as well as the class teacher.

There is NO SCHOOL during the days on which parent-teacher conferences are

held. The school does offer full day camps on these days.

Home Visits

It is advisable, especially in the first year of enrolment to invite your class teacher

for a social visit to your home, preferably before the spring break. Often class


teachers, when first joining a group (in the early grades) will contact families

directly to book such visits.

Home visits can be of great benefit to your child by helping them form a secure

emotional connection between home and school. It is a particularly

recommended practice if your child is having difficulty settling into school.

While the practice is typically carried out by class teachers, it can also help

develop connections with specialist teachers. Please contact the teacher you

would like to invite for a visit directly.

Pro-active Participatory School Parenting

It greatly enhances the life of our school when parents pro-actively:

1. learn about Waldorf Education and Anthroposophy,

2. partner with your children's teachers, and

3. engage in and committing to healthy communication

These pro-active commitments when taken up by a critical mass of parents and

guardians will provide the strongest foundation for a mutually supportive school

community. We welcome parents and guardians to promptly pursue direct,

personal dialogue in order to address concerns in a manner that strengthens

mutual understanding and serves the advancement of the children's

experience. The next two sections address the "how" of doing so effectively

within our school.

If You Have A Concern

Please communicate directly with the relevant teacher. If concerns persist,

please speak to the facilitator.


5. OUR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

5a. How To Reach Someone

Members of the faculty and administration can be reached through their

@waldorfacademy.org email accounts. Faculty members will respond as soon

as possible within two working days. While the school does not provide faculty

phone numbers, individual faculty members may provide such and inform

parents of hours during which they receive parent calls.

5b. School Phone Extension Numbers

Following are the telephone extension numbers of the faculty and staff of

Waldorf Academy (for faculty without an extension, please send an email):

Offices

Melody Bogin - Office Manager ...................................................... ………………….221

Jennifer Deathe - Admissions Manager ......................................... ………………….225

Matthew Denton - Business Operations Manager ........................ ………………….226

Lucia Amaral - Childcare Manager ................................................ ………………….248

Dean Husseini - Facilitator……………………………………………..………………….231

Yasmeen Mamdani - Student Assessment Manager ................... ………………….232

Shi-Ching Yu - Education Support ................................................... ………………….249

CCC, EC Classrooms (There are no phone lines in the grade school rooms)

Sky Garden Childcare........ ............................................................... ………………….222

Woodland Garden Childcare...................................................................................223

Morning Star Garden Childcare …………………………………………..........……...227

Fairy Garden Childcare .................................................................... ………………….230

Rainbow Garden Childcare......................................................................................239

Sun Garden Kindergarten..........................................................................................240


Star Garden Kindergarten.........................................................................................241

After School Programs

Kindergarten Aftercare (Sun Garden) ............................................ …………………240

Grade School Aftercare (Meadow Room) ................................... …………………242

5c. Class Email Groups

The Waldorf Academy class email groups are a ONE-WAY medium of

information communication from the school (i.e., the faculty, the administration,

the community council, or the Board) to the currently enrolled parents and

guardians in each class. They are not equipped with a ‘reply all’ function. If

there is a piece of information a parent in the class wishes to disseminate to the

rest of the families via the school’s email group, that parent may send a request

to the class teacher who acts as the class’s electronic messaging moderator.

Parents are encouraged to create their own email contact lists for social

purposes.

5d. The Voice E-Newsletter And Voice Flashes

Please be sure to regularly read our e-newsletter to stay abreast of school

events and updates.

“The Voice,” Waldorf Academy’s e-newsletter, is emailed bi-monthly through

Mailchimp and is the primary school news communication vehicle. It carries

information about school events and updates on school life. To receive the e-

newsletter directly via-email, complete the consent form in the summer

package. Please manage your subscription with mailchimp and update your

email address when relevant.

At times the school will make “flash” announcements that cannot wait until the

next e-newsletter publication date. This is called a “Voice Flash” and comes in

the form of an email to the community.

Contributions to the newsletter are welcome.


6. OUR CODE OF CONDUCT

At all times, please adhere to this Community Code of Conduct which was

developed in an effort to support a healthy social life within the school

community.

To build and sustain a healthy school community, as a parent or guardian, I will:

SPEAK DIRECTLY with the relevant teacher, administrator, or parent about

matters of concern.

LISTEN WITH OPENNESS to what others have to say and allow space for

healthy disagreement.

AVOIDSECOND-HAND INFORMATION and hearsay.

DISENGAGE from communications with fellow parents that lay blame.

CONSIDER, before acting or speaking, the question “Is this constructive?”

MODEL those behaviours that I encourage and expect in my children.

PROMOTE the above behaviours when engaging with others in the

community.

If issues persist:

ASK THE FACILITATOR FOR HELP to organize a meeting involving the

appropriate parties.

Examples of inappropriate conduct include, but are not limited to:

DISRESPECT towards members of the school community, especially school

employees and other persons in positions of authority.

INJURY to the moral tone of the school or to the physical or mental well-

being of others.


BULLYING, INTIMIDATING OR THREATENING a member of the school

community.

HARASSMENT of any kind, which is defined as engaging in vexatious

comments or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is known or

ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome.

MISUSE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND EMAIL LISTS to solicit,

advertise or discuss matters unrelated to the Waldorf Academy curriculum.

Parents and guardians exhibiting inappropriate behaviour will be called to meet

with the facilitator and/or the board chair to conclude a plan for resolution and

repair.

Failure or refusal of the parent or guardian to meet or conclude a plan may

result in an immediate or future termination of enrolment of the parent or

guardian’s child/children. It should be noted that all parents and guardians sign

an enrolment contract with the following statement in it:

By signing this Agreement, the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) understand(s) that Waldorf

Academy may require the withdrawal of or may dismiss a student at its sole

discretion. The Parent/Guardian further understands that a positive and

constructive working relationship between Waldorf Academy and a student's

parent(s)/guardian(s) is essential to the fulfillment of Waldorf Academy's mission,

and agrees that Waldorf Academy may terminate enrolment, or decline re-

enrolment, if Waldorf Academy, in its sole discretion concludes that the student's

action or inaction is detrimental to Waldorf Academy, or whose

parent(s)/guardian(s) have engaged in conduct which is detrimental to Waldorf

Academy.


7. THE SCHOOL YEAR

School Hours

Kindergarten Half Day 8:30 am to 12:00 pm

Kindergarten Full Day 8:30 am to 3:20 pm

Grade School 8:35 am to 3:25 pm

Grade One Optional 12:35 pm to 3:25 pm (Wednesday and Friday)

Grade Two Optional 12:35 pm to 3:25 pm (Wednesday only)

A Sample Class Timetable

Grade one (example only)

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8:45-

10:30

Main

Lesson Main Lesson Main Lesson Main Lesson Main Lesson

10:35-

11:00 Snack & Short Recess

11:15-

11:55

Period 1:

Movement

Period 1:

Music

Period 1:

French

Period 1:

Skills

Period 1:

Handwork

11:55-

12:35

Period 2:

French

Period 2:

Skills

Period 2:

Handwork

Period 2:

French

Period 2:

Music

12:35-

12:55 Lunch

12:55-

1:35 Long Recess (Period 3)

1:35-

1:55 DEAR (Drop Everything and Read)

1:55-

2:35

Period 4:

Painting

Period 4:

Walk

Period 4:

Optional

Period 4:

Movement

Period 4:

Optional

2:35-

3:15

Period 5:

Painting

Period 5:

Walk

Period 5:

Optional

Period 5:

Music

Period 5:

Optional

3:15-

3:25 Dismissal


Special Events, School Closures and Statutory Holidays 2017/2018

Please make note of the calendar dates below and plan accordingly.

The full calendar is available on the school’s website here

September

4 Labour Day (Statutory Holiday)

5 Rose Ceremony (9:00 am); First Day Grades only, Kindergarten Picnic Day

6 First Day of Kindergarten

7 Curriculum Night (6:30 pm)

8 Welcome BBQ Corn Roast Fair (3:30 pm)

23 Open House 10:00 am -1:00 pm

27 Early Childhood Speaker (5:00 pm - 6:30 pm)

29 Michaelmas Festival (9 am); Terry Fox Run (9:30 am)

October

9 Thanksgiving Monday (Statutory Holiday)

10 Professional Development Day 1 (School Closure); Camp available

12 30th Anniversary Event: Alumni Panel (6:30pm)

14 30th Anniversary Event: An Evening Out (6:30pm)

24 Annual General Meeting of Waldorf Academy Inc. (6:30 pm)

27 Halloween Parade; Halloween Dance

November

1 Day of the Dead Festival

4 Kindermorning outreach (9:30 am)

8 Parent Festival (4:00 pm); Hero Projects (6:00 pm)

http://waldorfacademy.org/calendar/


9,10 Parent-Teacher Conferences (School Closures); Camps available

13 Grade 1 to 3 Lantern Walk and Martinmas Play (5:30 pm)

15 Kindergarten Lantern Walk (5:30 pm)

16 Childcare Centre Lantern Walk (5:30 pm)

December

3 The Winter Fair

4 Winter Fair Clean up (School Closure); NO camp

21 Last day of fall term; caroling in the gym (2 pm)

22-31 Winter Break (School Closures); NO camp

January

1-7 Winter Break, continued (School Closures); NO camp


9 Winter term begins

February

10 Kindermorning outreach (9:30 am)

14 Music and Arts Festival (4:00 pm)

15,16 Parent-Teacher Conferences (School Closures); Camps available

19 Family Day (Statutory Holiday); NO camp

March

1 Tuition Deposit Deadline

2 Ceili

6-8 Grade Eight Projects (6:30 pm)

10-25 March Break; March 20-24 Camp available


27 Spring term begins

30 Good Friday (Statutory Holiday); NO camp


April

2 Easter Monday (Statutory Holiday); NO camp

6 Coffee House

14 Open House

May

5 Mayfair

21 Victoria Day (Statutory Holiday); NO camp

22 Report Card Writing Day (School Closure); Camp available

26 Gardening Day for CCC & KG

31 Grade Eight Play

June

1 Grade Eight Play

13 Grade Eight Graduation (7:00 pm)

15 Last Day with dismissal at noon; Rose Ceremony (9:00 am)

18 Summer Camps Begin


8. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Office Hours and Phone Calls

The school office is staffed Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Messages

can be left on voicemail if office staff is busy. Messages are checked regularly

throughout the day.

Change of Parent Contact Info

Parents are asked to notify the school immediately if their address or phone

number changes at home or at work so that they can be reached in case of an

emergency.

Office Telephone Usage

There is a telephone in the office for the use of parents and children in

emergencies. To avoid problems with pick-up arrangements students should

make social arrangements ahead of time and not use the school phone for this

purpose. The school cannot be responsible for students who make alternative

social arrangements at the last minute.

Late and Safe Arrival

Attendance is taken in the classroom at 8:45 am and parents of grade school

children will be contacted by the office if the school has not been notified that

a student is absent. Please phone the office by 9:00 am if your child will be

absent or is late at 416.962.6447 x 0

Students who arrive at school after attendance has been taken are required to

obtain a late slip and sign in at the office.

Students arriving late may not be admitted to class until after the completion of

main lesson. Parents are encouraged to do everything possible to have children

arrive on time.

Consent Forms for Out of Town/Overnight Trips

Beginning in grade three, grade school classes schedule out of town trips at

least once a year. These trips are an essential part of the Waldorf curriculum.

They create the social fabric of the class and deepen the children’s experience

of the material presented in the classroom. For their own educational


enrichment and social well-being, we expect students to be full participants in

all class trips.

Parents are notified in advance of the details of the trip including transportation,

accommodation and food arrangements. Some parents may be asked to

accompany the class to support the teacher with the practical aspects of the

trip. The school requires a signed consent form from a parent of each

participating child.

Lost and Found

The Lost and Found is located in the basement. Check early when something is

missing. Before the end of each term, the lost and found items are displayed. All

items not claimed at that time are given to a local charity.

Student Registration and Tuition

Our enrollment contracts are "perpetual enrollment" contracts, meaning that

you only have to complete and return one enrollment contract when you first

join the school. The contract is then automatically renewed for years moving

forward. At the start of each calendar, in January, you will receive notice of

tuition fees as well as information for our tuition assistance.

The perpetual enrollment contract will stay in effect from year to year without

any renewals. If, for some reason your child will not be returning to Waldorf

Academy for the following school year, you must notify the Admissions

Manager, in writing by the date indicated in the annual January notice.

Parents interested in enrolling siblings may arrange for a school tour and/or have

information and a brochure mailed out by calling the office during regular

school hours. This same information is available on the school website.

Tuition Assistance

Each year the school sets aside a limited amount of funds to assist those families

from kindergarten to grade 8 who temporarily require financial assistance in

order to have their child attend the school.

Families requesting assistance are asked to fill out a Tuition Assistance

Application Form with Apple Financial for that school year and supply

supporting documents. Apple Financial charges a small fee to process. The third

party provides a recommendation to the Business Operations Manager. The

Admissions Manager informs the families of the amount available. Factors


affecting the amount are the result of the recommendation, school policy,

strategic planning and funds available.

A detailed Tuition Assistance Policy and application forms are available to

download from the school website.

9. SCHOOL DAY PROCEDURES

The First Day of School: What to Bring and Where to Go Kindergarten: Please refer to your summer letter from the class teacher and the

kindergarten family handbook.

Grade School: Students should bring comfortable shoes to wear inside the

school. Outdoor shoes are not allowed in the classrooms. They should also bring

a nutritious snack and a lunch including a drink. (Please see additional

information in the section, lunch, and snack.)

Morning Procedure, Tardiness & Absence

Before Care: The school provides free supervision for kindergarten and grade

school students after 8:00 am in the side yard until 8:15 a.m. At 8:15 grade school

students transition to the backyard supervised by a faculty member until the bell

rings at 8:35 am. Kindergarten remain in the side yard and are escorted to their

classrooms at 8:20 or handed over to the supervision of the JK/SK team.

8:20-8:35 am School Arrival

Grade school students should be punctual in arriving at school each morning

between 8:20 and 8:35 a.m. Upon arrival, they should walk to the back yard via

the south walkway. From that point on they are in the care of the school. They

must always be in view of the supervisor and must not enter the school building

or leave the back yard unless they have permission to do so. Any arrivals after

8:35 am are considered a late and they must go to the front desk to obtain a

late slip before they are allowed to enter the classroom.

With the exception of grade one students for the first term, all grade school

students must enter through the rear door. Parents are requested to drop their

children off and not to accompany students up to the second floor. The grade

one teacher may choose an alternate drop-off/pick-up to begin the school

year, and will inform parents of any change in procedure.


If your child is absent or late, we ask that you notify the Office Manager at the

front desk by 8:45 am, either by phone at 416.962.6447 or email at

[email protected]. Please note your child’s name, grade and the

reason for their absence. If you have not notified the Office Manager, we are

obligated to call home to confirm absence.

From 8:35-9:00, A German volunteer will hand out late slips at the front door. A

late slip tells the class teacher that a student's arrival has been noted; it is a

student's pass into class.

Late arrivals affect the whole school. Students arriving late delay and disrupt

main lesson. The accumulation of five late slips in one month will result in a

phone call home from the facilitator. After ten late arrivals in one month, the

facilitator will arrange a meeting with the parents and child to create a plan to

improve punctuality.

It is vital that the children’s education is not interrupted by absences except in

cases of illness. Please attempt to schedule family vacations during the regular

holiday schedule included with each year’s school calendar. If it is necessary to

take children away from school for a period during term, written notification

should be given to the child's teacher with ample notice prior to the absence.

If your child is leaving the school before the end of the school day, a note must

be presented to the class teacher. For safety reasons the child must be signed

out in the school office and signed back in upon returning to school.

Dismissal and After School Procedure

Grade school students are dismissed through the back door into the side yard

between 3:25 and 3:30p.m. Parents should pick up their children from the side

yard from 3:30-3:40p.m. Students who have signed permission to leave the

school alone should leave through the back door promptly on dismissal.

Students may not return after leaving the building.

* The school's dismissal procedure is based on the safety of the children: making

sure they have a safe, supervised place to play until they are picked up, and

ensuring that they are being released to a parent or adult that is authorized to

collect that child. For this reason the school has many staff on duty outside in the

afternoon. In keeping with this procedure, parents who wish to pick up their

children early should come to the front office before 3:15 in order to reduce

congestion in the halls and help support a smooth and safe dismissal. A


reminder to parents not to pick up their children from their classrooms; rather,

between 3:25 and 3:40, parents should wait outside the school to pick up their

child.

When the bell rings at 3:45 p.m., all children not yet picked up will be

accompanied to After-School Care by the supervisor. If parents are more than

five minutes late picking up their children, they will be charged the daily rate for

After-School Care.

After 3:45 p.m., only students who are under the supervision of After-School

Care, the sports program or a parent/caregiver may remain in the building or in

the yards.

After School Program

The after school program for grades 1-8 runs from 3:40 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The

aftercare program offers interactive programs for grade school children (weekly

themes, games, and snacks). If your child needs after school care, please

complete a form and return it to the office. For more information on fees for

after school care, please see the schedule included in the summer package or

contact the school office. There are separate after school programs for the

kindergarten and the grade school.

Optional Afternoon Program: Grades One and Two

The transition from kindergarten to grade school is a big step for children. The

demands in learning and concentration are considerably greater than in the

kindergarten years, resulting in the children becoming easily exhausted. The

faculty, therefore, strongly recommends that pupils in grade one be taken home

at 12:35 Wednesdays and Fridays, and pupils in grade two be taken home at

12:35 Wednesday. The children who remain will take part in the optional

afternoon program.

Inclement Weather

If it becomes necessary to close the school because of inclement weather

during the winter, an announcement will be posted on our website and a voice

flash will be sent to the community. In addition, parents will be contacted by

their class representatives.


Building and Yard Use

In general, the side yard and back yard are part of the school property, so all

rules for the school apply for this space. In particular:

Only Waldorf Academy students, staff, and parents are allowed in the

side yard.

From 3:25-3:45p.m., Waldorf Academy students and staff only may be in

the side yard.

Between 3:45 and 6:00p.m., only those students and staff participating in

the after school program, or children and staff from the Child Care

Centre, are to be in the side yard. This means that parents must pick up

their children from the side yard by 3:40 so that the after care program

and Child Care Centre may use the space.

Students must stay on school property unless they have their teacher’s

permission to leave.

Students are not allowed to climb fences surrounding school property.

The walkway on the south side of the school is not a play area.

Bicycles are to be parked on the north side of the school building where

there is an indent.

Festivals

The grade school holds a grade school parent festival once a year. Parents are

invited to see a presentation of some of the work the children are doing with

their class. These are traditional occasions in Waldorf schools worldwide. They

are a celebration of accomplishment and sharing. We also may offer a Music &

Arts Festival and other community events such as a Grandparent/Special Friend

Day. There is an opening and closing ceremony of the year as well that parents

are welcome to join.

The celebration of seasonal festivals forms an integral part of the Waldorf school

year. In celebrations, festivals and their qualities are raised into greater

consciousness through the power of pictures, stories, songs, drama, and food, all

providing nourishment for the body and spirit.

Examples of major festival celebrations observed throughout the school during

the year are:

Michaelmas/Sukkot/Harvest Courage, strength, perseverance,

gratitude. Parents welcome

Hallowe'en A time for fun and games


Day of the Dead Celebration To honour those that have passed away

Lantern Walk/Martinmas Charity and inner light

Parents welcome

Winter Light Festival Anticipation, inner light, love

Chinese New Year A time to honour ancestors

Earth Day Rebirth/transformation in nature

Mayfair Welcoming Spring

Traditionally, festivals in Waldorf schools have been based on European

traditions. With the diverse nature of our community, our faculty is making a

conscious effort to celebrate these festivals in a more inclusive way that is

universal. Families who would like to share additional celebrations are

encouraged to contact their child's class teacher. Generally, teachers

collaborate with parents regarding the celebration of these festivals. In this way,

festivals are celebrated appropriately through the parents’ knowledge of a

particular festival and the teacher ensuring its pedagogical significance for the

children.

In addition, other festivals are integrated into different grades at the teacher's

discretion to give the children a deeper feeling and awareness of the diversity of

cultures. For example, in grade three, Passover may be celebrated as part of

the study of Hebrew Bible stories.

Extra-Curricular Sports

As a member of the Small Schools Athletic Federation (SSAF), an organization of

small, independent schools in the larger Toronto area, the school offers an extra-

curricular sports program for students of grades six to eight. The following sports

may be offered:

Basketball

Volleyball

Floor Hockey

Soccer

The above teams are open to all male and female students in the appropriate

grades who are willing to make a commitment to attend practices and games


on a regular basis. Games are played both at Waldorf Academy and at other

schools throughout the Toronto area.

The teams practice twice a week after school and there are often optional

morning practices. Students may attend a Waldorf basketball tournament at the

end of January that is hosted by Toronto Waldorf School. Other tournaments

that we have participated in are indoor soccer, indoor ball hockey, baseball,

cross-country, and badminton (not in the last couple of years due to conflicts

with play season). For safety and insurance purposes we travel by bus or TTC to

all games and tournaments. Any boy or girl in the middle school is eligible to be

on a team and we do not conduct tryouts for the teams unless there are a

maximum number of spots allowed on the roster.

Homework Policy

Assignments completed outside of school hours are important for all ages in

order to build will forces in the children. Homework begins in the early grades as

simply doing chores or being read to. Students get their first real project in grade

three and by grade five, they are completing weekly assignments in main

lesson, languages and mathematics. Families can support their children at home

by making sure they have a quite workspace and uninterrupted time in which to

complete their assignments. Rest and out of school activities are vital to the

forming of a healthy, happy child so it is very important that parents

communicate with the teacher if they feel that their child is doing too much

homework. The amount of time spent on assignments should begin with only a

few minutes per day in the lower grades to around an hour on average in

middle school.

The full homework policy will be available Curriculum Night.

Reports

While marks are not emphasized at Waldorf Academy, particularly in the early

grades, a process of assessing and benchmarking is in place throughout the

grades to monitor students' progress and development. In grades seven and

eight, students receive marks on their mid-year and end-of-year reports. Grade

six students also receive a mid-year report, but are not assigned marks. At the

end of the year, every grade school child receives a comprehensive written

report from their class and specialist teachers.

Fundraising Activities

Our needs are very specific to our unique program and while tuition can cover

our basic operating costs, it does not extend to the extras we need to fulfill our

Waldorf ambitions


Annual Gift Campaign – Each year parents and guardians are asked to donate

to the Annual Gift Campaign. This campaign is an essential aspect of the

overall annual financial plan. The school sometimes designates particular

projects that require special funds, such as refinishing the gym floor, library

resources, teacher development fund, etc.

Winter Fair – This is a highly-anticipated, popular event that brings our

community together at the beginning of December. Parents work all year

making crafts and goods to sell. Our school building is magically transformed

into a winter wonderland, with story-telling, carol-singing, candle-dipping, and

much, much more. Each class is responsible for a different room or activity, and

the entire school community comes out for the day.

Several other events may be scheduled throughout the year. Some events that

have taken place in the past are concerts by artists who are parents, films by

and for parents, dances, and yard sales. Parent initiative in this area is very

welcome.

Parent Volunteer Background Check Procedures

As of August 2012, Waldorf Academy requires that all parents working in the

school store, volunteering in a classroom, or accompanying children on a

school field trip complete a criminal background check. The school has an

account with mybackcheck.com, and the process is fairly simple: we register

your full name and email on their secure database, they send you an email, and

your information is verified and sent to the police for processing. Once

complete, an email is sent to you and the school with the results. The cost of a

back check is $35. Parents are required to pay the fee.

If you plan to volunteer in the school this year, please email Melody Bogin at

[email protected] so that we can start the process. In order to

ensure we have the results on time, please contact us at least two weeks before

the planned outing.


10. Social Health and Discipline

The Boys Town Well Managed Schools Model:

The Boys Town Well Managed Schools Model (WMS) is a strategic, multi-tiered

intervention approach that emphasizes behaviour management practices,

relationship-building techniques, and social skills instruction to address and

prevent behavioural challenges in a school setting. This research-based,

positive behaviour approach model is rooted in applied behaviour analysis and

social learning theory and has widely proven success in helping schools to

create and sustain productive and cooperative social environments in their

learning communities. WMS offers the structure and strategies needed to reduce

disruptive or harmful behaviours and empower students with the self-

management skills necessary for academic and social success. As an

intervention strategy, it represents a comprehensive classroom management

and discipline approach that emphasizes preventative practices and social

accountability rather than reactionary, punitive responses. In this way, WMS

connects directly to the vision and mission of Waldorf Academy where we strive

to model, shape and nurture both academic and social/emotional learning. We

believe this holistic approach provides key assets in helping young people to

mature into caring, responsible and resilient adults capable of achieving

success in all aspects of their lives.

One of the key components of this program is the Social Skills Curriculum which

focuses on 16 social skills. To view the 16 Social Skills, along with steps for each

skill, please visit the following

link: http://www.sppswaterloo.org/misc/Boys_Town.pdf

Waldorf Academy Student Code of Conduct

I am respectful

I am responsible

I am safe

I am prepared

We are here to learn, therefore, I will do nothing to prevent the teacher from

teaching and anyone from learning, including myself. I will cooperate with all

school staff. I will respect others, school property, the environment, and myself. I

will not use any mean word, sign, or act (including digital and online

communication) that threatens or hurts a person’s body, feelings, or things.

http://www.sppswaterloo.org/misc/Boys_Town.pdf


GENERAL SCHOOL RULES

Electronic devices (cell phones, i-pods, etc.) may not be used on school

property or brought into the classroom by students unless it is part of a

curriculum program. Parents will be notified in advance if this is the case.

Knives, matches, lighters, fireworks and caps are prohibited on school

property.

Illegal Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco

Use of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco by students is not permitted. A student in

possession of any of these substances in or near the school will be immediately

suspended for three to five days while further consequences are determined.

Student Responsibilities

1. Students must bring appropriate clothing and footwear for the day's

activities. Students must have athletic shoes that are only used for indoor

activities.

2. Warmth: students must be dressed appropriately for weather conditions

and consider activities such a recess and field trips.

3. Students must bring all required school equipment and materials needed

for the day's lessons.

4. Students are to arrive on time in the morning and be ready for classes on

time.

5. Students must bring enough food and snack items to carry them through

their day's activities, including after-school activities and trips. Students will not

be allowed to leave school to purchase food.

Dress Code

The responsibility for the dress and grooming of a student rests primarily with

his/her parents or guardians and the student.

The dress code is designed to allow students to freely participate in the full

range of activities that can be a part of every lesson, and to limit distractions.

During the school day, students should dress neatly, in clothes that fit properly

and are appropriate for the weather conditions and for all outdoor and indoor

activities.

Grade School

1. No graphics or logos (characters, brands, sports or corporate) larger than 10

cm are permitted.


2. Specialized courses and events may require specialized attire, such as sports

uniforms, safety gear and performances.

3. All students must have indoor and outdoor shoes. Indoor shoes must be

suitable for athletic activities, while outdoor shoes must be suitable for normal

outdoor activities, including running, nature walks, and sports.

4. All clothing must be mended and hemmed properly, no rips or holes.

5. Students must come to school with clothing appropriate for the expected

weather conditions to allow for daily outdoor activity.

6. Hats and hoodies may not be worn in the classroom.

7. Jewelry that interferes with any activity or creates a hazard must be removed.

All grade school students are encouraged to have a change of clothing on site

that meets the dress code.

* This dress code may be subject to change at any time.

Discipline and Personal Conduct

Our school supports and enforces the rules and guidelines outlined in the

Waldorf Academy Code of Conduct, General Rules and Attendance. Further,

the administration supports the age-appropriate management techniques used

by the classroom teacher. When an exception arises, the teacher is

encouraged to contact the parents and/or the administration for collaboration

and assistance. Parental support will insure that the learning atmosphere can be

maintained at school. We believe that regular, open communication between

parents/guardians and the teacher helps diminish any problems that may

occur, whether they are academic or behavioral. We urge parents and

teachers to take a proactive approach in developing and maintaining open

communication.

Having high expectations is a characteristic of effective schools. At Waldorf

Academy, we have high expectations for ourselves and for our students.

Therefore, compliance with school rules is expected. Individual teachers

implement classroom discipline plans that include both rewards and

consequences. When classroom discipline issues occur that do not warrant the

Social Health & Discipline Manager’s involvement, teachers contact parents as

soon as possible. Please also see the “Boys Town Education Model” section of

this handbook (pages?) for information about this educational model as well as

the 16 critical social skills that we teach on a school-wide basis.

The following SCHOOL RULES are to be followed by all students in the classroom,

hallways, playground and restrooms:

I will respect myself.

I will respect others.


I will accept responsibility for my actions.

I will do my best.

I will be safe

I will be prepared

Teachers may have additional rules for their classrooms.

Offenses justifying a trip to the social skills room and/ an office referral

include but are not limited to:

• Disrespect shown to school personnel

Inappropriate language or profanity (including threats to harm)

Obscene gestures (including gestures suggesting violence or intent to harm)

School vandalism

Threats to harm (spoken, written, drawn or gestured)

Theft

Fighting

Assault/physical aggression

Bullying

Students will be disciplined for not following rules and violating the Code of

Conduct. When they are sent to the social skills room for effective discipline,

the faculty views these incidents as opportunities to teach and reinforce

appropriate skills. Faculty and Administrators use the Boys Town corrective

teaching process to:


1. Offer initial praise or empathy.

2. Describe the inappropriate behavior.

3. Describe the appropriate behavior.

4. Provide rationales.

5. Practice the social skill that is needed.

6. Provide specific feedback on the practice.

7. Identify consequences.

8. Provide general praise.

Communicating Social Skill referrals to Parents and Guardians

When a child is sent to the social skills room as a formal office referral for

violating the Waldorf Academy’s Code of Conduct, parents/guardians are

contacted by the referring faculty as soon as possible to discuss the incident.

The child will also complete a full, verbal apology to anyone that s/he has

wronged or disobeyed. The social health & discipline manager may also follow

up to address how to support the student at home and at school.

Consequences that will be considered are:

• Logical consequences

• Corrective teaching and an apology are always part of the disciplinary

process.

• Supervised short break in the classroom or office to reflect and regulate.

• Loss of a privilege

• Completion of a problem-solving sheet/activity


11. HEALTH & SAFETY

Lunch and Snack

Parents are asked to send a healthy mid-morning snack and lunch with their

grade school children, including nutritious food and a drink. Lunch and snack

are eaten in the classroom and supervised by the class teacher. Children who

attend After School Care should bring an extra snack for the late afternoon.

Parents of preschool children should consult the nursery and kindergarten

program section for additional information regarding snack and lunches.

Please do not send your child to school with chocolate, candy, pop, or any

other food with high sugar content. Chewing gum and bubble gum are also not

permitted on school premises.

We strongly encourage the use of refillable and recyclable containers and litter-

free lunches. The school has a compost system for fruit and vegetable matter.

An Allergen-Free School

The school, in conjunction with the parent community, made a decision several

years ago to become a nut-free school, as some children and teachers have

life-threatening allergies to nut products. Parents are asked to support this by

having children’s snacks and lunches nut-free. This includes not only nuts but

also nut oil. If your child has an allergy to any substance, please make sure

that both the office and your child’s class teacher know.

Anaphylaxis

The school feels that all parents would like to be aware that there are children

and faculty members in our school with severe life-threatening food allergies to

peanuts and tree nuts. This is called anaphylaxis, a medical condition that

causes a severe reaction to specific foods or other materials, and can result in

death within minutes.

Although this may not affect your child's class directly, the school-wide policy is

that children do not come to school with any nut products. Waldorf Academy

appreciates your understanding and cooperation in ensuring the safest

environment for your children.


Health Procedures

Waldorf pedagogy is concerned with the whole child and sees a relationship

between overall health and teaching. You will find teachers most receptive to

any comments you wish to share about your child’s health, sleeping and eating

habits, stress and home life rhythms.

Parents are asked to keep sick or infectious children at home, and to notify the

school before 8:45 a.m., as described in the section Absence/Lateness above.

If children become ill during the day they may lie quietly in the sick room in the

school office until a parent or another designated caregiver can pick them up.

Included in the summer package are health and emergency forms which must

be filled out in full and returned by the date requested. New students must either

bring in proof of immunization or sign the appropriate exemption form. The

school must have a copy of each child’s birth certificate on file.

If in the morning before school, there is some question about your child’s state of

health, it is often better to keep the child at home. It is suggested that parents

give their children at least one full day of rest at home after an illness. This also

protects the other students and the teacher’s as well from getting ill.

Parents of children with severe allergic reactions should ensure that the school is

aware of both the symptoms and the appropriate treatment for such allergies

by filling out the medical form appropriately.

The school has made a diligent effort to keep children free of head lice, which is

endemic to school-aged children. Regular checks for lice are scheduled

throughout the entire school. Parents of children who are found to have lice are

informed by phone or by a note and are asked to treat their children before

they return to school. A follow-up check is done when the child returns to school.

ILLNESSES

When a student has a temperature of more than 37.8 C/100 F degrees, is hurt or

ill, parents will be contacted to pick up their child from school. Any child with an

illness is required to be signed out through the Front Desk before leaving the

school. A parent or guardian must escort the child home. Parents are asked to:

● Inform the Front Desk that the child is unable to come to school.

● Keep the child at home until fit to return to school. For the safety of all

Waldorf students and faculty, children should be free of fever, diarrhea and


vomiting for at least 24 hours before returning to school. (See additional details

below).

● Do not let children control or keep possession of medicines of any

description in school.

● Any medication to be administered during school hours requires a

parent/guardian complete the Medication Authorization Form. It is available at

the front desk.

INFECTIOUS OR CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

The isolation periods for children suffering from such illnesses are given below

and should be followed in all cases:

ILLNESS INCUBATION PERIOD ISOLATION OF STUDENT

Illness: Incubation Period

Chickenpox: 14-21 days

Fifth Disease: 4-21 days

German Measles: 14-21 days

Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease: 10-14 days

Measles: 10-14 days

Mumps: 14-21 days

Measles: We will comply with the Toronto Public Health procedure and students

with incomplete vaccinations or an exemption from receiving the vaccine will

not be allowed to attend school until the outbreak is over or they have been

vaccinated.

OTHER CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS

Conjunctivitis: Exclusion from school until eyes are back to normal

Head Lice: Exclusion from school until treatment has started

Impetigo: Exclusion from school until treatment has started


12. TRANSPORTATION

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

To facilitate a smooth flow of traffic on Madison Avenue during the busiest time

of the day, parents are requested NOT to park and leave their vehicle. Please

drop off your child/ren after 8:15 in front of the school. Teachers and German

volunteers will be on duty to see your children safely into the back yard, where a

teacher is on duty.

Please respect our neighboursand do not park in front of the laneway to the

north of the building or on adjacent properties’ parking lots or loading areas.

Please do not block the faculty and staff parking located at the front of the

building.

At the end of the day, we ask that parents collect their children as soon as

possible from the side yard. Again, it is a rolling a pick up.

Travel To/From School Unaccompanied

Children traveling unaccompanied must have a Permission to Leave School

Unaccompanied form signed by a parent in their school file. If any child does

not arrive at school by 9:15 a.m., the child's parents will be contacted by the

office. At the end of the day, unaccompanied students must leave school

grounds promptly by 3:45 p.m. Any after-school social arrangements among

students should be made well in advance to avoid confusion.

Bicycles

Students riding bicycles to school should lock them securely in the designated

area, by the laneway along the north side of the school. Please do not lock

bicycles in front of the building near the front entrance or against the front wall,

as they can be damaged by cars entering or exiting the parking lot. Bicycles

may not be kept inside the school building. The school cannot be held

responsible for loss of/damage to bicycles.

Collection/Carpooling

Class teachers and the office must be aware of regular carpool arrangements;

any adult picking up your child on a regular basis should be added to your

child's Permission to Leave School Unaccompanied form. If someone other than

the parent will be collecting your child or there is a change in carpool


arrangements, please inform the teacher and office in a written note. This is very

important from a security/safety point of view.

It is not possible for the office to make last minute arrangements regarding

carpools and social arrangements. Please make these arrangements before

the start of the school day so that there is no confusion between children,

parents, and teachers about how your child is getting home.

13. VIDEOTAPING AND CAMERAS

The faculty requires you get their permission to use cameras or video recorders

at school plays and festivals. The school reserves the right to use cameras and

filming for outreach purposes.

Screens (television, handheld devices)

Television viewing and use of computer games by children is discouraged by

the school for the following reasons:

Television viewing is a passive activity that can result in restlessness and

poor concentration.

Recent studies show that exposure to electromagnetic fields of video

screens is a concern.

Many programs have adult content, violence and disturbing visual

images not suitable for children.

Cartoon characters are often stereotyped and provide a poor model for

children's behaviour.

Teachers strive to create a learning environment in the classrooms and in

the building that supports the philosophy of Waldorf education. When a

child brings the experience of viewing a television program, video or

computer game into the classroom setting, the environment which the

teacher has created can be negatively impacted.

We recognize that television viewing is part of our culture. However, parents

can assist their child’s education greatly by conscientiously monitoring and

limiting the children's viewing time. In particular, we request that there be no

television watching before coming to school each morning or before going to

bed at night, so that the child can absorb the curriculum taught that day into

their sleep.


14. WALDORF EDUCATION

Each year lectures and courses on Waldorf education are conducted or

organized by the Community Council or the Faculty. Parents and friends of the

school are invited to attend, and notices of these events will be posted in the

Voice and on our website.

If you are interested in joining a study group on Waldorf education at the school,

please indicate your interest on the “Opportunities for Parent Involvement” form

included in your summer package.

Recommended Reading

Listed below are a number of books that parents may find useful to learn about

various aspects of Waldorf education. Several of these books may be available

at the school store. It is certainly not a complete list but is a starting point for

parents. In addition, the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

(AWSNA) has a very informative web site (http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/).

General Reference:

Waldorf Parents Handbook Lois Cusick

Waldorf Education: A Family

Guide

P. Fenner & Karen Rivers,

ed.

You Are Your Child’s First

Teacher

Rahima Baldwin

Lifeways - Working with Family

Questions

Gudrun Davy and

BonsVoors

Education Towards Freedom: A

survey of the work of Waldorf

Schools

Joan and Siegfried Rudel,

English editors

School as a Journey: The Eight-

Year Odyssey of a Waldorf

Teacher and His Class

Torin M. Finser

Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman

http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/


Encountering the Self -

Transformation and

Destiny in the Ninth Year

Hermann Koepke

The Irreducible Needs of

Children

Brazelton and Greenspan

Child’s Play Silken Laumann

On the Threshold of

Adolescence

Hermann Koepke

Just Because It’s Not Wrong

Doesn’tMake It Right

Barbara Coloroso

Looking Forward: Activities to

Develop Children’s Learning

Abilities

Molly von Heider

Failure to Connect: How

Computers Affect Our

Children’s Minds – For Better

and Worse

Jane Healy

What Is Waldorf Education Jack Petrash

The Child and the Machine Alison Armstrong and

Charles Casement

Festivals, Seasons & Crafts:

The Children’s Year Copper/Fynes-

Clinton/Rowling

Festivals with Children Brigitte Barz

Family, Festivals and Food Diana Carey / Judy

Large

The Nature Corner M.V. Leeuwen / J.

Moeskop

Making Soft toys Freya Jaffke

Festivals Together: A Guide to Sue Fitzjohn, Minda

Weston and Judy Large


Multi-Cultural Celebration

Study Material:

Education As a Lively Art Marjorie Spock

Childhood - A Study of the

Growing Child

Caroline von Hyderbrand

The Way of the Child A.C. Harwood

The Recovery of Man in

Childhood

A.C. Harwood

The Philosophy of Freedom Rudolf Steiner

The Study of Man Rudolf Steiner

The Education of the Child Rudolf Steiner

Children and Their

Temperaments

Marieke Anschutz

The Wisdom of Fairy Tales Rudolf Meyer

The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA)

Waldorf Academy is a full member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of

North America (AWSNA). AWSNA provides a network of information, ongoing

education, conferences and mentoring for Waldorf teachers and schools in

North America. It also acts as an information source for persons and

organizations interested in knowing more about Waldorf education. AWSNA

meets twice a year, with each member school represented by a delegate. A

complete list of all schools and teacher training institutes affiliated with AWSNA is

available at www.awsna.org.

http://www.awsna.org/


Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN)

Waldorf Academy's early childhood program is a full member of Waldorf Early

Childhood Association of North America and the International Association of

Waldorf Kindergartens.WECAN works closely with its sister organization, the

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). Its mission is to

nurture the work with the young child from pre-birth to age seven, based on an

understanding of the healthy development of the child in body, spirit, and

soul,with a commitment to protecting and nurturing childhood as the

foundation for a truly human culture.

Rudolf Steiner Centre

The Rudolf Steiner Centre, adjacent to the Toronto Waldorf School in Thornhill,

offers a year-long Waldorf teacher training program as well as running an

extensive adult learning program, with courses based on the work of Rudolf

Steiner, the founder of Waldorf Education. Brochures outlining the centre’s

courses are distributed each term with the Thursday flyer and from time to time

the centre uses Waldorf Academy as a location for particular workshops and

lectures. The centre can be reached at 905.764.7570 or www.rsct.ca.

http://www.rsct.ca/

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