1. THE ALAN HOWARD WALDORF SCHOOL AND ITS HISTORY · Igniting a Passion For the Art of Learning The Faculty Grade School & Kindergarten 2016-17 Star Garden - JK Kindergarten Viven

Family Handbook

2016 - 2017

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

Family Handbook 2014-2015 Page 1 of 36

Igniting a Passion For the Art of Learning

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WALDORF ACADEMY AND ITS HISTORY Vision .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Mission ............................................................................................................................................ 4

THE STRUCTURE OF THE SCHOOL The Board of Trustees .................................................................................................................. 5 The Faculty ..................................................................................................................................... 6 The Faculty Circle ......................................................................................................................... 7 Managers' Circle ............................................................................................................................ 7 Faculty Managers ........................................................................................................................... 7 Administration ............................................................................................................................... 8 Class Representatives .................................................................................................................... 9 Community Council .................................................................................................................... 10 German Volunteers ..................................................................................................................... 10

COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND GUIDELINES Channels for Healthy Communication .................................................................................... 11 Guidelines for Building A Conscious Community................................................................. 12 Staff Extension Numbers .......................................................................................................... 13 The Voice School Newsletter, eNewsletter and Voice Flash ............................................... 12 Parent Participation ..................................................................................................................... 13 Curriculum Night ........................................................................................................................ 14 Parent Evenings ........................................................................................................................... 14 Home Visits.................................................................................................................................. 14 Parent/Teacher Conferences..................................................................................................... 14 Ways of Helping the School ...................................................................................................... 14

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Office Hours ................................................................................................................................ 15 Change of Address ...................................................................................................................... 15 Telephone ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Safe Arrival ................................................................................................................................... 15 Consent Forms for Out of Town/Overnight Trips .............................................................. 15 Lost and Found ........................................................................................................................... 16 Re-Registration and Tuition....................................................................................................... 16 Tuition Assistance ....................................................................................................................... 16



THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SCHOOL POLICIES School Hours ............................................................................................................................... 17 Grade 1 Sample Timetable ......................................................................................................... 17 2014- 2015 School Closures & Holidays ................................................................................. 18 The First Day of School: What to Bring and Where to Go.................................................. 19 Morning Procedure, Tardiness & Absence ............................................................................. 19 Dismissal &After School Procedure ........................................................................................ 20 After School Program ................................................................................................................. 20 Optional Afternoon Program – Grades One and Two ......................................................... 20 Inclement Weather ...................................................................................................................... 21 Rhythm ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Festivals ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Fundraising Activities ................................................................................................................. 21 Parent Volunteer Background Check Procedure ................................................................... 22 Building and Yard Use ................................................................................................................ 22

GENERAL SCHOOL RULES

Student Responsibilities.............................................................................................................. 24 Money at School .......................................................................................................................... 24 Discipline & Personal Conduct ................................................................................................. 24 Lower School ............................................................................................................................... 25 Middle School .............................................................................................................................. 25 Dress Code ................................................................................................................................... 26 Videotaping and Cameras .......................................................................................................... 27 Television ..................................................................................................................................... 27 Illegal Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco ......................................................................................... 28

HEALTH and SAFETY

Lunch and Snack ......................................................................................................................... 29 Anaphylaxis .................................................................................................................................. 29 Health Procedures ....................................................................................................................... 29

TRANSPORTATION Drop-Off and Pick-Up ............................................................................................................... 31 Travel To/From School Unaccompanied ............................................................................... 31 Bicycles.......................................................................................................................................... 31 Collection/Carpooling ................................................................................................................ 31



THE GRADE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

General Curriculum .................................................................................................................... 32 Extra-Curricular Sports .............................................................................................................. 33 Reports .......................................................................................................................................... 33

MORE ABOUT WALDORF EDUCATION

Recommended Reading .............................................................................................................. 34 Waldorf Association of Ontario (WSAO) ............................................................................... 36 The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) ................................... 36 Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) ................................ 36 Rudolf Steiner Centre ................................................................................................................. 36



WALDORF ACADEMY AND ITS HISTORY “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

Waldorf Academy’s Vision is igniting a passion for the art of learning

Waldorf Academy’s Mission will help us achieve our vision by:

Creating an inspired learning environment

Having a profound understanding of the whole child

Fostering healthy relationships among children, parents and teachers

Attracting highly capable, dedicated and skilled teachers who have a passion for teaching

Practising a culture of collaboration, respect, caring and creativity Waldorf Academy, an independent, co-educational and non-sectarian organization, opened its doors in September 1987, with a combined junior and senior kindergarten. Since then, the school has enjoyed steady growth and offers childcare to grade 8.The school is a full member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN). The school is approved by the Ministry of Education and registered as a non-profit organization. Located in downtown Toronto, Waldorf Academy welcomes students from diverse social, economic and ethnic backgrounds with differing gifts and abilities to share in an integrated curriculum. We educate our students to become free-thinking individuals who offer new solutions for the problems of our age, strive for intellectual freedom, artistic creativity and a sense of social responsibility. Our school community is comprised of children, faculty and staff, parents and friends – all joined in a celebration of education and life. Our school derives its vibrancy and character from its setting in the heart of Toronto and its urban Toronto families. Natural parks, historical sites, museums, theatres and art galleries become an extension of the classroom, enriching and enlivening our program. In addition to the buildings on Madison and Spadina, the faculty and students enjoy the school’s two backyard playgrounds, its side yard along Madison Avenue, the ravines extending north to the St. Clair Reservoir and the historical Spadina House and its restored Victorian and Edwardian gardens.



THE STRUCTURE OF THE SCHOOL The Board of Trustees Waldorf Academy is incorporated in the Province of Ontario as a non-profit corporation and, in addition, has charitable status with Revenue Canada. All full-time employees of the school, trustees and class representatives are automatically members of the Corporation. The legal and financial affairs of the school are the responsibility of a volunteer Board of Trustees drawn from the faculty, parents and friends of the school community. One third of board members are faculty members. The Board of Trustees functions as the school's main governing body, and hold monthly meetings. Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Corporation. Annual General Meeting is TBC All are invited. The new board slate is approved at the AGM. One class rep from each class is required to attend.



The Faculty

Grade School & Kindergarten 2016-17

Star Garden - JK Kindergarten Viven Carrady

Star Garden - JK Assisrant Mariela Pasatir

Sun Garden - SK Kindergarten Bozena Ciepielewski

Sun Garden – SK Assistant Laura Wingfelder

Grade One Katherine Fulford

Grade Two Naomi Kalfi

Grade Three D’Arcy Colby

Grade Four Lauren Commeford

Grade Five Jessica Abraham

Grade Six Amyann Faul

Grade Seven Robyn Stevan

Grade Eight Paula Rosa

English (Middle School) Amyann Faul and Robyn Stevan

Educational Support Shi-Ching Yu

Eurythmy Gabriele Schneider

Physical Education Karanvir Singh

Music, Choir & Ensemble Clara Hilts

Math (Middle School) Andrew Starzynski

Practical Arts Lesley Moffitt

Educational Support Yasmeen Mamdani

Violin Caitlin McQuaite

French Daniela Kolarska

Before Care Sriranjini Chandrakanth

After Care Connor Gordon-Martin

Kindercare TBC

Optional Afternoon Wed.: Amyann Faul, Fri.: Jess Abraham

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n

Facilitator Dean Husseini

Interim Business Operations Manager Matthew Denton

Admissions Manager Jennifer Deathe

Administrator Melody Bogin

C h i l d C a r e C e n t r e

Child Care Centre Supervisor Lucia Amaral

Toddler Morning Star Garden Natalia Gomez, Maria Mursalim

Preschool Fairy Garden Mario Mancuso, Corina Liu

Woodland Garden Lisa Gibson

Kitchen Staff Monica Darie & Charlotte Koen-Butt



The Faculty Circle

As is traditional in Waldorf schools around the world, the teachers come together every Thursday.The purpose of the meeting is to share teaching experiences, develop professionally, engage in pedagogical and child study and coordinate details of school life. The weekly meeting of the faculty circle is the heartbeat of the school. The faculty is also a part of all decisions that relate directly to teaching or working with the children. Professional development is an ongoing process at the school and involves faculty members and professionals from beyond the school. Managers’ Circle As part of the structure of the school, individual teachers have taken on the roles of managing various essential aspects of the school’s educational activities. There are five faculty managers. Managers report to the board through the facilitator. Managers also report to and consult with the faculty. Faculty Managers

Teacher Development (Erika Starzynski) promotes reflective practices among teachers; plans and oversees teacher evaluations; coordinates mentoring; responds to concerns about teacher performance; oversees teacher professional development and its budget.

Curriculum Manager (Erika Starzynski)works with teachers to support curriculum delivery and development; designs curriculum studies; oversees decisions where curriculum is affected.

Social Health and Discipline Manager (Lesley Moffitt) informs staff of behavioural and disciplinary policy and procedures to be followed; follows up with parents; problem solves with students; provides social/emotional support to children; ensures safety rules are followed.

Student Assessment Manager (Yasmeen Mamdani) confirms record keeping with teachers; oversees academic needs of students; supports assessment processes; facilitates academic support and manages report cards (grades 1-8).

Early Childhood Chair (Bozena Ciepielewski) participates in managers meetings’ weekly sessions; liaisons between the managers and early childhood faculty; takes part in voting and choosing task group members; brings reports, facts and issues from the pedagogical part of the early childhood department.



Administration

The Facilitator (Dean Husseini) leads the effective administrative operations of the school; collaborates with, coordinates and facilitates the management (team) circle; oversees the big picture of the school; resolves and mediates performance barriers and differences; and resolves and brings to closure unresolved processes. The Facilitator reports to the board on a regular basis.

The Interim Business Operations Manager (Matthew Denton) directs the financial management of the school and communicates issues to faculty, staff and stakeholders (budget, cash flow, financing); manages both internal and external business operations for the school (contracts, supplies, leases, etc.); supervises and mentors business operations assistant, informs and guides the finance committee.

The Admissions Manager (Jennifer Deathe) oversees marketing efforts, initiatives, direction and events; manages admissions, enrolment and recruitment; maintains and updates student OSR and family records; reports to the facilitator on enrolment trends; represents the school in the wider community.

The Childcare Supervisor (Lucia Amaral) oversees the daily operation of the Childcare Centre; supports and manages Childcare Centre staff; manages admissions, re-enrollment and recruitment in the Childcare Centre.

The Administrator (Melody Bogin) ensures the efficient and smooth operation of the administrative offices and provides administrative support for the management team. The Administrator is also the point of contact for all parents and visitors, ensuring that the first impression of the school is a warm, positive, and professional one.



Class Representatives One formal role in relation to the structure of the school is as class parent representative. Each class typically has two parent representatives. These parents are volunteers, who are invited by the teacher in consultation with the parents of a class to represent the group. If possible one parent will have a previous year’s experience and is assigned the principal class rep and the other may be new to the job. A two-year rotation is recommended. The role of the class rep is to promote and facilitate regular and healthy communication in the class, in the service of developing an optimal environment for our children (see sample parent protocols). At the same time, this helps to make the teacher’s life easier and classroom life run more smoothly. Class representatives:

form the body of the school wide Community Council

the principal class rep attends the Annual General Meeting*

manage practical activities (phone calls/emails to other parents, for example), assisting in organizing class events and helping out at celebrations and school festivals

welcome new families before the start of the school year and making themselves visible to both the teacher and parents

become knowledgeable about the structure of the school and the appropriate channels of communication in order to direct parent concerns

encourage individual parents to take issues/concerns directly to the teacher or parent with whom they have the concern (not to act as mediators – the school offers trained persons to act in this role)

promote and organize social activities among families, such as class potlucks, parties, picnics, skating trips, etc.

Annual General Meeting 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. The Annual General Meeting is usually in October. ‘Notice of the Annual General Meeting’ is sent out two weeks in advance with the agenda. Community Council The Community Council serves as a forum for parent involvement in the life of the school from September through June. It endeavors to develop a committed core of parent volunteers who meet regularly to share information, experiences and ideas, and take steps to enhance the school community. The Community Council will meet throughout the year (see community calendar on the school website). The goal of these meetings is to strengthen the social ties among the parents at the school. They also provide a forum for updating parents on school decisions in order to build a conscious community that supports their children’s education through the school.



Parents may also want to organize educational events for parents with the appropriate faculty manager. Meetings agendas include:

check-ins from class representatives

information about school activities or upcoming events

planning around initiatives

follow-up on projects underway

guest speakers

reports/updates from the school administration

recommendations for the faculty or Board of Trustees Meetings are attended by:

co-chairs of the Community Council

class representatives from early childhood to grade eight

member of the faculty or faculty representative,

a board member

representatives of school committees or administration

any interested parents from the parent body, who are welcome at all Community Council meetings German Volunteers

Each year the school hosts up to 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 the 2016 - 2017 school year they will report to Faculty member, Andrew Starzynski. If you have questions or wish to support the ‘GV’s’ as we lovingly refer to them, please contact [email protected]



COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND GUIDELINES Channels for Healthy Communication Learning about Waldorf education, partnering with your child’s teachers in your child’s education and fostering healthy communication provide a strong foundation for a healthy, mutually supportive social life among children and families. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s experience at school, the following steps are recommended:

If the concern involves the class teacher or your child, speak to the teacher directly. All teachers welcome parents to promptly address any issue, large or small.

If the concern involves a specialty teacher, speak directly to the specialty teacher involved. If concerns persist, speak to the Facilitator. All teachers can be reached by email or by calling the office. The teacher will return your call as soon as possible. Individual class teachers may inform parents of specific hours during which they welcome direct calls at home.

If the concern involves another member of the community, please see the following guidelines for building a ‘conscious community.’ These guidelines were developed through several meetings between class parents in an effort to ensure a healthy learning environment of the children.

Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct Guidelines for Building A Conscious Community

I recognize that to successfully build and sustain a healthy community/parent body, I will have to act in an uplifting and honourable manner. Therefore, I will: COMMUNICATE with the relevant party (parent, faculty, administration, class rep) any questions or concern about actions or behaviour for which I have concern. DISENGAGE from communications with fellow parents that place blame. REFRAIN from ‘third party talk’, i.e., the passing on of second hand information, hearsay, rumors or speculation. CONSIDER before I act or speak, the question “Is what I am about to do or say healing or hurting?” LISTEN to what others have to say with an open heart, and allow space for healthy disagreement. MODEL in myself those behaviours that I encourage and expect in my children. PROMOTE all these principles in my fellow parents. ASK FOR HELP if behaviours persist and contact the Facilitator, who can organize a facilitated conversation or involve the appropriate manager(s).



Examples of Inappropriate Behaviours Include, but are not limited to:

Exhibiting disrespect towards members of the school community, especially school

employees and other persons in positions of authority.

Exhibiting conduct injurious 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.

Uttering a threat to inflict bodily harm on a member of the school community.

Harassment (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) of any kind.

Using email lists for advertising/soliciting or to discuss matters unrelated to the curriculum of

Waldorf Academy.

Parents/Guardians exhibiting detrimental behaviour will be called to meet with the facilitator and/or a manager to conclude a plan for resolution and repair. Failure or refusal of the parent/guardian to meet or conclude a plane for resolution and repair may result in an immediate or future termination of enrolment of the parent/guardian’s child/children. It should be noted that all parents/guardians sign an enrolment contract with the following statement in it: By signing this Agreement, the Parent/Guardian understands 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 parents (or guardians) is essential to the fulfillment of Waldorf Academy's mission, and agrees that Waldorf 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.

Staff Extension Numbers Following are the telephone extension numbers of the faculty and staff of Waldorf Academy (for faculty without an extension number, please leave a message with reception, ext. 0): Lucia Amaral - Childcare Supervisor ...................................................................... 248 Jennifer Deathe - Admissions Manager ................................................................... 225 Sky Garden - ECE Childcare Teacher ..................................................................... 222 Morning Star Garden - ECE Childcare Teacher .................................................... 227 Fairy Garden - ECE Childcare Teacher .................................................................. 230 Dean Husseini - Facilitator ........................................................................................ 231 Shi Ching Yu – Education Support .......................................................................... 232 Yasmeen Mamdani - Student Assessment Manager .............................................. 232 Melody Bogin - Head Office ..................................................................................... 221 Matthew Denton - Business Operations Manager ................................................. 226 Grade School After Care ........................................................................................... 242 Kindercare ................................................................................................................... 240



The Voice School Newsletter, eNewsletter and Voice Flash

The Voice eNewsletter will be posted bi-monthly on the website and is a major vehicle of communication between the school and parents. It contains school news, updates and other events. Please make sure that you read thee-newsletter for school events and information. To receive the e-newsletter please sign up or complete the consent form in the summer package. Contributions to the newsletter are welcome. Announcements are run at the discretion of the editorial committee. We do not run classifieds or advertisements on the e-newsletter. In certain situations the school will need to make immediate announcements that cannot wait until the e-newsletter. In this situation a Voice Flash will be emailed to the entire community. Parent Participation

Children thrive when there is a close relationship between home and school. Parents 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. Welcome Open House- Curriculum Night September 24th 6:30 pm We invite all parents to attend a welcome back event in September. Parents will gather in the gym to meet the faculty, learn important information about the school year and the education. Parents will then be invited to visit and see their child’s classroom, meet the teachers and to pick up course outlines and of course reconnect with one another. Parent Evenings

Each class teacher schedules at least three class evenings throughout the year. The dates for these evenings are announced in the school newsletter. All parents in the class are expected to attend these evenings, which discuss issues of child development, curriculum, and class support. An activity is often scheduled to have parents experience of what their children are doing in class. The teacher will provide the best method and times to communicate. Class Email Waldorf Academy class emails are for the purpose of the teacher communicating information to the group. They do not have a ‘reply all’ function. Any information you wish to communicate to the class via the school email should be sent to the teacher to send out on your behalf. Parents are encouraged to create their own email group for social events or play-dates.



Home Visits Good communication between home and school is an essential component of Waldorf education. To this end the faculty tries to maintain continuing contact with each child's parents. Formal parent/teacher interviews take place in November and February.

Please invite the teacher of your child for a social visit to your home during the school year, preferably before the spring break. Such visits can be of great benefit to your child, particularly in the lower grades, in helping them form a secure connection between home and school. It is strongly recommended that if your child has difficulty settling into school, you contact the teacher concerned for a visit as soon as possible after the beginning of school. Parent/Teacher Conferences

Individual parent/teacher conferences are scheduled during the first and second terms of school. Conferences can be scheduled with specialty teachers as well as the main lesson teacher. Specific dates are listed in the school calendar. There is no school for the days on which parent/teacher conferences are held. Childcare is available during the time of the scheduled conference(s). The school also offers full day camps on these days. Ways of Helping the School 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.



ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Office Hours The school office is staffed Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Messages can be left on the school’s telephone answering machine if office staff members are busy. Messages are checked regularly throughout the day. Change of Address Parents are asked to notify the school immediately if their address or phone number is changed at home or at work so that they can be reached in case of an emergency. Telephone 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. Safe Arrival Attendance is taken in the classroom at 8:45 a.m. 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 8:45 a.m. if your child will be absent or is late (416.962.6447, ext. 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, lodging 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. Re-Registration and Tuition This year’s re-enrollment contract (2016 -2017) is your child’s perpetual enrollment contract, meaning that for you, this is the last time you will have to complete and return the re-enrollment contract. Once you return this contract you are finished with this process. This will apply only from kindergarten to Grade 8. The Childcare Centre already follows this process. Each January, you will still receive notice of tuition charges as well as information for 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 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 for that school year and supply supporting documents. The supporting documents are sent to a third party for a fee of $90.00. The third party determines the need for assistance and reports to the Tuition Assistance Committee. Tuition assistance recipients are asked to carry a moral responsibility to return the assistance they receive some time in the future. This will ensure that tuition assistance will continue to be available to all qualified families coming to our school. A detailed Tuition Assistance Policy and application forms are available to download from the school website or you may request a copy in the school office.



THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SCHOOL POLICIES

School Hours

Kindergarten Half-day (8:35 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) Full-day (8:35 a.m. -3:25 p.m.)

Grade School 8:35 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. Grade One Optional Wednesday & Friday 12:40 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. Grade Two Optional Wednesday 12:40 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. Grade One Sample Timetable:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8:45-10:30

Main Lesson Main Lesson Main Lesson Main Lesson Main Lesson

10:35-11:00

Snack/ 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

Period 3: Recess

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



2016-2017 School Closures & Holidays

Please make note of the calendar dates below and plan accordingly. The full calendar is available on the school’s website.

September 5 Labour Day (school closed) 6 First Day of School (Grade School); Rose Ceremony; Kindergarten Picnic 7 Transition Period Preschool to JK, SK begins 9 Welcome BBQ, 3:30-5pm 22 School Wide Welcome and Curriculum Night, 7:00pm 29 Michalemas Festival Grades 1-5 Side-yard 9am, Terry Fox run Middle School

October 6 Transition to High School Meeting 7pm 10 Thanksgiving weekend (school closed) 11 PA Day #1 (no school) 20 Waldorf 101 #1 24 Open House 18mos to grade8 28 Middle School Halloween Dance

November 1 Day of the Dead Celebration 7 Kindergarten Lantern Walk 5:30pm 8 Grade 1-3 Lantern Walk and Play 9 Parent Festival 4-5:30pm, Hero Projects 6-7pm 10 Childcare Centre Lantern Walk, 5:30pm 10/11 Parent/Teacher Conferences (no school) December 4 Winter Fair 5 Winter Fair Clean up (no school) 15 Waldorf 101 #2 22 Last day of winter term; caroling in the gym (2:00-3:30) 23-31 Winter holidays (school closed)

January 1-6 Winter Holiday (No School) 9 PA Day #2 (no school) 10 First day of winter term 25 Chinese New Year



February 2 Waldorf 101 #3 4 Kindermorning 15 Music and Arts Festival 4pm 16,17 Parent/Teacher Conferences (no school) 20 Family Day (school closed) 28 Enrolment Deadline March 6,7,8 Grade 8 Projects 6:30-9pm 10 PA Day # 3 School Closed 13-24 March Break 27 Term 3 Begins April 1 Open House 7 Coffeehouse 14 Good Friday School Closed 17 East Monday School Closed 20 Waldorf 101 #4 May 6 Mayfair 22 Victoria Day (school closed) 23 School Closed PA Day #4 27 EC Gardening Day June 1 Grade 8 Play 13 Grade 8 Graduation 7-9pm 16 Rose Ceremony 9am School year ends kindergarten 12:00 p.m. School year ends for grade school 12:30 p.m.



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

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 a.m. 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 8:35am. 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. 8:20-8:35am 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. The bell rings at 8:35 a.m. 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 front desk first thing in the morning. Please note your child’s name and grade and the reason for their absence. If you have not notified the front desk we are obligated to call home to confirm absence. From 8:35-8:45, German volunteers will be in the lobby handing out late slips as and after classes proceed up to their rooms. After 8:45, grade school students must enter the front door, go to the office, obtain a late slip, and proceed directly to class. 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 & 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/Kindercare Program The after school and kindercare program runs from 3:45 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 12:40 Wednesdays and Fridays, and pupils in grade two be taken home at 12:40 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. We will try to have any such message “on air” by 7:30 a.m. In addition, parents will be contacted by their class representatives. 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 offer a Grandparent/Special Friend Day in the Spring. 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 Parents welcome



Traditionally, festivals in Waldorf schools have been based on the Christian calendar. With the diverse nature of our community, our faculty is making a conscious effort to celebrate these festivals in a more inclusive way. 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. Fundraising Activities

Tuition alone does not cover basic operating and capital expenses at any independent school. Coordinated by the Community Council, the school has several fundraising events throughout the year, including: 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 yearmaking 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. 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. 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: 1. Only Waldorf Academy students, staff, and parents are allowed in the side yard. 2. From 3:25-3:45p.m., Waldorf Academy students and staff only may be in the side yard. 3. 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 3:45 so that the after care program and Child Care Centre may use the space.



GENERAL SCHOOL RULES

Chewing gum, candy and soft drinks should not be brought to school for snacks or lunches.

Electronic devices (cell phones, i-pods, etc.) may not be used on school property or brought into the classroom by students.

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

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.

Ball playing is not allowed in the rear playground or side yard unless a part of a lesson.

Bicycles are to be parked on the north side of the school building where there is an indent. 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.

Money at School Please do not allow your child to bring money to school, except when specifically requested to do so. The school cannot be responsible for money or valuables on the school premises.



Waldorf Academy 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. Discipline and Personal Conduct Under Revision

Every school requires a structure within which healthy learning and social relationships can take place and develop. Meeting expectations and boundaries is part of the educational process and the character building undertaken at school. Discipline helps everyone to feel safe, to know that everyone’s rights are respected and to help children develop discipline within themselves which is a foundation of learning. All disciplinary action is designed to bring the child to a deeper sense of self and to a stronger relationship with others and the entire school community. Teachers work to support the child’s health and well-being so that the appropriate behaviours are a natural expression of that well-being. Parental support is essential to this process. All members of the school community are responsible for treating each other with consideration and respect. Each parent is asked to review with his/her child the following guidelines in language which the child will understand. There are times when a student's behaviour crosses the boundaries of what is acceptable. Incidents of unacceptable student behaviour will be recorded using a misdemeanour report. Use of the forms is not intended as a substitute for work on supporting and developing the social health of the student and the group as a whole. Developing the social health of students in a loving and supportive way is the first goal of teachers working on discipline. The discipline procedures will only be applied in circumstances when students do not respond to other approaches, or for serious unforeseen events. Misdemeanour report forms are part of the school's discipline procedures. The intent of the reports is to send a clear message to students that certain behaviour is unacceptable. This procedure also ensures that communication with parents takes place when necessary.



Lower School (Grades 1-5)Under Revision Discipline in the lower grades is handled primarily by the class or specialty teacher. The teacher works at developing a healthy social unit. As the students mature they are expected to assume more responsibility for their actions. Every effort is made to work with students in a non-judgmental way. Each situation is considered on an individual basis. The teacher may also receive support from other faculty. If a student's behaviour does not improve after reasonable efforts on the part of the teacher, a misdemeanour report may be filed. A report may be filed immediately following an incident if the teacher believes it is appropriate. Middle School (Grades 6-8)Under Revision In the middle school, students are expected to be responsible for their actions. Every effort will be made to deal with behavior and discipline problems within the classroom. If this is not successful, or if an incident is serious, a misdemeanour report may be filed. Parents will be notified by the teacher if disruptive behaviour is a consistent or serious problem requiring misdemeanour reports. Interviews with parents, the class teacher, and the Social Health and Discipline Manager and/or the facilitator will take place according to the schedule outlined in the Behaviour and Discipline Policy. Occasionally, even after every attempt has been made to help a student, his/her conduct may continue to threaten the safety of him/herself, the teacher or other students, or prevent the effective learning of other students. Such a student may be asked by the faculty to leave the school. The Behaviour and Discipline Policy outlines the procedures followed. A copy of the school’s Behaviour and Discipline Policy is available to parents in the school office. Dress Code There is a school dress code. 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. The faculty requests parents’ cooperation with children’s dress in accordance with the dress code. 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. References to Middle School apply to grades 6-8 and Lower School grades 1-5. Early Child Education (ECE) has its own dress code but is similar to the Lower School.



Lower School and Middle School

1. No graphics or logos (characters, brands, sports or corporate) larger than 3 inches are permitted. 2. Tops must be long enough to cover the mid-section when arms are fully raised. 3. Pants, shorts and skirts must be worn at or above the hip bones, and cover undergarments. 4. 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. 5. All clothing must be mended and hemmed properly, no rips or holes. 6. Students must come to school with clothing appropriate for the expected weather conditions to allow for daily outdoor activity. 7. Hats may not be worn in school.* 8. Jewellery that interferes with any activity or creates a hazard must be removed. 9. Makeup and nail polish are not permitted

* In grades 1-3, students are permitted to have their winter hats on in the building; in grades 4 and 5, students are reminded that hats should be removed indoors; by middle school, students are expected to remove their hats as soon as they enter the building.

Middle School 1. Straps must be at least four fingers wide. 2. Shorts, skirts and dresses must be modest and not inhibit movement such as climbing and running. Skirts and shorts may require tights underneath if considered too short and inappropriate. 3. Undergarments, cleavage, and bra straps are to remain respectfully out of sight at all times. This includes not being visible through semi-transparent fabrics. 4. Makeup and nail polish are permitted in middle school, but should be minimal.

All grade school students are encouraged to have a change of clothing on site that meets the dress code. At the first infraction students must change and parents are informed. Appropriate clothing will be provided for students who do not have extra clothing at school. After the third infraction, a one-day suspension will result.

* This dress code may be subject to change at any time. 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 does not take the television images into their sleep. 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. A complete copy of the school’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs Policy is available for parents in the school office.



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. No medication will be administered in school without completing the permission form by the parent and the medication needs to be properly labeled. If your child requires medication while at school, please send a note to the school office describing the medical condition, the medication and its possible side effects and when it needs to be administered. 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 must be handed in to the Teacher with written directions by the parent.

● Send an explanatory note when the child returns to school after an absence.



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 Isolation of Student Chickenpox: 14-21 days Until all scabs are dry Fifth Disease: 4-21 days Not infectious after appearance of rash German Measles: 14-21 days 4 days from the appearance of rash Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease:4-6 days Until all sores have healed Measles: 10-14 days 4 days from the appearance of rash Mumps: 14-21 days 3 days from appearance of swelling 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



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 neighbours and 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.



THE GRADE SCHOOLCURRICULUM- under Revision

Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

History

fairy tales fables and legends of the saints

Old testament stories

Norse mythology

Myth and history of ancient cultures through Greece

Rome & Middle Ages

Renaissance, Reformation, age of exploration and discovery

revolutions

Language Arts

alphabet, vowels, phonics skills

word groups, lower case letters, oral work (rhymes)

reading/writing, parts of speech, cursive script

reading/writing, grammar lessons, parts of speech

reading/writing, expanded grammar, verb conjunction

reading/writing, grammar, composition

writing/reading, grammar, composition, poetry

writing/reading, grammar, composition, poems, plays

Math

four processes, multiples and other math facts

four processes, multiples and facts, place value

long division, borrowing, carrying, measurement

whole numbers, four processes with fractions

whole numbers, four processes with decimals

business math, percentages, interest, money

pre-algebra algebra

Science & Nature

stories personifying elements of nature

stories personifying elements of nature

gardening, farming, shelter building

zoology (human and animal)

botany physics: acoustics, optics, heat; geology, astronomy

physics, chemistry, physiology

chemistry, physics, physiology

Visual Arts

painting, drawing, beeswax modeling

painting, crayon and form drawing, bees-wax modeling

painting, drawing with pencil crayons

painting, form drawing, clay modeling

painting, drawing, clay modeling




Music pentatonic flute, singing in unison

pentatonic flute, singing as group

singing in rounds, recorder

violin, singing

violin, choir, orchestra

choir choir, orchestra

choir, orchestra

Foreign Language

French French French French French French French French

Practical Arts

finger and plain knitting, casting on, crochet; sand and wax dowels

knit recorder case, crochet seat cushion

knitting hat cross-stitch project

knitting in the round; walking stick, sugar pine egg

pattern making, sewing animals; butternut spoon

hand sewing larger item; mahogany / ash bowl

machine sewing clothing and doll; canoe paddle

Geography

local and regional study, cartography

North America

South America

Eurasian Africa

Physical Education

free play; games for coordination and social skills

free play, games

free play, games

games sports, ancient Greek Olympic sports

sports sports sports

SCOPE



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. We 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. 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.



MORE ABOUT 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

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’t Make 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

http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/



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

The Christmas Craftbook Thomas Berger (Floris)

Making Soft toys Freya Jaffke

Festivals Together: A Guide to Multi-Cultural Celebration

Sue Fitzjohn, Minda Weston and Judy Large

Prayers and Graces Michael Jones

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) As of June 2000 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. In June 2013, the school was re-accredited through June 2016. 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.awsna.org/

http://www.rsct.ca/

Documents

1. THE ALAN HOWARD WALDORF SCHOOL AND ITS HISTORY · Igniting a Passion For the Art of Learning The Faculty Grade School & Kindergarten 2016-17 Star Garden - JK Kindergarten Viven