January Events:

January 14th Saturday Parent and Child begins

January 21st Free Kindermorning

January 31st Therapeutic Eurythmy Hands on Lecture  7pm-9pm

Sample a Waldorf Kindergarten class for you and your 3-5 year old

January 21, 2012
9:30 -11:30 am
Registration required
admissions@waldorfacademy.org
Beautiful watercolour painting
Bread baking
Seasonal song and verse
Developmental movement
Circle time

Waldorf Academy offers a multi-disciplinary curriculum that integrates the artistic, practical and academic. It emphasizes the role of the imagination and develops thinking that is as creative as it is analytical.

Our developmental approach has been used for almost 100 years and is supported by recent scientific research in brain and child development. The child from age 0-7 years old will develop a strong foundation for academic learning when the program is experiential, imitative, and sensory-based. The children learn through practical activities that build socialization, language and will.

Come and discover the genius of the Waldorf curriculum.

PARENT AND CHILD WINTER PROGRAM
Begins Saturday January 14 9:30-11:30 for 10 weeks
Parent and Child provides a gentle and nurturing place where families come together once a week in a supportive learning community. Our aim is to protect the grace, magic and wonder of the first 3 years of childhood while honouring the valuable and trying work of raising children.

We immerse the young child in an environment that supports healthy, age-appropriate sensory, social and emotional development and that offers relaxing activity and conversation for the adults.

The morning flows smoothly as the children are carried by the consistent rhythm of creative play, snack, circle, story time and outdoor play. We create a joyous and calm, yet very active environment: we grind flour, bake bread, make butter, play interactive games, sing, say rhymes and verses, and sometimes enjoy a puppet story. Additionally, parents have the opportunity to learn to knit and to work on simple craft projects. Together, we enjoy our delicious organic fresh-baked bread or muffins, tea and fruit.

Every class includes a brief discussion on various parenting and child development topics such as play, discipline, rhythm and routines, sleep, nutrition and media. Parents are encouraged to observe, read, share their insights, request topics and ask questions. Specific individual concerns can be briefly addressed during outdoor play, or by appointment.

We encourage the parent or caregiver to register with their age-appropriate child only (nursing infants excepted) so that both the child and the adult can fully benefit from class interactions. Moms and Dads are welcome to take turns attending.

Please contact Sara Anderson at admissions@waldorfacademy.org for more information.

Therapeutic Eurythmy Workshop

Admission Free
January 31^st, 7-9pm

Join Michael Chapatis and Janet Hendershot for an informative and hands on evening exploring and understanding therapeutic eurythmy and how it can benefit children.

What is Therapeutic Eurythmy?

Eurythmy Therapy is a form of movement therapy, which seeks positive outcomes in physiological, emotional and academic areas.

What are the benefits of Therapeutic Eurythmy?

• Improving posture, mobility, spatial orientation, coordination, breathing, circulation and focus can be addressed.
• A sense of well-being and confidence can be strengthened.
• It can be beneficial in the treatment of many different areas, including but not limited to allergies, anxiety, ADHD, developmental disabilities, and learning difficulties.

Presenters

Michael Chapitis

Eurythmy Diploma/Performing Arts; Pedagogical Eurythmy Certificate; Eurythmy Therapy Diploma/Medical Section, Goetheanum, Switzerland

Michael Chapitis currently works with Kindergarten to Grade Eight students as a part-time Therapeutic Eurythmy specialist at the Halton and Trillium Waldorf Schools and Waldorf Academy in Ontario.  Of note, it takes 7 years to complete the Therapeutic Eurythmy Program.  Michael received much of his mentoring and further training, from renowned educator, Marjorie Spock, who witnessed the creation of Eurythmy under Rudolf Steiner in the early 1900s and who founded Waldorf Schools in North America. Michael offers annual courses in Switzerland to eurythmists and physicians. Michael has been working with Waldorf Academy students since 1999.

Janet Hendershot

B.F.A. (York University), O.C.T., Reading Specialist (University of Toronto), Remedial Specialist (Rudolf Steiner College of Sacramento), Special Education (York University)

Janet has been with the school since 1999 after receiving a diploma in The Extra Lesson and remediation from the Ruldolf Steiner College, Sacramento.  She is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers, qualified to teach Kindergarten through Grade Ten and has taught in public schools.

This evening is supported by ATHENA; the Association for Therapeutic Eurythmy in North America

website: www.therapeuticeurythmy.org

As the holidays approach parents will be feeling the pressure to purchase the latest techno gadget, video game, iPad or Wii for their child. It can create tension within a household when one partner is for and the other is against particularly if your child is in a Waldorf school.

Please join us for a presentation and discussion on this most important subject.

The Fog of Media
Throughout history, technology has been one of the most important benefactors of human culture and development. In our current age, the speed at which electronic media is changing and making itself a part of everyday life makes it difficult for parents and teachers within Waldorf schools to assess its age-appropriateness. It is never a question of rejecting our culture, as Steiner reminds us, but rather of understanding the effects of such technology on the children’s own development and of then working together to lead the children into the world in the best manner possible.

GENE CAMPBELL has an Ontario Teacher’s Certificate and Waldorf teacher certification and has taught from kindergarten to grade eight over a 30 year career. She is founder of Chiron, which, for the past ten years, has offered summer intensives as well as individual and parental counseling, Waldorf school mentoring, conferences and workshops. She has been a keynote speaker at conferences in both the United States and Canada. Gene is director of the Distance Foundation Studies Certificate Course offered through the Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto

Waldorf Academy Cheese Fundraiser Form

We are selling a selection of artisan cheeses from the award winning Cheese Boutique.  These luxury cheeses are perfect  for holiday entertaining and gift giving.

Order must be placed by Dec 9^th and picked up Dec.14^th All our delicious cheeses will be approximately 340 grams and priced at $18.00. All the accompaniments are $8.00

Please mail payment or drop by with payment. There will be samples at the Winter Fair, Dec 03.

Sunday NYTime’s Front Page
By now you have probably all heard about the front page story in this past Sunday’s New York Times featuring Waldorf Education as an interesting and positive difference to the electronics heavy – mainstream approach in education. Just in case, here is the link: NY Times Technology Can Wait

Please share this article with your parents, grandparents, colleagues and friends in your community.

Matt Richtel, the author of the NYTimes piece, is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who found Waldorf Education while investigating the cultural impact of technology. Matt has a blog – please do write to him, if you are so inclined. He is expecting, hoping to hear from the Waldorf Community: write to him here. Matt’s Blog

Waldorf Academy on Global News November 18th, The Slow Death of Cursive Writing

To view more articles and video clips on Waldorf education please go to the Links and Resources Page

Over the next few months, the Search Committee will work diligently to find a suitable successor and make a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

Below is a link to the posting that was prepared in consultation with faculty and administration. Please pass on this exciting opportunity to people you know that might be interested in helping to lead Waldorf Academy through its next phase of growth.
Facilitator Job Description

Sincerely,

Sarah Luke
Chair of the Board of Trustees

WALDORF EDUCATION IS A JOURNEY NOT A RACE

December Events

Winter Fair: Saturday Dec 3 10am-4pm
Childhood memories are made from this magical winter fair:
A children only store, a good witch, an enchanted woodland pond, gingerbread houses that look like they belong in a Grimm’s fairytale, the calming experience of candle dipping, natural crafts and plenty of opportunities for parents to check off their gift list with our one-of-a-kind Sleighbells Boutique, selected vendors, bakery, and artisan cheeses.

A Grade 8 Main Lesson Book on Anatomy