It was nearly 35 years ago when I walked into a Waldorf kindergarten classroom for the first time. Beauty met me at the threshold and beckoned me forward. The kindergarten was in a small “pioneering” school. The building itself, above a business in the midst of an urban setting, wasn’t pretty. The furniture wasn’t new. The carpet was shabby. Yet a rosy glow warmed me and the space was awash with veils of color.

Something that looked like an altar made me gasp at the mystery, grace and loveliness of nature that radiated from it. In every corner of the room true objects, true colors and true shapes fed my senses and instilled in me a feeling of peacefulness coupled with an impulse to step forward, interact with these surroundings, and engage with the beauty around me.

A person approached – this was the kindergarten teacher (on an Open House day with no children in the room). I asked her about the qualities of the space. She said something like, “In Beauty one feels well.” This moment changed the course of my life.

Beauty draws us in. It beckons us to engage. And so I did... READ MORE

The history of education in my community, Ohswe:kon (or Six Nations of the Grand River Territory), is anything but beautiful. Education, as an institution, was introduced by the Government of “Canada” through the Catholic and Anglican church, with the sole purpose of assimilating our peoples and severing our connection to our land, families, and culture. Residential schools or government sponsored Boarding Schools operating from 1800s to the 1990s, were explicitly designed to “kill the Indian in the child.” Our languages, culture, and society were viewed as inferior, heathen, dangerous and a barrier to economic progress. As a result, children were ripped from our communities and taken to such institutions as “the Mush Hole” (or the Mohawk Institute, located in Brantford, Ontario) for “educating.” Children were abused, many died, and our own people even began adopting the belief that our peoples, languages, and ways are, in fact, lesser and a hinderance to our own progress.

With the trauma of Residential Schools still lingering in our collective consciousness, education has left an impression on our people that is cold, divisive and painful. So how do we, given this history and trauma, bring beauty to our youngest children’s education? This was a question that I held as I was tasked with developing the first Mohawk Immersion, Waldorf and Lifeways inspired preschool program at Skaronhyase’ko:wa Tsyohterakentko:wa Tsi Yontaweya’tahkwa ( The Everlasting Tree School) in 2017.

How do we, as Rotinonhsyon:ni peoples, define beauty? How do we carry this beauty in an educational structure as we work with our youngest children? Can this even be done within an educational structure? For those of us who teach at Skaronhyse’ko:wa, these questions inspire us to... READ MORE

As an adult, I am continually grateful to spend my days with children who are still so strongly connected to the spiritual world. The mysteries and the magic of life is so much more accessible for them, in turn making it more available for me. I want them to believe in what is unseen, and so know, as the adult in their presence, I have to truly believe myself, or at least be open to the possibility of finding hidden gifts in our challenges.

With news of the day in our outer world, mixed with a shifting, somewhat uncomfortable transition in my own personal life, this task has certainly not simply been reflexive and assumed. And yet I continue to teach and be with young children so it is my responsibility to stretch myself and authentically find the beauty amidst the discomfort. But really the first step in doing this is embracing the challenge. With the children, this can be practiced when... READ MORE

Prelude to Winter: A parade of lanterns through the woods, fairy houses and fairy fires light it up (magic), bonding at the bonfire, cider the children made and song, "This little light of mine."

Winter Beauty: When the room is dark, the harpist plays and the angel leads each child on a spiral to the light. Slowly the room illuminates and we see the glow on each child's face and know the beauty in the warmth of a silent night. Ten children in a circle tapping their drumsticks in rhythm to "Pa rum pa pum, pum." Eyes wide open, ears engaged to the puppet show..where do the bears go come winter!

When icicles hang on the Magnolia branches, ready for the taking--winter popsicles.

The breath of children napping under down rainbow beds, silent as the falling snow.

When the no man becomes the snow man.

When the child puts on his/her own coat, mitts, hat and boots with some

willing to help.

Where building blocks are chunks of snow and sand castles become snow castles until like, "MacArthur's Park," they melt in the dark.

Where children form a train on sled and slide down the hill in perfect unison, only to crash, roll and laugh at the station.

 

When you go caroling in the woods, knock on every door (tree) and sing ,"Joy to the World."

This past December my son’s teacher led his class into a dark Eurythmy room and sat the parents around an outer circle. Our children were welcomed to sit closer to the arrangement in the middle of the room. Their little round faces sparkled with wonder reflecting the golden light from a grouping of snow colored candlesticks. One by one, holding hands with their teacher, they were given a candlestick and guided towards a green spiral of fir branches. A guitarist began stroking strings, echoing their gentle steps through the darkness. I remember my son glancing up towards me, his face in subtle awe. My heart was overflowing with pride as I saw a flash of all the leaps and moments that will merge together to become his full life. When he reached the center of the spiral, he lit his candlestick and retreated around the labyrinth, this time with his own clear sense of pride.

I cannot think of something more alluring than a child experiencing beauty with all twelve senses, within a single instant. The experience of watching him complete his very first spiral walk was the type of moment that brought

... READ MORE

Life on our dear Earth is truly a marvelous adventure. Along its course we will find ourselves in most interesting, and often rather magical moments. If we are ready to embrace their miraculous nature, we will be blessed with the experience of true Beauty. Beauty that is not easy to share through a photo, Beauty that is known with our full being when we are in its presence, Beauty that fills our soul with hope, love, and a sense of joy, Beauty we have no choice by to write with capital B.

It is remarkable to observe how fully young children embody a sense of true wonder about the world, and every day their bright eyes and warm open hearts inspire me to keep my own wonder alive. As a parent and a teacher, I feel continually blessed to have the most amazing moments in each day keeping me in the presence of lovely and timelessly beautiful things, beings, places, and experiences. Our presence as teachers and parents is so important to the children in our care, and a part of our responsibility to them is to... READ MORE

Inspired Homemaking

with Rahima Baldwin Dancy

April 3 - May 11, 2019

Imagine a home life that is nourishing for every member of the family, including yourself!

Join  Rahima Baldwin Dancy   online for this five-week class in which you will build up a picture of your home life. Explore what is working for you and what isn’t on the physical, rhythmical, emotional, and spiritual levels of your home  more.

BONUS: LIVE Conference Call with Rahima!

Discipline with Loving Awareness

with Cynthia Aldinger

May 1 - June 1, 2019

The time-tested tools available in this course have served as inspiration to parents, caregivers and early childhood teachers for two decades.

Includes FREE audio download of Cynthia’s lecture, The L.O.V.E Approach to Discipline .

Whidbey Island Waldorf School is seeking an early childhood nursery teacher with a focus on care for children from birth to 3 years old and their families. This position will include being the lead teacher for the Nursery class for children 1 - 3 years old from 8:15am - 12:15pm and facilitating a parent/ child program for children from birth - 3 years old from 9am - 11am. There is also a focus on outreach and parent support as this position is often the first school experience for families. Currently, the position is expected to be .8FTE with 3 days of Nursery classes and one parent/ child class each week.

Our School and Its Unique Island Location

Our school’s rich Waldorf tradition, high caliber teachers, engaged parent body and beautiful island location all combine to make us a “destination” school. Founded in 1985, the Whidbey Island Waldorf School is located on the south end of Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. Our school’s buildings are set amidst 100 acres of ecological trust forestlands where our classes often walk and study. Our island location offers a peaceful, family-oriented atmosphere with beaches, trails and easy access to several national forests.

For more information, visit WIWS.org .