School info
2009-2010 Programs
Meets Mondays, 10 am – 12:00 noon. For parents and their children age 3 and under. Taught by returning teacher Ashley Mason. This class provides a weekly mini-experience of a Waldorf kindergarten morning. Parents learn about Waldorf early childhood philosophy and methods, and children explore the kindergarten classroom and all its beautiful and imaginative playthings, sing songs, engage in age-appropriate activities, and experience a Waldorf-style puppet story.
Two sessions: one in Fall, one in Spring
Call Ashley at 755-2773 for cost and for more information
"Play is the royal road to childhood happiness and adult brilliance. ~ Joseph Chilton Pearce
In Waldorf early childhood education, great care is taken to provide children with a gentle transition between home and school life a transition that nurtures and protects the child's physical and emotional development and fosters wonder, joy and a lifelong love of learning. Glacier Waldorf School provides all the familiar Waldorf kindergarten activities of watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, felting, finger knitting, storytelling, circle time, music, chopping fruits and vegetables, baking and lots of free play time, indoors and out.
Taught by Audrey Coggins, longtime GWS board member as well as Waldorf homeschooling teacher. This class for kindergarten age children (3-6 years) may also be attended by their parents too, but not required.
Day of the week TBA - please call Audrey to discuss what day might work best for you, she’ll try to accommodate the most requested. Class meets 9:00 – 12:30 or 3 pm pickup, for children ages 4 – 6. Snack provided, children bring their own lunch.
Two sessions: one in Fall, and one in Spring
Call Audrey at 837-2216 for cost and for more information
Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who, of themselves, are able to impart purpose and direction to their lives. ~ Rudolf Steiner, creator of Waldorf education
A three-dimensional approach to teaching infuses all of the educational work in a Waldorf grade school. Movement to promote thinking on one's feet, stories that touch the heart, and activities that kindle the imagination - these are the experiences that foster joy and love of learning in the grade school years.
Glacier Waldorf School launched its first grades class, Kingfishers, in fall 2007. The group will be entering Class 3 in fall 2009.
Taught by Waldorf Class Teacher Catherine Flynn from her home this year, accepting 9-year-olds (or turning 9 by December), limited space, commitment to Waldorf important.
Meets Tuesday through Thursday, September through May. Membership Fee includes full Class Curriculum (see below), attendance to all GWS workshops, parent circles (knitting and book groups), festivals, and access to GWS's library.
Fee: $900 for school year (plus group lessons fees which are paid directly to the Summit or Parks and Rec, and also private violin lessons paid to private teacher).
For more Kingfisher information, call Catherine at 261-1906.
CLASS THREE WALDORF CURRICULUM:
Language Arts: Cursive Writing, Parts of Speech, Grammar and Punctuation, Reading, Spelling, Oral Recitation, Drama (fall and spring productions)
Literature: Hebrew Myths and Legends, Poetry
Mathematics: The Four Processes (+, -, x, /) continued, Carrying and Borrowing, Multiplication Tables continued, Time, Money and Measurement, Computation and Problem Solving
Nature/Environmental Studies: Food, Shelter (Housebuilding) and Clothing; Farming and Gardening; Wilderness Studies
Form Drawing: Vertical Symmetry
Foreign Language: Songs, Dances and Games, Poetry and Stories, Color and Action Words
Physical Education: Cooperative Games, Hiking, Outdoor Play, Swimming Lessons, Climbing Wall Lessons, Ice Skating Lessons, Story Yoga, Folk and Morris Dancing
Handwork: More Complex Knitting Projects and Intro to Crochet
Artwork: Painting, Drawing, Beeswax and Clay Modeling
Music: Pentatonic Flute, Singing, Music Notation Introduced, Violin lessons begin
Doesn't get much better than this!
About Waldorf grades 1-8: Academic instruction begins in Waldorf first grade and subjects are introduced in imaginative, lively ways, through storytelling, watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, knitting, circle and singing games, jump rope, bean bag and string games, learning to play the flute, gardening, and imaginative outdoor play. Subjects are taught in 3- or 4-week blocks, where each subject is focused on with great care during the morning Main Lesson period. Subjects for early grades include introduction to writing and reading, introduction to numbers and the four math processes, roman numerals, nature studies, foreign languages (French and German), art, knitting and other handwork, gardening, music, speech and drama.
Because the membership fees are so low, GWS request all member families to contribute volunteer time, to help put on one festival and other odds and ends as needed. Volunteerism is a wonderful thing to model for our children and helps create a real sense of community for us.
We are in the process of automating application and enrollment on our website, but until this is complete please open Enrollment Application document (see heading School Info) on our website and print it off, complete it and mail it to the address on the application. You may also call 261-1906 to have an application emailed to you. There is a one-time $35 application fee to be included with the application. Returning students from 2008/09 year do not need to re-apply. After applying and meeting with one of the faculty, families can then enroll.
Glacier Waldorf School is committed to keeping Membership Fees as low as possible to allow those seeking a Waldorf education and experience for their child to do so. Because fees are extremely low to keep it affordable, fees are paid in full at the time of enrolling, are not prorated, and are not refundable after classes commence. Refunds prior to commencement of classes will be less $50 administrative fee. The current economic conditions do not sway those committed to Waldorf as the very best way to educate children from finding a way to do so. Glacier Waldorf School continues this commitment to the child - to honor and nurture all that is wonderful in each individual child, physically, mentally, spiritually, academically and emotionally. If this is what you know is best for your child, please call us so we can do all we can to help you meet your and your child's needs.
Audrey Coggins (Kindergarten Outreach) at 837-2216, Catherine Flynn (Kingfishers Class Three) at 261-1906, and Ashley Mason (Sweet Peas Parent/Child) at 755-2773 will be happy to speak to you further about Glacier Waldorf School and our program offerings for 2009/2010.
Directions to the School
Glacier Waldorf School and Lifelong Learning Center is relocating in the Kalispell area - please call Catherine Flynn at 406-261-1906 for more information.
A Waldorf Educational Vision
What is it you envision for your child's childhood educational experiences?
Sitting still at desks for long periods of time? Going to school to learn how to take federal tests? Little or no art? Little or no creative free play time or recess? Military-style bells and lunch room seating? Vacuum sealed nutrition? Little or no access to the natural world? Sitting through programs on "no bullying" and "drug free school zones?" Plugged in to all kinds of electronic teaching methods? Early burn-out?
Current research is producing rapidly mounting evidence that the above educational experience is fraught with problems for the well-being of children.
Some current statistics:
- Between 1997 and 2002, the number of kids diagnosed with ADHD increased 33 percent, and spending on ADHD drugs for children UNDER FIVE rose more than 300 percent!
- Childhood obesity has TRIPLED since 1980.
- Overnight stays in national parks have declined 20 percent in the past 10 years.
- A recent study by the Nature Conservancy found a high correlation between the drop in park visits and increased time spent on TV, videos, video games, and the internet.
- According to a 2000 study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, only three states require elementary schools to even hold recess (Montana is NOT one of them).
"In a matter of a few decades, we are seeing the disappearance of unstructured outdoor play," says journalist and child advocate Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods.
(to continue, click "read more" below)
The Three-Legged Stool
A Waldorf school is very unique in its commitment to the child. This commitment can be thought of as a three-legged stool. One leg is the College of Teachers who dedicate their professional lives to the well being of the children and meeting their needs in the classroom. The second leg is the Board of Trustees, volunteers who are committed to the financial and operational health of the school always in terms of what is best for the children. And the third leg is the Parent Guild, of which all parents are automatically members upon enrolling their children in the school.
All three legs of the stool must be equally strong to support the children in their educational journey. To this end, it is expected that Glacier Waldorf School parents regard school activities and participation as one of their top priorities. When your child enrolls in the school, the parents are expected to attend orientation, all parent evenings and conferences, participate in special classroom activities, school festivals, fundraising activities and events, contribute volunteer time, and support GWS's policies and principles.
