A small window into our school...

Our approach is holistic, developmentally appropriate, and has the ideal of bringing forth—in every child—their unique potential to grow and transform. We work to harness each child's gifts through an education that engages and develops the whole child, through understanding, connection, and action.

We learn through an education steeped in the visual arts, movement, music, oral story-telling, self-expression, and group work. All academic learning is grounded in direct experience, including a practical work- and play-based curriculum.

Our curriculum is an an ecological, anti-racist, and place-based curriculum with subjects including language arts, math, sciences, history, geography, Spanish, handwork, music, games, dance, and all aspects of farm work.

• Our place-based curriculum focuses on our relationship to our surrounding environment, with attention to earthly and seasonal phenomenon, sustainable practices, stewardship and nurturing the experience of nature in the city.

 
Our classrooms are full of natural light, with a quiet visual environment. We use warm colors on the walls and incorporate a large area of free space for building and diverse learning/play as well as modular flexibility to easily change space configurations. Our classroom spaces strive to evoke feelings of warmth, simplicity and comfort.

Our teachers are Waldorf-trained and actively pursue and practice anti-racism, personal improvement, and service to the school's mission, bringing energy and excitement to serve all students, faculty, and families.

• Preschool children have two lead teachers and a student-teacher ratio of 6:1.
  Each preschool class has a maximum of 12 children.
• Kindergarten children have two lead teachers and a student-teacher ratio 9:1.
  Each Kindergarten class has a maximum of 18 children.
• 1st-7th Grades have one dedicated class teacher and several subject teachers (Spanish, music, handwork, games, farm, life science) with an average student-teacher ratio of 13:1, and a maximum of 18 children per class.
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We believe in a school culture where the senses of the young child are nurtured and protected from the over-stimulating effects of electronic screen media. We spend more time outdoors, moving our bodies and resting in a predictable rhythm.

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Logistics

Preschool Programs

​Dandelion & Blackberry: 5 Days a week
​Home-based and outdoor program

• Hours: 8:30am - 1:00pm
• After school program: 1:00pm - 5:30pm (separate cost from tuition)
• Special features: mixed-age, home-based setting, spacious outdoor play area with garden, full outdoor days in McLaren park, and farming at the school Farm
• Ages: 2.9 - 4.3 years old

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Tumbleweed: 3 Days a week
Forest school based in McLaren Park

• Hours: 8:30am - 1:00pm (3 days, Tues, Wed, Thurs)

• Special features: mixed-age, forrest-based setting, full outdoor days in McLaren park, and farming at the school Farm
• Ages: 2.9 - 4.3 years old
  
  More about Preschool

​Kindergarten

• Hours: 8:30am - 1:00pm
• After school program: 1:00pm - 5:30pm (separate cost from tuition)
• Special features: two years of mixed-ages, full outdoor hike days in McLaren park and farming at the school Farm
• Ages: 4.3 - 6.9 years old
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  More about Kindergarten

Grades 1-4

• Hours: 8:30am - 2:30pm (early release 1:00pm on Tuesdays)
• After school program: (1:00 on Tues.) 2:30pm - 5:30pm (separate cost from tuition)
• Special features: Teachers that loop through the grades, full outdoor days in McLaren park, weekly farm days at the school Farm, subject teachers with specialized skills
  
  More about the Early Grades

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Grades 5-8

• Hours: 8:30am - 3:15pm (early release 1:00pm on Tuesdays)
• After school program: (1:00 on Tues.) 2:30pm - 5:30pm (separate cost from tuition)
• Special features: Teachers that loop through the grades, full outdoor days in McLaren park, weekly farm days at the school Farm, subject teachers with specialized skills
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  More about the Upper Grades

In our school you will find:

• Love and warmth
• Care for the environment
• ​Dynamic learning
  
• Nourishment of the senses 
• Creative + artistic experiences 
• Meaningful activities
• Free imaginative play
• Protection of childhood 
• Gratitude, reverence + wonder
• Joy, humor + happiness 
• Faculty + staff on a path of inner development 

We celebrate the seasons...

We gather as a community to celebrate the seasons with each solstice and equinox:
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• Fall Equinox:  Courage Festival - celebrating gratitude for our fall harvest, and a celebration of courage and strength in facing unknown fears.
  
  
• Winter Solstice: a winter Spiral Festival of finding and holding our inner light as we walk into the season of darkness.
  
  
• Spring Equinox: Kite Festival embracing the element of wind, led by our families.
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• Summer Solstice: A beach celebration to welcome the longest day of the year and celebrate summer, led by our families.​​