Spring is in the air as Waldorf Academy prepares for their annual May Pole Dance.

Toronto Ontario– Once again, Waldorf Academy will be celebrating their annual May Day Celebration this Saturday, May 4th, 2013, inclusive of a Fairy Dance, and a Maypole Dance at the idyllic Hillcrest Park in Forest Hill. Celebrations are open to the public, welcoming anyone in the spring spirit.

For over 25 years, local children and families of all nationalities have been embracing a community spirit by gathering together and participating in the medieval merriment. This year, the tradition will continue with flute and violin players, children dressed as fairies and folk costumes fluttering about during the Fairy Dance at 10:30am, followed by the much anticipated Maypole Dance that the students have been practicing for!

“This event brings together people from our school, and the local community,” said Jennifer Deathe, Admissions Manager at Waldorf Academy. “We not only showcase amazing musicians but also our school. People will get to see what Waldorf Academy is all about.”

WHAT:May Day Celebrations with Waldorf Academy

WHERE: Hillcrest Park, near Christie Street and Davenport Road, Toronto, ON

WHEN: Saturday May 4, from 10am to 1pm

One of the unique features of Waldorf Academy’s Childcare, Nursery and Kindergarten are the dolls.

They are all ome of a kinds, handmade and completely designed for the child rather than mass consumption. They are meant to ignite their imagination. They are not meant to be mini-adults or to perpetuate gender or ethnic stereotypes. They take hours upon hours to make and send an important message about the slow movement of childhood.

Many years ago I joined a doll workshop at our school determined to create a doll for one of my daughters. I am not crafty at all but I completely admire those that are. Of course the social aspect was wonderful and with so many helpful hands to guide me I created my soccer boy from Zimbabwe for my Tomboy girl. I gave it to her on her 4 th Christmas! I could barely contain myself as she opened the package. As she breathlessly opened the box her face collapsed from sheer excitement to extreme disappointment. She scrunched up her nose, mumbled thanks and went back to her sheild and sword.

Although I could have (and wanted to) I didn’t go on about how ungrateful she was and the hours I had put it into it and  how proud I was of my accomplishment. Instead every time I found it under her bed I would bring him out and place him on her bookshelf or with a hat on or with glasses and a sweater or a soccer outfit. One day I discovered her playing with him but she didn’t want me to know. It didn’t matter, I knew there would be no turning back. And sure enough all the other Waldorf dolls we had of varying sizes would be often be gathered to create some magical story – Godzilla included and sometimes Spiderman.

Years later- guess who is still around? The doll! My eldest just completed her first Waldorf doll for a Grade 7 project and has learned perseverance, value, appreciation for the hours it takes to create something beautiful and meaningful. The Grade 7 students adore their creations and they will for life like I do.

Be sure to catch the article, An Anti-Comsumerist icon for $700? Whimsical and wholesome, Waldorf Dolls provoke Cabbage Patch-style Frenzy in the Maclean’s March 25th Issue that features dolls made by Monika Aebischer’s

Ms.Yu, the Asian Studies teacher, organized a beautiful morning for students that included:

Worship for the school

Chinese New Year poem by Grade 8

Traditional Chinese music performance by Grade 3

Chinese New Year song performed by Grade 2 and Grade 3

12 Zodiac play performed by Grade 8

Snake Kung Fu performance by Joe Witkin

Chinese Kung-Fu performance by Grade 3

Traditional flute musician performance

Auspicious words with red envelopes by Grade 8 and Ms. Yu

Good wishes by Grade 2 & 3

Rice ball treats for the students(cooked by Solomon’s mother, Alice)

Thank you all for a great Chinese New Year Festival at our school. Asian Studies was introduced to our school as our third language 3 years ago and it has enriched us all.

Enjoy articles written by teachers, stories and poetry by students, and snapshots that depict the life of the school.

Girls’ Basketball * Grade 4 Stories * Middle School Enrollment * Middle School Poetry * Winter Fair *AWSNA Eco-Award * Parent Enrichment Course * Plenty of Photos * Outreach * Childcare Tax Credit * Tuition Assistance * Community Service * Window into the Childcare* And more

Photos: Woodworking the Kindergarten, Alumni at the 25th with faculty teacher Paula Rosa, and Middle School Girl’s Basketball Team

According to old customs during this time of year as the days become shorter and the stars appear earlier, children walk with lanterns through the streets singing and offering small gifts of light. and as is the tradition in all waldorf schools, the children make lanterns in preparation for this special lantern walk…

This week the students from Kindergarten will have their walk in the dark on Wednesday. Grades 1-3  will also have their Lantern Walk on Friday and it is during this time that we also celebrate the story of Saint Martin, the Roman soldier who once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the beggar from dying of the cold. Grade 2 every year performs this play after the Lantern Walk.

As a professor from York University explained to faculty a couple years ago at a staff development day, the tale of St. George and the dragon is an archetypal, universal tale found in many permutations in cultures around the world. Michaelmas is one version of the same old tale of meeting a challenge and through an odd combination of brave action and faith, transforming it into a positive outcome. There is no more perfect a note to strike at the beginning of another year of school than with this ancient call to “Be brave little one, you will face many fears and challenges through the coming school year but with a little help, faith and bravery you will make it through and overcome your difficulties.”

Why repeat the same thing, year after year? So that each grade can witness and can anticipate, looking forward to a more important role in the next year in the play. I suppose we could do a different cultural version of the tale every year, although that would undermine the anticipation of knowing what role you would be playing next year which is an integral part of engaging the young child in the celebration. If you listen to our young budding troubadours, you will find it is very much a topic of conversation among our young students what they will be doing next year in the play. Michaelmas is a collective marking of their growing competence and our growing faith in their abilities, culminating in acting out the story in Grade 4 when the curriculum will be introducing homework and projects and substantial challenges after the gentle preparations of Grades 1 to 3. The acting out of the story of St. George and the dragon is the collective coming of age for the new grade 4 students. They are now ready to launch their school ships on seas that will provide the opportunity for growth on many levels unseen at other schools.

In the end, if you have faith in yourself and your world and you persevere, whether your dragons are outer manifestations or inner challenges, you will successfully conquer them. That is an important piece of wisdom that still guides my life and I am very grateful to be part of a community that celebrates a reminder of that wisdom with their children every year.

Allison Hudgins, Grade 4 Parent-October 1st, 2009
Allison Hudgins was our Enrollment Manager and a parent at our school. She was instrumental in the opening of our Childcare Centre. She passed away 2 years ago and is dearly missed by our community. She was  passionate about Waldorf education and fortunately provided us with many articles that we wish to continue to share with our community.

Grade 3 Information Session: August 14th, 6-7pm Drop In

Please join us for an opportunity to learn more about our Grade 3 curriculum on August 14th at 6pm. Meet the Grade 3 teacher and ask questions, look at student work and find out what it means to have a curriculum based on child development. Drop in at 250 Madison Avenue

Kindergarten Information Session: August 21st 6pm- 7pm
Curious about Waldorf? Then come and learn about our philosophy, meet one of our Waldorf trained faculty and asks questions! We understand how important an investment your child’s education is and we want to give you as many opportunities to do your research. Combine this evening with our kindermorning sampler of the kindergarten program- this is a great opportunity in a small setting to see experience Waldorf with your child. The information session is for adults only and is a drop in.

Kindermorning: August 21 or 22 9:30-11:30 Registration Required

You and your 3-5 year old child are invited to join us for a morning example of our kindergarten program.Meet a Kindergarten teacher and while your child is exploring, painting, baking and singing and find out why our approach to the learning builds as strong academic foundation.

This marks the beginning of overnight trips for the students and outdoor education.  The trips will grow in length and in challenges as they progress through the grades culminating in an adventurous Grade 8 graduation trip. This coming year the Grade 8 class will embark upon a tall ship sea adventure.