Windows into Waldorf Jan. 16, 2026
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE INCLUDES
Director’s note
Key Dates and Happenings
Dispatches from the Specialists and Classrooms
Dear Waldorf Community,
What child does not dream of waking to the magical words, “School is cancelled. You can go back to bed. It’s a Snow Day!”
When you get a sleep-in and have the opportunity to build snow forts, go sledding, and enjoy hot-chocolate (is a warm fire too much to ask?) well, how much better does it get for a child?
The occasional snow day is a childhood right of passage. It will live on in memory with the snow banks getting larger, the hills higher, and the taste of snowflakes on the tongue ever sweeter. No child should be deprived of at least one snow day in their elementary school years. As Canadians we should be able to expect at least one each winter.
I’ve convinced myself. Don’t be overly surprised if we announce, (with planning time in advance and a weather forecast that has snow but not at emergency levels) a “Not all that much snow” Snow Day. As a Waldorf school, taking a day to enjoy the weather, outside activities and family makes sense without it having to be an emergency.
Warm wishes,
Conor
PS. Please send any pictures of your children applying their ‘outdoor education’ skills as they enjoy the snow!
Week in Re-Cap
Fresh from the holidays, spirits are high and the school is animated with class play rehearsals (Gr. 4), science experiments (Gr. 5), and basketball practice for the upcoming tournament (good hustle, nice plays and solid teamwork!).
We’d like to thank all those who joined our well attended Grade One info session on Tuesday, giving us great insight into the ‘life of a Gr. 1 student’. With so many takeaways, Ms. Lee’s approach to “meet your children at their imagination” really resonated.
This week's Community Council meeting planning for upcoming events and festivals was engaging and we invite you to join our next gathering with so many activities planned. Please reach out to Community Council if you would like to get involved.
The school-wide curriculum evening for Term 2 that was scheduled for next Wednesday, Jan. 21 has been cancelled as we look for a better format to serve parents in sharing how your children are learning. If you haven’t already received a note from your classroom teacher with a new proposed date, expect one shortly.
Next week, the second annual Winter Watershed Walk for Grades 5-8, this time down the storied Humber river will take place (details below).
KEY DATES & HAPPENINGS
The school-wide Calendar of upcoming events can be found here.
Tuesday(s) January 20, 8:30 - 10:00, All Parents knitting circle in the Art Studio Space
Thursday January 22, Grades 5-8 Outdoor Education Day details below
Friday January 30 & 31, Basketball tournament
Note from Community Council: Community Camping Trip 2026 Date is set!
Have you signed up for the Community Camping Trip 2026 yet? Join the WhatsApp group by reaching out to Jesse Macht here, and look to the recent email from the Community Council for more details on how to reserve your camping spot. We’re looking forward to building on the tremendous success of last year’s trip as we rekindle this long tradition in our community!
Correspondence from the Specialist Teachers
Art & Music - The Grade 4 violin unit has just begun, and the students are eager to play. In our first music class of the term, we were joined by a special guest, Charlene Yeh (Clementine’s mom), who introduced the students to the violin. She played a beautiful J.S. Bach piece on the viola and guided the class through the anatomy of the instrument. Ms. Yeh” will continue to join us on Thursdays when her schedule allows, and I am deeply grateful for her generosity, enthusiasm, and insight.
Ms. Yeh also helped us connect with a luthier, and all 29 of our instruments went out for assessment and maintenance. This care and effort will not only support our current Grade 4 class but will also ensure that our violins are ready for future students. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ms. Yeh for the extra time and care she has given to support our music program.
Violins should be ready to be handed out on Thursday, January 22nd. Please note that students will be expected to practice at home and to transport their violins back and forth from school. Please ensure that violins are brought to school on Mondays and Thursdays.
Nature Studies
Details for Gr. 5-8 Winter Outdoor Education Day - Thursday, January 22
We will have our second annual Winter Watershed Walk. Please make sure students arrive on time so they do not miss the trip. Last year we walked North through Nordheimer and Cedarvale Ravines to Cedarvale park and learned about the history of the Spadina Expressway. This year we will take the Subway to King's Mill Park and walk south until we get to Lake Ontario! This is an area where I taught for years as an instructor at the Pine Project, and remains my favourite natural area in the city. The Humber River is a wild river in the middle of our city, as well as a highway that has connected Lake Ontario to the Upper Great Lakes for thousands of years. The experience of walking South until the river opens up into the Lake is magical and life affirming. On this trip we will be outside for an extended period of time, including time spent sitting still for snack or reflective activities. This requires warmer clothes than a normal day. Wool socks, a hat, warm gloves/mitts, two layers of pants, and winter boots are all mandatory equipment. Also a hearty snack and lunch, and a water bottle.
Gym & Games
Details Grade 7 & 8 Basketball Tournament - Friday, January 30 - Saturday, January 31, 2026
We are pleased to share details regarding our invitation to the Annual Toronto Waldorf School Grade 7 & 8 Basketball Tournament, a long-standing Waldorf tradition that brings together schools from across the region for a weekend of sport, community, and shared experience.
This is an overnight trip, and following a class discussion and vote, the group has decided that we will ALL stay overnight.
Location: Toronto Waldorf School (9100 Bathurst Street)
Schedule Overview
We will depart from the school on Friday at 12:30PM
Arrival begins at 2:00 PM, with games starting at 3:00 PM
Saturday play will conclude at approximately 4:30 PM (depending if we make it to the finals)
A detailed game schedule will be shared closer to the tournament date.
Dispatches from the Classroom
Gr. 4 - Thursday, January 22, from 6:00–8:00 pm - Term Two Parent Evening for Grade 4 has been scheduled for Jan. 22
Grade 4 Play - February 27: - With the chalk drawing in the classroom, can you guess what the Class Play will be about?
Grade 5/6 - Winter Term - Physical Sciences
The study of the physical sciences is a gem of the Grade 5 - 8 Waldorf curriculum. After completing our study of sound, we began our study of light. I spent much of yesterday plugging every little gap and covering every glowing appliance in the faculty kitchen, with the hopes of achieving total darkness. I encourage you to check in with your child about the experience of total darkness and the experiment earlier this week, as the students had different reactions. Our study will work towards a block test on Wednesday, February 4.
If your child enjoyed the inky ‘awe’ of darkness, Parks Canada has a number of Dark Sky Reserves, some of which are close to Toronto!
Know anyone?
So many families discover Waldorf through the stories you share. Our community is one of the most important ways new families find their way to us—thank you for spreading the word. It takes a village, and we are grateful for our community of amazing Ambassadors. To any of your interested friends, we are happy to give them a tour of your great school.
In the Community
Jan. 15 at 7:00 PM - INVITATION
A Note from our friends at Halton Waldorf School inviting parents of Grades 5–8 to their High School Information Night
For the families at The Waldorf Academy considering continuing their child’s Waldorf education into the high school years.
Halton Waldorf School – High School Information Night
Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2026
Time: 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Location: Halton Waldorf School, Burlington ON (2254 Orchard Rd, Burlington)
Who Should Attend: Parents and students of Grades 5-8
Choosing the right high school is an important decision, and this evening is designed to support families who are curious about what a Waldorf High School education (Grades 9–12) offers during these pivotal years of adolescent development.
During the evening, families will learn about:
The benefits of Waldorf high schools, including a balanced academic program that integrates intellectual, artistic, practical, and social learning
A small school community, where students are truly known, supported, and challenged
Critical thinking, creativity, and ethical development, which are central to the Waldorf approach during the high school years
How Waldorf education nurtures independent thinkers, strong communicators, and engaged, confident young adults
The experience of continuing within a values-based, developmentally aligned educational path from Grades 9–12
Parents will have the opportunity to meet faculty, hear from students (current and alumni), learn about our curriculum, participate in mini lessons, and gain insight into how a Waldorf high school supports students academically, socially, and emotionally during adolescence.
We hope you can join us! Reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Samantha Peris
Admissions Manager, Halton Waldorf School
The Toronto Branch of the Anthroposophical Society of Canada
Extend a warm invitation to parents and members of our community who are interested in exploring anthroposophy. Please see the details below as provided by Robert McKay, who will be leading this study group.
Invitation to an Anthroposophical Study Group
You are cordially invited to participate in an anthroposophical study group. The group will meet every second Monday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at (TBD) starting on Monday, January 19 and continuing until Monday, June 15. (Note: The group will skip holiday Monday's and the Monday in March break.)
Each week, the group will read from one of Dr. Rudolf Steiner's books or lectures and discuss it section by section. Study groups are an excellent and supportive way to get to know anthroposophy. No prior understanding is required. Questions and reactions are encouraged.
We will start with Theosophy in which Dr. Steiner explains what we are as human beings, how we journey through various incarnations, and provides insights into the purpose of life that anyone can apply to their own evolving story.
Participation is free but as space is limited so please register with Amrit at amritmum@pm.me. Please let her know if you want a free copy of the book as they will be provided courtesy of the Toronto Branch of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada.
Adult Eurythmy Series at Waldorf School in Halton - Invitation
Ms. Liedewij Verbeeck, Halton’s beloved Eurythmy teacher, will lead a 6-session Adult Eurythmy Series this winter. This offering provides a wonderful opportunity to experience eurythmy firsthand and to deepen your connection to this essential aspect of Waldorf education.
A Note from Ms. Liedewij Verbeeck
In this six-evening course, we will explore space and movement and, most importantly, the experience of moving together as a group. We will work with form, free movement, and our own “instrument.” Since eurythmy is the art of visible speech and visible music, we come to know the body itself as the instrument through which we learn and experience.
I will also share elements of pedagogical eurythmy, offering exercises connected to different age groups and providing parents with insight into how eurythmy lives within the classrooms.
Series Details
Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
January 22 to March 5
Please note that there will be no session on Thursday, February 5, due to the Parent Festival.
Registration and Cost
The cost for the full six-week series is $100. Registration is available via Tomten’s by clicking here.
Additional Information
This is an adults-only workshop. Children and babies are not able to attend. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement. Eurythmy slippers will be available to borrow during each session.
Funds raised through this series will support the Halton school’s Eurythmy Fund, helping to strengthen their program by bringing in guest Eurythmists, purchasing costumes for school performances, and offsetting other program-related costs, including a new community room floor.
We hope you will consider joining this special offering and moving together in community.
