Windows into Waldorf Feb. 27, 2026
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE INCLUDES
Director’s note
Key Dates and Happenings
Dispatches from our Classrooms
Dear Waldorf Community,
As I type this note, I hear the grade 7/8 class performing Blackbird in the Eurythmy Room. Earlier this morning, I got a sneak peek of the Grade 4 class putting the finishing touches on their Norse Myth Play. Their performance infront of our entire community planned for the afternoon was a big hit.
showing our solidarity on pink shirt day
As we wade into the last few weeks of Term 2 before March Break I am struck by both the ‘interconnected flow’ of learning in and around our school as well the sense of community that supports these unique experiences. It is such a delight to see so many parents cheering on all the children as they embrace their lessons with with energy and enthusiasm.
Please enjoy this weeks’ Windows into Waldorf and see you at any one of our upcoming community events, be it the Grade 8 Special Projects showcase next week or Grade 2 parent bookclub.
Conor
KEY DATES & HAPPENINGS
The school-wide Calendar of upcoming events can be found here. Please note that March Break begins March 7, and classes will resume Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Wednesday March 4 @ 6:00 PM - Grade 8 Projects (All invited, details below)
Friday, March 6 - Grade Three hosts their school-wide Market - If you would like your child to participate in the market, please send along $5-$10 with them to spend.
Tuesday(s) February, 8:30AM - 10:00AM, All Parents knitting circle in the Art Studio Space. Beginners welcome!
Please see all of these details on our community calendar: Waldorf Academy Toronto School Annual Calendar
From the Admin Office:
**FOB required** Entering the school BEFORE 8:15am or AFTER 5:00pm
To help with the flow of pick ups and drop offs, you will need a FOB to gain access to the school if you arrive at school before 8:15am or after 5:00pm . If you do not have a FOB or require a second one please see the office manager - Ms. Monica and she will be happy to assist you.
Thank-you for helping with the smooth operation and safety of the school!
March Break Camp
There is still time to enrol your child for March Break camp. The camp will be running the first week of March break (March 9th to 13th) and registration closes Tuesday March 3rd.
It promises to be a week of fun and interesting activities!
Camp theme for the Grade one to five students will be: Myth and Magic
Camp theme for Kindergarten students will be: Crafting and Nature walks
Here are further details and registration form:
Dates and times:
Camp will run for the first week of March Break from March 9th to 13th, and the daily schedule will be from 8:30am - 4:30pm.
Camp is open to Kindergarten to Grade 5 students only.
Activities planned for the week:
Seasonal Crafts
Nature Walks
Fun games and activities
Baking
Outdoor play time
Special time with friends
The camp will be lead by our aftercare staff and teachers as follows:
Grades 1 to 5: Jason Nobrega and Macy Briand
Kindergarten: Pallavi Mehra and Thuy L
Registration details: To register your child for March Break camp please complete this form: March Break Camp 2026 Registration form
The cost for camp for the week is $450.00 per student.
Once you have submitted your child's form, to complete the registration process, please send your payment to accounting@waldorfacademy.org with a note of "March break camp/Child's name".
**Registration form and payment must be received to complete the registration process.
Here are a few reminders for March Break Camp:
Camper Drop-off (AM) Procedures: 8:30am
Morning drop-off will be at 8:30am and take place outdoors in the side yard (the yard beside the front of the school) with a designated sign-in station at the gate.
Camper Pick-up (PM) Procedures: 4:30am
Afternoon pick -up will be at 4:30am and take place outdoors in the side yard (the yard beside the front of the school) with a designated sign-out station at the gate. Please arrange to pick up your child by 4:30pm.
Inclement Weather Drop-off (AM):- In case of inclement weather, the morning drop-off will be in the Gym where staff will meet the parents and /or guardians to complete the check-in process.
Inclement Weather Pick-up (PM): 4:30pm
Pick up procedures will be similar to drop-off, and will occur in the Gym.
Late arrivals or late pick up:
Parents are required to notify of late arrivals or pick up by email to the following staff:
Grade 1 to 5: Mr. Nobreaga- jnobrega@waldorfacademy.org
Kindergarten: Ms. Mehra- pmehra@waldorfacademy.org
Camper Absenteeism: It is mandatory that you also notify us by email if your child is going to be absent. If we do not receive notification we will follow-up with an email or phone call if a camper has not arrived by start time.
Late Fees: The camp ends at 4:30pm. Parents or guardians arriving after 4:30pm will be charged a late fee of $3.00 per minute.
Special/Emergency pick up: Campers will be released to only those people listed on the camper's registration form and ID will be required for people the staff is not familiar with. No exceptions.
Allergies or Food sensitivities: Please be sure to include all medical and/or food requirements on the registration form.
**If your child is taking medication during the day, please give this medication directly to the counselors with written instructions. Do not leave in children's backs or bags.
Camper Checklist:
Please bring and label the following:
Water bottle
Nut-free lunch and any snacks you’d like to send along. Snacks are provided at camp but if you have a picky eater feel free to send extras.
Weather appropriate clothing (winter boots, or rain boots, winter jacket, or rain jacket, sweaters, hat, gloves etc.)
Extra clothes, extra socks just in case
DISPATCHES FROM THE CLASSROOMS
Grade 1 - We hope everyone enjoyed their peek into the Classroom Lesson yesterday! By popular demand, we will be hosting a 2nd Gr. 1 Peek into the Classroom Friday March 6. It was a pleasure to get to meet with all of you at the parent teacher conferences earlier and discuss the many ways your children are growing. Your children come to class more confident in their skills, as they feel that their school work is also recognized by you.
Grade 2 - invitation to parents from Ms. Agi - “Kids never remember their best day of scrolling.”
From NPR: Anxious Gen
The flowers have spoken: spring is here! Daffodils have poked their heads up along the south side of the building.
Grade 2 hosting our second Book Club evening on Wednesday, March 25th at 6:30 p.m. in the Grade Two classroom. We’ll be discussing the impact of social media, smartphones, and screen time on children. Our book is Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.
I’m looking forward to what I’m sure will be a meaningful and thoughtful conversation on this important topic. We hope you can join us!
Grade 3 - Happenings in the Classroom
March 6 – Grade 3 Market during school hours (all grades invited)
As part of our current money block, students are learning about coin values and practicing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using money. To build on this learning, and to add some entrepreneurial flair, the class will organize a market in which other classes can visit and purchase items the students have made. This may include painted bookmarks, cookies, crafts, or baked goods. (If you would like your child to participate in the market, please send students to school with $5-$10 to spend)
If you are interested in contributing or have ideas for items students could create, please feel free to contact Mr. MacKinnon.
Thursday, March 26 – Shelter Fair
We will soon begin our Grade 3 Shelter Project, in which students will research a traditional shelter from a culture we study and build a three-dimensional model at home with your support. They will also prepare a short presentation explaining what they learned about the people who live in these shelters and how they are used. (speaking of shelters, our Grade 3’s have been making Bee hotels for our important pollinators!…because one in every three bites of food have been brought to you by a pollinator)
Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 PM – Parent Night
Grade 3 parents are warmly invited to an evening where we will discuss what students have been learning to date, with special attention to preparation for the Grade 3 play and our current learning blocks. Since this takes place on the same day as the Shelter Fair, you will also have the opportunity to view your child’s finished shelter model and research work.
Grade 5/6 - Happenings in Grades 5/6
Upcoming Dates of Interest
Monday, March 2: U of T Trash Team Presentation
Tuesday, March 3: ROM Trip
Wednesday, March 4: Grade Eight Project Presentations
Thursday, March 5: Buddy Party
Friday, March 6: Grade Three Market
Saturday, March 7 - Sunday, March 22: March Break
Friday, March 27: Coffee House
Wednesday, April 1: Spring Outdoor Day
Thursday, May 21 - Friday, May 22: Greek Olympiad
Thursday, June 4: Grade Five and Six Play
U of T Trash Team
On Monday afternoon, the University of Toronto Trash Team is going to come present to Grades 4, 5 and 6 about waste and recycling. No action is required on your end.
ROM Visit
On Tuesday, March 3, we will go to the ROM! We will leave the school at 9:30 and return at 2:00. Please send a normal packed lunch (we will be eating at the school lunchroom, not the paid cafeteria). As we will be walking most of the day (including to and from the ROM), students should have weather appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear.
Buddy Party
We are having a party with our Grade 2 buddies! If one parent feels motivated to send a small, low sugar snack (nut and gluten free) on Thursday, that would be appreciated.
Spring Outdoor Day
Wednesday, April 1 will be our Spring Outdoor Day. For this day, we are collaborating with Ecospark to create, "Birds and Buds," a new one-off program. Ecospark teaches students how to conduct citizen science and provides training on scientific equipment. We will have the opportunity to use binoculars, tangent height gauges, spherical densiometers, and other neat tools to observe and measure the birds and the trees in the Nordheimer Ravine where we spend so much of our time. We are also partnering with researchers from the University of Waterloo who are looking at the effects of short term nature connection programs on attitudes in children. Please keep an eye out for more information about this project from the principal researcher, Alissa Gallizzi. This will include requesting your consent for your child to fill out a survey before and after the program.
Greek Olympics
The dates for the Greek Olympics are Thursday May 21 to Friday May 22. Details to follow.
Play Date
The Grade Five and Six class play will be in the afternoon on Thursday, June 4, with the school performance the day before.
Grade 8 projects - you’re invited! - Wednesday, March 4, at 6:00 pm
In Waldorf education, the Grade 8 project is one of the most meaningful milestones a student will experience. After months of dedicated research, creative exploration, and hard work, our Grade 8 students are ready to share their independent projects with the community. Each presentation reflects a topic chosen from the heart; a true expression of who these young people are becoming. We warmly invite all parents, friends, and community members to join us on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:00 pm to witness and celebrate these remarkable young people together.
Grade 1-4 - Eurythmy for everyone!
Music made visible - "well-proportioned" or "harmonious rhythm" Many families who are new to Waldorf education wonder, “What is Eurythmy?” when they hear it is part of the curriculum:
At its heart, eurythmy is the practice of intentional movement. Through age-appropriate exercises, patterns, games, and stories, children learn to move with awareness, purpose, and care for one another. These movements grow in complexity through the grades and support important capacities such as coordination, balance, spatial awareness, listening, and cooperation. Eurythmy also strengthens motor skills and midline crossing, which supports healthy brain development.
Eurythmy is often described as “music made visible” or “speech brought into movement.” When children move together in this way, something more than physical skill is taking place. They learn to listen, to wait, to adjust themselves to the group, and to find their place within a shared rhythm. In this way, eurythmy supports not only the body, but also social growth, inner balance, and a sense of belonging.
Eurythmy is for Adults too! Join Us!
Over the next four Mondays, students in Grades 1–4 are fortunate to experience this art form as part of their school rhythm, supported by piano accompaniment. These weeks offer a meaningful opportunity for children to deepen their connection between movement, music, and community in a way that is both joyful and nourishing.
Speaking of Music…
As the Term comes to a close, Ms. Hilts hosted a mini concert today where the Grade 5/6 class performed Edelweiss on their wind instruments for their Grade 7/8 friends, who, in return, played Titanium and Blackbird to their younger ‘jam buddies’. It was a great session that highlighted the arc of learning in the Waldorf Academy music program.
Share The Love!
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.
