Windows into Waldorf May 7, 2026
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE INCLUDES
Director’s note
Key Dates and Happenings
Dispatches from our Classrooms
Dear Waldorf Community,
Thank-you parents for organizing a wonderful Mayfair! Thank-you students for doing an amazing job heralding in the Spring. It is a complex task to work with others to come up with a ‘neatly ribboned’ finished product. In the end, we look up to the colourful maypole and say “I helped weave that!”
Theatre is much like this too. Stage life teaches you how to be adaptable under pressure, resourceful, and problem solve. Through teamwork you can be part of a positive culture and explore your creative geist. The final product is a triumph of everyone’s work woven together. These are all hallmarks of ‘theatre life’.
“Hire the theatre kid.” That’s what the New York Times article says.
Play season is in full swing at Waldorf Academy, and the stage is a great place to learn resiliency for life.
From plays about Norse Myths (Gr. 4) and Moses (Gr. 3) we are now honoured to enjoy the Grade 7/8 play A Wrinkle in Time sharing themes of love, grace, and fighting the darkness. The students have performed 2 dress rehearsals and are ready for the curtain tonight!
There is so much you can learn from theatre. About yourself. About humanity. I invite you to enjoy tonight’s performance. The students worked hard and should be very proud.
Kind regards,
Conor
Mayfair welcomes Spring!
KEY DATES & HAPPENINGS
The school-wide Calendar of upcoming events can be found here.
Tuesdays After School - Gauss Math Club for 7/8
Friday, May 8 at 6:00 PM - Gr 7/8 Play ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ All welcome (poster and pictures from the dress rehearsal below)!
Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 PM - Meet the new Grade 1 Teacher (register below)
Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 PM - Community Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 PM - High School information night for Grades 6 & 7 (‘27 and ‘28 Grads) with Sarah Clayton
Friday May 15th - PD Day (camp offered, details below)
Please see all of these details on our community calendar: Waldorf Academy Toronto School Annual Calendar
Friday May 15th - Day Camp offered for Professional Development Day
Spring is in the air, and the birds are chirping, but did you know there will be no school on Friday May 15th due to the PD day.
Don't worry, we've got you covered! We are pleased to offer a PD Camp day for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5.
Join us for a fun-filled day of games, activities, crafts, and special time with friends.
Here are the details:
Date: Friday May 15th, 2026
Time: 8:30am to 5:00pm *late fees will apply for pick up after 5:00pm
Location: Camp starts at 8:30am - drop off in the side yard
Cost: $90.00 per student
Snacks will be provided, please send lunch for your child, water bottle and appropriate gear for outdoor activities.
If you would like to register your child for this PD Camp day please register here:
Payment for camp can be sent to accounting@waldorfacademy.org and please include a note such as "Child's name- May Camp Day"
Registration is complete when the registration form and payment have been received.
A Small Change to End-of-Day Pick-Up
In the spirit of making our end-of-day transition smoother and more enjoyable for everyone, we have made a few adjustments to our dismissal procedure. These small changes will help ease traffic congestion and give our families a calmer, more connected close to the school day.
Here is how it will work:
Students will come out into the sideyard at their regular dismissal time:
Grades 1–3 are dismissed at 3:10 PM
Grades 4–8 are dismissed at 3:20 PM
Students will have time to play until 3:20, when the bell will ring. At that point:
Aftercare students will be asked to go to a different area of the yard
Non-aftercare students will line up by the benches, in the same spot they gather for before-care, ready to be received by their families
A gentle reminder: our supervisory care ends at dismissal time. We completely understand the joy of an impromptu chat at the end of the day, and we love that spirit! We ask that you take those conversations to the park, where the children can keep playing, the fresh air is waiting, and everyone has room to breathe.
Thank you for your partnership in making this work beautifully for our whole community.
Summer Camp Registration (nearly full)
Camp will run weekly for 7 weeks starting on June 15th and ending on July 31st.
Registration Open until May 22 or until spaces are full!
INVITATION! Grade 1 (Ascending) Current SKs we invite you to….
INVITATION! Highschool ready Grades 6 & 7 (Soon to be Graduates!)!
Parents, join us for an evening with Educational Consultant Sarah Claydon to learn how to search and (successfully) apply to the best ‘fit’ highschool for your child.
How Sarah can help in her own words:
Demystify independent school culture so it feels approachable, not intimidating,
Highlight your child’s strengths and understand their academic and social needs,
Collaborate with you to create a focused list of schools to explore,
Provide interview coaching for both you and your child,
Share trusted contacts for assessments, tutoring, psychology, and assistive technology,
Keep your family encouraged and stress-free throughout the journey.
Most importantly, help you and your child feel supported, reassured, and confident at every step.
DISPATCHES FROM THE CLASSROOMS
Grade 1
From teacher Ms. Grainger: “With the budding Spring, Grade 1 children are starting to see their hands-on science activity grow! What started as seeds in jars, the students have watched them sprout, grow roots, and begin to develop leaves. Have you ever watched a seed germinate? I have done this many times over the years, and I’m still amazed every time I see new life emerge from something so ‘simple’.
Since Grade 1 students have been taking care of their plants all year, they already know that plants need water, sunlight and soil to grow. Some students wondered how our seeds will grow without soil but have come to learn that seeds have a small supply of food stored inside them, which helps them get started. Of course, after a little while, the seedlings will need to be planted in soil, at which point we will transplant them in our school garden. I’m looking forward to watching the magic through the eyes of our curious Grade 1 children.”
Grade 5, 6
Olympiad - Grade Fives will be participating in the Greek Olympiad on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22 at Toronto Waldorf School in Vaughan. The Grade Sixes are invited to come spectate and support on Friday. Pictures from last year’s Olympiad.
Grade 7, 8 - Wrinkle in Time - Tonight! at 6:00 in the Theatre/Gym - All welcome!
Play season is in full swing at Waldorf Academy. The Grade 7/8s have performed 2 dress rehearsals and are ready for the curtain tonight! A Wrinkle in Time shares themes of love, grace, and fighting the darkness. Focussing on the value of individuality, and the importance of defying conformity, the play is a quintessential "heroine's journey" where Meg Murray ventures from her normal life to face an evil force, returning with the power to trust her own worth and love.
Join us for the Performance of a Lifetime!
Grade 7 , 8 - Tuesdays after school - Gauss Math Club
The University of Waterloo hosts - The Gauss Contests introduces students in Grades 7 and 8 to a broader perspective of mathematics in a fun, accessible way. Intriguing problems and a multiple-choice format make the Gauss contests a wonderful opportunity for all participants to grow their interest in and curiosity about the power of math.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Batter, batter swing! Step up to the plate!
Blue Jays game on Sunday May 24 vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates
Parent Jenny has graciously reached out to the Blue Jays and reserved a block of 56 seats. We need to confirm numbers by May 17 to lock in the block of seats and price, so we’re asking folks interested to consider May 15 as the cutoff date for signing up. Tickets will be in the 500 level. The cost for each ticket is $47.75.
Fill out the form here if you are interested!
IN THE COMMUNITY
Brought to the attention of one of our community members, Power Plant’s current show Colourful Parachutes, perfect for kids, very interactive and tactile.
*photos Nick Kozak
