Windows into Waldorf August 28
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE INCLUDES
Director’s note
What’s a Rose Ceremony?
Key Dates and Happenings
Meet the New Teachers!
Dear Parents,
Welcome to families new to our community and welcome back to friends and families returning for another year!
I hope you have all had a wonderful summer and trust that your children are excited to be returning to school to see their friends and teachers.
By now you will have received your Summer Letter from your Classroom teacher outlining what you can expect in the opening days of our 2026-27 school year. If you have not received this please let us know or reach out directly to your child’s teacher.
The beautiful and meaningful tradition of welcoming new Grade 1 students in our Rose Ceremony will be held on the first day of school. You are invited to stay for this heartwarming school-wide event. The answer to why Waldorf schools all around the world begin the school year with a Rose Ceremony can be found here. We also have an article on our website highlighting last year’s Rose Ceremony titled Starting the Year with Heart.
You will also be receiving in a separate email information about the Friday lunch program. Yes, the popular Friday Hot Lunch option is back. The return of the program and our new provider will be popular with students and parents alike.
Today’s Windows into Waldorf is the first of the school year. Below we introduce you to our new teachers, and highlight a few key dates for you to help to map out your transition into a new school year.
We welcome your feedback and look forward to many happy community moments with all of our new and returning students!
See you on September 8.
Kind Regards,
Conor Jones
Director of School
KEY DATES & HAPPENINGS
From Parent info Evenings to Apple Picking, please consult our community calendar for upcoming events: Waldorf Academy Annual Calendar. At the beginning of the year in particular, some dates are subject to change as the planning settles. So please check in often to confirm the community schedule.
Sept. 8 - Start of School Rose Ceremony at 9:00 am.
DISPATCHES FROM THE CLASSROOMS
Please give our new staff a warm welcome as they join (or rejoin!) our wonderful team of educators.
MUSIC
Hello, my name is Chris Tanaka-Mann and I’m excited to be your school’s new (temporary) music teacher! I spent the last 13 years teaching down the road at Taddle Creek Montessori School, and the final 5 of those years was spent developing a music program for that school and one of its two sister schools, High Park Gardens Montessori. I graduated in 2013 from U of T’s OISE program with a degree for teaching high school English and Philosophy, but music was always my passion and I pursued a music career for a time while working part-time. I made the switch to full-time just before the pandemic, but all of my experience teaching is with students aged preschool through grade 6! I love being able to teach music, combining my love for music with my methodologies, sharing that with others, and just getting to do music every day! Besides teaching, I’m also a director of a barbershop chorus (East York Barbershoppers) and a singer (Maple Reserve, Chroma Vocal Ensemble) and voice coach (Toronto Northern Lights). You’re always invited to any of my performances!
I still feel that I have so much more to learn about Waldorf pedagogy, but I already adore how embedded music is in our programming. I’m ecstatic to see how that all plays out, and I’m most looking forward to discovering musical opportunities alongside peers and students this year! I love the process of creation, and the artistic opportunities we create by doing so much together lets us engage in that process often throughout the year. I’m very grateful for the support of Clara Hilts, along with the whole team at Waldorf Academy. I look forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
Chris Tanaka-Mann
FRENCH
Welcome to Pierre Strube our French Teacher:
I grew up and studied in Paris, France, and I have been fortunate to teach French both in France and Canada. My experience includes teaching French Literature and French as a Second Language from Grades 1 to 12, including several years in Waldorf education in France and Toronto.
I became a teacher because I love sharing my language and culture and seeing students discover the confidence to express themselves in another language. What I love most about teaching French is making the language come alive through conversation, stories, culture, creativity, and real-world experiences.
This year, I am especially looking forward to being part of the Waldorf community again, getting to know my students and colleagues, and creating meaningful experiences that connect French with art, culture, and the wider world. I am also excited about the community events and opportunities to learn and grow together.
What speaks to me most about Waldorf pedagogy is its holistic vision of the child. I value the emphasis on imagination, creativity, relationships, developmentally appropriate learning, and educating the whole person, not simply the academic learner. My previous Waldorf experience showed me how beautifully language learning can be connected with art, culture, movement, and genuine human connection.
KINDERGARTEN ASSISTANT
Carolina Costa Munir
I’m originally from Brazil, and I’ve also had the wonderful experience of living and working in Melbourne, Australia before settling in Toronto. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a background in both HR and Early Childhood Education. I completed my Early Childhood Education training in Australia and have been working with young children in different settings for several years. Most recently, I have been part of the Waldorf Academy community as an Early Childhood Assistant.
I became an educator because I truly love being around children and being part of their early years. I especially enjoy watching children discover the world in their own way, seeing their confidence grow, and being there for those little moments when something suddenly makes sense to them.
I’m looking forward to getting to know the children and families better this year and being part of our school community. I’m especially excited about the Maypole festival! It's a beautiful time of the year, when we welcome the Spring!
What speaks to me most about Waldorf pedagogy is the respect for childhood and for each child’s individual development. I love the emphasis on imagination, creativity, nature, rhythm, meaningful relationships, and learning through real experiences rather than rushing children through childhood.
I’m very happy to be part of the community and look forward to a wonderful year together!
IN THE COMMUNITY
Invitation: Tuesday September 15, 8:45 - All Welcome!
Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy are introductory adult education programs that explore the spiritual philosophy, human development, and artistic principles that underlie Waldorf education.https://rscc.ca/foundation-studies/
