Dear Waldorf Community,
Throwback - Teacher Halloween costumes of 2025!
The conversation in the halls during these Parent-Teacher interview days remind me that our school is a united community. The parents calling to each other the in the hallways reminds me of the noise from friends and family calling out around a dinner table. The addition of baked goods and apple cider in the lobby may have contributed to this image.
NEWS: a new Student Club was founded two weeks ago and is already thriving. It is for aspiring journalists the club name: ‘Through the Window’ appropriate as the students research and write articles about happenings at the school. Told from their perspective, these articles will appear in the Windows into Waldorf newsletter. In fact, the first two articles are in this very edition covering on the Grade 6/7 Business Fair.
Parent participation is also highly valued. For our Grade 5 Diwali celebrations, parents participated in the celebration of dance and art. Many parents attended the Grade 3 shelter demonstrations, peppering the students with critical questions on thier shelter models. We arer all life learners.
To all the parents who attended conferences, thank you for your participation and support, to the teachers, thank you for your care and wisdom.
Enjoy the long weekend, as Monday is a holiday for the JK-Grade 8 school.
Conor
KEY DATES & HAPPENINGS
From Teacher-Parent Conferences, Lantern Walks and theatre excursions, please consult our community calendar for upcoming events: Waldorf Academy Annual Calendar.
Some Highlights next week include:
Monday - Holiday for JK-8
Tuesday - Knitting Circle
Wednesday Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day Assembly
Nov. 11, 12, 13 - Lantern Walks
Wednesday November 18 - Waldorf Academy Annual General Meeting
SCHOOL LOGISTICS
Have you gotten your Winter Fair Tickets yet?
From Oct. 26 e-mail to Community: “The most magical time of the year is just around the corner, and we’re delighted to invite you to our Annual Winter Fair! Ticket sales are now live at the website!
Join us for a joyful celebration of the winter season approaching, with Waldorf magic all around - Snowdrop Market, Woodland pond, wreath making, silent auction, bake sale by our community and much more. And stay for a holiday sing along in the gym at 1:30PM! Our Waldorf gnomes have been hard at work bringing this magical event to life, with activities for children of all ages.
Puppet show tickets are available on the ticket website, make sure to snag those before the spots fill up!
We are inviting all to join us for a hot lunch in the gym (included with all tickets), tea and coffee, our annual bake sale and a special chai tea offering by one of our Waldorf Community parents (all-you-can-drink option available on the ticket website).
Date: November 29th, 2026
Time: 10AM - 2PM (9AM early admission for children under 4)
Location: Waldorf Academy, 250 Madison Ave
Letter sent to Community from The Board via e-mail Nov. 4
Dear Waldorf Academy members,
As members of the corporation, on behalf of the board of directors you are given notice of and cordially invited to attend Waldorf Academy's 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) occurring on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:00 pm in the school gymnasium. We encourage everyone to attend in person; however, those that cannot attend in person can vote via proxy. There will not be an option to participate via Zoom.
While there are no new directors up for election at this AGM, as communicated in the October 23 Windows to Waldorf , we are currently accepting nominations for new members to join our Board of Directors. The nominations committee members will be in place following our next board meeting (February 17 2027) and will begin the process of reviewing applications and putting forward recommendations to the board. Once the nominations process is complete, we will hold a Special Meeting in the new year to elect the new members.
Financial statements will be available at the AGM.
Attached to this email, you can find the formal notice of the AGM as well as the attachments referenced in the notice.
Receipt of Notice document was also included with the e-mail.
Honouring Remembrance Day at Waldorf Academy
Wednesday, November 11 | 10:30 am
Grades 6-8 -
As we approach Remembrance Day, we take a moment to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who have served. To mark this day, and led by Mr. McKinnon, we invite the classes to join us in remembrance in the Eurythmy Room.
At 10:30 Grades 6-8 will be escorted by their teachers into the Eurythmy room. Please ensure the children walk-in silently, standing shoulder to shoulder as they will be standing for the duration of the assembly.
Once the children and staff are in place Mr. MacKinnon will give the opening address that provides context to Remembrance Day and why we wear the poppy.
Grade 6 Poem - Remembrance Day
Grade 7 Poem - For the Fallen
Grade 8 Poem - In Flanders Fields
Minute of Silence
Closing Word by Mr. Jones
Our very own Music Teacher Mr. Tanaka-Mann will be performing at the Ceremony at Queen’s Park.
Lantern Walks Next Week - please check your teachers’ class emails for time and place details of the walks
In November we turn toward the light of the Martinmas lantern walk.
Wednesday, November 11 - Grades 1 to 3
Thursday, November 12 - Childcare Lantern walk
Friday, November 13 - Kindergarten Lantern Walk
PARENTS! Thank you for your reflections on learning!
Recently, we asked a number of parent’s to speak to their experience with Waldorf Academy and why they chose it for their children. So many came back with their perspectives of the school and we invited them to share their stories. The result is the following video where we celebrate the community and Waldorf’s approach to learning
“An environment of kindness”
“If I had in my mind what an ideal school should be…”
“Tuned in teachers”
“It meets the children where they are and brings out the best in our kids.”
“A great mix of athletics and academics.”
“Nature is medicine.”
“A community of friends.”
Thank you parents for speaking to the joyful learning that happens at Waldorf Academy!
DISPATCHES FROM THE CLASSROOM (and NEW! - STUDENT REPORTERS with our newly created JOURNALIST CLUB!)
This section is to share communication with the community on Grade announcements, highlighting the layered approach to learning and joy (and sparked wonder) that happens throughout the school.
Grade 6/7 - Selling their Wares at the Business Fair
Kira G. and Gordon M. write about their experiences at the Business Fair as part of a student-club series titled: “Through the Window” where every week students will submit articles on their perspective of life at Waldorf.
Student Article - An entrepreneur’s perspective
Written by: Kira G. - Cookie Business owner and booth operator
Copy edited by: Anna B. Gr.8
Preparing for the grade 6 and 7 business fair was fun, but it was not all producing and creating things. We also had to learn about taxes, expenses, and profit. Then we had to learn about loans, interest, budget, and income.
We then got taught how to convert fractions into decimals, but that's all at school.
At home we were busy making our wares. Everyone's products were amazing. My product, the sugar cookies, were a great success! I think that the Business Fair was a great experience, and that it was a lot of fun. I hoped that everyone else liked it too!
Student Article - Cards, Candy, and Collectibles at the Business Fair
Written by: Gordon M
Copy edited by: Jude M
This past Thursday the grade 6/7 ran a wildly successful business fair, some stands even sold out. There were sweets, art, magnets, squishies, masks, and keychains.
The grade 6/7 felted, baked, braided, and drew wonderful creations into existence. The merchandise took as much as 2 months to create and were all very ambitious and well made. The making was done and the grade 6/7 class was ready to show their creations to the rest of the school.
“I’m good at baking”- Kyle B Gr 7
“I made them because they're cute”- Edith R Gr 6
The customers loved the sale. The Squishies sold out and there were no brownies by the end of the sale. The Twinkle cards were traded along with other merchandise. The sweets were adored and popular.
“It was all good” - Viraj V. Gr 5
“The rock candy tastes sweet and crunchy”- student, Gr 5
The grade 6/7 business fair was great, with games and merchandise for all ages. The school of Waldorf Academy will remember this business fair for a while and look forward to next year.
The income is still being counted, but the children are already talking about dividing the profits into thirds a la the ‘Spend, Share, Save’ model they are learning (the foundational financial literacy framework designed to teach children and beginners how to manage money). Beyond brainstorming about spending the money on class trips to IKEA, Escape Rooms, Go-carting. or dropping it all at the arcade, so far the ongoing discussions are exploring:
1/3 is going towards next years’ Class Trip
1/3 ‘community good’ classroom enhancement
1/3 to charities including Humane Society, TRCA, NamiRes…
Grade 3 - Shelter Projects
Grade Three Parents joined Grade 3 in the classroom on Wednesday, November 4th for the Shelter Project presentations.
The children researched and built their shelters and did write ups of their chosen shelters.
Parent Feedback - “I was amazed by the grade three writing - so early in the year and they have mastered writing, cursive, independent presentation along with confidence.”
I also was very impressed by the variety of shelters this year, where I learned about caves in Spain, and sandcastles in Egypt and Tipi’s in North America.
With tea and freshly baked apple crisp the parents got to learn about and marvel at the diversity of shelters from around the world!
Shelters included every type of dwelling from medieval stone cottages (with sheep!), Yurts and Venice homes. .
Grade 5 - Diwali Celebrated through Art and Dance!
For Main Lesson, Grade 5 students have been studying the ancient Indian culture, culminating in a celebration of Diwali. With parents invited to participate, students reflected on their learning before making their way to the gym to light clay candles and dance with Dandiya sticks.
From there, they were divided into three groups to make rangoli patterns together. It was a spectacular demonstrtion of how we learn thoughtfully through, art, movement, reading and reflection.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Waldorf’s Very Own Chris Tanaka-Mann is performing! Chroma is a chamber choir that he sings with which does a variety of choral music at a high level. They often do Canadian compositions, although this particular concert features a number of pieces from across the pond. It's on Saturday, November 7th at 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary Magdalene Church on Manning Ave., so if you're available and interested, he hopes to see you there!
For info and tickets, check here: https://www.chromavocalensemble.ca/2026-2027
