Dear Waldorf Community,
Throwback - Teacher Halloween costumes of 2025!
Lest We Forget
What is the message of Remembrance Day for children today?
What are they remembering when the Second World War is ancient history, when there are fewer and fewer veterans of the Second World War are left who can call us to remember. When students (oh so fortunately) have little connection with war, how can we meaningfully connect students to this important event?
When I visited Mr McKinnon’s Gr 4 class last week the students were anxious to show me the art project they had been working on. A large and beautiful “Lest We Forget” poster, now available for viewing in the main building foyer. Each student contributed a square to create the overall piece. As they pointed to their work they explained that the flowers were poppies, and why that was important, and how each piece depended on the others to make the whole. It was touching to hear how much they cared about this poster - it is important to them.
Mr McKinnon arranged and led a thoughtful Remembrance Day assembly for Grade 4 to 8 students and faculty. His words were well chosen, his message clear. The students read several poems, choral and individually. Then we observed a solemn moment of silence. It is something we rarely do, pay tribute through silence. I was left thinking that a significant aspect of Remembrance Day - Don't forget lest this happen again - needs to be a message we hear more than once a year. I don’t think the poster should show up on the 11th of each month. We need to remember to Remember.
Conor
KEY DATES & HAPPENINGS
From Lantern Walks, outdoor education days, and theatre excursions, please consult our community calendar for upcoming events: Waldorf Academy Annual Calendar.
Some Highlights next week include:
Wednesday, Nov. 18 - Waldorf Academy Annual General Meeting
Thursday, Nov. 19 - Gr. 6-8 Outdoor Education Day
Hot Lunch - December order LINK
Please find the Healthy Kids December Order Link for ordering Hot Lunch for your children in December.
Orders are due until Friday, Nov 27th.
SCHOOL PLANNING AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Have you gotten your Winter Fair Tickets yet? Sunday NOV. 29 from 9:00 - 2:00
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 Mrket, 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
SILENT AUCTION: Skills, art classes, felting kits, cottages in exotic locations, goods, services, food, vintage sports cars…..If you’d like to donate anything to the Silent Auction, please reach out to Alex via: winterfair@waldorfacademy.org
Waldorf observed Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Nov. 2
Widely observed in Mexico and among people of Mexican heritage in other parts of the world Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died.
As part of the celebrations, an ofrenda, or home altar, is made to welcome and honour deceased loved ones on the day. Ms. Pasatir and and Ms. Agi invited the community to share pictures of those who have passed who are in our thoughts and built an Ofrendas made up of Marigolds (Cempasúchil) with their bright colors and strong scent to help guide spirits to the altar, Copal Incense to purify the space, Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) symbolizing the cycle of life and death and personal Items including favorite treats and drinks, to make the spirits feel welcome. The pictures of our loved ones was a beautiful touch to honour those that carried us in life and who we think of in their passing.
Honouring Remembrance Day at Waldorf Academy Nov. 11
Wednesday, November 11 Grades 6-8 led by Mr. McKinnon hosted a ceremony to honour those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for Canada.
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 performed at the Ceremony at Queen’s Park.
Please read student S. Rossiter’s article on Why We Remember
Lantern Walks
Thank you to all our students and families for joining us in celebrating Martinmas, and we look forward to the Kindergarten Lantern Walk Pageant tonight. Our earlier, other Grade walks were filled with magic, wonder and reverence.
Martinmas is a festival of compassion. Saint Martin met a stranger in the cold, cut his cloak in two, and shared it.
A reverent ceremony observed by many Waldorf schools around the world. As we approach the season when the earth rests and the dark and cold begin to reign, we walk through the forest with lanterns to remind us of the warmth and light that we carry within. Here are links to the songs your children have been practising.
Lantern Walk Sheet Music
Glimmer_Tiny_I walk with... Lantern.m4a
November.m4a
Wild geese.m4a
We look forward to welcoming the winter season with you all!
Gender Neutral Washroom signs
Have you seen the inclusive all-gender washroom signs posted on our washroom doors? This signal helps us welcome everyone in the school, moving away from rigid binary labeling to ensure safety, dignity, and accessibility for everyone.
INVITATION: Parent Panel: Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Children and Families
Tuesday, December 1 | 6:30 to 7:30 pm | Eurythmy Room (upstairs)
As a school, we are committed to making sure every child feels seen, safe, and held within our community. Building on our recent faculty training, we invite all parents and guardians to an evening panel facilitated by Tonya Lewis, an experienced educator in 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion.
The panel is an opportunity to listen, ask questions, and deepen our shared understanding of how we can support the children in our care, at school and at home. All are welcome, whatever your experience with these questions.
Please note that childcare will not be available.
We hope you will join us.
Board Meeting - Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:00 pm
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.
DISPATCHES FROM THE CLASSROOM
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.
Hot off the PRESS! Have you heard? EXTRA! EXTRA!
Waldorf Academy has a new Student Journalism Club writing about the happenings at our school! Called Through the Window, students gather every Tuesday to ‘pitch’ ideas and work through an editorial calendar to decide what they should write about. They then assign roles, conduct interviews longhand and write their articles about current events. Sometimes they will suggest book reviews or games.
The Grade 8 students, honing their typing skills in prep for highschool, will copy edit the work of the student journalists which we will post.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Is it too early? Our friends at Helen and Hilldegard on St. Clair West are hosting a Stitch and Make Ornament Workshop Dec. 13
