A Supportive Community for the Whole Family
Waldorf education is relationship-based. Those strong relationships are the foundation of a strong community. At UVWS, the partnership between teachers and families is critical to the ongoing success and development of each child and our school as a whole. A school community is that village that it takes to raise children. Through connection and ongoing communication, we create an atmosphere where children can become the best version of themselves.
Waldorf schools are designed to support the entire family. Beginning with parent-child classes for infants and children under three years old, the connection between teachers, children, and their families begins to form. As the children progress through early childhood and the grades, there are opportunities for families to become more involved in the school and to connect with one another.
We encourage families to participate in school-related activities. Class parent meetings, field trips, festivals, and guest speakers are valuable platforms for parent education. These offerings not only foster a sense of community and increased parental involvement, but they also create a deeper understanding of the values, intentions, and methods of Waldorf education. In participating in these offerings, parents strengthen their connection to the school community and acquire an understanding of the core values and mission of the school and how they can support the work of the teachers. Conversely, the insights that parents bring to the board, teachers, and administrators are equally valuable to the success of UVWS and support the children’s development and learning both at school and at home.
These are especially challenging times to be child, and to be a parent. Building the connections we have with each other and with the school can help us to navigate these times with our children and feel a greater sense of unity and alignment. The partnership between the school and the community allows for teachers, children, and families to grow alongside each other.