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Head, Heart, and Hands: First Grade at The Denver Waldorf School

January 20, 2021 @ 11:00 am - 11:30 am

Learn more about elementary school academics, assessments, and more at The Denver Waldorf School. Ideal for parents of preschool and kindergarten students, this panel will be led by long-time Waldorf educators Nancy Blanning and Jessie Cartwright.

Date: January 20, 2021

Time: 11am MST

Location: Online via Zoom

We will follow the presentation with a live Q&A. Please register to reserve a seat.

What You’ll Learn

Our faculty will answer common questions about:

  • The transition from kindergarten to 1st grade
  • Waldorf elementary school curriculum
  • First grade readiness assessment

About Our First Grade Program

First grade is a child’s introduction to the collective being of a class. We nurture a deep reverence for the earth, compassion for classmates, and a healthy respect for every living thing. 

From knitting to numbers, fairy tales to falling leaves, we help first graders discover the wonders of our world and understand the rhythm of life. This year is the beginning of a multi-year relationship with their teacher.

About Waldorf Educator Nancy Blanning

Nancy Blanning is an early childhood educator with a special interest in movement and has been working with young children in Waldorf settings for nearly 40 years. She has served as Denver Waldorf School faculty since 1987 as both lead kindergarten teacher and educational support staff. Nancy is a keynote speaker and workshop presenter at national and international Waldorf early childhood conferences. She is co-director of Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at Sunbridge Institute in Spring Valley, NY, and is guest faculty at other teacher training programs. Nancy has also traveled widely as mentor and consultant to Waldorf schools in the US and Canada. She is editor of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association journal, Gateways, has edited several books, and is author of Walking with Our Children: The Parent as Companion and Guide. DWS colleague, Laurie Clark, and Nancy have written and published movement imaginations for Waldorf early childhood teachers, Movement Journeys and Circle Adventures, Vol. 1 and 2.

About Waldorf Educator Jessie Cartwright

Jessie has been teaching at DWS since 2003.  She was the games teacher for two years before taking her first class as a lead teacher from 2nd Grade through 8th Grade. Jessie attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities. She graduated from Antioch New England Graduate School, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Waldorf Education in the summer of 2006. Jessie is a graduate of The Denver Waldorf School.

About The Denver Waldorf School

The Denver Waldorf School is an urban pre-K through 12 independent school in Colorado. Founded in 1974 on Rudolf Steiner’s humanitarian curriculum, DWS believes education should foster what it is to be human, cultivate lifelong curiosity, and inspire a love for the world. We are currently enrolling for in-person learning:

Want to learn more about us? Schedule an in-person tour of our Denver campus or join us online during our virtual events.

Details

  • Date: January 20, 2021
  • Time:
    11:00 am - 11:30 am

“May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.”

We know that our brave golden knights (the oldest children in our kindergarten, now rising first graders!) are ready to do what is good and right! We celebrated this morning with a cherished ceremony to honor their wonderful growth and our shared journey together. With song, story, reflection, and many watering eyes, we savored these moments with full hearts as they crossed the bridge to the world beyond our early childhood classrooms! Golden knights, we’re ready for you to lead the way with your light 🌟

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18050034338746718
“May the long time sun shine upon you All love surround you And the pure light within you Guide your way on.” We know that our brave golden knights (the oldest children in our kindergarten, now rising first graders!) are ready to do what is good and right! We celebrated this morning with a cherished ceremony to honor their wonderful growth and our shared journey together. With song, story, reflection, and many watering eyes, we savored these moments with full hearts as they crossed the bridge to the world beyond our early childhood classrooms! Golden knights, we’re ready for you to lead the way with your light 🌟

Before we break for summer, our rising 3rd graders worked their hands and hearts to bring our school garden to life! They planted tomatoes, onions, corn, beans, squash, and more. Over the summer, along with their families and the help of our community, they will lovingly tend and water the garden. When we return in the fall, the students will continue this work as part of their farming block - and get to experience the joy of the harvest season and the fruits of their labor!

Connecting to the natural world around us is an integral part of our curriculum and culture. We celebrate the seasons. We foster a sense of wonder and reverence for the earth and its many gifts. We stay curious and cultivate care. We believe that our work and commitment together can make a difference! 🌿

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 17870332320618539
Before we break for summer, our rising 3rd graders worked their hands and hearts to bring our school garden to life! They planted tomatoes, onions, corn, beans, squash, and more. Over the summer, along with their families and the help of our community, they will lovingly tend and water the garden. When we return in the fall, the students will continue this work as part of their farming block - and get to experience the joy of the harvest season and the fruits of their labor! Connecting to the natural world around us is an integral part of our curriculum and culture. We celebrate the seasons. We foster a sense of wonder and reverence for the earth and its many gifts. We stay curious and cultivate care. We believe that our work and commitment together can make a difference! 🌿

This morning our graduating seniors took their “Walk Through the Grades” - a tradition that carries them back through the full arc of their Waldorf journey. The seniors visited each grades classroom and were presented with a small remembrance from their younger days in our community - whether it be a song, morning verse, recorder melody, poem, or nostalgic pillar of our curriculum.

Through the watering eyes, warm embraces, and laughter shared- the morning was a reflection of how deeply this journey lives within each of our students. We are holding onto their presence as we near their graduation at the end of this week!

May our graduating Class of 2026 cherish the many lessons through their days at DWS as they embark on their journey into the world that awaits 🌟.

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18111253630904928
This morning our graduating seniors took their “Walk Through the Grades” - a tradition that carries them back through the full arc of their Waldorf journey. The seniors visited each grades classroom and were presented with a small remembrance from their younger days in our community - whether it be a song, morning verse, recorder melody, poem, or nostalgic pillar of our curriculum. Through the watering eyes, warm embraces, and laughter shared- the morning was a reflection of how deeply this journey lives within each of our students. We are holding onto their presence as we near their graduation at the end of this week! May our graduating Class of 2026 cherish the many lessons through their days at DWS as they embark on their journey into the world that awaits 🌟.

The DWS Class of 2026 continues to impress us as they commit to colleges and prepare for the next chapter of their journeys. Together, these 18 students have earned an incredible $7,769,240 in merit scholarships for college- an average of about $430,000 per student- a remarkable reflection of years of dedication, creativity, and hard work.

The Denver Waldorf School has proudly maintained a 100% college acceptance rate, and year after year admissions offices share how excited they are to see a Waldorf application come across their desk. Our students stand out as thoughtful contributors, collaborative classmates, courageous learners, and creative problem solvers- prepared not only for college, but for meaningful and purposeful lives beyond it. We are deeply proud of the Class of 2026 and grateful to celebrate both their individual achievements and the community that helped nurture them along the way. Congratulations, seniors- you inspire all of us. We can’t wait to soak in these last few days with you back on campus this week!

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18084440021636701
The DWS Class of 2026 continues to impress us as they commit to colleges and prepare for the next chapter of their journeys. Together, these 18 students have earned an incredible $7,769,240 in merit scholarships for college- an average of about $430,000 per student- a remarkable reflection of years of dedication, creativity, and hard work. The Denver Waldorf School has proudly maintained a 100% college acceptance rate, and year after year admissions offices share how excited they are to see a Waldorf application come across their desk. Our students stand out as thoughtful contributors, collaborative classmates, courageous learners, and creative problem solvers- prepared not only for college, but for meaningful and purposeful lives beyond it. We are deeply proud of the Class of 2026 and grateful to celebrate both their individual achievements and the community that helped nurture them along the way. Congratulations, seniors- you inspire all of us. We can’t wait to soak in these last few days with you back on campus this week!

In our 2nd grade language arts block, students don’t just learn about nouns, verbs, adjectives and sentence structure. Through stories of heroes and golden-hearted people, they also deepened their understanding of what it means to be a helper in the world. After writing about and illustrating their own personal hero, students shared their stories with classmates and even celebrated together at a special lunch with the heroes themselves.

Our hope is that the children leave this block not only with new writing skills, but also with a sense of security, connection, and trust in the goodness around them - nurturing both academic growth and emotional development together. Moreover, may they always carry the understanding that each of us can be a hero in someone else’s life!

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18379601692167421
In our 2nd grade language arts block, students don’t just learn about nouns, verbs, adjectives and sentence structure. Through stories of heroes and golden-hearted people, they also deepened their understanding of what it means to be a helper in the world. After writing about and illustrating their own personal hero, students shared their stories with classmates and even celebrated together at a special lunch with the heroes themselves. Our hope is that the children leave this block not only with new writing skills, but also with a sense of security, connection, and trust in the goodness around them - nurturing both academic growth and emotional development together. Moreover, may they always carry the understanding that each of us can be a hero in someone else’s life!

When the rest of the high school is away, the 11th graders play.

To elevate the mood of the rainy Monday blues, the 11th graders turned their history of music class into a spontaneous jam session- rocking out to “Feeling Good” while the rest of the high school grades are away on field trips. In our Waldorf education, lessons come to life in every way imaginable- experiential learning sometimes looks like putting the books down and picking the instruments up. Today’s lesson is a good reminder that education is most memorable when students can make it their own 🎶.

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18092611865185212
When the rest of the high school is away, the 11th graders play. To elevate the mood of the rainy Monday blues, the 11th graders turned their history of music class into a spontaneous jam session- rocking out to “Feeling Good” while the rest of the high school grades are away on field trips. In our Waldorf education, lessons come to life in every way imaginable- experiential learning sometimes looks like putting the books down and picking the instruments up. Today’s lesson is a good reminder that education is most memorable when students can make it their own 🎶.

A place where childhood is protected, and wonder is the curriculum. Introducing our Nursery Program - serving 2.5 - 4.5 year olds and opening in August 2026! This program will be located at a satellite location in University Park at the site of The Christian Community (2180 S Madison St.). There will be room to play. Room for imagination. Room for movement, song, story, and purposeful work. It will be a space to honor childhood, and a place devoted to learning about the beautiful world all around us. Enrolling now - comment NURSERY for a direct link for more information! // Pictured is our Morning Glory kindergarten classroom

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 17870958855611299
A place where childhood is protected, and wonder is the curriculum. Introducing our Nursery Program - serving 2.5 - 4.5 year olds and opening in August 2026! This program will be located at a satellite location in University Park at the site of The Christian Community (2180 S Madison St.). There will be room to play. Room for imagination. Room for movement, song, story, and purposeful work. It will be a space to honor childhood, and a place devoted to learning about the beautiful world all around us. Enrolling now - comment NURSERY for a direct link for more information! // Pictured is our Morning Glory kindergarten classroom

A peek into our annual 5th Grade Pentathlon - a day full of fun, nobility, camaraderie, and community. While our students put forth great effort in achieving results in strength and speed, more important is their display of grace and form, striving not only for their individual self or city-state but for the good of all! After an opening ceremony complete with recitation of odes to gods, song, and eurythmy, they compete in the long run, discus, sprint, wrestling, long jump, and javelin!

Each year, the 5th grade studies Greek civilization, learning about the government, history, mythology, and culture. As a culmination of their studies, each spring the students participate in a Pentathlon, which is an athletic event based on the Ancient Greek games. As with all aspects of our curriculum, the event is designed to relate directly to the students’ learning and development, bringing relevancy and enthusiasm for their studies. It is always wonderful to see all the new friendships forming and the many displays of grace throughout the day. Thanks to @shiningmountainwaldorf @bouldervalleywaldorfschool @waldorfschoolontheroaringfork @northforkschool and the Wildflower Project Group for joining the games this year!

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Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 17954932653129847
A peek into our annual 5th Grade Pentathlon - a day full of fun, nobility, camaraderie, and community. While our students put forth great effort in achieving results in strength and speed, more important is their display of grace and form, striving not only for their individual self or city-state but for the good of all! After an opening ceremony complete with recitation of odes to gods, song, and eurythmy, they compete in the long run, discus, sprint, wrestling, long jump, and javelin! Each year, the 5th grade studies Greek civilization, learning about the government, history, mythology, and culture. As a culmination of their studies, each spring the students participate in a Pentathlon, which is an athletic event based on the Ancient Greek games. As with all aspects of our curriculum, the event is designed to relate directly to the students’ learning and development, bringing relevancy and enthusiasm for their studies. It is always wonderful to see all the new friendships forming and the many displays of grace throughout the day. Thanks to @shiningmountainwaldorf @bouldervalleywaldorfschool @waldorfschoolontheroaringfork @northforkschool and the Wildflower Project Group for joining the games this year!

PreK-12th Grade

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The Denver Waldorf School

2100 S. Pennsylvania St.
Denver, CO 80210
p) 303-777-0531
f) 303-744-1216
[email protected]

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