The Denver Waldorf School Happenings- January 2021
The Denver Waldorf School is a k-12 independent school in Denver, Colorado
First Grade Readiness and Assessments
If you missed our live Q&A on first grade readiness and assessments, please watch the recording below. Led by faculty members Nancy Blanning and Jessie Cartwright, this presentation gives prospective families a feel for what lies at the heart of Waldorf education.
First Grade Q&A on January 20, 2021
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.
Enrollment & In-Person Tours
The Denver Waldorf School is a Denver-based independent school that is currently enrolling preschool through high school students. Schedule an in-person tour to learn more on our curriculum, admissions process, financial aid, and more.
Parent Council Meeting: January 2021
For our first meeting of the new year, the DWS Parent Council was joined by School Counselor Jenny Thompson to discuss mental health through Covid-19 for both students and parents. Her presentation covered:
- Mental health trends she’s seeing related to how COVID is affecting children
- Tips to parents about how we can be one step ahead of these problems
- Ways parents might engage in self care.
Following the mental health presentation and live Q&A, parents broke out into smaller groups by their children’s ages. Scroll down to watch the recorded meeting and presentation. Or visit Jenny’s Corner to access tips for parents and students, mental health resources, and more!
Resources for Talking About Racism
We also want to share some resources from the Center for Racial Justice in Education for talking with kids about race, racism, and racialized violence.
Meeting Minutes
Click the button below to download the minutes from the January 2021 Parent Council meeting.
Recorded PC Meeting and Mental Health Presentation
Accreditation Discussion with School Director Kelly Church
We would also like to share a discussion on independent school accreditation with Kelly Church from a Parent Council meeting held last Spring.
Waldorf Group Meditation Practice
Please enjoy the recordings of our monthly Group Meditation Practice led by Dr. Adam Blanning of the Denver Center For Anthroposophic Therapies.
For full details and dates, please visit the Group Meditation Practice event page.
Group Meditation Practice on January 6, 2021
Group Meditation Practice on February 3, 2021
Group Meditation Practice on March 3, 2021
Group Meditation Practice on April 7, 2021
Group Meditation Practice on May 12, 2021
Group Meditation Practice on June 9, 2021
Star Wand Tutorial
As part of our Winter Fair at Home this past holiday season, many of our families were able to experience the joy of the children’s activities together at home with our assembled craft kits. One of our much loved craft activities was a star wand, and today we are sharing a variation that you can make with materials you likely already have at home. We used some scrap fabric, felt, and used holiday ribbons making it a perfect upcycled project too.
The satisfaction of making and crafting by hand has always played an important role in our Waldorf curriculum. Stitch by stitch, we learn to appreciate the materials, the process, and the capabilities of our own creativity. We develop patience, fine motor skills, and confidence. And with this star wand, we bring a touch of magic to our days! Enjoy.
Materials
– wooden stick or dowel
– scrap fabric for one side of star
– felt for other side of star
– ribbons
– embroidery thread or thin yarn
– wool roving or scrap fabric for stuffing (optional)
– hot glue
Instructions
Step 1. Trace the 3″ star pattern (or make your own!) onto the scrap fabric and felt.
Step 2. Cut stars out and stack together.
Step 3. Knot one end of thread and begin stitching the stars together at the bottom (we used blanket stitch).
Step 4. When stitched 3/4 of the way…pause. Add wool roving as stuffing (optional), and place end of ribbons into star. Continue stitching so that ribbons are sewn into star.
Step 5. Stop stitching just before you meet where you began, leaving a small hole for the wooden stick or dowel. Tie thread off securely and sew end of thread inside of star.
Step 6. Add a small amount of glue inside of star and place the end of the wooden stick into star. Press star around wooden stick to secure.
Step 7. Make all the magic!
Head, Heart, and Hands: First Grade at The Denver Waldorf School
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.
Head, Heart, and Hands: First Grade at The Denver Waldorf School
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.
Denver Waldorf High School Academics Panel
Preparing students for their next level
Want to know if The Denver Waldorf School is the right choice for high school? Sit down with some of our students and faculty during our online Q&A to talk high school science, math, humanities, and more.
Date: January 12, 2021
Time: 12pm 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
Led by DWS High School Administrator Brie Kaiser, our faculty and students will answer common questions such as:
- What is Waldorf education and what classes does DWS offer?
- How does Waldorf education prepare students for university and beyond?
- What does a day at The Denver Waldorf looks like
About The Denver Waldorf High School
The Denver Waldorf High School offers a liberal arts education, consciously aimed to nurture and encourage adolescent ideals. The high school experience aims to balance the students’ academic needs with their longing to find meaning in the world.
Engaging Body, Intellect, and Emotion
At the start of each day, movement helps spark students’ circulation and bring them together. They then engage in a long, uninterrupted seminar (referred to as main lesson in elementary and middle school) to activate their minds, followed by music and elective classes to spark emotional expression. Music classes and elective courses promote the development of healthy emotional expression through creation.
High School Music
Regarding music, all high school students participate in chorus, with the option to participate in either music ensemble or orchestra until their senior year. Students new to DWS and who have not played their instrument before are strongly encouraged to take private lessons.
Hands-On Learning of Real-World Skills
Students apply what they’ve learned theoretically to scenarios in the real world. For example, a study of soil composition could be applied to a chemistry lesson on acids and bases, as well as a close reading of The Grapes of Wrath, and a course in black-and-white photography in which they learn to develop their own film.
Rhythm of Thinking, Feeling, and Willing
Our goal is to expose our high school students to academic wealth, and demonstrate to them that all knowledge is valuable to encourage their pursuit of wisdom throughout life.
The high school curriculum revisits themes and subjects periodically to strengthen functional knowledge. Students cultivate their ability to think critically, organize ideas and information, and clearly present thoughts through an academically challenging mix of math, English, humanities, physics, life sciences, chemistry, world language, practical, industrial and fine arts, chorus, orchestra, drama, and physical education.
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.
Denver Waldorf High School Academics Panel
Preparing students for their next level
Want to know if The Denver Waldorf School is the right choice for high school? Sit down with some of our students and faculty during our online Q&A to talk high school science, math, humanities, and more.
Date: January 12, 2021
Time: 12pm 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
Led by DWS High School Administrator Brie Kaiser, our faculty and students will answer common questions such as:
- What is Waldorf education and what classes does DWS offer?
- How does Waldorf education prepare students for university and beyond?
- What does a day at The Denver Waldorf looks like
About The Denver Waldorf High School
The Denver Waldorf High School offers a liberal arts education, consciously aimed to nurture and encourage adolescent ideals. The high school experience aims to balance the students’ academic needs with their longing to find meaning in the world.
Engaging Body, Intellect, and Emotion
At the start of each day, movement helps spark students’ circulation and bring them together. They then engage in a long, uninterrupted seminar (referred to as main lesson in elementary and middle school) to activate their minds, followed by music and elective classes to spark emotional expression. Music classes and elective courses promote the development of healthy emotional expression through creation.
High School Music
Regarding music, all high school students participate in chorus, with the option to participate in either music ensemble or orchestra until their senior year. Students new to DWS and who have not played their instrument before are strongly encouraged to take private lessons.
Hands-On Learning of Real-World Skills
Students apply what they’ve learned theoretically to scenarios in the real world. For example, a study of soil composition could be applied to a chemistry lesson on acids and bases, as well as a close reading of The Grapes of Wrath, and a course in black-and-white photography in which they learn to develop their own film.
Rhythm of Thinking, Feeling, and Willing
Our goal is to expose our high school students to academic wealth, and demonstrate to them that all knowledge is valuable to encourage their pursuit of wisdom throughout life.
The high school curriculum revisits themes and subjects periodically to strengthen functional knowledge. Students cultivate their ability to think critically, organize ideas and information, and clearly present thoughts through an academically challenging mix of math, English, humanities, physics, life sciences, chemistry, world language, practical, industrial and fine arts, chorus, orchestra, drama, and physical education.
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.
The Bridge: The 12 Senses with Nancy Blanning
Up Next on The Bridge: The 12 Senses
How do the 12 senses lay the foundation for healthy student development? This week on The Bridge, Waldorf educator Nancy Blanning offers a framework for understanding these senses, how they serve us, and how they develop as “partners” in setting the foundation for how we will live comfortably within our bodies and with each other in social life.
Date: January 27, 2020
Time: 10am 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
Waldorf education works from a unique — and sometimes curious — view of how the human being grows and develops through the whole of life, not just during childhood. Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, described that each of us has twelve senses. There are the commonly recognized five senses that tell us about the world around us. Yet there are also other sensing avenues that tell us about ourselves within ourselves and our physical relation to the world. Still more inform us about and connect us to the outer social world with other human beings. Steiner went on to say that how these senses mature in childhood lays the foundation for future development in all realms for the rest of life.
It is exciting for Waldorf education that modern neurological research is confirming that this is true. The sensory experiences we have from early childhood on literally build the brain. The way the body moves also forms the brain we will have for the whole of life.
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 The Bridge
The Bridge is a bimonthly webinar series hosted by The Denver Waldorf School on the benefits of Waldorf education. By connecting one another, we aim to join in the worldwide effort to educate for humanity.
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.
Register to Attend The Bridge