In just two weeks we will mark the passage of our Grade 8s into the world of High School, and then the graduation of our Grade 12s into their post-secondary lives.
This week, there was another very important graduation to celebrate. The Rudolf Steiner Centre, the Waldorf teacher education program that leases space in our building, hosted their annual graduation of their full-time program. This year Jessica Carter, Sonya Frebold, Ja Woon Gu, Chika Halayko, Monica Peters and Lori Ann Scotchko graduated from their full-time 9 month program with a certificate in Waldorf Teacher Education. There were performances of all kinds, lovely tributes to each graduate, and even an Honorary certificate awarded to Merwin Lewis, one of the pioneers of Waldorf education in this country who is still teaching and mentoring at the London Waldorf School. The families of the graduates were beaming with pride, and the mood of celebration was palpable.
We are very lucky at TWS to have the Rudolf Steiner Centre program -- with the teacher education work, the continuing education for practicing Waldorf teachers and administrators, and all the other adult education programming they offer. Their work helps us bring a stronger connection to Waldorf education not only for our teachers and administrators, but for our parents and others interested in child development, Waldorf education and its roots. Each year the student teachers play a vital role in our classrooms, and our students, faculty and staff form special bonds with them. Many of our faculty and staff have the opportunity to teach elements of their program. Many of our current faculty are graduates of the RSC.
On behalf of everyone at TWS, I want to wish these six new Waldorf teachers many blessings as they pursue their passion. So far we know that four of these teachers will move on to Waldorf schools or initiatives in South Korea, Nova Scotia, Kingston, and Halton. These schools will no doubt be delighted to receive them, and we look forward to hearing of their adventures.
And for anyone reading this column for whom there is some sense of curiosity and interest about what it would be for you to become a Waldorf teacher, I would strongly encourage you to call Warren Cohen or Jan Patterson at the Rudolf Steiner Centre. This education needs people with an interest in the world, an interest in humanity, to join us in this most rewarding work. Find out more on their website.
Savouring the Excitement – Continued!
I have said many times to parents and others in the community that every day at TWS there is magic in the classrooms – moments of awe and wonder, huge accomplishments, tiny steps forward. These moments add up to nothing short of human transformations as the days string into weeks and months and school years. Last week in my column I gave a brief snippet of just some of the more visible elements of excitement in the Grades – particularly Grades 2 through 12. In Grade 1 today parents might say it was the most exciting day yet! Each year the Grade 1 Class Teacher hosts a “Grade 1 Morning” when the parents join the class for a morning of lessons with their Class Teacher and all the specialist teachers. The students are always very proud to show their parents how they can play games or sing in French or German, play the recorder, do some math exercises, and their very fine eurythmy. Parents inevitably find themselves wishing they had been to a Waldorf school! I am sure that today’s Grade 1 morning was as inspiring as all that have gone before.
And finally, a note of congratulations to our Grade 8 class, under the direction of their Class Teacher Eleonora Ebata, who presented two matinees and two evening performances of A Midsummer Nights Dream this week. The students embraced their roles – there were many delightful gems! The staging and costumes were beautiful. The whole event carried that familiar air of significance – the Grade 8 Play is a much-anticipated milestone in the life of a TWS student, and these students rose to the moment beautifully. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns please contact me.
