Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Rainbow stackers for a good cause...

This weekend, I attended an open house at Kimberton Waldorf school...the 2nd oldest waldorf school in North America.
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It was a gorgeous day...talking to faculty...listening to student musical performances played with such gusto and passion...meeting other like minded parents (some with a dream of starting a waldorf charter school in our area! wow!)...listening to *very* convincing speakers on the subject...
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the evolution of.....the wooden spoon
There was a lump in my throat much of the day. Listening to teachers speak about the promises of Waldorf education...learning about the organic hot lunch program...seeing the success and happiness of alumni...walking through the dimly lit kindergarten rooms and understanding the thoughtful intention of everything. This recurring lump in my throat was accompanied by the sinking feeling of "what if"......
what if my children can't have this kind of education due to tuition expenses?
what if I can't get a job in a waldorf school? (unlikely; there is a high demand as Waldorf has "caught on" at such a rapid rate these days...)
what if something doesn't work out?
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Homeschooling is always a thought in my head...but one of my favorite aspects of Waldorf is the Community...togetherness....there is a lack of like-minded homeschooling groups in my area.
I will begin teacher training this summer. I will make it happen. The distance, the money.....I am leaving it to the cosmos....but remaining creative and proactive all the while. It is meant to happen. This is my dream and I have found it! I know this!

My Waldorf Inspired Playschool opens in January. I have been busy creating indoor playspaces and mentally preparing...
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our home, ready for baking and discovery...
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what will they be?
Thus far, 2 children will join me for 3 hours of baking, singing, storytelling, and playing. I am thrilled that these families have trusted me to make this a happy experience for their little ones. All proceeds will go towards my teacher training...
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I have also come up with 2 "fundraisers" for the holidays....handpainted rainbow stackers and hand dyed playsilks. Families from our local mom's group have been placing orders since mid November....this is another fun way for me to save money for training!
Please see the link below if you are interested in ordering!
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Also, a happy thanksgiving to everyone....I feel blessed to "know" you and I am forever humbled and thankful for your kind words and support.
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xoxo

12 comments:

  1. Dear Rebecca, I have full faith that you will realize all your dreams! I am so impressed by the rainbow stackers! How did you cut the wood? :) Happy Thanksgiving! <3 Diana

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  2. I had this same sentiment today - after looking up the tuition at this very school. Steiner never meant his education to be only available to the rich. I have a knot in my stomach over this whole idea of wanting this for my girls knowing that financially that it is unattainable. I feel rejected. I want to post about it but I want to wait until I attend WSP open house this January.

    Please don't publish this - if it is automatic.
    There is a fire in my belly - Hey Universe, What about Us? !!!

    Thanks for writing this post - I feel united.

    Much love, Nicole

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  3. Nicole you are so right on! Steiner started his school for the POOR it's insane how it is here in the US.

    That said, most of our Waldorf schools here are struggling to get by. Our teachers at our school took a rather large pay cut (and they weren't making much to begin with) so that our school can offer financial aid to families like mine that can't afford tuition.
    I,too, have that large lump in my throat. We are barely getting by but we knew what we were up against and ready for the sacrifice. We take it day by day and pray we can continue with this perfect school and amazing teachers. I have never seen my girls so happy and so at home, same goes for me, the community here is better than I could ever dream of. I,too, hope to do teacher training someday but we are not as fortunate as you are (with finding a job afterwards), we have no openings locally. My close friend in VA is a Waldorf grades teacher and has been applying at every Waldorf school in the country for the past year with no luck :( It's tough, but every day I pray to my girls' angels as well as my own that it will all work out.
    XO

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  4. Rebecca...it is so refreshing to see someone so inspired to do what they believe they are meant to do. Nothing but goodness will follow you and the right school will open its doors to you. We live nearly an hour from a Waldorf school here in Canada and again, the tuition is discouraging. Until we find a solution, we are homeschooling our three children (well, we just started with the first). I am also a teacher and have had experience at an alternative school where I implemented a lot of Steiner philosophy. But to be in a Waldorf environment is a dream that I hope to fulfill one day. Good luck on your quest...hold your vision steady in your heart and all good things will come to pass.
    xo Jules

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  5. I wanted to pop in and say that your playroom is looking beautiful. I don't teach at a Steiner preschool, but I do teach at a progressive school and wanted you to know that it started out very very small, with passionate parents like yourself, and almost 40 years later it is blossoming. You can do it - your heart and soul are there, everything else will follow.

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  6. good for you for following your dream of a waldorf education for your son! i am praying for my son to have a waldorf education as well. for now i am on the path of homeschool but i am guiding us to move to an area where there is a waldorf school in our future. hopefully by the time he is in middle or high school... and hopefully we can afford it! i would LOVE to get my waldorf teacher training, but alas, i don't live anywhere near a training site. but, i hope that could be a reality for me as well one day. i do not ever want to set foot in a public school again unless it is a charter school with a waldorf inspired curriculum. sigh... i too get that same lump in my throat that you wrote about. i know exactly how you feel! you are inspiring in your playschool and other creations.

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  7. Oh my gosh Rebecca you are so awesome! Look at all you have created! Happy Thanksgiving!
    xo Angela

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  8. This is so wonderful. We have been very lucky to find like-minded families to share in our childcare. It feels like having family about all the time. Last week one of the girls carried a soapnut around all day from her mama, who is attending a medicinal herbal masters program in our area. Being able to share this life style with so many children and families is a real gift and a beautiful community.
    I started homeschooling because there wasn't a waldorf school close enough and I really couldn't afford it. But it has turned into exactly what I dreamed it would, and with patience, our community is growing.

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  9. Thanks so much for sharing all this! I'm probably going to have to take the Waldorf homeschool route, so it's great to have resources in advance.

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  10. I share your sentiments. The problem we have here is not so much the price of Waldorf schooling, as it is affordable, but, it is also becoming very desirable so the waiting lists for the schools is a mile long. I have both our girls on the waiting list and just continue to hope that they will be offered a place. Like you, I am also thinking 'homeschool' as my backup plan but like you said, a big part of it is the community.

    Playroom looks beautiful.

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving!
    You are making it happen!
    What a beautiful spirit you are!
    I am thankful to have found your inspiring blog.

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  12. Rebecca...thank you again for posting such beautiful words and images of our school! We are always so happy to host you on our campus :) I just want to say to everyone who is lamenting the cost of a Waldorf education (I sooo understand! The prohibitive cost plays a large part in why my family remains a one-child household!) that MOST Waldorf schools do offer significant financial aid to families in need. Ours does, and so many families are able to send their children here because of that! Be encouraged :)

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