Waldorf100

Madrona School Alphabet (O)

Hand drawn world maps by our 2019 8th graders — done as a part of their economic geography block.

We’re into the second half of our alphabet highlighting what makes a Madrona School education unique! ‘O’ celebrates Waldorf education as a part of our larger world. Madrona School, as a developing Waldorf school, is a member of a worldwide and growing independent education movement celebrating 100 years in 2019. According to the latest figures, there are more than 1,100 Waldorf schools in more than 60 countries; if you look specifically at early childhood programs, there are more than 2,000 on five continents. 

Waldorf education originated in Germany in 1919, when a factory owner asked Rudolf Steiner to develop a school for his workers' children. The original co-educational school, open to all and administered by teachers, was a direct outgrowth of Germany's social renewal efforts following World War I. And, even though the Waldorf education movement began in one place at a specific time, it continues to grow and evolve, seeking always to educate the whole child, recognizing a child reaches his or her full potential when education addresses not only the mind, but the body and spirit as well. Today, each Waldorf school is independently run, and each school reflects local culture and practice -- just as we make use of all the natural beauty in our local woods and beaches and incorporate our region's history and culture into our curriculum, the same is true for schools around the world. At the same time there are elements of Waldorf education that are recognizable and translate across cultures, as each and every school strives to educate and develop each student's awakening capacities, and graduate creative thinkers who feel themselves a part of not only their culture, but of a common humanity.

Postcards received as a part of the global postcard exchange between Waldorf schools in 2018-2019.

Postcards received as a part of the global postcard exchange between Waldorf schools in 2018-2019.

If you are interested in reading more, please investigate the information on the AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America) website, or all of the work that the German organization, Friends of Waldorf, highlights on their webpages. And, for a visual trip around the world, check out the Waldorf100 videos: Learn to Change the World, and the early childhood focused, Becoming. It is so interesting to see snippets of so many schools in so many different cultures! 

In the day to day work of educating our students, we don't often think of our little school on Bainbridge Island with global connections, but indeed they are there!

—adapted from our school newsletter

What does a games and movement teacher do to celebrate the Waldorf 100 Anniversary?

Why... Run 100 miles in a school year of course!

Tracking our progress…

This year, to celebrate the Waldorf 100 year anniversary, the Madrona School 2nd through 8th grades, will be cumulatively running 100 miles during games classes. That's 33 miles for the fall, 33 miles for the winter, and 34 miles in the spring. Surprisingly to most of the students, we reached our fall goal early just this week, with the 2nd grade running the last mile and a half to complete the first 33 miles. Over all, the 2nd and 3rd grades put in a lot of running time and came out on top with 6 miles each towards the goal. All of the classes have put forth an amazing effort!

Planning the next run at the start of a class…

Along with all of the enthusiasm around reaching this goal, I have had a great chance to talk about the importance of hydration. Several of the students call me "Ms. Do you have your water bottle?" Quite a few of the students have realized how much better they feel after fueling up before, during and after our time together. Additionally, proper footwear has come into play. Nothing like trudging along in your fancy school shoes, to remind yourself to bring running shoes for the next class.

Make sure to be on the lookout after Thanksgiving break, when the Madrona Waldorf 100 Running Club will be back in action piling up those miles running around town, and in Moritani Park working towards our collective goal of 100 miles!

— From our games and movement teacher, Jamie Villella