On September 29th of each year, Waldorf schools around the world come together in celebration of the first major festival of the year – Michaelmas. Michaelmas is a traditional Waldorf festival that is celebrated as the summer warmth and light dwindle. As we begin to face the challenges of the darker season ahead, Michaelmas reminds us to find our own strength and courage to overcome fears in our lives. Below, long-time Waldorf educator Nancy Blanning shares her reflections on the meaning of Michaelmas: We live in a fear-filled world. This has always been true for humanity. Whether it has been ..read more

The depth and wisdom of the Waldorf educational movement extends beyond our classrooms here at The Denver Waldorf School. In subtle yet impactful ways, families can integrate Waldorf philosophies into their home lives as well. But what does it mean to bring Waldorf into your home? It isn’t just about playsilks, beeswax, beautiful wooden toys, a proper supply of woolies, paper stars hanging from the windows, or the absence of an always-on television (although we do love all these). Rather, it is about creating a thoughtful home-life around the values that we most cherish. In doing so, we create ..read more

Breathe in, breathe out. Look inwards, look outwards. Nourish the inner life, nourish the outer life. This is the rhythm of a Waldorf education. Beginning in our early childhood programs and extending through the high school years, rhythm plays an integral role in our students’ lives. A predictable cycle of outbreaths and inbreaths allows our students to meet life’s challenges with confidence and to engage their senses fully in the tasks at hand. Rhythm inspires healthy habits, positive inward reflection, and enthusiastic exploration of the outside world. So, how does DWS establish rhythm from ..read more

As we look forward to welcoming back some DWS alumni for our panel happening on Wednesday, February 15 at 9:00am, we asked DWS Next Steps Coach Laura Shope to share more about Waldorf alumni. Read her insights below and be sure to join us on February 15th for coffee at 8:15am followed by the alumni panel! ***** People often wonder about where Waldorf graduates go and what they do after graduation. Or perhaps, the underlying question is, “Will my student have the best opportunities available to them if they attend a Waldorf high school?” As an alumni parent, trained Waldorf teacher, and as the ..read more

When you ask parents about the happiest moments of their childhoods, you often hear stories about time spent outside — the family camping trip, the simple times in the backyard underneath the shade of an apple tree, the make-believe games that emerged in the outdoors, the sense of discovery and freedom while biking with friends, the awe of laying beneath a night sky replete with stars. At an intuitive level, we all understand that kids need time outside, and that kids can learn so much while outdoors. Nevertheless, we are living through an era in which too few kids have sufficient time outdoo ..read more

One of the goals of The Denver Waldorf School Parent Council for the 2022/2023 school year is to focus on sustainability at DWS. We have started this blog series to let our wonderful parent community know about sustainability efforts under way, spotlights on best practices or student stars who are making a difference, and sharing articles or tried-and-tested, eco-friendly recipes to spice up your meatless Monday. In the works at DWS… The parent council is committed to increasing sustainability education, awareness, and engagement among our student population. Currently, the parent council is ..read more

Do you remember studying for and taking your SAT or ACT tests? Or maybe you even took both?? Do you believe this is your student’s ‘ticket’ to college? The college admissions landscape has completely shifted over the past three years, and decisions about test requirements will continue to evolve over the next few years as well. Even prior to the pandemic, many colleges and universities were downplaying the role of test scores in their admissions process. Selective and highly selective colleges and universities were using the test score more as ‘validation’ for a student’s transcript – did it c ..read more

How to Make Waldorf Window Stars Truth, beauty and goodness are core tenets of Waldorf education. We surround ourselves with wonder and beauty to awaken our spirits and inspire our learning. There is a movement to display rainbows- which symbolize peace and serenity, hope and promise- in our windows at home to bring light and connection to all who walk by. Waldorf window stars have long been a favorite way to brighten our classrooms and homes, and in rainbow colors, we love how they contribute to the optimism of this movement. This is an activity that can be shared easily with little hands ..read more

Celebrating 3 Spartan Seniors on October 13th It is with gratitude, excitement, and joy that we honor our beloved 12th graders on Senior Night — a DWS tradition taking place during the varsity volleyball game versus Flatirons Academy on October 13th. About these one-of-a-kind athletes, Coach Robert Houser reflected the following: Maea Flemming Three-year varsity player and our two-year-in-a-row team captain, Maea is one of the team’s most consistent players. She is one of the top servers on our team and is the number one right side/opposite in the league. When the game is on the line, we know ..read more

How can schools bring joy to the classroom, make learning fun, and increase self-confidence and well-being for students, families, and teachers alike? That is the precise question asked by educators in this summer’s edition of the Harvard Ed. Magazine: “A Space for Joy: Educators Talk About the Impact COVID Has Had on School Happiness.” Teachers and school administrators across the U.S. are reporting increased levels of stress and anxiety amongst faculty and students. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic presented new unimaginable challenges for schools and exposed old fault lines in our nati ..read more