Tomorrow is Rosy’s first day of school. “Real school” she calls it, meaning not kindergarten. She went to kindergarten last year which felt to me like her first year of school, this year though she goes for full days.
Oh how my life has changed. Three years ago was the first time ANY of my children went to a school of any kind. From the beginning we homeschooled, and eventually were part of a parent run homeschool co-operative that was multi aged and very home spun. When Ayla was 11 she put her foot down, she wanted to go to “real school”. She and Lily started at Alta Lake, the Whistler Waldorf School. I taught there that year as the handwork teacher. A year later we moved to Nelson, Chris got into his accident and “real school” became our saving grace.
Things were rough after Chris’ accident, really rough, so rough in fact that even I have not fully admitted to myself all that went on. Having a place for the girls to go during these times was of immeasurable support, homeschooling was no longer an option for our family. Rose though, she was still little, she tagged along and was a big part of Chris’s recovery, they were buddies. Even last year, when she was in kindergarten for 3 hours a day 4 days a week, most days Chris and her hung out. He was able to get time to himself in the mornings, the rest of the day he took care of he and Rosy’s needs and little else, this was part of his prescribed recovery from his Neuro-Psychologist. I haven’t asked him yet how he feels about loosing his little buddy. Makes me wonder what this year will look like, how this will change us. What this new era in our lives is all about.
All my babies in school full time...wow, I know it sounds cliché, but they really do grow up so fast.
“How has schooling played a role in your life?” is the question in 12 days journal #147
Showing posts with label nelson waldorf school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nelson waldorf school. Show all posts
September 7, 2009
May 30, 2009
Day 2 Asking For Help- School Days
So my help today came from a couple of smart, handsome, intelligent 13 year old boys. Two boys who are likely going to be ticked at me for writing that last sentence. But they are all those things so I am going to leave it in! They sent me a whole SLEW of questions but the one that I am going to choose for 12 days journal #47 is “What do you remember from your days in school?”. I chose this one because I spent the morning at The Nelson Waldorf Kinderhouse where my youngest daughter goes to school celebrating their annual May Fest.
School was a challenge for me as a child. I was tiny, had a funny name and was the youngest in my class, bad combination. I struggled, and have come to understand that although I felt alone, I certainly wasn’t, that many others had a similar experience in school. I have a vivid memory that comes to mind, I was in grade 8. I was walking to science class, which was held in the basement of my jr. high school. I remember rounding a corner and seeing the blank cinder block walls, painted eggshell white. In a moment of clarity and wisdom beyond my years I thought to myself “How can I be inspired to learn in such an uninspired building?”. I believe that there were a lot of factors which contributed to me not being fond of school, but the building, it's surroundings and it's complete lack of soul played a significant role. Even outside it was just cows and wheat fields for miles. I knew back then I would choose something different for my children.
We have made lots of educational choices for our kids. The eldest two were homeschooled until they went to a Waldorf school in Whistler, BC. Rosy is our first child to ever go to Kindergarten. Far from being made of cinder block, her Kinderhouse is a strawbale building with much soul and natural flow. All materials used in today's crafts were natural: flowers, pine cones, beeswax, feathers. The shortcake and cookies served were wholesome and homemade. The puppet show was low key, the children watched with focused concentration as two teachers used hand felted puppets to tell a delightful story of an orange that the forest folk mistook for a sun seed. Finally we went up to dance round the May pole, a structure made from delicately coloured ribbons, driftwood and real flowers. The whole day was a celebration of what nature has to offer. This is what I would have liked to have been surrounded with when I was in school, but that was not meant to be... and I trust that. I am so deeply happy that my children will have memories of being educated in a organic, nurturing environment.
Like my science class room in Grade 8, this part of the Kinderhouse is actually partially underground, but look at what a difference the big sunshine windows make! This is me singing with the Waldorf choir.
Rosy Made this all by herself, isn’t it beautiful?
A friend with his beautiful daughter. Notice the beauty of this interior, with its womb like colours, soft textiles, and so many windows.
Round the Maypole, a timeless ancient ritual. In the background notice the mountains, trees and the rest of the school which is lovely and organic as well. Yes my children’s school is a beautiful place. this makes me, and I think them, happy.
School was a challenge for me as a child. I was tiny, had a funny name and was the youngest in my class, bad combination. I struggled, and have come to understand that although I felt alone, I certainly wasn’t, that many others had a similar experience in school. I have a vivid memory that comes to mind, I was in grade 8. I was walking to science class, which was held in the basement of my jr. high school. I remember rounding a corner and seeing the blank cinder block walls, painted eggshell white. In a moment of clarity and wisdom beyond my years I thought to myself “How can I be inspired to learn in such an uninspired building?”. I believe that there were a lot of factors which contributed to me not being fond of school, but the building, it's surroundings and it's complete lack of soul played a significant role. Even outside it was just cows and wheat fields for miles. I knew back then I would choose something different for my children.
We have made lots of educational choices for our kids. The eldest two were homeschooled until they went to a Waldorf school in Whistler, BC. Rosy is our first child to ever go to Kindergarten. Far from being made of cinder block, her Kinderhouse is a strawbale building with much soul and natural flow. All materials used in today's crafts were natural: flowers, pine cones, beeswax, feathers. The shortcake and cookies served were wholesome and homemade. The puppet show was low key, the children watched with focused concentration as two teachers used hand felted puppets to tell a delightful story of an orange that the forest folk mistook for a sun seed. Finally we went up to dance round the May pole, a structure made from delicately coloured ribbons, driftwood and real flowers. The whole day was a celebration of what nature has to offer. This is what I would have liked to have been surrounded with when I was in school, but that was not meant to be... and I trust that. I am so deeply happy that my children will have memories of being educated in a organic, nurturing environment.
Like my science class room in Grade 8, this part of the Kinderhouse is actually partially underground, but look at what a difference the big sunshine windows make! This is me singing with the Waldorf choir.
Rosy Made this all by herself, isn’t it beautiful?
A friend with his beautiful daughter. Notice the beauty of this interior, with its womb like colours, soft textiles, and so many windows.
Round the Maypole, a timeless ancient ritual. In the background notice the mountains, trees and the rest of the school which is lovely and organic as well. Yes my children’s school is a beautiful place. this makes me, and I think them, happy.
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