Peach Blossom Preschool Hand book 2005 Lead Teacher: Christine Waters
Assistant Teacher: Kathy Luckenbill
The Philosophy Waldorf Schools throughout the world are based on the pedagogy developed by the Austrian philosopher and scientist, Rudolf Steiner. Steiner understood long ago the developmental stages and needs of the young child. He knew that, for preschool aged children, rich and imaginative play is of central importance. The “toys” we offer children for their play—branches, colored cloths, smooth stones—leave room for their imaginations to be active. Steiner also saw how children are adept imitators by nature, and how they cannot help but imitate, in an imaginative way, the actions of those around them. Therefore, we teach through modeling (as opposed to instruction), and we strive to make all of our actions worthy of emulation. Steiner understood that love, warmth, and joy form the necessary environment for healthy growing and unfolding. He understood, further, that through movement and nourishment young children actively develop their senses, organs, and brain: the foundations for a healthy, loving, and intellectually-spiritually free life. Overview of the Program The Corvallis Waldorf School offers a play oriented preschool program serving the needs of children aged 3-4. Peach Blossom is a four-day program from 8:30 AM- 12:30PM with a three-day option. In the preschool, we breathe with the rhythm of the day, of the week, and of the year. We begin our days with morning songs and verses, and seasonal circle activities. Our weekly rhythm of activities includes painting, baking, beeswax modeling, handwork, wood working, cooking and cleaning. Our yearly rhythm is centered on the Earth’s cycle and the festivals within each of the seasons. Even our snacks flow with the cycles of the week and year. Each day of the week we serve an assigned wholesome grain, some of which we prepare according to the season. We serve almost entirely organic or no-spray foods. We tell nature stories, fairy tales or sequential stories to the children on successive days for several weeks, then retell the tale as a puppet show, or as a play with simple costumes acted out by the children with the teacher narrating. It is significant that morals are never stated, but rather left to live and grow in the child. Morning Arrival Teachers are busy in the classroom preparing for the day before 8:00 AM and are not available until 8:30 AM. If you happen to arrive early, please wait with your little ones until we are ready to receive them. If you have an early work schedule, please make necessary arrangements in advance so that your child arrives at 8:30 AM. Being on time to school every morning is a healthy habit to instill in our children and will enable your child to get the most out of the program. Once you see your child safely into our care, we ask that you save non-urgent questions for us until after 12:30PM. Please limit adult conversations among parents to outside or in the hallway. Inside the room we will strive to uphold a quiet, peaceful mood. If you need to inform us of something urgent concerning your child before you leave, please tell us discreetly. Rhythm of the Day 8:30 Peach Blossom day begins with indoor free play and daily activity 9:30 Clean-up / bathroom time 9:45 Morning circle * 10:00 Snack-time 10:30 Outdoor play 11:30 Transition to inside 12:00 Story time / Goodbye verse and song * 12:30 Release to parents in hallway Weekly Rhythm Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday brown rice oatmeal millet vegetable soup * carrots applesauce tamari almonds bread herbal tea water herbal tea water handwork painting baking cooking *Please help us uphold the reverent mood of circle and story time by waiting to enter the room until the pink silk has been removed from the door. Sleep Adequate rest is extremely important to a child’s happy experience in any social setting. Also important is how a child enters sleep. The mood that surrounds that child when falling asleep is carried into the dream life. Teachers can offer suggestions for a healthy sleep life. Please begin settling your child into an early bedtime routine before school starts. Snack Each day we will practice good manners and gratitude while enjoying a hot and healthy snack together. *Please bring an organic vegetable or other soup ingredient on Thursdays. We will be making a hearty soup and the children love knowing it was their contribution that made the soup extra good that day. If your child will be attending after school care, please send a wholesome lunch in a basket with a cloth napkin covering the contents. Clothing Warmth is very important for young children, as is experiencing the natural world and the seasons. We intend to go outside everyday; therefore, it is very important that your child come prepared for quick weather changes. It is best if your child dresses in layers, in natural fibers, if possible. Wool is wonderful. Departure At the end of each day we will release the children to waiting parents one by one into the hallway. Please arrive promptly at 12:30 to receive your child. We will then accompany any remaining children into after school care. Please familiarize yourself with the policies of after school care. Birthday Celebrations On your child’s birthday, a celebration will be held in the preschool, to which you are expressly invited. I will hold a birthday ritual and tell a special story at circle time (9:45). When you bring your child to school that morning, please bring whipped cream and fresh fruit that has been sliced and prepared. The other children will be asked to bring a beautiful object from nature as a gift for the birthday child, such as a stone or a feather. Personal belongings—toys, etc. We ask that personal items such as toys, dolls, purses, wallets, money, toy cars, jewelry, watches, games, etc., be left at home. Thank you. This will be very helpful. When to Stay at Home A child who is not feeling well cannot participate in our day in a meaningful way. She/he feels out-of-sync and needs the loving care of home. Please keep your young ones at home if he/she displays the following symptoms: * tummy ache or headache * vomited within the last 24 hours * a fever or has had a fever within the last 24 hours * pink eye or discharge from the eye * lice Home Visits A teacher’s sense of your child is greatly enhanced by a visit to your home. A short visit will give me the opportunity to begin building a connection with your child and hopefully lessen any anxiety he/she may have around starting school. Parent-Teacher Conferences Conferences are scheduled in late fall or early spring, but may be scheduled at the request of the teacher or parent at any time of the year. I am available for any concerns you may have and am always grateful to hear immediately of significant changes in your child’s life. Parent Evenings Parent Evenings are essential for understanding and supporting the work of the teacher with your child, for creating community among families, as well as for supporting the parents and the home life. Please arrange childcare in advance to ensure that one parent is present. See enclosed calendar for schedule of Peach Blossom parent evening dates and times. Parent Involvement The quality of education we seek to provide could not exist without the partnership of parents. Your help, according to your individual interests and talents, is necessary and highly valued. There will be many opportunities to get involved, especially on festival days. Please check the calendar and arrange your schedules so that we can celebrate special holidays together in class, if at all possible. Children and Television In the early childhood program, perhaps more than anywhere else we have the opportunity to observe the effects of television and movies on the young child. Children reenact television scenes during playtime, instead of being in touch with their own innate powers of imaginative fantasy. What one child sees then affects the whole class. Television intrudes on the child’s emerging sense of self and their place in the world. We strongly recommend little or no television in the Early Childhood Program, especially on school days. Please bring the following items to the class meeting on Tuesday, September 6th, at 7:15 PM. 1) a pair of indoor shoes—light and supportive, in a plain style that the child can put on by him/herself and will stay on his/her feet. Please, no sloppy slippers that don’t stay on! I recommend Soft Star Shoes (541) 753-5845 (15% discount for Waldorf families). 2) a raincoat and rain pants (or poncho) which should fit over a winter coat, so your child can stay warm and dry on winter days. 3) a warm hat that covers your child’s ears and a sunhat for hot days 4) a pair of waterproof boots that your child can put on by her/himself. 5) a complete change of clothing with your child’s name on each article. * Please clearly label all of your child’s shoes, boots, and clothes and please keep a tab on your child’s clothing supply at school, especially during wet wintry months. Note: Please, no media inspired images (i.e. TV characters) on clothing or other belongings. We have experienced the deleterious effect this has on children’s imaginative play; please feel free to discuss with us questions or concerns. |