Mission
Building conscious community by inspiring individuals to meet the world with purpose.
Vision
To support the development of the individual through secure attachment, rhythm and opportunities for expression,
To support the development of healthy relationships through consistent guidance and community involvement, and
To support the development of conscience and potential through deeply engaging academic experience.
Building conscious community by inspiring individuals to meet the world with purpose.
Vision
To support the development of the individual through secure attachment, rhythm and opportunities for expression,
To support the development of healthy relationships through consistent guidance and community involvement, and
To support the development of conscience and potential through deeply engaging academic experience.
Comox Valley Waldorf School was a non-profit, independent school which operated in the Comox Valley, British Columbia from September 2011 - June 2020. We received our ‘Developing School Status’ in 2014 with the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). We were also certified with the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North American (WECAN).
Our school was located in the eclectic and artistic neighbourhood of ‘Tin Town’ in Courtenay. The Early Childhood building at 2311 Rosewall Crescent houses our Parent and Child, Preschool and Kindergarten programs. It had a small play yard and a growing garden in raised beds. A second building, at 2398 Rosewall Crescent, housed our Grades programs.
Our school was located in the eclectic and artistic neighbourhood of ‘Tin Town’ in Courtenay. The Early Childhood building at 2311 Rosewall Crescent houses our Parent and Child, Preschool and Kindergarten programs. It had a small play yard and a growing garden in raised beds. A second building, at 2398 Rosewall Crescent, housed our Grades programs.
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The Comox Valley Waldorf School’s curriculum was based on the educational philosophy of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. The first ‘Waldorf’ school opened in Germany in 1919. Though many practices have evolved over time, the philosophy remains strong in Waldorf schools today. These principles are upheld through the relationship between the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) for the grades programs and the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) for the early childhood education programs. As these governing bodies are responsible for ensuring the highest standards for Waldorf Schools in North America, they require that schools who want to offer Waldorf Education go through a period of self-study, creating development plans and working with a representative who guides the school through the process. It’s not unlike becoming certified as ‘organic’ in the food production world!
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The Comox Valley Waldorf School's teachers had a wealth of knowledge and experience which they brought to the classroom. Through practicing development-centered education our teachers opened their students’ eyes to the world around them with ever-deepening levels of sophistication. Such pride was taken in attending to the health of each child – physically, emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually – so they continued to flourish long after their school days were finished. Art, music and movement were integrated into the teaching of academics. The children created their own lesson books reflecting their learning through art as well as writing. Our school sought to inspire a life-long love of learning and to produce adults who would be able, by themselves, to impart meaning to their lives.
There was also a strong sense of community where parents found the support that is often lacking for them in today’s society. Festivals, seasonal celebrations, parent group activities, volunteer opportunities and continued education regarding Waldorf education and anthroposophy provided natural pathways to connection and community.
Comox Valley Waldorf School met the learning outcomes set out by the BC Ministry of Education and the program was enriched with arts, languages and experiences in nature. There was an active outdoor program that included biking, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing for the older grades and paddle sports.
There are over 1000 independent Waldorf schools located in sixty countries throughout the world. Waldorf Education, with over 90 years of proven experience, is the fastest growing educational movement in the world. We were grateful to be part of this international community!
There was also a strong sense of community where parents found the support that is often lacking for them in today’s society. Festivals, seasonal celebrations, parent group activities, volunteer opportunities and continued education regarding Waldorf education and anthroposophy provided natural pathways to connection and community.
Comox Valley Waldorf School met the learning outcomes set out by the BC Ministry of Education and the program was enriched with arts, languages and experiences in nature. There was an active outdoor program that included biking, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing for the older grades and paddle sports.
There are over 1000 independent Waldorf schools located in sixty countries throughout the world. Waldorf Education, with over 90 years of proven experience, is the fastest growing educational movement in the world. We were grateful to be part of this international community!
A Final Goodbye
Comox Valley Waldorf School Now Closed
There reigned here spirit-strength in love;
There worked here spirit-light in goodness:
born from certainty of heart,
and from steadfastness of soul,
so that we could bring to young human beings
bodily strength for work;
inward-ness of soul, and clarity of spirit.
This place was consecrated to such a task;
and young minds and hearts here found servers of the light,
endowed with strength,
who guarded and cherished them.
-Adapted from Rudolf Steiner
June 12, 2020
The Comox Valley Waldorf School officially closed its doors as the school year came to an end on June 12. The school opened in Tin Town in September of 2011, which was the beginning of a beautiful journey to bring Waldorf education to the communities of the Comox Valley. Waldorf schools offer a deeply engaging academic experience where emphasis is placed on creative and critical thinking and conscious community building. By exploring the world of ideas and participating in the arts, music, movement and engaged hands on learning, children develop healthy bodies, flexible thinking, practical skills, and strong executive-functioning. BC Waldorf schools meet BC provincial curriculum criteria while adhering to Waldorf principles and BC Waldorf teachers are BC certified teachers. There are seven Waldorf schools across BC and thousands of Waldorf schools across the globe. The school made the difficult decision to close its doors in February, due to a lack of available trained Waldorf teachers.
To commemorate its time in the valley the school found a way to honour its community members despite the obstacles presented by Covid-19 responses. The children, parents, alumni, teachers, staff, and board members of the school were invited to participate in a Gratitude and Remembrance Rock Garden project. Each member of the school community painted a rock as a show of gratitude and remembrance of their time at CVWS. Rocks were placed below the school mural that was erected on the wall of Lacasse Construction next to the field near the school. The mural was painted over many months during this school year by teachers and students. This mural will remain in the Comox Valley long after the school closes, to commemorate its journey as a school community and celebrate 100 years of Waldorf education globally. Principal Rebecca Watkin said “we anticipate and accept that the rocks will shift over time just as our community has over the years....some rocks will move, some rocks will be joined by siblings, some rocks will go off to high school. We hope that you can take it upon yourselves to add to the rock garden anytime you are struck by a feeling of gratitude, love or remembrance for CVWS”.
During the school’s final months, the Board of Directors of CVWS provided an invitation for any Waldorf initiatives to apply for access to the school’s resources. Out of this process two initiatives have taken shape so far: Hummingbird Homeschool will serve children aged 3-6 in a home-like, Waldorf inspired setting, contact Leah at leahlikessauce@gmail.com for more information. Daily Wonder: The Home Learning Hub is an on-line hub that will serve parents of home learners in grades Kindergarten through Grade Eight with curriculum guides and support, see www.dailywonder.ca for more information.
The Teachers and Staff at the Comox Valley Waldorf School would like to express a wholehearted thank you to parents for bringing their children to CVWS, for having the courage to step outside the stream, and for prioritizing character and community. A special thank you to Lacasse Construction for graciously taking on the task of hanging and hosting the school mural.
There worked here spirit-light in goodness:
born from certainty of heart,
and from steadfastness of soul,
so that we could bring to young human beings
bodily strength for work;
inward-ness of soul, and clarity of spirit.
This place was consecrated to such a task;
and young minds and hearts here found servers of the light,
endowed with strength,
who guarded and cherished them.
-Adapted from Rudolf Steiner
June 12, 2020
The Comox Valley Waldorf School officially closed its doors as the school year came to an end on June 12. The school opened in Tin Town in September of 2011, which was the beginning of a beautiful journey to bring Waldorf education to the communities of the Comox Valley. Waldorf schools offer a deeply engaging academic experience where emphasis is placed on creative and critical thinking and conscious community building. By exploring the world of ideas and participating in the arts, music, movement and engaged hands on learning, children develop healthy bodies, flexible thinking, practical skills, and strong executive-functioning. BC Waldorf schools meet BC provincial curriculum criteria while adhering to Waldorf principles and BC Waldorf teachers are BC certified teachers. There are seven Waldorf schools across BC and thousands of Waldorf schools across the globe. The school made the difficult decision to close its doors in February, due to a lack of available trained Waldorf teachers.
To commemorate its time in the valley the school found a way to honour its community members despite the obstacles presented by Covid-19 responses. The children, parents, alumni, teachers, staff, and board members of the school were invited to participate in a Gratitude and Remembrance Rock Garden project. Each member of the school community painted a rock as a show of gratitude and remembrance of their time at CVWS. Rocks were placed below the school mural that was erected on the wall of Lacasse Construction next to the field near the school. The mural was painted over many months during this school year by teachers and students. This mural will remain in the Comox Valley long after the school closes, to commemorate its journey as a school community and celebrate 100 years of Waldorf education globally. Principal Rebecca Watkin said “we anticipate and accept that the rocks will shift over time just as our community has over the years....some rocks will move, some rocks will be joined by siblings, some rocks will go off to high school. We hope that you can take it upon yourselves to add to the rock garden anytime you are struck by a feeling of gratitude, love or remembrance for CVWS”.
During the school’s final months, the Board of Directors of CVWS provided an invitation for any Waldorf initiatives to apply for access to the school’s resources. Out of this process two initiatives have taken shape so far: Hummingbird Homeschool will serve children aged 3-6 in a home-like, Waldorf inspired setting, contact Leah at leahlikessauce@gmail.com for more information. Daily Wonder: The Home Learning Hub is an on-line hub that will serve parents of home learners in grades Kindergarten through Grade Eight with curriculum guides and support, see www.dailywonder.ca for more information.
The Teachers and Staff at the Comox Valley Waldorf School would like to express a wholehearted thank you to parents for bringing their children to CVWS, for having the courage to step outside the stream, and for prioritizing character and community. A special thank you to Lacasse Construction for graciously taking on the task of hanging and hosting the school mural.
Comox Valley Waldorf School Closing
February 22, 2020
The Comox Valley Waldorf School (CVWS) is familiar with change. We have been in operation since 2009 (2011 in a building) and each year has brought its gifts and challenges. Each year the board and faculty work to ensure that what they do, and what they offer, is in line with the vision and mission of the school. Sometimes this realignment has meant shrinking, sometimes growing, and sometimes other significant changes such as combining or separating groupings of students. One thing that has always remained when the dust settles is the love of Waldorf education and the desire to see it flourish. This love continues today even as the school has made a difficult decision regarding its future in the Comox Valley.
Nine years ago, the school began as a dream. A few parents in the Valley were looking for a school that did not yet exist, and so they created it. Before moving to its current location, it was in the hearts of a few parents who began a parent group and organized gatherings. This energy grew to include a few more parents and then led them to start a non-profit Board to begin to get a school off the ground. In 2011 we were gifted the use of a building including renovation costs to turn it from a health practitioner’s space into a school. The school opened in Tin Town in September of 2011, which was the beginning of a beautiful journey to bring Waldorf education to the communities of the Comox Valley.
Waldorf schools offer a deeply engaging academic experience where emphasis is placed on creative and critical thinking and conscious community building. By exploring the world of ideas and participating in the arts, music, movement and engaged hands on learning, children develop healthy bodies, flexible thinking, practical skills and strong executive-functioning. BC Waldorf schools meet BC provincial criteria while adhering to Waldorf principles.
Hiring trained Waldorf teachers has always been a challenge. In fact, aside from the founding teachers, our school has never hired a Waldorf trained teacher. Instead we have hired people with university degrees (BC teaching credentials) and a deep interest in Waldorf Education who begin their Waldorf training once they begin teaching. At the end of the 2019-20 school year three of our Waldorf trained teachers, and one mid-training teacher, are moving on from the school for a variety of reasons. Postings for these positions have been up for a while and we have received only a couple of applications, none of which reflect the training necessary for the jobs. Across North America there is a severe shortage of Waldorf trained teachers, the struggle to find teachers is not unique.
A lack of trained teachers has placed the school in an impossible situation. We have come to see, after endless searching and meeting, that the school is no longer viable, and the Board and society members voted to dissolve the school at the end of the 2019-20 school year. The board would like to acknowledge what a privilege it has been to work alongside such devoted teachers and admin staff over the years. Without their tireless dedication, love and support, CVWS could not have been possible.
Because of its thorough contemplation of child development and human connection, Waldorf schools offer a supportive, unique space for families and teachers to work alongside each other. The Comox Valley Waldorf School would like to thank all the families that have provided the opportunity to bring Waldorf education to them over the past 9 years. Our sympathies go to our colleagues, children & parents who will be losing a school that has provided a distinctive curriculum, opportunity for creative learning and a consciously built community since it was first established in 2011.
It is the school’s intention to maintain the running of the Board, with a view to re-kindling the school when the time comes again as we know that there is an interest to keep the spark alive. Focus will be on building a healthy community of dedicated parents and through that energy draw trained Waldorf teachers to the valley. The last remaining months of this current school model will be spent celebrating the life of the school as well as supporting the community through their grief and loss, helping everyone move toward acceptance and gratitude.
The Comox Valley Waldorf School (CVWS) is familiar with change. We have been in operation since 2009 (2011 in a building) and each year has brought its gifts and challenges. Each year the board and faculty work to ensure that what they do, and what they offer, is in line with the vision and mission of the school. Sometimes this realignment has meant shrinking, sometimes growing, and sometimes other significant changes such as combining or separating groupings of students. One thing that has always remained when the dust settles is the love of Waldorf education and the desire to see it flourish. This love continues today even as the school has made a difficult decision regarding its future in the Comox Valley.
Nine years ago, the school began as a dream. A few parents in the Valley were looking for a school that did not yet exist, and so they created it. Before moving to its current location, it was in the hearts of a few parents who began a parent group and organized gatherings. This energy grew to include a few more parents and then led them to start a non-profit Board to begin to get a school off the ground. In 2011 we were gifted the use of a building including renovation costs to turn it from a health practitioner’s space into a school. The school opened in Tin Town in September of 2011, which was the beginning of a beautiful journey to bring Waldorf education to the communities of the Comox Valley.
Waldorf schools offer a deeply engaging academic experience where emphasis is placed on creative and critical thinking and conscious community building. By exploring the world of ideas and participating in the arts, music, movement and engaged hands on learning, children develop healthy bodies, flexible thinking, practical skills and strong executive-functioning. BC Waldorf schools meet BC provincial criteria while adhering to Waldorf principles.
Hiring trained Waldorf teachers has always been a challenge. In fact, aside from the founding teachers, our school has never hired a Waldorf trained teacher. Instead we have hired people with university degrees (BC teaching credentials) and a deep interest in Waldorf Education who begin their Waldorf training once they begin teaching. At the end of the 2019-20 school year three of our Waldorf trained teachers, and one mid-training teacher, are moving on from the school for a variety of reasons. Postings for these positions have been up for a while and we have received only a couple of applications, none of which reflect the training necessary for the jobs. Across North America there is a severe shortage of Waldorf trained teachers, the struggle to find teachers is not unique.
A lack of trained teachers has placed the school in an impossible situation. We have come to see, after endless searching and meeting, that the school is no longer viable, and the Board and society members voted to dissolve the school at the end of the 2019-20 school year. The board would like to acknowledge what a privilege it has been to work alongside such devoted teachers and admin staff over the years. Without their tireless dedication, love and support, CVWS could not have been possible.
Because of its thorough contemplation of child development and human connection, Waldorf schools offer a supportive, unique space for families and teachers to work alongside each other. The Comox Valley Waldorf School would like to thank all the families that have provided the opportunity to bring Waldorf education to them over the past 9 years. Our sympathies go to our colleagues, children & parents who will be losing a school that has provided a distinctive curriculum, opportunity for creative learning and a consciously built community since it was first established in 2011.
It is the school’s intention to maintain the running of the Board, with a view to re-kindling the school when the time comes again as we know that there is an interest to keep the spark alive. Focus will be on building a healthy community of dedicated parents and through that energy draw trained Waldorf teachers to the valley. The last remaining months of this current school model will be spent celebrating the life of the school as well as supporting the community through their grief and loss, helping everyone move toward acceptance and gratitude.