The Grades faculty came together last year to review our programming in light of my decision to teach fewer music classes and focus more on my role as Principal. Arts are essential to the Waldorf curriculum, and music especially facilitates cognitive development and feeds the soul, bringing students together as a community and strengthening our cultural connections. It is important that we continue serving these functions, so we asked what programs would serve the children and who would be best suited to deliver the lessons, as students learn as much from who we are as as teachers as from what we teach. We are proud of the growing strength in our subject teacher faculty, with both Mme. Emilie and Ms. Fawcett returning in French and violin and Ms. McCrone’s continued talents in our handwork program, and we decided to build our subject program on the strength of our faculty.
Ms. Fawcett is teaching violin in Grades 4 and up, and will also bring elements of theory and choir to these classes. I am continuing to teach the Grade 2/3 class twice a week, working with the pentatonic flute, song, and movement. Music is woven throughout the Grade 1 curriculum in the main lesson and in their French classes. Once their flute cases are complete in January, Grade 1’s will be introduced to the pentatonic flute. Music will continue to be a part of our school-wide seasonal celebrations, and I will lead the Grades choir in carolling as winter break approaches. New to our program is the Waldorf practical arts curriculum, which Ms. McCrone will deliver to Grades 4 -7 in a double period once a week, starting with woodwork. Practical arts nurtures the development of the will, offers a different medium for expression, and helps students feel grounded in their place in the world. These changes have rounded out our subject offerings, while continuing to feed the souls of our students.
– Gabriel