Welcome

 

 

“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.”

-Rudolf Steiner

Waldorf education (also known as Steiner or Steiner-Waldorf education) is a humanistic and artistic approach to pedagogy based upon the educational philosophy of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. The Waldorf approach is unique for its emphasis on the role of the imagination in learning and its developmental approach to feeling, acting and thinking that includes creative as well as analytic components. Waldorf education’s main goal is to help young people to develop into free, morally responsible and well-balanced individuals.

About the Program:

The Waldorf Alternative Program is a public elementary school program offered by the Edmonton Public School Board.  We are the largest Waldorf grade school program in Edmonton, and also the only Waldorf program within the Edmonton public school system.   In addition, our teachers collectively have the highest level of Waldorf training of any Edmonton-based Waldorf-inspired school.

Registrations have begun for our upcoming school year (2012-13).  This year the Waldorf Alternative Program accepts registrations from Kindergarten to Grade Five (NOTE: as the program grows it will be adding a grade level each year).  For information about registration within these classes click here: Registration for Waldorf Alternative Program.  Space has become limited; if you are hoping to register your child for the upcoming school year, please act quickly!

For further information regarding our program, please peruse our Frequently Asked Questions page, located here.  Alternatively, you can  contact us here:  Sign-Up / Contact Us.

Who We Are

The Waldorf Parent Council is a non-profit society comprised of the community of parents with children in the Waldorf Alternative Program within the Edmonton Public School system in Edmonton, Alberta. The Council was formed in November 2010, and serves as a forum for the discussion of matters of interest and concern to the parents and guardians of children within the Waldorf Alternative Program. Our society provides funding for teacher training, classroom materials, and helps fund community festivals through the generous donations of our membership. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at Avonmore School, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  If you are a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the Waldorf Alternative Program, be sure to click on the link found at the top of the right-hand column on this page for the latest updates!

Waldorf Alternative Program in the News!

The Waldorf Alternative Program at Avonmore School featured in the Edmonton Journal:  Do children need computers in school?

Dr. Cor Baerveldt interviewed by NAIT Newswatch:  Alternative Programs

A New York Times article on why children from the largest Silicon Valley technology companies are attending Waldorf schools:  A Silicon Valley School That Doesn’t Compute