Haleakala Waldorf School

Academic Programs

Waldorf education provides a rich experience that aims to prepare children to meet the challenges of our world and the future - with clarity of thought, a caring heart and confidence. It achieves its aims with a fully developed approach that addresses the whole child: mind, body and spirit. The Waldorf curriculum recognizes that children have distinct, age-related educational and emotional needs according to their naturally unfolding stages of development. To meet these needs, the arts are integrated into virtually every element of the curriculum. Children experience the lesson's content through drawing, painting, song, recitation, drama and movement.

The importance of art in education goes beyond a "feel-good" type of experience. Body-mind experiences like athletics, peak performances, nutrition, music, dance, theater, and playfulness all help to develop the frontal lobes of the brain. These require higher order skills; the arts cultivate this for children. Norman Weinberger, professor of psychobiology at the University of California at Irvine writes, "Learning and performing music actually exercises the brain but also by strengthening the synapses between the brain cells. Brain scans taken during music show that virtually the entire cerebral cortex is active while musicians are playing."

The Waldorf child learns about the world through an experience of the hands and the heart, as well as the mind, and in so doing, acquires a living wisdom that enriches the intellect and deepens the natural joy and wonder of learning. It is this genuine inner enthusiasm for learning that is the hallmark of Waldorf education.

Participation and attendance at scheduled events and meetings are the building blocks that foster classroom support, parent-teacher relationships, and healthy community life-all of which provide a strong foundation of support for your child. We expect and encourage parents and extended family to join us for events, celebrations, and education programs during the school year. In addition, we have many volunteer opportunities for family and friends to help support Haleakala Waldorf School.