Waldorf Day

Having Bryce and Laurel at a Waldorf school is sort of like an adventure-within-an-adventure for the whole family. While it's the perfect venue for what we're trying to accomplish - getting the kids immersed in Spanish and have social interactions with other non-English speaking kids - the overall style of education is quite a bit different, and takes some getting used to. The emphasis is on building the "bottom of the learning pyramid" through movement, music, drama and storytelling. There's also a big community connection piece, which is fabulous.

So today was the first "school presentation" where all the parents were invited out to school to watch the kids put on a play - or something. (Actually "presentation" isn't really the right word since I'm not exactly sure what to call it.) Sue arrived early to volunteer and help set up, which in her case involved cutting vegetables to make a huge community pot of soup. When I got there, an outdoor brick oven was fired up for making bread the kids rolled into dragon shapes. I also helped some of the parents clear out an area for the "show".

The show was a re-enactment of St. George and the Dragon, all in Spanish. There was some dancing and singing by the younger classes, and the older kids were the main characters that directed the narrative. In between the dancing and singing, they played some games related to the story. There was a modified jump-roping challenge for the first/second graders, a balance beam for the third graders, and a game where there were 8 kids as "dragons" who had to tag as many kids as possible who raced from one end of the field to the other. Then the dragon appeared, and more of the narrative played out. Finally, there was soup and bread for everyone. (And desserts too.) Then as a final confidence building exercise, they put cotton over a low wire, lit it on fire, and had the kids jump across. There was also a balance beam on springs with water around it that the kids attempted to cross while other kids were wiggling it. It was great fun.


Announcing the start of the performance


Bryce and his dance partner


Laurel and friends looking on


Video highlights of the show

Since Sue and I don't have a car here, we waited until 2:30 when school lets out, and rode the school bus home. Even though it's a 20 minute car ride to school, for some reason the school bus takes 45 to get to the bus stop. But they are extremely safe, so I can't complain.