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Waldorf Schools “Our highest endeavor
Rudolf Steiner Education must be to develop free
human beings who are able of
Waldorf students are educated in recognition of their own themselves to impart purpose
individualities and in harmony with their own physical, mental, and and direction to their lives.”
emotional development. Their lessons are alive and interesting; they Rudolf Steiner
challenge and stimulate their imaginations—for the children are educated
not as beings of head alone, but of hands, will and heart as well. They gain
the foundation within themselves to give purpose and direction to their life.
Full preparation for higher education is achieved.

Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten and Heart Pine Waldorf
School in Gainesville, Florida, are part of a network of some 1,000 Waldorf
schools worldwide that follow the educational principles developed by
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the Austrian-born scientist and educator, artist
and philosopher. Steiner’s approach to education is based on a comprehensive
understanding of the human being and aimed at developing clarity of
thought, sensitivity of feeling, and strength of will in the growing child.
Waldorf Schools are non-profit, non-denominational and independent.
All children regardless of sex, race, national origin or religion are welcome.

“I am struck by the fact that the The effectiveness of the Waldorf curriculum lies in how the
more slowly trees grow at first, the children are taught. In presenting material, first comes the descriptive
sounder they are at the core, and image; then this image becomes experience; and out of experience the
I think that the same is true of concept is formed. Perception, feeling, idea: three steps in a genuine
human beings. We do not wish to learning process–one that is in harmony with the child’s need for
see children precocious, making practical and creative learning.
great strides in their early years
like sprouts, producing a soft and A Waldorf education prepares the student not only to enter
perishable timber, but better if adulthood with self-discipline, independence, and mastery of analytical
they expand slowly at first, as if and critical faculties, but also with reverence for the world’s wonder
contending with difficulties, and and beauty, and a sense of responsibility for nurturing the earth.
so are solidified and perfected.
Such trees continue to expand
with nearly equal rapidity to an
extreme old age.”
Henry David Thoreau

The Curriculum for the Grades

At Heart Pine Waldorf School, the whole human being
is developed by educating the capacities of willing, feeling,
and thinking during each school day. Enriched learning
includes the experience of truth, beauty, and goodness. In a
Waldorf school, students follow a course of study created to
appeal to the natural interests and abilities of their changing
developmental stages, thereby supporting strength of character
and a deep appreciation for the world.

The main lesson is a two hour concentrated period
when the main academic subject matter is introduced by the
class teacher. This uninterrupted time of study enables the
children to immerse themselves completely in the subject
matter. Teachers continue with a group of students from one
year to the next, engendering a strong class community and
allowing the teachers to gain a genuine knowledge of each
student’s needs.

“Every time we teach a child In late morning, students turn their attention to foreign language,
something, we keep him from music, movement, and the arts. The afternoon is devoted to crafts, games
inventing it himself. On the and physical education. This balance in the school day nurtures and
other hand, that which we supports the growing child’s mental, emotional, and physical health.
allow him to discover for
himself will remain with him.” Course Studies
Jean Piaget
Reading, writing, math, science, history, and geography are
taught in main lesson blocks of three to five weeks during the
morning main lesson hours. All grades engage in singing and playing
the recorder, painting, sculpting, music, and drama. Specialty
teachers in foreign language, handcrafts, gardening and other
subjects give classroom instruction as a part of the weekly schedule.

The Curriculum

Grade 1 Grade 4 Grade 7
Fairy Tales Norse myths History of the Renaissance and Reformation
Nature stories Native American stories Composition
Alphabet and writing Zoology Squaring, Cubing, and Equations
Arithmetic Man and animal World Spiritual and Cultural Conditions
The four processes: addition, subtraction, Composition and Grammar Physics
multiplication, division Arithmetic Mechanics
Form drawing Fractions and the four processes Inorganic Chemistry
Grade 2 State Geography Physiology and Nutrition
Fables and legends Grade 5 World Geography
Stories of the Saints Ancient civilizations: India, Persia, Charcoal Drawing
Writing and Grammar Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece Grade 8
Arithmetic Botany United States History
The four processes and story problems Writing and sentence construction Creative Writing
Form drawing Arithmetic Epic Prose and Poetry
Grade 3 Decimals and the four processes Drama
Old Testament stories United States Geography Algebra
Farming Grade 6 World Nutrition and Health Conditions
Writing and grammar Roman and Medieval History Practical Physics
Arithmetic Writing and Speech Development Organic Chemistry
The four processes and measurement Geometry Projective Geometry
House building Simple interest and percentages Physiology and Anatomy
Cooking Astronomy Drawing as Art
Clothing World climatic conditions
Mineralogy and geology
Physics
Perspective Drawing

“When I examine myself and Waldorf Early Childhood Program
my methods of thought, I
come to the conclusion that Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten, preschool is an
the gift of fantasy has meant extension of the family experience, a transition for the child between
more to me than any talent for the home and formal schooling. The goal is to provide a warm, calm,
abstract, positive thinking.” secure, aesthetic environment in which the imagination and creativity
Albert Einstein of the child will flourish. The Kindergarten year provides balanced
preparation for beginning academic learning in first grade.

The quality of the physical environment is integral to the
goals for the children. The feeling of warmth and security is created
by using only natural materials such as wood, cotton and wool in the
construction of decor and toys. In this warm environment are placed
toys which the children can use to imitate and transform the activities
that belong to everyday life.

The Kindergarten “3 R’s” are reverence, repetition, and
rhythm. Structured group activities consist of finger puppet plays,
singing, reciting poems, and creative movement.

“The assumption that
children at play are not
Art and crafts consist of water coloring with the three learning anything valuable
primary colors to awaken a true appreciation of the nature of color, —not developing or being
modeling with beeswax, drawing with beeswax crayons, sewing, prepared for school and
finger knitting, and baking. life—is distressingly
wide-spread. It couldn’t be
Preserving the reverence and imagination of the small more wrong.”
child creates happier adults who have more empathy and caring for
others and a strong sense of responsibility toward all life. Maria Piers and
Genevieve Landau

History

When Rolf Hummel opened the Dayspring Waldorf School in Gainesville
in 1979 it set the path on which students and teachers still travel today.
One such teacher is Sylvia Paluzzi who happened by the school one day.
Intrigued by the lovely playground, she inquired if there were any job
openings. It was not until several years later that she was hired as aftercare
coordinator and began her lifelong exploration of Waldorf education.
She started Morning Meadow in her home with five children. 2017 marks
25 years of Morning Meadow, now employing 8 wonderful teachers and
serving over 50 children with three classes and a parent-toddler program.

The Friends of Morning Meadow, which evolved into The Waldorf
Initiative of Gainesville (TWIG) was founded in 2005 with the mission
to promote Waldorf education; acquire a permanent home for Gainesville’s
Waldorf Schools, which now included Heart Pine Waldorf School; and to
support teachers to start and complete teacher training. Founded in 2010,
Heart Pine Waldorf School began by serving the elementary school grades
and has now expanded to include grades 1 through 8.

Sophia Study Group

The Sophia Group of Gainesville is open to adults interested in
exploring the philosophy of Anthroposophy, a discipline of research
as well as a path of knowledge, service, personal growth and social
engagement.

Rudolf Steiner, whose work is the foundation of Waldorf education,
began the development of the philosophy in the late 19th and
early 20th century. Anthroposophy is a human-oriented spiritual
philosophy that reflects and speaks to the basic deep spiritual
questions of humanity, to our basic artistic needs, to the need to
relate to the world out of a scientific attitude of mind, and to the
need to develop a relationship to the world based on the freedom to
make completely individual judgments and decisions.

The Sophia Group of Gainesville meets twice monthly and is free
and open to the public. The group also hosts several annual festivals.
For more information please email [email protected]

Faculty

Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten employs lead teachers
that are all fully trained and certified Waldorf educators. The
assistant teachers are on their path for complete certification and
have attended many training workshops and study groups in the
pursuit of that goal. Morning Meadow is a full member of the
Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN).

Our dedicated teachers are trained in CPR and first aid, have
undergone all background screening for state and national
regulatory bodies, and have completed all DCF required classes to
work with young children.

Heart Pine Waldorf School faculty are fully trained Waldorf-certified
teachers or on the path to completion of their Waldorf training. All
teachers hold either a BS or Masters in a related field. Heart Pine
teachers have undergone background screening with both state and
national regulatory bodies.

Parent Groups Children experience the
world differently from adults.
In order to support full parental involvement from early childhood The child is not a miniature
through the grades, parents are encouraged to participate in the adult who grows bigger;
Gainesville Waldorf Parent Association. The GWPA has two the differences in the child’s
subgroups, at Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten and experiences of the world
at Heart Pine Waldorf School. The two groups work together to can be illustrated by how
create unity in our Waldorf community while each focuses on its memory functions at different
respective school for teacher support, parent volunteer recruitment stages. In the early years (0-7)
and coordination, and fundraising. visual memory dominates.
As the child matures (7-
14), her feelings emerge in
strong combination with
story memory. Finally, with
adolescence (14-21) comes
the “ah-ha” of ideas, thoughts
and concepts through logical
insight.

Jean Piaget

“Accept the children with After School Care
reverence, educate them
with love, send them forth Extended afternoon care for children of all classes is available at
in freedom.” both schools until 5:00, Monday through Friday. A balanced program of
Rudolf Steiner creative play and guided activities is offered.

Summer Enrichment Program

Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten offers a six-week
summer program from early June through July.
The summer camp program is open to children ages 21/2 through 7.
Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with an extended day until
5:00 p.m. if needed.
The camp enriches the summer months with Waldorf-based classes
and fun activities. These include painting, sewing, water play, cooking,
storytelling, crafts and creative play.
Heart Pine Waldorf School offers week-long summer sessions.
Summer programs each support a different aspect of the Waldorf curriculum
with a fun twist! These can include fiber arts, Native American legends and
lore, art, marionette making and storytelling, and science camp.



Morning Meadow TWIG Heart Pine
Preschool & Kindergarten Waldorf School
The Waldorf Initiative
MorningMeadow.com of Gainesville HeartPineSchool.org
[email protected] [email protected]
WaldorfGainesville.org