Our Story
Founded in 1993, Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is located in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and is housed in a city-designated historic landmark. A group of parents looking for a holistic, creative, and compassionate approach to education discovered Waldorf education to meet their expectations and hopes for their children.
Our History
1991
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Thirteen families, under the guidance of Cyndi Call, Jan Cook, and Vicki Stabile meet, plan, and start a pre-school called "The Haven." The group will go on to form the 501(c)(3) that would become Waldorf School of Pittsburgh.
1992
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The Haven's by-laws are created, summer camps are started, and the first Winter Fair and Spring Festival are held.
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1993–1995
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The school license is obtained and The Haven becomes Waldorf School of Pittsburgh.
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An unused Catholic elementary school on the South Side of Pittsburgh becomes the first home for the school and its first Kindergarten class.
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First and second grade are established.
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is awarded a McCune Grant.
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The first Michaelmas celebration is held, a scholarship fund is established, the Annual Fund kicks off at WQED, and a eurythmy block is introduced.
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The parent community pledges $12,000 to sustain the school.
1995–1997
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The first Waldorf School of Pittsburgh parent organization is formed.
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh hires its first special subjects teacher.
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The Nursery school is established.
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The Waldorf School of Pittsburgh Multicultural Statement is adopted.
1998–2000
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The Waldorf School of Pittsburgh After School Program begins.
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is awarded a Mellon Grant.
2001–2002
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh graduates its first 5th grade class..
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With funding from The Heinz Endowments, WSP develops and funds a strategic plan.
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2003
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh purchases its current, historic home in the Bloomfield/Friendship neighborhood in Pittsburgh and begins the 2003–2004 school year there.
2004–2005
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The Morning Garden Transition class is started.
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Robyn Thomas takes her class to 6th Grade.
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2006–2007
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Kirsten Christopherson-Clark leads a combined 5th and 6th Grade.
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2008
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh explores expanding its grades program to include to Grades 6–8, as faculty studies curriculum and child development for the middle school student.
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2009
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The WSP middle school curriculum is presented to the school community. The 4th grade class is selected to be the "Pioneer" middle school group.
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh commits to expanding its grades program to include up to Grade 8.
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Jeffery Dorsey volunteers to lead the first Expansion Committee. The Committee begins meeting with architects to discuss necessary building updates.
2012–2013
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After contributing to the school's expansion, WSP teacher and administrator Kirsten Christopherson-Clark becomes Head of School.
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WSP is invited to be part of the first group of Green and Healthy Schools Academy two-year program.
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A second Nursery class is added.
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh completes a Sustainability Audit with funding from The Heinz Endowments.
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The Michaelmas celebration kicks off WSP's 20th Anniversary.
2014
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh graduates its first eighth grade class.
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WSP is proud to be a member of the Founding Class of the Green and Healthy Schools Academy.
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh asks Duquesne University's PlaceLab to facilitate a study of the school grounds in order to develop a plan for enhancing the green spaces surrounding our historic school building. Learn more about the Place Study.
2015
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh begins the design process for creating what will become the Heartwood Annex.
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WSP recognized as a Champion School by Let's Move Pittsburgh for our work with movement, nutrition, and the wellbeing of our students.
2016
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Our first Grandparents and Special Friends Day is held in May 2016 for almost 100 guests.
2018
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh celebrates 25 years of Waldorf Education in Pittsburgh, PA.
2019
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA).
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh celebrates the 100th anniversary of Waldorf Education worldwide by breaking ground on the Heartwood Annex.
2020
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh initiates a Distance Learning program in response to a state-ordered suspension of in-person learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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Waldorf School of Pittsburgh opens the Heartwood Annex for the class of 2021.
2021
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The Heartwood Annex is celebrated with an in-person and virtual ribbon cutting ceremony to kick off May Fair 2021.
Our Campus
Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is located in the Bloomfield neighborhood of the city, housed in a Victorian-era mansion that is a city-designated historic landmark. The original residence, which was built circa 1867, was acquired by the Ursuline Sisters in the 1890s to be used as the Ursuline Young Ladies’ Academy, a Catholic girls’ school. The Ursulines made a number of additions to the original structure, including an auditorium/dormitory, chapel, and dining hall, but nonetheless maintained the integrity and beauty of the original building. The extensive walnut woodwork, decorative plaster ceilings, and other architectural details remain well preserved. The Ursuline Sisters finally sold the building in the early 1990s, leaving a nearly 100-year legacy of the building being used as a school.
That legacy lent itself well to Waldorf School of Pittsburgh’s purchase of the building in 2003. With much of the original character of the Ursuline Academy intact, such as the classrooms and blackboards, combined with the integrity of the original residence, the building offered an excellent combination of both an academic and home-like environment. The purchase of this property ended an extensive five-year search for a new home for the school.
Committed to remaining an urban school to better serve the needs of the greater Pittsburgh community and to attract a diverse student body, the school’s facility committee had put great effort into finding a suitable property that would support the needs of a growing school, plus would provide ample green space for play, gardening programs and a beautiful environment in keeping with the school’s philosophy.
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During the summer of 2007 the exterior of the building underwent a significant renovation. The building was scraped, primed, and painted, and extensive repairs were made to exterior wood work and other architectural details. Great effort was made to preserve or replicate the original historic details. In addition the original box gutters were relined with copper and other roofing repairs were made. These efforts have contributed significantly to the long term stability of the building’s exterior envelope and maintain its historical integrity.
Our Future
As Waldorf School of Pittsburgh enters its next 25 years, there is much to celebrate and even more to anticipate. Working collaboratively and in alignment with the school’s values and mission, the Board of Trustees has approved a master plan and strategic plan to continue deepening the school’s custodianship of its campus in service of its curriculum. The first phase of these plans is the new Eighth Grade Classroom, a project that exemplifies the spirit of Waldorf education.
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