September Letter from Our Head of School

A community of strength and courage

Dear WSP Community,

Like many other Waldorf schools worldwide, we close the month of September with Michaelmas, the fall festival of courage. At this time of year, we delight in the tastes of the harvest, and children hear stories of those who have tamed a dragon or summoned the strength and determination to champion the good and true. Students are encouraged to think about ways they might overcome a fear, see good in one another, or meet physical challenges.

Earlier this week, I was inspired by a kindergartener and her mother who volunteered to tackle the task of spreading a pile of mulch in our Mulberry Play Yard — it was taller than they were! The kindergartener exuberantly shared how much she liked working. She also liked working on her newly completed hand sewn pouch (which held a snack to be eaten later). Today all kindergarten classes gathered on campus for an imaginative journey which included challenges like jumping over rivers, walking along a mountain's edge, and crawling through a rainbow cave.

Remote learning continues; however, all classes have come on campus for in-person lessons and practiced our new health and safety protocols as part of our phased return to campus. First grade lessons included a discussion of what makes one knightly (being honest, brave, caring, etc.) while our third graders heard stories of George Washington Carver who was quoted as saying, “Start where you are with what you have. Make something out of it and never be satisfied.”

A third grader’s drawing capturing a scene from hearing the story of how George Washington Carver courageously taught sharecroppers how to use sweet potatoes, peanuts, and soybeans to bring back the soil.

These times require courage and determination from all of us. We wish you the strength and inspiration needed to face your fears and challenges known and unknown, large and small. May you know that you are part of a community who is with you in this noble task!

With strength and courage,

Kirsten Christopherson-Clark

Head of School