Welcome to the 2023–24 school year!

A Letter from Our Head of School

Dear Families of the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh,

Welcome to the 2023–24 school year! The faculty and staff are busy preparing for a rich and meaningful school year. We eagerly anticipate the arrival of your students on campus after what we hope has been a summer filled with new discoveries and good doses of respite for all.

Throughout the summer, our teachers have attended both in-person and virtual courses (including renewal courses, educational support programs, restorative practices, Spacial Dynamics, and teaching for equity and justice). They have hired new teaching assistants and a middle school art teacher. Campus projects have included repainting our library, reupholstering the library chairs, moving some offices, and restoring three additional restrooms (one student restroom and two staff restrooms) at the end of the second floor fifth grade hallway. Another project that is currently underway is the resetting of the carriage house foundation (where the facilities manager’s office and tool room is located).

Two trees needed to be removed from campus this summer: the Tree of Heaven next to Heartwood Annex and the Silver Maple in the outdoor amphitheater. The Tree of Heaven is an invasive species and was infested with lantern flies, and the Silver Maple was rotting from the inside out creating a safety hazard. Several arborists advised that both trees be removed. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is partnering with Tree Pittsburgh through the Tree Vitalize program. WSP is finalizing details with Tree Vitalize to provide trees, ground prep, planting, and care instructions as well as educational workshops for students. We are thrilled to be able to bring more trees to campus and involve our teachers and students in the process.

As we prepare for a new school year, it is our long-held tradition to warmly invite, all families to help us clean, organize, and refresh the classrooms and common spaces of the school by attending Beautification Weekend for one or two shifts on either Friday, August 25, 2023 from 1:00–5:00pm or Saturday, August 26 from 8:00am–4:00pm. Our New-to-WSP Meet & Greet Orientation will take place at 12:00pm on Saturday for all new families. Please plan to join us!

We are excited to begin the school year together with students returning for their first day of school on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. This is a half day for Nursery through 8th grade students with dismissal at 12:15pm, and a full day for Little Friends children. Our extended care program begins Tuesday, September 5.

Please mark your calendars to attend our in-person Back-to-School Night to be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 from 6:00–7:00pm. We hope to see you all there as we kick-off our 30th anniversary as a school with some special sweet treats and refreshments!

In the meantime, please read through the contents of this newsletter for useful information in preparation for the start of the school year including a checklist of important paperwork needed by the first day of school.

I look forward to seeing each of you soon!

Kirsten Christopherson-Clark

Head of School