Whole Child Health

A note from Uchiyama Sensei, PWS’ Pedagogical Director

As Waldorf education is designed for educating the whole child, the social and emotional health of our students are integral parts of this education. 

Through this lens, we can readily acknowledge how the two years of social isolation brought about by the world-pandemic has affected everyone, including our students. Some have developed extreme sensitivity to being around other people, showing impatience, intolerance, or lack of compassion for each other, as well as becoming oblivious to the impact of their own words and actions. Each becomes a victim of the other. These phenomena have resulted in people in a chronic state of “fight or flight,” a state in which any discomfort can cause emotional dysregulation or volatile relationships. It is important to acknowledge that we are, by degree, in a phase of recovery from these world-wide conditions. 

Our multidisciplinary, art-based, and experiential curriculum supports and nurtures students’ social and emotional development, which gives them confidence and tools to think critically, creatively, and imaginatively. Through this approach our students will learn how to take ownership in navigating their way in this unknown and challenging world. 

Furthermore, we value our community working together to support our students. Understanding each other’s suffering, and consciously generating and maintaining warm relationships are keys to success in this endeavor. If soul warmth is preserved amongst adults, the environment will be filled with authentic connections. Consequently our children will feel safe and will learn and develop optimally. Our teachers and staff are here to support this mutual creation. It is our strong hope that our students will carry their memory of this crisis with strength, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Thank you for being a part of this intentional community.