Community Events & Festivals
Upcoming Events
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Walk Through The Grades
See Waldorf education “in action” by touring our PreK-12 classrooms while classes are in session.
Upcoming Dates, 2023-24 School Year: Wednesdays from 8:30-10am
March 20 / April 24 / May 22
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Community CARE Party
Some of the most important work we can do is to model for our children that we are dedicated to hard work and CARE for our school.
Twice a year, PWS hosts a day of CARE, community building, and fun in service to the beautiful land and buildings where our children learn and play every school day.
Join fellow parents, faculty and staff to enhance our campus, both indoors and outdoors. Children of all ages are encouraged to join in the activities (childcare is not provided). Pizza lunch served at noon
April 27, 9am-1pm
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May Faire
This beautiful seasonal event is a special time for us to invite our friends and neighbors to enjoy uniquely Waldorf style games, activities, live music, artisan market, crafts, the procession of the animals with the May Court and traditional maypole dancing. Our Early Childhood teachers offer a sweet springtime puppet show for younger children.
Families are encouraged to bring their own picnic lunches but also partake of treats at the bake sale or enjoy a savory lunch from the Maruti Indian Food Cart (brought to us by one of our very own PWS families). All are welcome and we hope to see you there!
May 4, 2024: 11am-3pm at PWS
Festivals
“Throughout the world, in all civilizations, there are celebrations reflecting nature’s rhythms, important transitions and significant moments in the life of the culture. We celebrate these to sustain and renew ourselves.
For many of us today, our busy lives and full schedules can limit the possibilities for us to participate in the marvel of the seasons. Festivals, marking the cardinal points in the year, can provide a touchstone for the cycles of the earth and renewal of the spirit. In Waldorf schools, the elements of festival—light, food, song and story—permeate the weekly school rhythm; but the cadence of the year receives its form through annual festivals of nature and humanity. We celebrate in ways that foster wonder, reverence and gratitude and nourish the future capacity to respond—to be responsible for and among the human community.”
Adapted from our friends at the Eugene Waldorf School
Festivals by Season:
Autumn
In autumn, Harvest Festival celebrates seasonal bounty with community gathering, dancing, singing, games and a potluck.
At the Michaél Festival, students look inwards as they immerse themselves in stories of overcoming one’s inner doubts and shadows and turning towards one’s inner light of truth and conscience.
We honor our ancestors with a Dia de los Muertos celebration and community altar.
Winter
Traditions from many cultures and eras mark this period of the year as a time to celebrate the light in the darkness of winter.
The Spiral of Light reverently and peacefully embodies this mood.
Our Winter Assembly is an ever changing presentation – a gift from the teachers to the students.
We celebrate the Lunar New Year with song, food and crafts.
Spring
The coming of spring brings our biggest festival of the year: May Faire! All our friends from the local community and PWS family past, present and future are invited to join us as we celebrate the joy and energy of springtime.
More Festivals
Additional festivals are brought to individual classrooms as pieces of the curriculum journey and as ways for students to share their family's traditions with each other. We’ve celebrated Purim in Grade 3 and learned about Ramadan from our Handwork teacher. Parents are encouraged to talk to their children’s teachers about bringing festival celebrations into the classroom to share!