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Friday, August 22

Log into PWSConnect to complete a checklist of documents for each student.

Sat, Aug 23 | 9am-1pm at PWS

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 the spaces in which we live. In preparation for the start of the school year, we welcome all parents/caregivers, students, faculty and staff for a day of caring work, community building and fun in service to the beautiful land and buildings that hold our children every school day. Morning coffee and pizza lunch will be offered.

Wednesday, August 27, 4-5:30pm, at PWHS

Students and their families new to PWHS are welcome to join our New Student Orientation. Attendance at this event is not required, however we encourage students and parents to come as it's a wonderful way to get oriented in the high school, including meeting teachers, receiving a preview of the coming year and learning how to use the school's database, PWSConnect.

Following the orientation, from 5:30-7pm, will be the all High School Class Picnic in the courtyard. Please join your classmates and Sponsors for a wonderful reunion! More information is included in Sponsor Welcome Letters.

Grades 1-12: Tuesday, September 2, 8:30am

Early Childhood: Warming Day on Tuesday, September 2, 8:45-11am

Early Childhood First Day of School: Wednesday, September 3, 8:30am (8:45am for Water Lily)

Specific drop off and pick up instructions in class letters below.

Morning care available from 8-8:30am and Aftercare available from 3-5:30pm. See below for more information.

*There is no Morning care on Tuesday, Sept 2. There is also no EC Morning care on Wednesday, Sept 3.

Tuesday, September 2, 8:30-9:30am, at the Founders’ circle, next to the front steps.

All parents and caregivers are invited to start the school year with a social hour and celebration with community members new and old with School Director Chiaki Uchiyama.

Tuesday, September 2, 11:45am-12:30pm, PWS Gym

We celebrate the first day of each school year with faculty, staff and students gathering in the gym for our Welcome Assembly. All are welcome, special seating for parents in grades 1 and 12.

Starting September 12, join us every Friday morning in the fall and spring for Coffee & Conversation in the Founders' Circle from 8:30-9:30am. We will relocate to the Aftercare Room if there is rain. For winter months, we’ll meet monthly in the Aftercare Room.

NEW this year! Monthly evening social gatherings at a TBD location. We have a wonderful new PA (Parent Association) team this year who will begin a new tradition for family gatherings. Please stay tuned for more information.

Mark your Calendars! We’ve updated the Events, Festival & Assemblies page this year with dates and times. These are general events only, please continue to reference PWSConnect for the most detailed information.

We’ve also gathered necessary family Information on one page. Please visit the Current Family Resources page to learn more and find access to all of your PWS accounts and apps, like PWSConnect, Popsicle, Ordo Lunch Service, Handbooks and more.

Log into PWSConnect to complete a checklist of documents for each student that require signatures, including Medical Forms, Emergency Contacts, and Handbooks. All forms due by Friday, August 22.

Email attendance@portlandwaldorf.org to report full or partial day absences. Please include your student’s full name and grade in the subject line.

Main Office: 503-654-2200

Sarah Salas is available to help you in the Main Office.

HS Office: 503-654-2200 x218

Alyssa Grass, HS Assistant Director, and Teresa Chou, Registrar/IT Manager are available to help you in the HS Office.

This calendar highlights all of our non-instructional or early dismissal days. For a full calendar of school events, see PWSConnect.

For students in grades 3-8 and high school orchestra students, don’t forget to rent an instrument before school starts. We recommend renting from David Kerr Violin Shop or Manselle’s Music Shop. Students will need to bring their instruments on the first day of school.

Questions? Contact Mr. Redner

Our school uses PWSConnect, an online information management system where you can find helpful information including the School Calendar, School Directories, Parent Handbook, Aftercare Registration, Athletics Registration, Tuition Billing Account, Student Schedules, High School Grade Reports, Student Year End Reports, Class Pages, and Back to School forms.

Get started by logging in here. Click on RESOURCES and navigate to the “Student and Parents: Instructions for Using PWSCONNECT” tile.

For Technical Assistance, please email techsupport@portlandwaldorf.org.

Our before and after school clubs program is growing! We are so excited to be able to offer many enriching activities to our students in the older grades.

Please visit the Clubs page on our website for details. All club registration happens through Popsicle, our auxiliary program app. Please register here.

Please note: Camps begin in mid September, with Lupine Theater beginning September 12! Please register soon.

We are currently offering the following clubs and are working to add more as the year progresses:

Morning Music Clubs: Bluegrass or Rock Band with Mr. Redner (Grades 6-8)

Afternoon Clubs: Art with Mr. Brightman (Grades 5-8), Math with Mr. Ye (Grades 7-8), and Lupine Theater (Grades 5-8)

We are very excited to offer a new provider, Ordo, for lunch service. Ordo delivers fresh, hot lunches daily with 4-6 menu items, weekly rotations, and seasonal updates.

The school lunch program will now be offered 5 days per week for students in Grades 1-12. Place orders by each Friday at midnight for delivery the following week.

Ordering can begin August 24.

View Sample Menu here

School Lunch FAQ

Register for an Account Now

We are pleased to welcome our new Parent Association Co-Chairs for the 2025–2026 school year: Chelsea Tucker and Hanna Jandreau, with Penny Sweeting serving as the High School Liaison. Chelsea and Hannah, both parents in our Early Childhood program, bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the group.

The Parent Ambassador Program is designed to harness the diverse talents and passions of our parent/caregiver body to support various facets of school life, while embodying the core values of Waldorf education.

Visit the Program Overview to learn more about the ambassador roles, benefits of participation, and sign up instructions.

Summary of Safety Practices and Procedures at PWS