We’re excited to announce the beginning phases of our CARE Vision for the Future of PWS! Visioning work has been done by past faculty, staff, Board, parents, and community, and now it’s time for our current community to take up this important initiative.

A dedicated Early Childhood Center has been a dream of PWS for decades. Early childhood is such a special time for families and a cozy space meant just for our littlest students would offer a smooth transition from home life to school life. Growing our Early Childhood section would also offer PWS the ability to build full, vibrant classes in our Grades program and eventually our High School. When the EC vacates the first floor classrooms, those spaces become much needed additional classrooms and gathering spaces for the high school. These are all top priorities for PWS!

In addition to the growth of our Early Childhood and High School sections, PWS is also looking at completing the seismic retrofitting, adding a dedicated performance space, a larger gymnasium, tutoring spaces, a community gathering space, additional office spaces, a functional field, upgraded energy efficient and life safety infrastructure systems, an enhanced commercial kitchen, and interior renovation and modernization.

By expanding our facilities and resources, we aim to better meet growing enrollment needs and provide an exceptional educational environment, while also ensuring the long-term financial health of PWS for generations to come.

Vision for the Future of PWS

The Vision

Addressing Immediate Needs and Future Growth

  • The larger CARE Vision includes expanding our early childhood and high school classroom spaces, seismic retrofitting, adding a dedicated performance space, a larger gymnasium, tutoring spaces, a community gathering space, additional office spaces, a functional field, upgraded energy efficient and life safety infrastructure systems, an enhanced commercial kitchen, and interior renovation and modernization. The current focus is on the EC Center and HS expansion because of increased demand for early childhood spots from our local community, the need for specially designed EC classrooms for our youngest students’ needs, and the need for more high school classroom spaces. Additionally, PWS is focused on completing the seismic retrofitting of our main building which includes building shear walls and reinforcing the chimney and brick facade over emergency exits. The opportunity for potential grant funding for these projects has escalated their priority.

  • Growing Enrollment: Our current facilities are already at capacity. Expansion is essential to accommodate the increasing number of students and to ensure that we continue to offer a high-quality education in a conducive learning environment.

  • Enhanced Learning Opportunities: Upgrading and expanding the facilities will provide more diverse and enriched learning experiences, including beautiful, functional and purpose built classrooms and recreational areas.

  • Community Demand: The local Portland/Milwaukie community has expressed a strong desire for expanded early childhood programs. Meeting these demands is crucial to maintaining community satisfaction and support.

  • Economic Development: An expanded early childhood center will contribute to the local economy by creating jobs and attracting families who seek a quality Waldorf program for their children.

Involving Stakeholders in the Process

  • Community participation: PWS faculty, staff, and Board are currently participating in this CARE Visioning work. Parents have been invited to volunteer their ideas and feedback as well. The school plans to continue communication about this CARE Vision work through bulletins, newsletters, and this webpage. In the future, the school may host focus groups and/or community meetings to present the vision, the benefits, and gather input on needs and expectations.

  • Surveys: The school will distribute surveys to our community, including parents, faculty/staff, alumni, and community members to gather feedback on the proposed expansion and identify any concerns or suggestions.

  • Open Communication Channels: Maintaining open lines of communication is crucial. To stay informed throughout this process, be sure to read our emails and bookmark this webpage. Questions can always be directed to the PWS Leadership Team.

Securing Financial Support

  • Grant Opportunities: We are pursuing a significant opportunity to obtain funding from The Child Care Infrastructure Fund, a grant program designed to provide financial assistance specifically for child care infrastructure activities. This grant (if awarded) can significantly reduce the financial burden on our community and accelerate the projects’ timelines.

  • Fundraising Campaigns: Launch targeted fundraising campaign to engage parents, local businesses, alumni, and philanthropic organizations in supporting the school’s CARE Vision.

  • Partnerships: Explore partnerships with local businesses and organizations that can provide financial support or in-kind contributions.

  • Budget Allocation: Reallocate existing budget resources to prioritize the school’s CARE Vision, ensuring that essential services and programs continue uninterrupted.

Transparent and Timely Progress Updates

  • Current Status: The CARE Vision is currently in the needs assessment and feasibility phase. Ideas are being discussed and vetted about the best use of our current facilities as well as future incremental expansion.

  • Current ideas include:

  • EC Expansion project - Early Childhood Center placed in the south half of the field. Facility could include multiple modular buildings each with restrooms and kitchenettes; a dedicated commercial kitchen with sanitizing dishwasher and laundry equipment; office and storage rooms; and a dedicated nature-scaped playground for preschool students. Or, the facility could be one large enclosed building with interior classroom spaces and an exterior playground next to it.

  • Enrollment growth in early childhood - PWS would grow its current early childhood section from five classes to at least eight classes. Three kindergarten classes are required in order to fill a first grade class. Three preschool classes are needed in order to fill three kindergarten classes. We would continue to offer at least one nursery class and possibly more if space and funding allows. Parent/Child classes would also continue to be offered and hopefully expanded upon.

  • Enrollment growth in high school - PWHS has been making a concerted effort to grow enrollment in our high school over the next two years. Currently PWHS is operating at only 60% student capacity. Graduated enrollment increases to full capacity are necessary for the school to meet its strategic planning priorities, offer fair compensation and benefits to our faculty and staff, and offer the best educational and social experiences for our oldest students. The school’s marketing and outreach efforts into our own middle school classes as well as to other local area Waldorf schools is crucial to the future success of PWHS.

  • HS Expansion project - By relocating our early childhood section to a dedicated facility specially designed and built for their unique needs, five classroom spaces would open up on the first floor of our main building, directly across the courtyard from the high school building. Ideas for expansion of our high school section include more classroom space, tutoring space, and a proper student commons space for eating and socializing - important work for teens! Expanding the spaces for our high school to use makes PWHS a more attractive option when recruiting students to our high school, as we often hear from those touring our high school that the space feels very small. With an external entrance created toward the Courtyard, the flow between the buildings will be easy and seamless.

  • Seismic Retrofitting project - In 2022, PWS embarked on a seismic retrofit project of the main school building. The first phase of that project included the installation of beams and cross braces throughout the north two-thirds of the building on all three floors (excluding the gymnasium and the space below the gym in the basement). The next phases of this project would include retrofitting those initially excluded spaces, installing shear walls throughout the building, and reinforcing the chimney and brick facade over all emergency exits.

  • Regular Updates: The school plans to provide regular updates to the community on progress, including milestones achieved and upcoming activities.

Project Status and Schedule

Current Status: The project is currently in Phase 1.

Phase 1: Initial Internal Planning - Announce the proposed CARE Vision and initial expansion project to the community, formulate the project team, and outline the initial goals and objectives.

Phase 2: Community Engagement and Feedback - Conduct surveys, community meetings and focus groups to gather input from parents, faculty/staff, and others.

Phase 3: Funding - Apply for grants, launch fundraising campaign, and finalize budget allocations.

Phase 4: Architectural Design and Approval - Develop detailed architectural plans and secure necessary permits and approvals.

Phase 5: Site Preparation - Prepare the construction site, including any necessary demolitions and groundwork.

Phase 6: Construction Begins - Start construction on new facilities, classrooms, and infrastructure improvements.

Phase 7: Final Inspections and Quality Assurance - Conduct thorough inspections to ensure all construction meets required standards and specifications.

Phase 8: Staff Training and Facility Setup - Train staff on new facilities and set up classrooms and other spaces for use.

Phase 9: Grand Opening - Host a grand opening event to celebrate the completion of the project and welcome students and community members to the new facilities.

Phase 10: Final Financial Reporting - Provide a comprehensive financial report to the community, including donors, detailing all expenses related to facilities, construction costs, and other associated expenditures.

Why Now?

The PWS Early Childhood program receives dozens of applications for new students each year. Unfortunately, due to our limited space capacity, we are only able to accept a small number of those new students into our program. This limits the school’s ability to offer a Waldorf education to some of those families in our local community who seek it; as well as limits the school’s ability to grow enrollment in the Grades and High School sections. Increasing our space will increase our capacity to offer a Waldorf education to more students in the Portland area from Early Childhood through High School. Additionally, ensuring our main building is seismically retrofitted up to current code will keep our faculty, staff, and students safer in the event of seismic activity.

  1. Increase in Class Offerings: The idea to expand from two to three preschool classes and from two to three kindergarten classes directly addresses the projected insufficiency in early childhood education capacity. This phased expansion ensures that there are enough early childhood students to progress through the Grades, filling the 1st grade and, eventually, bolstering high school enrollment.

  2. Sustainable Growth: Gradual growth allows PWS to manage resources, staffing, and facilities effectively, ensuring that each new class is integrated smoothly and that quality of education is maintained.

  3. The main building of our school was built in 1936, and therefore not built for seismic safety. When the school purchased this property in 2002, a major priority was to eventually retrofit the building to current seismic code. This is a major project that will be done in phases over time as funding allows.

Funding opportunity: The recent announcement of The Child Care Infrastructure Fund grant by the State of Oregon offers grant awards specifically for expanding early childhood programs in the state. PWS plans to apply for this grant funding in each cycle in order to help bring these projects to life in the next 2-5 years. For more detailed information about this grant click the link above.

Community Engagement

We are committed to involving our community in the planning and implementation of our CARE Vision. To ensure that every voice is heard, we highly encourage you to submit your thoughts and suggestions via our online form to help us better understand and address your needs and concerns. This survey will gather valuable feedback on the proposed overall CARE Vision and the specific EC and HS expansion, identify any concerns or suggestions, and help us shape a project that truly meets the needs of our community. Your input is essential to our success, so please take a moment to complete the survey and share your thoughts with us.

 FAQ

  • The expansion is essential to accommodate growing enrollment in all three sections of the school (EC, Grades and HS), provide enhanced learning opportunities, and meet community demands. Purpose built spaces will better meet the age appropriate needs of the students and the operational needs of the whole school.

  • We are pursuing funding from The Child Care Infrastructure Program, alongside targeted fundraising campaigns and budget reallocations.

  • The project will be executed over the next 2-5 years, exclusively dependent upon funding.

  • Community members can participate in community meetings, complete surveys, join focus groups, and contribute to fundraising efforts. If you have further questions you can reach out to the school’s Leadership Team.

  • We are committed to keeping tuition and fees affordable for our community. The grant (if awarded) and fundraising efforts are aimed at minimizing any financial impact on families.

  • The expansion will provide developmentally appropriate classroom spaces, more diverse learning opportunities, and a better overall educational environment for students of all ages.

  • Donations can be made through our dedicated CARE Campaign webpage, at fundraising events, or by contacting our Development office directly.

  • Yes, all donations to the expansion project are tax-deductible as we are a registered non-profit organization.

  • Absolutely! We welcome volunteers to assist with fundraising events, community outreach, and other activities. Please contact our Development office for more information.

  • The projected cost is roughly estimated at $2-3M, which includes all phases of construction, equipment, and additional resources.

  • Efforts will be made to minimize any disruptions to current students' routines, with construction scheduled to avoid peak activity times.

  • The Early Childhood expansion project is entirely dependent upon securing the funding ahead of time. The school is seeking grant funding opportunities as well as seeking donations to our CARE Campaign from our community. Once the funding for this project has been secured, the project will move forward into the next phase.