Welcome to Calgary Waldorf School

Education is more than the acquisition of information, rigid academic curricula, and high-stakes testing. In fact, the world is changing so rapidly that no one can truly predict what information our children will need to know in the future. It is clear that intellectual flexibility, creative thinking, independent judgement, moral discernment, refined written and oral communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively will be essential to success in today’s ever-changing global community. The Waldorf curriculum, pedagogy, and teaching methods are designed to nurture these capacities..

In preschool and Kindergarten, Waldorf takes a holistic approach to education. The classrooms are designed to mimic the home where rhythm and routine are key. Children play with toys that are made from natural materials and are designed to spark imagination. Learning is done through imitation as the teacher leads the children in song, movement, and story.

In grade school, music, movement, science, history, literature, geography, and legends are not simply subjects to be read about and tested, they are experienced. Through these experiences, Waldorf students cultivate their intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual capacities to be individuals certain of their paths and to be of service to the world.

It is the goal of a Waldorf teacher to cultivate a sense of wonder and to inspire children to view the world, even in its most basic form, as magnificent – prompting each student to embrace life with enthusiasm, initiative, and purpose. These aims are met through an education that is rich with meaningful sense experiences, classical academics, and artistic beauty in all subject matters.

Waldorf graduates are noted to have the ability to integrate thinking; to assimilate information as opposed to memorizing isolated facts. Waldorf students are flexible, creative, and willing to take intellectual risks. They are taught to be leaders of high standard, who take initiative and are passionate to reach their goals. Whatever profession or vocation Waldorf graduates follow, the capacities they develop through Waldorf education provide them with a foundation of success in every field they pursue.

New Waldorf 100 Film – “Becoming…”

“Becoming…” is the third in a series of short films directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Paul Zehrer which provide an insight into Waldorf Education in the most diverse cultural, social, religious and economic conditions around the globe.

Waldorf 100 – The Film 

Waldorf 100 – The Film (Part 2) – New Release!

The theme of this new film is “Encounter, Engagement, Inclusion” and it features schools from around the globe. The particular emphasis of the film is on schools that are working in very important ways to advance the social mission of Waldorf education, such as the Community School for Creative Education in Oakland, schools in Jaffe Israel that serve both Arab and Israeli students, and the Parzival-Zentrum school in Germany which serves a high population of refugee students.