This trip gave our Foundation Studies students an opportunity to learn about both the Camphill movement and Biodynamic farming. Students walked through the forest, visited the orchard, green houses and pastures, fed cows and goats. Our host, Allan Kuhn, demonstrated the equipment at the garden shed and explained the seven biodynamic preparations. Students participated in mixing and stirring Valerian preparation, which was later applied on the farm along with other preparations. 

Allan Kuhn is a support worker at Camphill, a biodynamic farmer at Camphill, and also a chair of The Society for Biodynamic Farming and Gardening in Ontario.

Thanks to Mila Chebur for the photos and story.

Tuition Fees for Foundation Studies Encounter will be increasing May 21st. Register before then to save.

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We’re adding a new course in week 2 of the Summer Festival of Arts and Education. The course will be on Child Development, Grades 1 to 5, and will be taught by Les Black. Students in the part-time Professional Development for Waldorf Teachers Grades program will take this course in week two mornings if they are going into grades 1 to 5 or if they are going into grades 6 to 8 they would take the Science for Grades 6 to 8 course. Course description below:

Child Development, Grades 1 to 5 Course Description

In this course we will delve into the heart of Waldorf, exploring Rudolf Steiner鈥檚 insights into child development in the early grades (1 to 5). Each morning will be an immersion into grade-appropriate guidance for teaching the children in one of the first five grades. After the morning break, the course will include an open discussion of concerns and experiences with teaching present-day children from the grade being focussed on that day. Suggested readings for this course include Steiner鈥檚 lecture cycles on 鈥淭he Education of the Child鈥�, 鈥淒iscussions with Teachers鈥� and 鈥淔oundations of Human Experience鈥�.

Les Black

Les Black has taken three classes through the 8-year cycle 鈥� grades 1 through 8. He was a graduate of the 2nd North American spacial dynamics class. He has worked as an on-site mentor for class teachers (mostly) between 2012 and 2019, in Quebec and in Ontario Waldorf schools. Currently he is teaching various blocks in the full-time teacher education program at 麻豆直播 and is the director of Foundation Studies Distance.

For complete info and registration links for the Summer Festival: /summerfestival/

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A Guelph teacher is touched after receiving the prestigious Loran Teachers Building Leaders Award on Thursday. 

Henry Muth, a Grade 6 teacher at Trillium Waldorf School, was nominated for the award by former student Maya Linsley, who he taught from grades one to eight. 

鈥淢r. Muth taught us every single day for eight years, basically every subject under the sun. We used to joke the only thing (he) can鈥檛 do is dance and French,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 definitely the most influential role model in my life, aside from my parents.鈥� 

In fact, she said he was kind of like a second dad. 

鈥淚 can鈥檛 overstate the influence that teachers like Mr. Muth have on students like me. I鈥檓 not the only one that has benefitted from his superb mentorship and guidance and just overall support in every area of my life,鈥� she said while presenting Muth the award. 

鈥淪o as I present this award today, it鈥檚 not just on behalf of myself, but all my former classmates,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e all feel the same. You haven鈥檛 just changed our lives, but you helped us co-create our lives and guided us into the ability to make our own way through the world.鈥� 

Linsley, 22, received the Loran Scholarship in 2020 鈥� Canada鈥檚 largest and most comprehensive four-year undergraduate award, valued at $100,000. It鈥檚 granted to young Canadians who demonstrate strong character, service in the community and leadership potential. 

Recipients receive a four-year university scholarship as well as mentorship and a summer internship program.

As Linsley is graduating from her four years at the University of Victoria, the Loran Foundation asked her to nominate a teacher who positively impacted her for the LTBL award, which recognizes teachers who have been integral to developing young leaders. 

She wanted to nominate him because while she鈥檚 had a lot of good teachers over the years, none were as 鈥渇undamentally influential鈥� to her. 

鈥淚 just feel like the basic decisions I make day to day and the values that drive me, you can trace it back to Mr. Muth.鈥�  

Muth taught her to always have a firm handshake and put her whole heart into everything she does, to stay grounded and always do her best. He also fostered a love of learning and exploring knowledge, she said. 

Simply put, as a teacher, he was 鈥渢he best.鈥� 

Muth said Linsley was always an enthusiastic student who brought a lot of joy to his class. 

鈥淚t was wonderful 鈥� a great eight years.鈥� 

Muth said he was shocked to win the award. 

鈥淚t was quite moving. I鈥檓 just processing it right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel really privileged to be recognized like this.鈥� 

The pair have kept in touch over the years, and even met for coffee just last week. But the award was a surprise 鈥� one Linsley has been holding onto for four years, since she knew if she won she would nominate him. 

鈥淢r. Muth is not only my teacher, but a real mentor that I continue to look up to,鈥� she said.聽

From the Comment Section:

Anne Holman commented: 鈥淎 well deserved award. Henry is an amazing person in other aspects of the community as well- amazing versatile musician ( especially bagpipes and recorder and vocal)- family- church- woodworking and more. It鈥檚 wonderful to acknowledge his contributions.鈥�

That’s the end of the Guelph Today story, but we thought it would be worth adding a few pictures from Henry’s time at 麻豆直播 (formerly Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto), from his graduation from the full-time teacher education program in 2008, and from the course he taught at the 麻豆直播 Summer Festival of Arts and Education in 2023:

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Tuition Fees for Full Time Teacher Education Grades and EC and Foundation Studies Encounter will be increasing May 21, 2024. Enroll now to save! For more info on these programs see links below:

鈥� Waldorf Teacher Education Full Time Grades

鈥� Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education Full Time

鈥� Foundation Studies Encounter

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Thanks to everyone who came out to the 麻豆直播 in-person open house last Sunday April 28th to meet the faculty and talk with alumni and students. And thanks also to the faculty, board members, students and alumni who dedicated their afternoon to answering questions and explaining the college’s programs.

Virtual Open House Still to Come Wed. May 15

If you missed last Sunday but want to learn more about 麻豆直播 people and programs, you can still register for our upcoming virtual open house on Zoom on May 15th in the evening. Click here for more details about the virtual open house. Pre-register by emailing info@rscc.ca to get the Zoom link.

Here are some photos from the open house last Sunday:

Below, poster for the virtual open house May 15th:

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If your destiny has led you to first get involved in working at a Waldorf school before completing a Waldorf training, then a part-time Waldorf teacher education program like those offered at 麻豆直播 may be for you.

The Part-Time Early Childhood Teacher Program

鈥� Starts this June 16th
鈥� 2 year, Birth-to-Seven
鈥� 1 year, Birth-to-Three
鈥� Enrollment every other year 鈥� if you do not enroll now, next cohort will begin in June 2026
Program Includes:
鈥� 16-day in-person summer intensive
鈥� 6-day in-person fall intensive
鈥� 6-day in-person spring intensive
鈥� independent projects
鈥� guided study sessions, group lab demos, and more.

Enrollment now open. Learn more:

Birth-to-Seven Two-Year

Birth-to-Three One-Year

The Part-Time Grades Teacher Program

鈥� Starts July 8th
Program includes:
鈥� Designated summer festival courses in-person over three years in July
鈥� Eleven mentoring sessions
鈥� Independent study and research projects
鈥� Participation in Waldorf Development Conference in November, and more.

Enrollment now open. Learn more.

Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy Distance

Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy is a prerequisite for both grades and early childhood part-time programs, and can be taken concurrently. It is offered in two formats:

1. Start anytime, from anywhere, with Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy Distance. Learn at your own pace with 32 one-on-one mentoring sessions over phone, Skype or Zoom, with independent study in between. If you are enrolling in the part-time teacher education program now, there is still time to enroll in Foundation Studies Distance. Learn more.

2. Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy Encounter features in-person classes in Thornhill (Saturday mornings), Guelph (Monday evenings) and sometimes in other centres. Sept. to May. Learn more

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Starting this weekend there are workshops in both Ottawa and BC. Robert McKay will be leading a Saturday workshop in Ottawa on Fundamental Anthroposophical Work. In BC, David Newbatt will be leading events all week long, under the title Explorations in Art, beginning on Friday April 5th and continuing though April 12. See posters below for details.

The post Workshops: with Robert McKay in Ottawa April 6 and David Newbatt in BC April 5-12 appeared first on 麻豆直播.

It’s Become a Tradition

For more than a decade now, Waldorf teachers and spiritual seekers have been coming to 麻豆直播’s Summer Festival of Arts and Education for next-grade preparation, professional renewal and artistic inspiration.

The tradition continues with this year’s full three-week program. The first week is for grade intensives. Weeks two and three feature general interest courses in the arts, early childhood themes, and Waldorf pedagogy.

You can register for one, two or three weeks of the program, full day or half day, whatever suits your needs, schedule and interests. There is a 10% discount for two weeks, 20% for three weeks. Delicious hot vegetarian lunches are available as a pre-order option if you register far enough in advance.

Here are this year’s courses. See rscc.ca/SummerFestival for course descriptions and presenter biographies.

SUMMER FESTIVAL COURSES FOR ANYONE INTERESTED

鈥� The Foundation Stone Meditation and Our Biography

鈥� The Group of Seven and the Spiritual in Art

鈥� What Am I? Why Am I Here? What Can I Do?

鈥� Veil Painting鈥� Woodwork鈥� Art for Art鈥檚 Sake or Art for Humanity鈥檚 Sake

鈥� Journey Through the Grades: The Heart and Soul of Waldorf

鈥� For the Love of Painting

SUMMER FESTIVAL COURSES FOR TEACHERS

鈥� Full-day grade intensives for grades 1-8

鈥� Science Grades 6-8

鈥� Music

鈥� Drawing

鈥� Generative Principles

EARLY CHILDHOOD AT THE SUMMER FESTIVAL

鈥� Building a Firm Foundation: The Four Lower Senses

鈥� Puppetry and Felting

鈥� Working with Silk Marionettes

Learn More / Register Now: www.rscc.ca/SummerFestival

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Continuing in our series of free talks with Kenneth McAlister around the major festivals of the year, 麻豆直播 is happy once again to present Kenneth’s upcoming talk on the festival of Easter, titled “The Interweaving Natural and Spiritual Processes of Easter“. This talk will take place at 9 am on Easter Saturday March 30th. Kenneth describes it as follows:

We will try to develop an understanding of the Easter Mystery in the context of inner and outer seasonal changes. In the second session (after the mid-morning break) we will use the centre/periphery meditation to deepen our experiences of the opportunities Easter presents.聽See the full poster for this even below:

Anthroposophy in Toronto will also be hosting a public event on Thursday March 28th, an Introduction to Eurythmy, led by CoCo Verspoor at the Waldorf Academy, in downtown Toronto. This event is the latest in a series of their anthroposophical evenings. See details on the poster below.

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Last Friday March 15th the TWS music room was filled with a capacity crowd for the part time Early Childhood graduation. The invited audience of friends and family gathered to support and honour the 17 graduates from 麻豆直播’s Professional Development for Waldorf Early Childhood Teachers Part-Time program, a record number.

In her introductory comments program director Karen Weyler wondered if the unusually large size of this class was due at least in part to people having responded personally to recent events, wanting to do something in response to the harm to childhood that resulted from Covid restrictions of recent years.

Talking with Laurie Harper-Burgess afterwards she expanded on that thought, noting that so many of the graduates already had advanced degrees and qualifications in other professions, and yet they left all that behind to take up the challenge of becoming a Waldorf early childhood educator.

The graduation program included eurythmy, songs, a short marionette piece, and presentations from some of the students. However, most of it was Karen talking about each of the 17 students and presenting a certificate and a rose to each of them..

The following words about each of the graduates are based on Karen’s notes from the event:

Maria Agostini

Maria is now living in Spain and immersing herself in the community of the local Waldorf school that her two girls attend.  She had been in the Kindergarten at Halton for 6 years.  When I met Maria at that time, I could see her affinity for very young children.  Did an amazing presentation on the Care of the Caregiver from the Perspective of the 3-fold Social Order.

Janelle Burnham

Janelle leads a 3 morning preschool and 2 parent and child classes at Waldorf Independent School of Edmonton.  She is the mother of 4 children, a light-hearted person with a beautiful sense of humour.  Janelle isn鈥檛 quite sure how she found herself at a parent and child class with her first born about 16 years ago.  But there was no turning back for her and she probably never imagined at that point that one day she would be a Waldorf teacher.  Her research paper was titled Literacy in Waldorf Early Childhood Classrooms: what鈥檚 going on in there?

Maria Teresa Donayre

Maria is an afternoon assistant with the Forest Kindergarten and after-care teacher at Halton Waldorf School.  She also found Waldorf education through the parent and child class she attended with the little boy for which she was a nanny.  Marita is a quiet, consistent presence in this group who deeply cares for children and can feel what they are experiencing. Marita’s paper was titled How does technology impact child development from Birth to Seven?

Daniela Fernandez Holloway

For just one week now Daniela is the Lead teacher for the Dandelion Kindergarten at Halton WS.  In her life before children she used her industrial design and lighting design degrees working in a university in Chile.  But it was her son鈥檚 need for childcare, that eventually made her aware of Waldorf education and its value. She also has a daughter. Daniela brought us her research on How to Support Parents through the Early Years.

Lili Golbous

Lili is the assistant morning teacher in Birchgrove, Kindergarten, at TWS. She has a masters degree in Architectural Engineering, and has taught Interior Design, high school and elementary school, and then realized that it’s Kindergarten where the learning of life happens!  Lili is accomplished in handwork skills, loves puppetry and story telling and studying Rudolf Steiner鈥檚 works. Her paper was on How to Identify and Work with 鈥楤ullying鈥� in the Kindergarten.

Maria Hernandez

Maria is a kindergarten assistant at the Sunrise School of Miami. She attended Waldorf school in Columbia and also Florida, in her early and middle years. Maria is compassionate and conscientious, a baker, folk dancer and also Spanish teacher. During her studies here with us, Maria has simultaneously completed her Bachelor of Education degree. Perhaps Maria will have her own Kindergarten class this Fall. Her research was How teachers can help children and their families deal with the loss of a loved one.

Gayathri Kandasamy

She has been lead teacher in Cedar Kindergarten, at TWS, since September. Gayathri has an MBA and a degree in computer science.  But as a conscientious parent, Gayathri鈥檚 son brought her to TWS in 2018. In order to understand the Waldorf educational approach, she became active in the school as a supply teacher and started Foundation Studies. She has also been a lead teacher in the childcare.  Gayathri鈥檚 research was titled: Rethinking the relationship between the Teacher and the Assistant(s) in the EC Classroom.

Candace LeBlanc

Candace is an assistant kindergarten teacher at Polaris School and Centre, Ottawa.  She is the mother of four children and as a La Leche Leage leader, and pregnancy, labour and postpartum doula, she strives to serve humanity, especially young children and their mothers.  Candace enjoys writing poetry, drumming and dancing. Candace鈥檚 paper was the Moral Development of the Educator through Stories, Fairytales and Folktales.

Shannon Legere

Shannon will have her own Kindergarten class at Rowen Tree Children鈥檚 School, Peterborough this September.  She was on her way to becoming an Ontario Certified Teacher when she recalled the spark that learning about Waldorf Education gave her while attending a permaculture design course in Ecuador. Shannon has been at Rowen Tree since 2019 and brought Arlan to us during our time in this teacher education.  She gave us an enthralling presentation on Biodynamic Agriculture.

Madhavi Mali

Madhavi recently became the lead teacher for Dandelion Preschool at TWS.  It was through her friend at the temple that she learned about TWS and as an RECE happily joined the childcare at TWS.  She has a son and daughter, enjoys crafting and has a very large, giving heart. As a proficient cook, she provides all whom she knows with nourishment and love. Her research was on the Effects of Screen on Early Childhood development

Chandra Maracle

Chandra has been a student of anthroposophy for many years and co-founded Everlasting Tree School in 2010.   Chandra is our current graduate of the Birth-to-Three certificate.  She is the mother of 5 children and has a passionate understanding for the need of community around postpartum mothers.  She is currently working on her PhD with her thesis being on the nourishment needed to replenish and sustain new mothers and their babies, which she shared with us this week, including a puppet show and flavourful 鈥榗orn mush鈥�.

Janet McCarrol

Janet has been an educator of young children for almost 35 years ranging in experience as a childcare supervisor, kindergarten, lower school ESL and special education teacher in the public school board.  Currently she works with the grade 2s at TWS. With this certificate Janet has a sense she will be on her way to bringing her deepened understanding of early education to parents with their toddlers.  Janet is also working on a 鈥榶et untitled鈥� documentary film on Waldorf Early childhood in urban settings鈥︹�tay tuned for the Grand Premiere

Shannon McMaster

Shannon is the owner/operator of the Forest Courtyard Initiative, a small private nature school in Tottenham. As the mother of three children it was her own experience growing up on a farm and time in Waldorf schools that she longs for her own family, and now offers to many others. Shannon is true, raw, pure and direct with her intention. She helped us all to be authentic. Her passion for children and the possibility of a holistic approach to live and education is clearly evident.  hannon鈥檚 presentation was on Creating and supporting a Waldorf home childcare agency.

Andressa Oliveira

Andressa is a kindergarten assistant at the Waldorf Academy, Toronto. With a degree as a physical education teacher, Andressa can confirm that she now has her 鈥榙ream job鈥�. She first met Waldorf education when she was seeking childcare for her daughter while they were still living in Brazil. Andressa considers ideas deeply and is diligent in finding what is true to her. Her research was on a very interesting topic, about the Disruption of the Foundational Senses through Immigration. 

Cuiting Pan

Cuiting is assistant toddler teacher in Rosebud at TWS. When she was in middle school, her teacher had told her class, in order to encourage the students to do well in their studies, that if they didn’t work hard and excel, they might end up being a caregiver of young children and have to change diapers. Cuiting has a degree in Architectural design and as the mother of two girls has realized that the highest calling is indeed to change diapers consciously!  In her search as a new mother, she learnt of Waldorf Education on line and quickly found her way to 麻豆直播 upon arrival in Canada. Her research was titled Cultivating the Inner Light of Early Childhood Educators.

Bandana Sandhu

Bandana has been a supply teacher at TWS for the last three years.  She is the mother of two beautiful children birthed by another and started her Waldorf journey with Parent and Child.  Bandana has volunteered with our sister organizations and with other social services.  She has a thirst to discover the multifaceted nature of Waldorf Education.  We have so appreciated her deep and poignant questions in our sessions.

Eunyoung Yuk

Eunyoung is the lead teacher in Elderberry Preschool at TWS.  With a Master鈥檚 degree in clothing and textile in Korea, Amy had her own business in clothing design and is so able to create in knitting, embroidery, sewing, as well as play the piano and doing folk-art painting.  Coming to Canada, Amy took her RECE designation at Seneca and found her way to TWS.  She has two sons.  Amy鈥檚 research was How do Waldorf EC teachers support the development to the four foundational senses during and in the aftermath of the Pandemic.

Part-Time Early Childhood Teacher Program

BEGINS THIS JUNE 16 – Professional Development for Waldorf Early Childhood Teachers: two-year, part-time Birth-to-Seven and one-year part-time Birth-to-Three. Programs start every other year. Enrolment now open. Learn more:

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Seth Jordan is in town this week to teach at the Seminary of the Christian Community in North America. On Thursday March 7th, his last day here, he will be giving a talk at 7:30 pm at Hesperus Village, sponsored by the Polaris Branch of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada. Everyone is welcome. Details on the poster below:

Seth will also be part of a four-day workshop on Practical Threefolding in Viroqua Wisconsin March 14-17.

Anthroposophy in Toronto Events

Anthroposophy in Toronto is pleased to announce that during the last Thursday of the following months: March, April, and May, we will be hosting “Open Anthroposophy” evenings at the Waldorf Academy, 250 Madison Avenue, Toronto, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. 

These evenings are open to anyone and will be of interest to people who have studied anthroposophy for years as well as people who are brand new to spiritual science. Every evening will include some activities but also a chance to enter into a free discussion on relevant topics.

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