One-Year, and Two-Year Options

The Birth-to-Three stream of the program is for only one year. However, since the first year is the same for both programs, so you can start in Birth-to-Three and then after your first year, you can decide whether or not you want to continue for a second year and complete the Birth-to-Seven qualification.

Program Includes:
• 16-day in-person summer intensive
• 6-day in-person fall intensive
• 6-day in-person spring intensive
• independent projects
• guided study sessions, group lab demos, and more.

Enrollment now open. Learn more:

Birth-to-Seven Two-Year
Birth-to-Three One-Year

Foundation Studies – Encounter or Distance – is a Prerequisite

Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy, is offered at Â鶹ֱ²¥ as either a one-year Sept. through May encounter program, or as a one-on-one mentored distance-learning format.

The advantage of the Distance program is that you can start anytime from anywhere and proceed at your own pace. However, the in-person Encounter program does offer more of a group artistic experience through activities like eurythmy and painting.

Foundation Studies Encounter is offered in Thornhill on Saturday mornings and in Guelph on Monday evenings. But for those who live farther away, Foundation Studies Distance is the way to go.

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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’s 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’s lecture cycles on “The Education of the Child�, “Discussions with Teachers� and “Foundations of Human Experience�.

Les Black

Les Black has taken three classes through the 8-year cycle – 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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. 

“Mr. Muth taught us every single day for eight years, basically every subject under the sun. We used to joke the only thing (he) can’t do is dance and French,â€� she said. “He’s definitely the most influential role model in my life, aside from my parents.â€� 

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

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

“So as I present this award today, it’s not just on behalf of myself, but all my former classmates,â€� she said. “We all feel the same. You haven’t 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.â€� 

Linsley, 22, received the Loran Scholarship in 2020 – Canada’s largest and most comprehensive four-year undergraduate award, valued at $100,000. It’s 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’s had a lot of good teachers over the years, none were as “fundamentally influentialâ€� to her. 

“I 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.â€�  

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 “the best.â€� 

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

“It was wonderful – a great eight years.â€� 

Muth said he was shocked to win the award. 

“It was quite moving. I’m just processing it right now,â€� he said. “I feel really privileged to be recognized like this.â€� 

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

“Mr. Muth is not only my teacher, but a real mentor that I continue to look up to,â€� she said.Ìı

From the Comment Section:

Anne Holman commented: “A 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’s wonderful to acknowledge his contributions.�

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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ (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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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:

• Waldorf Teacher Education Full Time Grades

• Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education Full Time

• Foundation Studies Encounter

The post Â鶹ֱ²¥ Alumnus & Trillium WS Teacher Henry Muth featured in Guelph Today for Receiving Award appeared first on Â鶹ֱ²¥.

Â鶹ֱ²¥ Tuition Fees will be increasing Tuesday May 21st for Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy Encounter and Teacher Education Full-Time Grades and Full-Time Early Childhood programs. Enroll before May 21 to save. See current tuition fees.

Photo is from the Professional Development for Waldorf Early Childhood Teachers Part-Time graduation. In this picture, program director Karen Weyler is cutting a cake at the reception after the graduation ceremony, surrounded by most of the graduates and a few of their children.

Next cohort for the part-time Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher program starts this coming June 16, 2024. The next opportunity to start the program after that will be June 2026. Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s Virtual Open House will be Wed. May 15, 7:30 pm. Learn more: /open-house/

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Thanks to everyone who came out to the Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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:

The post Thanks to Everyone Who Came to the In-Person Open House April 28 | Virtual Open House May 15 appeared first on Â鶹ֱ²¥.

If you are looking to prepare for any Â鶹ֱ²¥ teacher education program whether full-time or part-time, Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy is a prerequisite.

Foundation Studies can be taken either in-person on Saturday mornings at the Thornhill campus from Sept through May (FS Encounter), or remotely through the Foundation Studies Distance program.

With the FS Distance program students can start anytime, from anywhere, and proceed at their own pace. The program includes 32 one-on-one mentoring sessions over phone, Skype or Zoom, along with independent study and projects.

If You Are Thinking of Part-Time Grades or Early Childhood…

It’s not too late to register now for FS Distance if you are planning to enroll in either the Part-Time Early Childhood Teacher program which starts this June 16th, or the Part-Time Grades Teacher program which starts July 8th.

Learn more:

• Foundation Studies Encounter
• Foundation Studies Distance

About the Picture – A New Look at Â鶹ֱ²¥ Thornhill

Toronto Waldorf School changed the siding on the “new wing” of the school (built ca 1991) from red/brown to blue over the course of the summer and fall of 2023, and since the Â鶹ֱ²¥ is part of that new wing, the colour of our siding is also now blue. Of course the new boards are in better shape than the old ones were after 30 years of exposure to the elements. Many people also like the new blue colour better than the old red/brown.

We thought we should share this up-to-date picture before the open house on Sunday April 28th at 2-4:30 so people would know what the college looks like now! The picture was taken just a couple days ago (in late April) so the leaves are not yet out on the trees and the vegetation isn’t looking its best, but at least you get an unobstructed view of the building.

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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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ may be for you.

The Part-Time Early Childhood Teacher Program

• Starts this June 16th
• 2 year, Birth-to-Seven
• 1 year, Birth-to-Three
• Enrollment every other year – if you do not enroll now, next cohort will begin in June 2026
Program Includes:
• 16-day in-person summer intensive
• 6-day in-person fall intensive
• 6-day in-person spring intensive
• independent projects
• 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

• Starts July 8th
Program includes:
• Designated summer festival courses in-person over three years in July
• Eleven mentoring sessions
• Independent study and research projects
• 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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It’s Become a Tradition

For more than a decade now, Waldorf teachers and spiritual seekers have been coming to Â鶹ֱ²¥’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

• The Foundation Stone Meditation and Our Biography

• The Group of Seven and the Spiritual in Art

• What Am I? Why Am I Here? What Can I Do?

• Veil Painting• Woodwork• Art for Art’s Sake or Art for Humanity’s Sake

• Journey Through the Grades: The Heart and Soul of Waldorf

• For the Love of Painting

SUMMER FESTIVAL COURSES FOR TEACHERS

• Full-day grade intensives for grades 1-8

• Science Grades 6-8

• Music

• Drawing

• Generative Principles

EARLY CHILDHOOD AT THE SUMMER FESTIVAL

• Building a Firm Foundation: The Four Lower Senses

• Puppetry and Felting

• Working with Silk Marionettes

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

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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 Â鶹ֱ²¥’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’t 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’s 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’s 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’s works. Her paper was on How to Identify and Work with ‘Bullying’ 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’s 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’s 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’s 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’s 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 ‘corn mush’.

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 ‘yet untitled’ documentary film on Waldorf Early childhood in urban settings……stay 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’s 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 ‘dream job’. 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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’s 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’s 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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What is the HEART Program

Over the past decades, teachers have met increasing numbers of children who are struggling to meet their developmental stages due to sensory, emotional, and educational challenges both at home and at school.

With remedial support, these students often progress quickly once their underlying needs are met. Without this help, students can carry long standing difficulties into their adult lives.

The goal of the HEART program is to strengthen, support, and train educators dedicated to helping students work through their challenges.

HEART is a graduate level, professional development program that provides teachers, therapists and educational specialists with knowledge and practical skills to work in a healing manner with children facing developmental, social/emotional, and learning challenges.

HEART is basedÌıon Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophicalÌıpicture of the human being,ÌıWaldorf child development andÌıeducational methodologies, and the adult development of the educator. It develops capacities to observe with understanding, assess with depth of knowledge, and remediate with effective practical technique.

Tuition Assistance Available for Canadians taking HEART

Dear Canadian Waldorf Schools,
Ìı
As the director of the Healing Education And Remedial Training (HEART) program offered through the Â鶹ֱ²¥, I am reaching out to your respective faculties and boards of trustees to let you know that we currently have funds available for tuition assistance for this program.Ìı

Although we welcome international students, at this time we would like to give preference to qualifying Canadian applicants to our HEART program withÌıan offer of tuition assistance.Ìı
Ìı
As you are well aware, there has been a substantial increase in the number of children with developmental and learning/behavioural/emotional challenges in our schools,Ìı most noticeably during these post-pandemic years.Ìı Trained Extra Lesson practitioners in our Waldorf schools can help to meet this need.Ìı

While several of our students have covered the full tuition on their own, some of our students have had their HEART program fees supported by the Waldorf school where they are employed.Ìı

If your school is able to contribute to the HEART fees along with available tuition assistance, a successful applicant could only need to give time and efforts to their HEART studies. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity for any of your eligible faculty, I would be happy to speak with you. Please indicate your interest before April 1st.Ìı
Ìı


Arlene Kamo,

HEART Director, Â鶹ֱ²¥

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