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Michelle Obama, wife of presidential hopeful Barack Obama, read books to children at the Nurturing Center yesterday (Monday, June 2) - her favorite campaign activity, she declared to the packed room.

Glacier Waldorf School was blessed to be invited by Nurturing Center Executive Director Susan Christofferson, and with extremely short notice some of our kids were rounded up. They very much enjoyed meeting Mrs. Obama.

After first meeting each child, Mrs. Obama then read three books to the happy audience, sharing laughter and finally hugs with all the children.

It was a rare and wonderful day!

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Knowing of her interest in early child care, Glacier Waldorf School founder and class teacher Catherine Flynn took this rare opportunity to speak to and give some literature to Mrs. Obama about LifeWays, the fantastic child care training program based on Waldorf education principles.

Kingfishers Combined Grades Class holding up their handmade books
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Glacier Waldorf School is expanding! We are working toward two yurt classrooms, one yurt for Kindergarten 3 days a week and Sweet Peas Parent Child class one day a week, and one yurt for Kingfishers Combined Grades class.

Now is the time to secure a place for your child in one of Glacier Waldorf School's classes. For 08-09 school year, we have the following classes:

Sweet Peas Parent Child Class - class size limited to 10 parent-child "couples"

Kindergarten - ages 3 1/2 - 6 years, class size limited to 12 students

Kingfishers Combined Grades class

For more information, please contact Enrollment Coordinator Annalysa Lovos at 406-755-2343.

The Steiner Reading Group will take its summer break and resume in September.

For the next school year, we have decided to study the foundation book Theosophy, which has a somewhat misunderstood main title, but perhaps its subtitle helps clarify: An Introduction to the Spiritual Processes in Human Life and in the Cosmos. If there is anyone interested in delving deeper into the philosophy behind Waldorf education, Anthroposophical medicine, and biodynamic gardening, this is considered a “primer.” Also, if anyone has had the thought that they might like to go for Waldorf teacher training (please, we’d like to know that!), studying this book with a group is a great way to prepare oneself, as it is required study by every Waldorf teacher training institute. It is also just a fascinating read! There’s a lot in this little book, so we’ll go slowly.

We meet at the home of the Lovos, 1045 5th Ave. East, Kalispell. The house is on the corner of 5th Ave East and 11th Street East, with the front door on the 11th Street East side. For more information or directions, please call Annalysa Lovos, 406-755-2343.

The Steiner Reading Group meets every 4th Tuesday of the month, September through May, and there is actually consideration to expand to two Tuesdays per month (2nd and 4th, perhaps) next year. We all relish the quiet time in which to take a short break from the busy-ness of our material world and contemplate and discuss some higher ideas of our spiritual nature and that of the earth and cosmos. If that appeals to you, please join us!

Glacier Lifelong Learning Center in Kalispell has been given approval to add the words Waldorf School to its name effective immediately. Approval comes from the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), the governing body of Waldorf Schools and copyright holder for the school name Waldorf. Schools may not use the name Waldorf in its name until it has demonstrated to AWSNA through practice and operations that it is meeting the requirements of a Waldorf School. This is to ensure to prospective families wanting a Waldorf education for their children that their educational needs will be met through Waldorf trained teachers using Waldorf methods.
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Sweet Peas
This class is for parents and their children who are not yet old enough for the mixed-age kindergarten (under 3-1/2 years). It provides a weekly mini-experience of a Waldorf kindergarten morning. Parents learn about Waldorf early childhood philosophy and methods, and children explore the kindergarten classroom and all its beautiful and imaginative playthings, sing songs, engage in age-appropriate activities, and experience a Waldorf-style puppet story.

Sweet Peas is held on Mondays from 10:30 am ~ Noon for two 12-week sessions: one in fall and one in spring.

Early registration with payment is required to hold space; this class is expected to fill up early.

Mixed-Age Kindergarten (Ages 3-6+)
"Play is the royal road to childhood happiness and adult brilliance. ~ Joseph Chilton Pearce

In Waldorf early childhood education, great care is taken to provide children with a gentle transition between home and school life a transition that nurtures and protects the child's physical and emotional development and fosters wonder, joy and a lifelong love of learning. Glacier Waldorf School provides all the familiar Waldorf kindergarten activities of watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, felting, finger knitting, storytelling, circle time, music, chopping fruits and vegetables, baking and lots of free play time. What is truly special, however, is the unique setting, both indoors and out, in which the children experience their day. The organic garden and forested creek provide a quintessential outdoor classroom in which the children can experience gardening, hiking, tree climbing, log balancing, sliding on the frozen creek, and wildlife and bird watching. This lush setting encourages endless ways of creative play. To nourish the body, snacks are made from fresh organic ingredients, right from the garden during the farm season.

Meeting Tuesday through Thursday, the mixed-age class allows the kindergarten to have a family-feel, and, contrary to what some may think, children thrive returning to the nurturing kindergarten environment for two or more years.

Grades ~ Kingfishers
Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who, of themselves, are able to impart purpose and direction to their lives. ~ Rudolf Steiner, creator of Waldorf education

A three-dimensional approach to teaching infuses all of the educational work in a Waldorf grade school. Movement to promote thinking on one's feet, stories that touch the heart, and activities that kindle the imagination - these are the experiences that foster joy and love of learning in the grade school years.

Glacier Waldorf School launched its first mixed-grades class, Kingfishers, in fall 2007. Academic instruction begins in Waldorf first grade and subjects are introduced in imaginative, lively ways, through storytelling, watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, knitting, circle and singing games, jump rope, bean bag and string games, learning to play the flute, gardening, and imaginative outdoor play. Subjects are taught in 4-week blocks, where each subject is focused on with great care during the morning Main Lesson period. Subjects for early grades include introduction to writing and reading, introduction to numbers and the four math processes, roman numerals, nature studies, foreign languages (French and German), art, knitting and other handwork, gardening, music, speech and drama.

Waldorf is unique in that a class stays with its grades teacher for the entire 8-year odyssey.

Kingfishers meet Tuesday through Friday.

For More Information about our Programs or Enrollment, please contact our Enrollment Coordinator, Annalysa Lovos, at (406)755-2343.

1) INVESTIGATE:
Spend time educating yourself about Waldorf education, and also about GWS. Here are some of the many ways to do this: read GWS Vision, Mission and Statement of Principles, Media and Food Policies, the many short articles about Waldorf early childhood and elementary education, and see a list of books; read some; attend parent-child groups and festivals; join the reading group.

2) APPLICATION:
Complete the Application Form and submit it to GWS with the $50 non-refundable Application Fee for each child. If your child is moving from another school/preschool, we may request conversations with and/or transcripts from the previous school's teachers and/or director.

3) INTERVIEW:
We'll contact you to schedule an interview after we've reviewed your child's Application and received your Application Fee. Topics for discussion in the interview will include the information you've provided on the application form, other aspects of your child's social, academic, and family life, GWS Principles and Policies, your history and familiarity with Waldorf methods, and what hopes and expectations you have for your child's education.

4) PLACEMENT:
We base placement in the school on such factors as available spaces in appropriate classes and parents' willingness to work with the principles of Waldorf education. You will be informed about your child's placement as soon as possible. In the event that the class that your child has been matched with is already full, his/her name will be put in a waiting pool.

5) FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT:
Upon placement, we'll send you an Enrollment Contract that will need to be signed and returned to GWS by the stated deadline with the Tuition Deposit of $600 (to be applied to annual tuition) in order to reserve the child's space.

6) ENROLLMENT:
When Enrollment Contract and $600 Tuition Deposit are received, your child is considered enrolled. Final steps before school begins will be a home visit, new parents attending orientation, turning in immunization forms, and either paying Annual Tuition (less tuition deposit) in full by August 1 (or by July 1 for 10% discount), or beginning monthly Tuition payments on August 1 (please see Tuition & Fees Schedule for these details) for the tuition balance.

TUITION

3-Day KindergartenAnnual Tuition: $3800.00
         9:00 am - 12:30 pm, Tuesday - Thursday
         Ages 3 ½ - 6 (Birthday cutoff: January 2005)

4-day Kingfishers Grades ClassAnnual Tuition: $5300.00
         8:45 am - 2:00 pm, Tuesday - Friday

FEES

Application Fee (for new students, non-refundable).....$50.00

Tuition Deposit
(due with Enrollment Contract, applied to tuition amount)....$600.00

* If, for any reason, you must withdraw your child before September 1, the Tuition Deposit may be refunded less a $300 administration fee; on or after September 1, it is non-refundable.

** There may be occasional other fees for field trips, special projects, instrument purchase, and private music lessons.

Tuition Payment Options
Tuition shall be paid either in full by August 1, with an early option of paying in full by July 1 to receive a 10% discount, or by monthly payments which begin on August 1.

Full Payment: Tuition may be paid in full on or before July 1 to receive a 10%
discount. After July 1, this discount option is no longer available.
Tuition payment can be paid in full after July 1 but by August 1, but at the regular annual tuition rate, not at the 10% discounted rate. See Enrollment Addendum for tuition figures with the 10% discount.

10 Monthly Payments: Tuition balance (Annual tuition less $600 tuition deposit) may be made in 10 monthly payments beginning August 1st with the tenth and final payment made May 1st. See Enrollment Addendum for payment schedule details.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ENROLLMENT, PLEASE CONTACT OUR ENROLLMENT COORDINATOR, ANNALYSA LOVOS, at (406)755-2343.

The Enrollment Contract requires a $600 deposit to hold child's space. This $600 deposit is credited toward the Tuition amount. If, for any reason, you must withdraw your child before September 1, the Tuition Deposit may be refunded less a $300 administration fee; on or after September 1, it is non-refundable.

Tuition shall be paid either in full by August 1, with an early option of paying in full by July 1 to receive a 10% discount, or by monthly payments which begin on August 1.

The details of these two payment options are as follows:

OPTION 1: IN FULL
Tuition may be paid in full on or before July 1 to receive a 10% discount. After July 1, this discount option is no longer available. Tuition payment can be paid in full after July 1 but by August 1, but at the regular annual tuition rate (see Tuition and Fees Schedule), not at the 10% discounted rate.

10% discounted rate, if paid in full by July 1:

3-day Kindergarten:
           $3420.00 total tuition payment (including $600 deposit)

4-day Kingfishers Grades class:
           $4770.00 total tuition payment (including $600 deposit)

OPTION 2: MONTHLY
Tuition balance after the $600 deposit has been paid may be made in 10 monthly payments beginning August 1 with the tenth and final payment made May 1 (balance may be completely paid off anytime before May 1 as well).

For 3-day Kindergarten:
$3800 annual tuition - $600 deposit = $3200 tuition balance
                      Divided by 10 months = $320 per month

For 4-day Kingfishers Grades class:
$5300 annual tuition - $600 deposit = $4700 tuition balance
                      Divided by 10 months = $470 per month

VOLUNTEER HOURS:
Each family shall contribute a minimum of 30 volunteer hours during the school year. If a family feels they cannot contribute volunteer hours, then a donation of $300 is requested. We realize that many families will contribute many more hours than this; this is just a minimum. The contributions are often made through Parent Society activities, such as planning and implementing festivals and fundraisers, field trips, special projects, office assistance, carpentry, maintenance, cleaning of building and grounds, and myriad other needs that a school requires. Volunteer assistance is vital for keeping tuition costs down, plus it allows the school to become more than just a school; it allows it to become a community of families.

PARENT SOCIETY:
Parents automatically become members of the Parent Society upon enrolling their child. Each family will receive a subscription for Renewal Magazine, a beautiful publication packed full of interesting articles about Waldorf education. In order for a Waldorf school to function smoothly and as a community, the Parent Society takes an active role in planning festivals and fundraisers for the school. It is a vital leg in the three-legged stool that is the school. Without a strong parent leg, the stool would fall over. The other two legs of the stool are the College of Teachers, which are the teachers and classroom assistants, and the Board of Trustees. Members of the College of Teachers dedicate their professional lives to the nurturing and educating of the children in their classroom. The Board of Trustees maintains the fiscal and operational health of the school, always in terms of what is best for the children. The Parent Society shall organize itself and set regular meetings to fulfill its mission of planning and implementing festivals (under guidance of the College of Teachers) and fundraisers, and to coordinate volunteer needs and hours.

ENROLLMENT CONTRACT:
Once a new student is placed, a notice of welcome is sent along with an Enrollment Contract. Parents responsible for payment must complete and sign the Enrollment Contract and return it along with a $600 Tuition Deposit (which will be applied to annual tuition) in order for the school to hold a space for their child.

RECOMMITMENT of RETURNING STUDENTS:
Families with currently enrolled students are asked to recommit to the next school year on or before June 1 of the current school year, with a signed Enrollment Contract and Tuition Deposit of $600. This is to ensure your child has a place for the following school year, and to ensure the school meets it financial obligations over the summer. This timely recommitment is needed by the school and families are asked to honor this.

WITHDRAWAL:
Application Fee is non-refundable. Tuition Deposit is non-refundable on or after September 1. If withdrawal occurs before September 1, the $600 Tuition Deposit is subject to refund less a $300 Administration Fee.
After September 1, a thirty-days written notice by responsible parent(s) (those who signed the Enrollment Contract) is required for withdrawal. In the event a child is withdrawn without the required thirty days notice by parents any outstanding tuition greater than the Tuition Deposit covering through the end of the thirty-day notice period is due. This applies whether the student is withdrawn by parents or dismissed by the school. This requirement will be waived in the event the reason for withdrawal is of a confirmed medical nature (doctor's letter of medical necessity required). After September 1, refunds of tuition paid thus far, less the $600 Tuition Deposit which is non-refundable on or after September 1, will be prorated based on the per diem rate and the number of days of school up to the last day of the 30 days notice.

OUTSTANDING FEES:
Tuition deposit of $600 is due with signed Enrollment Contract before a student is considered enrolled and a place is reserved for him or her. If Tuition will be paid via monthly payments, the first payment is due August 1 (see Tuition Payment Option 2 above). If enrollment occurs after August 1, then Tuition Deposit of $600 plus the first monthly Tuition payment (if paying monthly) is immediately due; or, if paying in full, the total Tuition is due. A student will not be allowed to begin school without all tuition payments brought up to date at the start of school. Overdue accounts put undue stress on the operation and finances of the school. Fees paid late will be assessed a 10% late fee.

POLICY on NON-DISCRIMINATION:
Glacier Waldorf School welcomes students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. The school is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ENROLLMENT, PLEASE CONTACT OUR ENROLLMENT COORDINATOR, ANNALYSA LOVOS, at (406)755-2343.