Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings, who are able of themselves to impart purpose and meaning to their lives.”

– Rudolf Steiner

Welcome!

Our school is an independent, nonsectarian, co-educational school for children from birth to Grade 12. Our facilities include three separate historical buildings in the neighborhoods of Saratoga Springs, New York, a vibrant city with a rich cultural past. Founded in 1981, our school's mission is to cultivate academic knowledge, artistic work, and practical skills. The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs is a full member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA).

News

Adirondack Night Auction 2010

Friday, March 5th | 6:00 - 10:00 PM

The Canfield Casino | Saratoga Springs' Congress Park

Come one and all to our biggest event fundraiser of the year! Please click here for more information, to buy tickets online or to contribute an item or service to our auction.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Forest Kindergarten

Our new Forest Kindergarten program has been generating a lot of interesting conversations about education, the environment and our future thanks large in part to the November 30th edition of the New York Times article covered by writer, Liz Leyden and photographer, Nathaniel Brooks.

Since that time, Sandra McClellan of the local Hill Country Observer has also written about the program. To view the article, please click here.

Most recently, we spent some time discussing the program on public radio with WAMC's Joe Donahue on "Roundtable". To listen in, click here.

If you are interested in giving to this program, please click here, scroll down and use PayPal's secure server to contribute. Please be sure to include the words "Forest Kindergarten" in the "message to the merchant" option in your transaction.

More about our program:

Forest Kindergarten, an early childhood program where the children are outside most (if not all) of the day, was started in Denmark in the 1950s and has recently grown in popularity all across Europe. The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs is proud to announce our undertaking of a Forest Kindergarten right here in Saratoga Springs. An article in the Fall/Winter 2008 edition of Land & People, a publication of the Trust for Public Lands, points out:

Research has shown that free play in nature increases childen's cognitive flexibility, emotional capacity, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, use of imagination, self-esteem, and self-discipline. It makes them smarter, more cooperative, happier and healthier.

Program details:

The Forest Kindergarten Program is located in Saratoga Springs at a site that includes a large farmhouse with an abundance of outdoor space.
Hours are from 8:30-1:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Aftercare is available daily until 5:30.
Daily snack and lunch are included in the supply fee.
Children, ages 3 1/2 - 6 spend the majority of the day outside during nice weather. Outdoor time during the winter months varies depending on the climate. Children are brought inside for warming breaks in the farmhouse.

For more information, visit the links below:

"All Outdoors, All The Time" The Christian Science Monitor May, 13, 2003

"Pioneer Nursery Stays Outdoors - In All Weathers" The Guardian, October 30, 2007

The Children and Nature Network

"Last Child In The Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv

Please click here for a full copy of our Press Release. Read recent articles from our local media.

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting new program, please contact our Admissions Office at 587-2224 or click here to send an email.

Gateway Books Program

Book of the Week

Now in it's second year, the Gateway Books grant has allowed classroom teachers in grades 1-8 to purchase books for their classrooms. Now we are continuing to expand our literacy outreach, and have teamed up with Barefoot Books to offer our students beautiful books for their home libraries. Each week we will feature another title from the Barefoot collection that will support your child's Waldorf education at home. Each book you buy from Barefoot earns money for out Gateway Books program, allowing us to expand our classroom libraries year by year.

Our Book of the Week:

Third grade in the Waldorf School brings time to our children's attention, asking them to consider the rhythms of the day, the week, the month, and the year. First Morning: Poems about Time (currently on sale for $7.99), collected by Nikki Siegen-Smith and illustrated by Giovanni Manna brings together 24 poems on the subject. Kirkus Reviews said, "Siegen-Smith's latest anthology will nudge readers to ponder the meaning of time, and will give teachers and parents alike a means of helping children understand this difficult concept. Manna's watercolor-and-ink illustrations perfectly fit each poem, whether humorous, profound, sweet, or inspirational. The soft colors and details suggest mood and delightfully enhance the meaning inherent in the verse. A great collection to share with a child. And who knows - perhaps the time spent would be remembered as a special day worthy of its own poem."

To purchase this or other Barefoot Books, please shop through this link, scroll down and click "support this event" and begin shopping! Currently, the Gateway Books Program receives 30% of your purchase.

Please click here for our current job opening in our Business Office.

Questions about Waldorf education?

Find answers at WhyWaldorfWorks.org.

WSSS Board of Directors: Heather Ward, Board President; Matt Beekman, Secretary; Rich Frank, Treasurer; Jeff DeWeese; Richard Fron; David Karp; Ed Mitzen; Ardie Pierce; Katherine Scharff; Jan Zemba