Tucson Waldorf School

The Living Arts Workshop & Lecture with Cynthia Aldinger | November 2nd & 3rd
2018-11-02 - 2018-11-03
The LifeWays training supports caregivers in the creation of home-like childcare environments that provide the comfort, security, and activities found in a healthy home.
Lifeways invites parents, caregivers, grandparents, and teachers to regain their joy and preserve the playful spirit of childhood for the benefit of children in their care. Tucson Waldorf School will be hosting Cynthia Aldinger, founder and executive director of LifeWays North America, for a Friday evening presentation and Saturday workshop. A mother and grandmother, Cynthia is the author of Life is the Curriculum and co-author of Home Away from Home: Life Ways Care of Children and Families.
The Living Arts Workshop is a hands-on spirit-lifting workshop with a practical-life approach to bring meaning and joy to the mundane when working with young children as well as simple ways to nurture, soothe, and care for children and ourselves. The Living Arts encompass social, creative, domestic, and nurturing realms. The workshop will include a simple seasonal craft project, music, games, photo essay on The Living Arts, as well as a social exchange with Q & A regarding the day’s activities. This introduction to The Living Arts is a prelude to a future LifeWays Early Childhood Certificate Training which will be held in Tucson.
For more information on Cynthia Aldinger , LifeWays, and The Living Arts, please visit: http://lifewaysnorthamerica.org/
Cynthia Aldinger will be bringing two separate events to the Tucson Community on Friday, November 2, and Saturday, November 3rd:
LIfeWays Lecture: Friday, November 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. free of charge. How Are the Children? How Are We? Let’s pause for a moment and consider how we can navigate our current culture in a way that helps both us and our children to be resilient, joyful and healthy
The Living Arts Workshop: Saturday, November 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost is $40. Workshop fee can apply toward future tuition in the LifeWays Early Childhood Certificate Training.
To register for Saturday workshop or RSVP for Friday evening, please email or call Tiffany Manoukian at: 520-358-5380 or:
Lifeways@TucsonWaldorf.org

Why Waldorf Works | Thursday, September 27th 6:00-7:30 p.m.
2018-09-27 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Phoenix) | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
What is smart? Is it acing a standardized test? Or something deeper?
Waldorf education understands that developing human potential requires far more than just academics. Tucson Waldorf School helps children cultivate their natural curiosity to create their own path, intellectually, physically, and emotionally. Waldorf is one of today’s most relevant educational movements. TWS faculty would love to show you why.

Join us for a conversation with Grades Faculty John Keeney and Early Childhood Faculty Maggie Queathem as they answer Why Waldorf Works: Thursday, September 27th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Grade 5 classroom. Adults only please. RSVP to TreasuringChildhood@tucsonwaldorf.org

Essential New Parent Orientation
2018-08-09 18:00 - 19:00

Quail's Nest Parent-Child Classes at Tucson Waldorf School
2018-08-03 09:00 - 2018-08-04 11:00 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
Welcome to a world of songs and play, of friends and food–a world of beauty where parents are relaxed and supported, where questions are answered, ideas are shared, and children are free to move, explore, and engage.
-Ms. Tiffany

Our classes provide an opportunity for warm and supportive companionship with other families facilitated by an early childhood educator. In a peaceful and beautiful environment, each class will discuss early childhood development as well as practical childcare and parenting questions. Simple handwork projects and delightful songs, rhymes, and puppet plays round out the program.
Participation in the Quail’s Nest provides an ideal foundation for transition to Nursery and Preschool. Many lifelong friendships begin in the Quail’s Nest!
Classes meet one morning each week. Placement in a class is determined by age range, infants through older toddlers. For more information: Parentchild@TucsonWaldorf.org
Quail’s Nest classes offer ongoing enrollment as space is available. Register here.

What's the Big Deal About Screen Time, Anyway?
2018-04-27 08:00 - 2018-04-28 17:00
To receive the full benefit of a Tucson Waldorf School education, parents are asked to carefully consider the effects of media and screen engagement, particularly for children under age 9. Without media, children learn how to self-initiate play. Eliminating media helps get away from the entertainment paradigm of parenting and schooling, and supports development of emotional self-regulation, an essential capacity for success in school and beyond. As parents, our job is to hold back the tide of popular culture, which is very shallow and full of violence as well as early sexualization. Media, and even the act of using media, primarily shows examples of how to be fulfilled by looking outside yourself. Our hope is for our children to learn how to connect with us, each other, and themselves. This takes time and opportunities.
Opening the dyke “a little” to media and popular culture is nearly impossible. It’s a culture that is very easy to penetrate because it is so shallow. We want our children to have a deep well from which to draw from. This well is created by offering images, stories, and experiences that are worthy of our children’s imitation. Children’s work is play and we must offer them true and rich imaginative images and experiences. This even applies to educational programming. According to Piaget, once a child is “taught” something, we forever take away their opportunity to learn it for themselves. This is why in Waldorf schools we often hear the phrase that we teach children how to learn not what to learn.
An abbreviated look at how screens affect children on a physiological level in several ways:
Eyes: The light disrupts melatonin production leading to poor sleep. 2D screens alter normal eye muscle movement which is what influences visual and vestibular (balance) development, cognition, and mood.
Brain: Our brains are evolutionarily designed to respond to visual input related to brightness, color, contrast, and movement. This is called the orienting response. This response helped us flee predators. Media uses artificially created stimuli to activate this response. This creates chemical, electrical, and mechanical shifts in the body that raise cortisol. Regardless of content, media use puts us in Fight or Flight.
Body: Blood flows away from the gut and reproductive organs toward the limbs and heart during media use. It increases heart rate and blood pressure. It is inducing our flight or fight response. Research shows this happen regardless of content.
Tucson Waldorf School is dedicated to nurturing each child’s capacity for creative imagination, independent thinking, and positive action. The school’s efforts to foster students’ healthy emotional development and meaningful relationships with their environment and other people are undermined by encounters with media that separate children from authentic experience and promote a distorted, developmentally inappropriate, and consumerist view of the world. The impact of media exposure is passed on to other children, reverberating through the community and showing up in other children’s play, attitudes, language, and inner life.
We are all working on our relationship to media and our goal is to build a supportive community where we can all work together to help each other and our children on this journey.
Some excerpts above summarized from book, Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four Week Plan To End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time by Victoria L. Dunckley, MD.
Tucson Waldorf School has copies of Reset Your Child’s Brain, which are currently available for purchase at cost in either office.
Link to book here.
National Screen-Free Week is April 30th – May 6th

Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety | Treasuring Childhood Film & Lecture Series
2018-04-18 08:00 - 17:00
Join us on Wednesday, April 18th for a screening of Angst with faculty led discussion to follow. Is anxiety affecting you and the people living in your community? Are you a teacher who sees many students dealing with stress or anxiety? Or a parent with children experiencing anxiety? Help break the stigma around anxiety and get the discussion started today.
Angst is a film that explores anxiety, its causes, effects, and what we can do about it. The filmmaker’s goal is to have a global conversation and raise awareness around anxiety. Angst features candid interviews with kids and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety, and what they’ve learned about it. The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources, and tools.
Wednesday, April 18th
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Tucson Waldorf School
3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ 85718
520-529-1032
www.tucsonwaldorf.org
Space is Limited, Please RSVP to:
TreasuringChildhood@TucsonWaldorf.org
Free and Open to the Public
This event is intended for adults only.

The Art of Discipline: Presentation and Discussion | Treasuring Childhood Film & Lecture Series
2018-03-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
Join our faculty on Wednesday, March 28th from 6:00 – 7:30pm for a discussion of discipline through the years. Topics addressed will include: What is the relationship between rhythm and discipline in the early years? How do parents address the wide range of behaviors at different stages with the appropriate response? What is the difference between punishment, discipline, redirection and consequences? What should I expect from my child at each stage of development? The evening is a joint presentation with Grades and Early Childhood faculty.

The Beginning of Life | Treasuring Childhood Film & Lecture Series | Wednesday, January 24th
2018-01-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
Join us for this documentary film screening and discussion of practical ways to support our developing children in their earliest years.
One of the greatest neuroscience breakthroughs is having discovered that babies are far more than a genetic load. The development of all human beings lies on the combination of genetics, the quality of the relationships and the environment they are set on. The Beginning of Life invites everyone to reflect: are we taking good care of this unique moment, which defines both the present and future of humankind?

School Garden Fundraiser at Chipotle | Wednesday, November 1st
2017-11-01 16:00 - 20:00
Make dinner a generous act by joining us for a fundraiser to support the Tucson Waldorf School gardening program. Come in to the Chipotle at 3055 North Campbell avenue in Tucson on Wednesday, November 1st between 4:00pm and 8:00pm, and be sure to tell the cashier you’re supporting our TWS garden so that 50% of the proceeds will be donated directly to Tucson Waldorf School. Thank you for your support and please help spread the word. For more information or to view or print a flyer, click here: Chipotle Garden Fundraiser

Finger Plays for Young Children | Treasuring Childhood Film & Lecture Series 2017-2018
2017-10-21 09:00 - 10:30 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
Join us for a Parent Workshop on Saturday, October 21 from 9:00 to 10:30am. A Teacher Workshop will follow from 12:00 to 3:00pm. Lynn St. Pierre presents Wilma Ellersiek’s work designed for the young child. Her finger plays and movement games include gesture, rhythm, rhyming verse, full body movement and singing in the mood of the fifth. We’ll do a variety of games including loving touch, dancing hands, seasonal plays and delightful movement games. These games demonstrate great wisdom in supporting healthy sensory development. The plays may be woven into the fabric of your family life creating a more harmonious and joyful atmosphere throughout the day and night. We hope you will come for the morning to learn delightful finger plays and movement games that will engage your children in the most wonderful ways!
Lynn St. Pierre is a well know presenter, sharing her work on early childhood developmental movement at conferences, teacher trainings, workshops and parent educational events throughout the world. Lynn is a member of the International Hand Gesture Working Circle, and the founding kindergarten teacher of the Applesong School, a parent collective in Lyons,
Colorado.
The Parent Workshop is free. There is a $30 registration fee for the teacher workshop (limited scholarships available upon request).
Teacher Workshop pdf
Parent Workshop pdf

Grades Subject Classes Open House | Tuesday, October 3rd
2017-10-03 16:00 - 17:00
The Grades Faculty will host a Grades Subject Class Open House with displays from our diverse grades subject classes including: Orchestra, Gardening, Handwork, Movement Education , Woodwork, and the World Languages Program featuring Spanish and Arabic classes.
Subject and class teachers will be on hand to answer questions and visit with parents. Current and prospective parents can drop in to meet the teachers, and learn more about the rich curriculum that supports our work in Main Lesson here at Tucson Waldorf School.
To R.S.V.P. or for more information, please contact: enrollment@tucsonwaldorf.org

Waldorf 101: A conversation with John Keeney | Wednesday, September 27th.
2017-09-27 18:00 - 19:30 | Tucson Waldorf School Grade 3 Classroom, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718
Are you a newcomer to Tucson Waldorf School? Are you a TWS old-timer who still has some questions about our curriculum and pedagogical methods? Questions are highly valued in a Waldorf school! Are these some of yours: What is anthroposophy and who is Rudolf Steiner? Why does Waldorf teach reading differently? What is Michaelmas and why is it celebrated? How does rhythm support the children? What’s all this about screen media use? Will my child learn the scientific method? What will my child really get out of this school?!?
If so, we would love to have you join us for a conversation with John Keeney, current TWS Grade 3 teacher:
Waldorf 101B, September 27th 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Grade 3 classroom. Please RSVP to enrollment@tucsonwaldorf.org

Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age | Treasuring Childhood Film & Lecture Series 2016-2017
2017-04-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
It’s never too late or too early to start thinking about the effects of screen time on your child and family. SCREENAGERS is a feature-length documentary that explores the impact of screen time on kids and offers parents proven solutions that work. The film probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including the director’s own, and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. Through surprising insights from authors and brain scientists, solutions emerge on how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world.
The filmmakers offer resources to support families as they consider ways to manage the use of social medial and devices in ever changing digital world:
Screen Time Contract
Tips for talking about screen time use with your child.
Documentary film screening with faculty led discussion to follow.
Seating is limited, and we expect this to be a full show! Please RSVP to GradesAdmin@TucsonWaldorf.org to reserve your space at the screening.
This event is intended for adults and children in Grades 6 and above.

Fresh! A Spring Soiree
2017-04-01 17:30 - 22:30
Join us for a night of joyful celebration, candlelight and laughter under the stars. The evening will feature a farm to table Indian feast, locally crafted beer, wine and dancing.
Guest Speaker – Dante Lauretta, principle investigator on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.
Contributions to the Waldorf community through bidding on specialty themed baskets and through the giving tree.
$50 per person
Tickets are available until March 24th online, by visiting the office or calling 520.529.1032, price increases to $60 after March 24th.

Puppet Play & Open House | Saturday, April 14th @9:00am
2017-03-25 09:00 - 2018-04-14 10:30 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
Learn how our play-based kindergarten and early childhood program lays the ideal
foundation for later academic achievement! Families will have an opportunity to
view our unique indoor and outdoor play spaces, visit with teachers while children
play and explore, hear a story, and see examples of student work. For children from birth to age 7
and their parents.

Project Wild Thing: Reconnecting Kids with Nature | Treasuring Childhood Film & Lecture Series 2016-2017
2016-10-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
Join us on Wednesday, October 19th at 6:00 pm at the Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road for the screening and lively guided discussion with TWS faculty following film.
Treasuring Childhood Events are generally designed for adults. Babes-in-arms welcomed. Admission is free. Please R.S.V.P. to enrollment@tucsonwaldorf.org .
From the filmmaker:
A revolutionary, award winning feature doc about the fragile connection between children and nature…
David Bond is a father. Things have really changed since he was a kid. His children are hooked on screens and don’t want to go outdoors. They want iPads, TV and plastic toys. The marketing departments of Apple, Disney and Mattel control his children better than he can. Determined to get them up and out, David appoints himself as the Marketing Director for Nature. With the help of branding and outdoor experts, he develops and launches a nationwide marketing campaign to get children outside. PROJECT WILD THING is the hilarious, real life story of one man’s determination to get children out and into the ultimate, free wonder product: Nature. Contributors include naturalist CHRIS PACKHAM, writer and environmentalist GEORGE MONBIOT, scientist JAAK PANKSEPP, writer JAY GRIFFITHS, advertising guru MICHAEL WOLFF, and brain scientist Prof. Baroness
SUSAN GREENFIELD

Subject Teachers Meet & Greet
2016-10-04 04:00 - 17:00 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
Parents of currently enrolled students are invited to an informal gathering to meet our grades subject teacher staff. This is an opportunity to hear a brief introduction and meet each of your child’s subject teachers. The TWS grades subject teachers are Charles Swanson, Gardening; Em Bowen, Spanish and Middle School Support; Heidi Johnson, Movement Education; Thomas Conner, Woodwork; and Lisa Barnes, Handwork.
The grades subject teachers meet & greet will be held on Tuesday, October 4th from 4:00pm to 5:00pm in the grade 8 classroom.

Waldorf 101: An introduction to this uniquely effective education.
2016-09-14 18:00 - 19:30 | Tucson Waldorf School, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, 85718
Waldorf 101 is a workshop series with John Keeney, lead TWS teacher for the class of 2023, currently teaching second grade.
September 14, 21, and 28, 2016 (Please come for all three evenings if possible!)
6:00-7:30 p.m. Room TBA
Please RSVP to enrollment@tucsonwaldorf.org
Are you a newcomer to Tucson Waldorf School? Are you a TWS old-timer who still has some questions about our curriculum and pedagogical methods? Are you a teacher interested in learning about Waldorf education? If so, we would love to have you join us.
Questions are highly valued in a Waldorf school! Are these some of yours:
What is anthroposophy and who is Rudolf Steiner? . . . Why does Waldorf teach reading differently? . . . What is Michaelmas and why is it celebrated? . . . How does rhythm support the children? . . .What’s all this about screen media use? . . . Will my child learn the scientific method? . . . What will my child really get out of this school?!?

Back to School Picnic
2016-08-20 17:30 - 19:00
Meet and greet new families, old friends, faculty,
staff and Board members.
Bring a picnic and blanket for your family.
Saturday, Aug. 20
5:30 to 7:00 pm
3605 E. River Rd.
520.529.1032
Please note that this is event intended for the TWS community only.

Welcome, new and returning families, to the first days of school!
2016-08-17 08:00 - 15:00
Tucson Waldorf School celebrates the first day of grade school by welcoming the Grade 1 class with the Rose Ceremony, a tradition in Waldorf schools across the country. For children in Grades 1-8, Wednesday, August 15th is the first day of school. Early Childhood classes (Nursery and Kindergarten) have a different start schedule, please consult your child’s class teacher for confirmation of your first day of school.

Play Again | Documentary Film Screening
2016-04-27 18:30 - 20:00 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
Post film discussion with TWS faculty members Maggie Queathem & John Keeney.
What are the consequences of a childhood removed from nature? What are we missing when we are behind screens? And how will this impact our children, our society, and eventually, our planet? At a time when children play more behind screens than outside, PLAY AGAIN explores the changing balance between the virtual and natural worlds. RSVP to Enrollment@TucsonWaldorf.org or call 529-1032 #100.

Admissions Preview
2016-01-30 09:30 - 23:30 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
Preschool & Kindergarten Puppet Play & Open House
Grades 1-8 Open House , Curriculum Overview & Student Main Lesson Work Exhibit
Join us for a walk through the grades and a preschool and kindergarten open house. A puppet play will be presented for families with children under age 7.
The main lesson “textbooks” made by students in grades 1-8, guided by the teacher, will be on display. Classrooms will be open and teachers will be present to meet families, answer questions, and give a brief overview the curriculum in each class.
Our Admissions Preview is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn more about the rich and engaging education offered at Tucson Waldorf School.
Current and Prospective parents are encouraged to attend! The Admissions Preview offers a first introduction to Waldorf education as well as a preview of what is to come in higher grades for families with students already enrolled in the school.

Beyond Measure Film Screening
2016-01-27 08:00 - 17:00 | University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
University of Arizona Campus
Integrated Learning Center room 120
Under the mall, just West of Cherry
Access stairs in front of Main Library
Tucson Waldorf School, in partnership with the University of Arizona College of Education, presents a free screening of the new film Beyond Measure, the follow-up to the wildly popular Race to Nowhere. The screening is part of Tucson Waldorf School’s ongoing Treasuring Childhood: Film and Lecture Series.

A Parent & Friends Reception
2015-11-19 18:00 - 19:30 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
Many parents ask, “How will TWS prepare my student for High School and beyond?” This event offers an opportunity to hear from Tucson Waldorf School Parents & Alumni for an evening of conversation and inspiration. Student work will be on display from morning lesson and subject classes.
Many thanks to River Road Gardens & Kramer’s Kitchen for sharing the bounty of the farm for this event!
RSVP to Enrollment@TucsonWaldorf.org
Adults only, babes-in-arms and alumni graduates welcomed.

Puppet Play and Open House for Preschool and Kindergarten
2015-04-11 09:00 - 22:30 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
Join us to visit our play area, see the Nursery and Kindergarten classrooms and meet some of our early childhood faculty. Towards the end of the open house, we will gather in a classroom for a short puppet play story. Learn how our loving, secure early childhood program supports your child’s natural development in a setting of play and exploration.

Mother Nature’s Child – Documentary Film
2015-03-25 18:30 - 20:00 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
Mother Nature’s Child explores nature’s powerful role in children’s health and development. Why do children need unstructured time outside? What is the place of risk-taking in healthy child development? How is play a form of learning? What are the effects of “nature deficit disorder”? The film marks a moment in time when a living generations can still recall childhoods of free play outdoors; this will not be true for most children growing up today. This one hour film will be followed by a guided discussion.

Begin with the End in Mind The Parenting Journey from Start to Never Finished
2015-02-19 08:45 - 10:00, 2015-02-18 18:30 - 20:30 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
A talk and mini-workshop with Davina Muse, LMHC, Simplicity Parenting Group Leader. Part of the ongoing Treasuring Childhood Film and Lecture Series. Davina’s experience working with families as a clinical therapist and in private practice has taught her the value of deep and compassionate listening, truth-telling, kindness, and a sense of humor in helping families, whatever their particular form, to grown in love, laughter, and connection.

Christiaane Boele: Master Teacher from “The School of Uncovering the Voice”
2015-01-31 09:00 - 12:30, 2015-01-30 18:30 - 20:00 | River Bend Campus, 3605 East River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718, United States
Singing is a primal human urge, with the potential for the expression of the core of our being. Song has accompanied life through the eras of human culture. It holds its ever important place in cultural activities, rituals, and religious ceremonies, as well as through the work and play of everyday life. Experience the freedom and joy of uncovering your singing voice. For anyone wishing new inspiration and/or renewal for their voice, in singing or speaking! Christiaane Boele has worked for almost 40 years within the tradition of the School of Uncovering the Voice with ever increasing enthusiasm, filling it continuously with new life. Boele offers courses and private lessons throughout Europe, the USA, and Canada. Students range from people without any previous singing experience to professional singers and music teachers. His refined, intuitive teaching methods lead students to new discoveries about their voices, and about themselves. Cost is $75 prepaid registration, or $25 (Friday) and $55 (Saturday) at the door. Private lessons are available by appointment through the school. Call 520-529-1032.
