Waldorf School

Posted: February 5, 2021

Fortunate to attend the Waldorf School of Garden City from K-12, I served on Student Government and participated in year-round Athletics. The curriculum, caring faculty, and individualized approach to learning helped me to evolve into the woman I am today. Upon graduation, I was well-equipped to handle college-level courses. The love of learning I fostered at Waldorf helped develop an inquisitive spirit that continues to light my path wherever I go. I enjoy returning to Waldorf for community events – such as Alumni Sports Days and the Fall Festival – and reconnecting with my peers.

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: February 5, 2021

Posted: January 24, 2021

My two sons have attended WSGC since the Parent-Child program and are now in 5th and 3rd grades. Our entire family has had the most rewarding, nourishing, and inspiring experience possible since the moment we joined the community. My children are blossoming into intelligent, creative, curious, and engaged people thanks to the amazing, holistic Waldorf educational philosophy. They are developing capacities in all dimensions of their being, not just academics, although they are definitely enthusiastic learners in the classroom as much as in the garden, orchestra, woodworking, or on the nature trail. Each of their teachers have gotten to know my children thoroughly as individuals and have cared for them deeply in both their educational and personal development and well-being. WSGC is a very close, involved, diverse, and nurturing community that welcomes every family to be themselves and to participate and contribute in a myriad of ways. Our whole family feels fortunate to be here!

Posted: January 24, 2021

Posted: January 24, 2021

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Posted: January 14, 2021

My child entered in Middle School and it has been a wonderful experience. The students are engaged in a way that make them interested in the world and learning all about it. There are many classes such as woodworking, fiber arts, and others that balance the academics. Everyone is friendly. It is a diverse community in terms of race, culture and socio-ecomonics. All are welcome. I highly recommend you check it out. Plus the campus is beautiful!

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

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Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

I attended The Waldorf School of Garden City from K-12 and I can confidently say that those 14 years set a great foundation for my future. The curriculum’s emphasis on experiential learning provided me with a holistic education. For example - in addition to studying the History of Africa in a seminar style main lesson, we practiced an ethnic African dance. This immersed me more deeply and gave me an appreciation of the African culture. Active learning allowed me to internalize my education and I know these experiences will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Waldorf prepared me for college-level work. I am very well versed in class discussion and participation. Additionally, Waldorf academics and athletics taught me valuable time-management skills essential for college and beyond. The smaller intimate community provides an invaluable network of parents, faculty and alumni willing to offer advice and support during college years and beyond. Waldorf molds students into well-rounded problem solvers and independent thinkers. I was taught to have opinions, ask questions and strive to make a difference, with purpose, gratitude, and respect.

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: February 5, 2016

Our triplet daughters, currently in 10th grade, have been at The Waldorf School of Garden City since pre-school. The teachers are the most dedicated group of educators you will ever meet. They encourage our children how to think, not what to think, how to see, not what to see. They work with us as parents to help our children gracefully come into their fullest potential. A respect for each other’s individuality is encouraged. There is a strong sense of belonging to a community here - it is like a second home.

Posted: January 17, 2016

We have a daughter in 7th grade and ever since she entered in 4th grade, this school has been a blessing to our family in so many ways. She has found good and kind friends and there is very strong parent support for Waldorf. If I myself were a child again I would have wanted to study here. It is very special .

Posted: November 17, 2015

As a parent and educator, I cherish the fact that Waldorf teachers prepare students to sit and think by preceding more sedentary periods with physical exercises. Fresh air, sunshine and movement are also interspersed naturally throughout the day with gardening, eurythmy and social dance. As an aspiring thespian, it is intriguing how Waldorf emphasizes public speaking and brings poetry to life by connecting it to gesture and movement in the eurythmy curriculum. How emancipating it must be to spend one or two weeks a year outdoors at Camp Glen Brook instead of the mind numbing routine of filling in bubbles on scantron sheets! Prior to coming to WSGC my daughter yearned for an educational environment that rejected a testing and worksheet culture - which paralyzes learning by making it stale and mundane.

Posted: November 17, 2015

In a typical public school, my daughter might be forced to pursue one art form at the expense of another - i.e. music over visual art. Simply put, there's often not enough room in your schedule to take art and music in the same year. Even though our local district has a well established theater department, rehearsals take place for many hours after school for months at a time. This can be disruptive to homework, family life, and other important extracurricular activities. Bottom line: my daughter is a thinker who needs down time to read, write and decompress - living at school 24/7 is not an answer.
Moreover, I worry that students who manage to cram everything into their tight schedules, often do so at the expense of a nutritious lunch with friends and their overall physical and emotional health. In contrast, Waldorf offers a balanced curriculum which fosters holistic and wholesome eating and social habits. It sends a powerful message to students and families that we must make time for the things that count most - refueling our bodies and minds, and making time for friendship. Human beings are not "machines" that can work endlessly without rest and relaxation.

Posted: November 17, 2015

My daughter has a profound interest in both the fine and performing arts. Far more than a passion, it is linked closely to her identity and sense of self. Consequently, the structure of coursework at a traditional school would probably be too limiting since she would be required to choose between the electives she loves dearly and advanced academic classes that would challenge her intellectually. In contrast, Waldorf is a "breath of fresh air," since it infuses the arts into regular academic subjects to make learning more meaningful and relevant. At Waldorf, we are excited to see students in the high school singing the elements of the periodic table, staging plays in Spanish, drawing in Math, producing short videos for Shakespeare lessons and conveying, through abstraction, the history of language through circus a

Posted: September 9, 2014

The Waldorf School of Garden City is the best place my child could be. I love how students learn through various modes- they learn by doing. Also, learning is process oriented ( I.e. they experience how yarn is made before they knit). I know that my child will grow into a creative- thinking adult, with the help of Waldorf

Posted: September 8, 2014

This review is based on the High School environment at Waldorf.....would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. On the positive side, the faculty is very involved with the students and the class sizes are very small. There is an emphasis on hands-on activities and creativity. However, there are some down sides. As in any school, some teachers are standouts and some less so. The problem arises when you have the same teachers again years after year due to the small teaching staff. if you love a teacher than it is a plus, if you're not thrilled with a teacher then you have to suffer with them for 4 years. While the student body as a whole tends to be nice, there are very small grade sizes (around 20-25 student per grade) so there is not a very large pool in which to choose from. The kids do have a slightly entitled attitude which may or may not have to do with finances. It can also be somewhat cliquey. I do miss the opportunities that a large public school offers in terms of after school activities as well as elective selections. That being said, for the right student, Waldorf can prove to be a good alternative environment. For us, it is a mixed bag.

Posted: August 20, 2014

I am a parent of 2 children, a boy and a girl in 4 th and 5th grades. Our family has been very pleased with the Waldorf school experience. My children have a great quest for learning and a respect for all things living. My children's teachers have been heaven sent and their learning exceptionally paced. Waldorf is a choice we are glad we made because it fits into our family values and is a peaceful and nurturing learning environment. I believe that the school fit is completely dependent on the fit or match of learning style, personality, teacher and student compatibility , and family values.

Posted: November 16, 2013

I have two children in the preschool and one in a parent-child class. My children are thriving because of the nurturing, holistic, and thoughtful atmosphere they get to experience here on a daily basis. When you walk into the school the smell of freshly baked bread and the beautiful watercolor paintings on the wall welcome you to this magical place. The sense of community among the parents is unique and inclusive. I truly feel as though the Waldorf School of Garden City is our home away from home. I cannot imagine my children having any other experience nor would I consider sending them to a different school. Although my children have not entered the grades yet I take pleasure in peeking into the elementary classrooms and seeing a warm, inviting space of natural materials, high quality watercolor materials, beautiful drawings on the wall and extensive chalk murals drawn on actual chalkboards by the teachers. A visiting parent summed it up once when she said to me after she had walked into the first grade classroom - "I feel as though I can breathe." And this is what makes the Waldorf School of Garden City so special! Come see for yourself - it is a magical place.

Posted: November 15, 2013

The feeling you have when you first enter the doors of this school and one of the classrooms does not compare to any other school environment we have seen. We immediately knew that this was the place that we can have our child go to and feel like home. The teachers have dedicated their lives to nurturing the child in every way - mind, body and sou. The love that pours into each and every child is beautiful to witness. We have been in the school for 5 years and hope that it will be possible to stay as long as we can. The approach to academics is like nothing I have ever seen or heard of before. I can say that my son is in the first grade and is somehow multiplying although it was never directly taught to him. He is taught through practical means and nothing is every drilled into him. This is why he has a huge love for his school and learning. He is growing into a beautiful, confident, strong leader and I cannot wait to see what each year brings for him. This is a school for everyone to at least look into and decide from there, which education experience is best for their child. Most people never leave after their initial visit.

Posted: November 6, 2011

The Jury is still out for me.My sons first Month in 5th grade was a challange.The bad weather days the students are sent out in the rain. A bully pulled my son shirt to get his attention about his Violyn playing. The teacher said oh the bully was so helpful to the others in the class before.My son does not feel safe or trusted. Health reasons he has missed 10 days so far. I took him from a school in NYC for this?