At the Susquehanna Waldorf School (SWS), located in Marietta, the joys of childhood are celebrated. A deep understanding of child development forms Waldorf education so that children may go forth with resilience, compassion, purpose and capacities for innovative thinking. All children benefit from an atmosphere of family and learn mutual concern for one another’s well-being.

Early childhood programs nurture the unique potential within each child and lay the educational foundation for the lower and upper grades. By using inspiration as a key ingredient in the hands-on curriculum, educators cultivate the creative capacities that lead to joyful, life-long learning. Both teacher-led and independent experiences encourage reflection while engaging fine and gross motor skills, communication skills and imaginative play.

Stepping Stone offers toddlers a beautiful, peaceful and nurturing home-like environment to take their “first steps” into class on their own. A strong daily rhythm is held, filled with artistic endeavors, music, baking and outdoor time. Special attention is given to the development of socialization with their peers. Wonder, awe and respect of nature, the world around us and one another is central to the school’s focus.

Mixed-age kindergarten for ages 3 through 6-year-olds gives children the opportunity to interact with their peers. Older children provide a model for the younger ones in their more refined social, lingual, artistic and operational skills, while the little ones help the older children to engage in deeper imaginative play. Children learn by doing; domestic chores help to develop resiliency. Enrichment is provided through the arts, including seasonal songs, stories, finger knitting and watercolor painting.

“Nature is an underlying theme and so true to Waldorf pedagogy,” explains Jessie Whitaker, kindergarten teacher. “This is usually brought into our classroom, but this past year we were fully immersed in the outdoor setting, looking over the magnificent Susquehanna River and grounded by the tall, strong trees that hugged us all and let us breathe. The full sensory experience of the changing seasons was very powerful, and the children were willing and adaptable.

“The river has a magic that lets the children connect with their primal inheritance and quickly they were creating and finding shelter, and planning and plotting the obstacles they would create for themselves,” she reflects. “It was fun to watch this action play work its way through until the children literally just melted into a nook of a tree, or sank into the mud and stillness happened.

To have a sense of peaceful stillness and connection to the Earth is very healing—a daily dose would benefit all of us.”