Waldorf School of Princeton Welcomes Class of 2020 and Two Class Teachers

Waldorf School of Princeton officially kicked off the school year September 5 with its annual opening day assembly. Twelve students began their grade school journey, which in Waldorf schools ideally follows the same teacher for eight years.

The highlight of the morning was undoubtedly what is referred to as the Flower Ceremony, in which the first graders are introduced one by one to their new teacher. It is a visually symbolic tradition that is unique to Waldorf schools all over the world; passing through a gate or arbor,
each child is met by an eighth grader, who greets him or her and presents a small bouquet of wild flowers from the school garden. The first grader then shakes the older student’s hand, followed by the class teacher’s hand. It is the child’s official welcome to the grade school.

"The first day experience will be one of the most vivid of their lives so far,” said class teacher Maria Cardenas, who is also beginning her Waldorf School of Princeton journey after leading classes in both Tucson, Ariz., and her home country of Colombia. “It is the bridge that leads them from
a life of free, spontaneous play into a more formal, organized experience of learning.”

At the end of the school year, these first graders will return the favor by presenting the eighth graders with roses at the final assembly before graduation.

Waldorf School of Princeton welcomes another class teacher, Clare Waite, who will be shepherding this year’s second grade. Mrs. Waite is also a formally trained Waldorf teacher, who led classes in Sacramento, Calif., and Charlottesville, Va.

Waldorf School of Princeton is one of more than 1,000 Waldorf schools worldwide and is the only such school in New Jersey. Waldorf education carefully integrates arts and sciences; at each level, instruction corresponds to the stages of human development based on the theories of philosopher Rudolf Steiner. Visit www.princetonwaldorf.org for more information.