Sanderling Waldorf School

What we have found at Sanderling has far surpassed our expectations for education. Beyond academics, the Waldorf philosophy has given our 7-year-old son independence, confidence, the ability to hold conversations with adults, and interest in activities he never would have been exposed to (he'll go from playing sports to finger knitting in the same hour). From what we've observed, Sanderling develops well-rounded, confident, resilient, and kind kids. We couldn't ask for anything more.

We found the school just two years ago and are very happy that we did. The love that the staff put into the school is unparalleled. It's a community that supports each other and supports the staff. It is a village that has the children at the forefront - & this mutual support creates a positive & enriching environment for the students. As parents, we feel heard and seen. We feel that our child is given the best possible environment to grow to become the best version of herself-mentally, emotionally,& physically.

We're now in our fourth year at Sanderling Waldorf School and couldn't be happier. I've witnessed firsthand how the school builds self-confidence, fosters empathy, and cultivates a love for learning that I know will stay with our two children- and them throughout their lives. This holistic approach to education aligns perfectly with our family values and is unmatched by any other teaching method.

Our family has been a part of the Sanderling Waldorf School community for 6 years since before our daughter could walk. We have had the pleasure of attending the parent-child classes which are a wonderful introduction to Waldorf education, a daily rhythm that can be applied to our lives outside of school and to provide our daughter with a strong foundation that school is a place to look forward to attending. Once she was old enough she then participated in the Early Childhood program that allowed her to play, discover and form friendships with her peers. Each day we dropped her off she would run to her teacher, seldomly looking back to see if we were following because she had that much enthusiasm for attending and being a part of this school. Often she would be disappointed on weekends and holidays when we had to inform her that school was not in session. This experience was not just had by our daughter, but by many of her classmates as well. As a parent to have that kind of peace of mind knowing your child is in good hands and that she enjoys it so much is such a great feeling. Currently, we are in the grades and eagerly awaiting to start the new school year where she will be in Second Grade. We are looking forward to what this next year's journey has in store for her. While Sanderling Waldorf is a school, it is filled with not only supportive and loving teachers/staff but also other families that see the value in this educational experience. Our family feels so fortunate to have found this community that offers so many opportunities for us to engage and make lifelong friendships.

Choosing the right school can be challenging. We were grateful to find Sanderling Waldorf School. Our daughter attended Sanderling for nine years, starting in the early childhood program and graduating 8th grade last year. Our son is currently in 7th grade and has also attended since nursery/kindergarten. Although my children's learning styles are completely different from each other's, the Waldorf curriculum has proven to be an excellent fit for both. It's a long list when I think about what attracted us to and kept us at Sanderling; these are a few of the things that made it to the top - a calming daily rhythm, nourishing snack time around a beautiful table, teachers who really see each child and their unique strengths, a strong community of parents who've become some of my best friends, an integration of academics, physical activity, the arts and moral responsibility, annual festivals, a reverence for the natural world, a developmentally appropriate curriculum, parent enrichment classes, and possibly at the very top, the fact that my kids truly enjoy going to school each day. They have formed deep meaningful friendships, developed a sense of self-confidence, and exude a love of learning that I can only imagine will last their lifetime. Thankfully, in this unprecedented time of Covid, Sanderling has created outdoor classrooms and strict safety protocols that allow children to attend school in-person. This makes a huge difference for my son. I am grateful each morning when I drop him off, knowing he's in excellent hands, learning from his amazing teacher in-person and not staring at a screen all day. Plus, I get to focus my attention on my own work at home. I understand in-person might not feel comfortable for everyone right now, and I think it's important to note that Sanderling also offers a supported homeschool program. In summary, I believe Waldorf education can have a profound impact on the course of a child's life. Over the past decade, I've seen Sanderling's curriculum produce creative, resilient, innovative and strategic thinkers with a high level of emotional intelligence. Kind, generous, and intelligent human beings. Their program is something special, and I value it over traditional rote learning. If this resonates with you and you'd like to learn more I highly recommend giving the school a call and scheduling a tour. They can do a much better job of explaining the magic than I can. :) And in case you are wondering, as I did, "how do children transition after attending a Waldorf school given its non-traditional program?" I can say that I've seen children go in many different directions after Sanderling (Waldorf high schools, other private schools, charters, public schools, etc.) and each has their own story. My general observation is that just like every other young adult finding their way through life they figure it out. And that the foundational skills they've learned at Waldorf give them an incredibly strong backbone to do so.