• Where is the school located?

The school is located at 1350 N. Arcadia Avenue just north of Speedway and east of Swan. We moved here in 2011 and will continue to improve our campus as well as expand the grades we teach, which currently include Kindergarten through 5th grade.

 

• What is the focus of your curriculum? What’s Waldorf for?

Our school integrates the academic, artistic and the practical, inspired by the innovative curriculum of Waldorf education- a teaching method used in over 600 schools throughout the world. Art and music are taught at all grade levels; outdoor play is emphasized for the kindergarten, and grade students perform plays and learn handcrafts in addition to their studies in history, science, mathematics, literature and foreign languages. Our school offers Spanish and German, and incorporates local culture, history and environment into festivals and field trips in addition to classroom study. We aim to have our school be a place where children find goodness, truth, and beauty. As a public school, the curriculum articulates and meets state standards and strives continually for academic excellence.

 

• Who is this Dr. Steiner always mentioned in writings about Waldorf education?

Dr. Rudolf Steiner developed the first Waldorf school in 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany based on ideas of child development as they were supported by modern research. Steiner and Waldorf emphasize teaching in a way that is appropriate to the child’s developmental level. It is important not to rush children into early academics beyond their scope, but to encourage their imagination and creativity so as to spark the desire for learning.

 

• What is a charter school?

In Arizona, a charter is a public school, administered separately from the public school district. The charter school receives public money and must articulate state standards and administer testing like a public school. However, the curricular emphasis and governance is run by the school as specified by the charter, the school’s contract with the state. In Arizona, charter schools have more freedom to set their own goals than in other states.

 

• Is Desert Sky a religious school?

No. The school does however emphasize a moral and spiritual aspect in educating the whole child, including the ‘heart’ toward social responsibility, respect and compassion.

 

• Is this education popular? How are other Waldorf schools doing? Do you expect your school to grow?

In Arizona- Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott, and Sedona have charter schools with Waldorf pedagogy. These schools are successful, often with waiting lists of students wanting to enroll. We hope to grow with our community’s support.

 

 

MORE QUESTIONS?

Feel free to email us at communications@desertskycommunityschool.org to share your thoughts and questions.