What is the focus of your curriculum? What does it mean to be “guided by the core principles of public Waldorf education?”
Our school integrates the academic, artistic and the practical approaches inspired by the innovative curriculum of Waldorf education, a teaching method used in over 1000 schools around the world. Art and music are taught at all grade levels, outdoor play is emphasized, and grade students perform plays and learn handcrafts in addition to studying history, science, mathematics, and literature. In addition to traditional classroom study, our school promotes a sense of place and grounds students in local culture, history, and environment through festivals and field trips. As a public school, our developmentally appropriate curriculum both articulates and meets state standards. We strive to have our school be a place where children find goodness, truth, and beauty alongside academic excellence.
Who was Rudolph Steiner and how does his work influence the curriculum at Arcadia Sky Community School?
Dr. Rudolf Steiner developed the first Waldorf school in 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany, with a curriculum based on ideas of child development as they were supported by the modern research of his day. Steiner emphasized teaching in a way that is appropriate to the child’s developmental level and advocated that it is important to not rush children into early academics beyond their scope, but to encourage their imagination and creativity so as to spark the desire and drive for learning. Public Waldorf education adapts his approach to align with contemporary curriculum standards, and our curriculum is guided by the core Principles of Public Waldorf Education.
Is Arcadia Sky Community School a religious school?
Arcadia Sky Community School emphasizes the moral and spiritual aspects of educating the whole child, including nurturing the ‘heart’ toward social responsibility, respect, and compassion. We are not affiliated with any religious organization or theology and we welcome students and families of all faiths and creeds.
How is Arcadia Sky Community School able to be tuition-free?
Arcadia Sky Community School is a publicly-funded charter school. In Arizona, a charter school 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 this form of education popular? How are other Waldorf schools doing? Do you expect your school to grow?
There are charter schools all over the United States that are certified public Waldorf schools, and even more schools adopting the core principles of public Waldorf education as a guide for their curriculum. In Arizona, you can find public charter schools using Waldorf pedagogy in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott, and Sedona. These schools are successful, often with waiting lists of students wanting to enroll. As the only public charter elementary school in Tucson guided by the core Principles of Public Waldorf Education, Arcadia Sky Community School is proud to serve Tucson’s students. We hope to continue to grow with our community’s support.
Where is Arcadia Sky Community School located?
The school is located at 1350 N. Arcadia Avenue, just north of Speedway and east of Swan, on a quiet neighborhood street across from a beautiful park. We moved to our current location in 2011.
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