Our Programs
“The fullest development of intelligent, imaginative, self-confident and caring persons is the aim of Waldorf education. This aim is solidly grounded in a comprehensive view of human development, in an intellectually and culturally rich curriculum, and in the presence of knowledgeable, caring human beings at every stage of the child’s education.”
~ Douglas Sloan, Professor Emeritus, Columbia University ~
At Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, a private and independent day school in Newtown, Connecticut, your child’s Waldorf education can begin with parent-child classes and continue through our mixed-age preschool and kindergarten program, elementary school, and middle school. In addition to our growing curriculum, we also offer extended care, day summer camp, after-school enrichment programs, and lectures, workshops, and community events for families in Newtown, Bethel, Danbury, CT and surrounding areas.
We are dedicated to academic excellence and offer a challenging classical education that prepares students for the most demanding high schools and colleges. We also recognize that education is more than the simple acquisition of information: it is an artistic process. Unlike the top-down approach that permeates so much of education today, we don’t focus on future test scores, building a curriculum backward from those desired results. The Waldorf pedagogy is grounded in a deep understanding of, and respect for, human development and all of our programs are designed to strengthen students’ minds, bodies, and souls from the ground up, allowing them to properly build the skills and capacities they need to excel. Through Waldorf education, children embark on a lifelong voyage of discovery — of the world and of themselves.
Our early childhood programs teach early literacy and social skills through non-academic means and with an emphasis on free play, storytelling, practical work, artistic practice, and plenty of time in nature. In the elementary grades and middle school, physical movement and the arts are critical tools for academic instruction as well as student inspiration. While our teachers engage in regular and comprehensive assessments of their students, our classes are taught without tests and without grades. Homework is limited and does not begin in earnest until the later elementary grades.
To learn more about the programs we offer to students in our elementary, middle, and pre-k schools, please feel free to give us a call or browse our site. If you are interested in enrolling your child at HVWS, we welcome you to contact our admissions office and set up an appointment to come visit us!
Waldorf education fosters the ability to think with clarity, to feel with compassion, and to initiate change with confidence.
Early Childhood
The classroom is a child’s first home away from home. At the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, it is a place of warmth, order, and beauty. Our Early Childhood Education preschool and kindergarten programs serves children from ages 12 months to 7 years.
Grade School
Lessons are taught experientially, and the arts and storytelling are integral to all academic instruction. Students learn to find beauty in learning, in the world, and in each other. A widening range of specialty subjects rounds out the school day.
Educational Support
From the first day of preschool through 8th grade graduation, the HVWS faculty is dedicated to maximizing each student’s capacity to become their best self. However, when a student is struggling, the teachers may call on the Educational Support Group (ESG) for extra assistance in helping the student.
Extended Care
Extended care is available to enrolled HVWS preschool through 8th grade students. With time outside, an afternoon snack and time set aside for older children to complete homework, parents can have peace of mind knowing their child’s Waldorf experience will extend throughout the day.
Summer Camp
Summer Camp is a day camp for children ages 3-14. Offering two groups—Explorers for 3- to 8-year-olds and Artists for 9- to 14-year-olds—HVWS Summer Camp is the perfect place for natural and exciting summer fun! Led by caring and talented educators, HVWS Summer Camp invites children to get a taste of a variety of activities that are aligned with the principles of Waldorf education.