 During their high school years students are searching for truth - Who am I? What is true? How can I make a difference in the world? The Toronto Waldorf High School recognizes and responds to these questions, supporting students as they journey across one of the great thresholds of life. The High School helps students find answers by meeting them where they are in their cognitive, social and emotional development.
Ideals:
- Challenging, rigorous curriculum with a balance of the arts, humanities and sciences
- Penetration to the heart of a subject - allow students to develop a deep understanding and sympathy for the phenomena presented
- Emphasis on the development of clear thinking and moral responsibility
Well-established, unique methods support these ideals: A unique curriculum arising from the needs of the developing adolescent. Waldorf teacher training places significant emphasis on the psychology of the growing adolescent and the needs which arise out of their stages of development. The Waldorf curriculum is particularly designed to meet these needs. Toronto Waldorf School offers a Waldorf curriculum that is accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
The organization of the school day into Main Lesson and subject lessons. During the Main Lesson, early in the day, students concentrate on one subject every day for a block of 3-4 weeks. Subject lessons fill the rest of the day, occurring a number of times each week.
Subject material is presented to provide an observable experience of the lesson. Wherever possible, the starting point for study is the phenomenon itself. From there a theoretical understanding is developed, fostering a more immediate and personally meaningful relationship with the knowledge.
A healthy and active social life. Each year the Student Council and Faculty plan the High School Social Calendar including community service projects, the High School field day and other sports activities, celebrations of the major Christian festivals (Michaelmas, Christmas and Easter), as well as High School dances and the traditional Grade 12 prom.
Balance
The principle of balance is expressed in many aspects of the program:
- the exploration of both sciences and humanities
- the equal treatment of abstract and practical subjects
- the balance of individual freedom and social responsibility
- in the alternate inbreathing and outbreathings of the school day
- in the rhythmic exercise of the students' powers of thinking, feeling, and will
In all of these areas, the ultimate purpose of the Toronto Waldorf School program is the maturation of the fully rounded human being, confident in the world and her or his rightful place in it.
For further information, see Events (tours, Open House) and Admissions (process, tuition).
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