Looking beyond Waldorf in Seattle and DC

[babeak]

I have just discovered that Waldorf is not going to be the right school for us, which is sad because I thought we had in large part found a school for us.

What I liked about Waldorf:
1. Discouraging of marketing to children-no TV, characters on clothes
2. Inclusion of arts and handwork
3. Organic foods encouraged
4. Play emphasis outdoors and with natural materials wood, wool, etc.
5. Emphasis on learning another language
6. Small class sizes

Those are the general ideas. I think that there are a lot of ideas that are really nice about Waldorf, but Steiner beliefs are not ours (atheist/ agonistic) and how these actually seem to end up playing out in the curriculum is not a good match for us. We are interested in a school that can be academically challenging in math, sciences AND arts, but not at the expense loosing a love for lifelong learning and creativity. Further, we would like a school that can meet the needs of students at their academic level. I think that DD will be reading soon as she knows more than half of the alphabet and LOVES books. (Okay, I am beginning to think that there is no such school out there.)

We will likely be moving to either the Seattle or DC area in about 2 years and DD will be preK. We will be visiting Seattle soon and I thought that I might try to see some schools while I am there.

I am interested in recommendations for general school types as well as specific schools (public, charter, or private). I also just saw this one http://www.livingwisdomschoolseattle.org/index.html and wondered if anyone has had any experience with this school or its philosophy.

Thank you.

[crl]

You might like the Lucy School in Maryland. It's a Reggio school.

Catherine

[babeak]

Thanks, I did just get a couple of books on Reggio, but I have not had a lot of luck in finding schools. I just did a Google and a cursory search and that looks like a beautiful and interesting place.

Thank you!

[jtbuko]

If you end up in the burbs outside DC you could check out Discovery Woods in Vienna, VA. Best preschool website ever.

Also the Audubon Society in Chevy Chase, MD has a preschool that looks great on paper and if their camps and festivals are any indication it should be great.

If I lived closer to either I'd strongly consider them myself.

[babeak]

jtbuko--those looked wonderful! However, the tuition does not! I don't think that we could afford the Discovery Woods..OMG. I would have to work full-time just to pay for preschool. :-( Nonetheless, it is good to know that there are some options available.

Thanks for the heads up on a nature-based preschool...I would have never thought of the Audobon Society having a preschool!