Green Meadow Waldorf School
Encyclopedia
Green Meadow Waldorf School (GMWS) is an independent Waldorf school located in Chestnut Ridge
, Rockland County
, New York
. It offers parent and child classes, and nursery/kindergarten through 12th grades. The school is accredited by both the New York State Association of Independent Schools
and the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Founded in 1950, it is one of the oldest and largest of the approximately 170 independent North America
n Waldorf schools (there are about 1,000 such schools worldwide).
, including a strong emphasis on art, music and intercultural understanding; students begin studying two foreign languages (Spanish
and German
) beginning in first grade. It also provides a strong community service
program. Graduates of the school have been noted for their independence, sensitivity and creativity.
The school's annual public events include the following:
community in Chestnut Ridge, which includes:
Chestnut Ridge, New York
Chestnut Ridge is a village in the Town of Ramapo Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the state of New Jersey; east of Monsey; south of Spring Valley and west of Nanuet. The population was 7,829 at the 2000 census....
, Rockland County
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It offers parent and child classes, and nursery/kindergarten through 12th grades. The school is accredited by both the New York State Association of Independent Schools
New York State Association of Independent Schools
The New York State Association of Independent Schools , founded in 1947, is an association of some 180 independent schools, ranging from nursery to high schools. In 2005, its member schools had approximately 65,000 students...
and the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Founded in 1950, it is one of the oldest and largest of the approximately 170 independent North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n Waldorf schools (there are about 1,000 such schools worldwide).
Curriculum
The school practices an interdisciplinary approach based on the Waldorf curriculumCurriculum of the Waldorf schools
The curriculum of the Waldorf schools includes the following subjects.-Teaching of academic subjects as lesson "blocks":In both the elementary school and secondary school, much of the education in academic subjects takes place in blocks, generally of 3-5 weeks duration...
, including a strong emphasis on art, music and intercultural understanding; students begin studying two foreign languages (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
) beginning in first grade. It also provides a strong community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
program. Graduates of the school have been noted for their independence, sensitivity and creativity.
Publications and events
School publications include:- A biweekly bulletin
- A student literary magazine, The Burning Bush
- An alumni quarterly
- A yearbook created by students and staff
The school's annual public events include the following:
- Fall Fair
- Goods and Services Auction and Dinner
- Golf Outing
Larger community
Green Meadow is part of the larger Threefold Educational Foundation anthroposophicalAnthroposophy
Anthroposophy, a philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world accessible to direct experience through inner development...
community in Chestnut Ridge, which includes:
- The Threefold Foundation, which acts as trustee of the land and provides affordable housing for community members.
- Sunbridge CollegeSunbridge CollegeSunbridge College, is an accredited college located in Chestnut Ridge, New York. The college specializes in teacher training for Waldorf education and programs in related fields inspired by anthroposophy...
, a Waldorf teacher training institution. - The Fellowship Community, an inter-generational, anthroposophically based community where people of all ages live with, assist, and care for the elderly. Here, Green Meadow pupils receive hands-on experiences of farming and gardening.
- The Pfeiffer Center, a training center for biodynamic agricultureBiodynamic agricultureBiodynamic agriculture is a method of organic farming that emphasizes the holistic development and interrelationships of the soil, plants and animals as a self-sustaining system. Biodynamic farming has much in common with other organic approaches, such as emphasizing the use of manures and composts...
. - Eurythmy Spring Valley, a eurythmyEurythmyEurythmy is an expressive movement art originated by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Marie von Sivers in the early 20th century. Primarily a performance art, it is also used in education — especially in Waldorf schools - and as a movement therapy....
school. - The Hungry Hollow Food Co-op, a natural food store specializing in organic foods.
Additional articles
- Third-graders make prayer flags for Bhutanese school, Rockland Journal News, June 13, 2007
- Learning English as a second language at Chestnut Ridge school, Rockland Journal News, April 13, 2007
- "Immigrants Share Some Personal Accounts with Green Meadow Students", Rockland County Times, June 1–7, 2006. pp. 1–2.