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An Initiative Member of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education
About Shining Willow Charter School
Our goal is to open a charter school in Northeast Baltimore City guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education. We believe that the core principles of a Waldorf education – meeting the child where they are developmentally, focusing on social literacy and advocacy, creating a diverse community that is accessible to everyone, and instilling an interest in lifelong learning are integral to the success of our city’s youth.
We will strive to combat intolerance and exclusion. We want to build strong communities of people that have different values but share a mutual respect for one another. Our hope is to facilitate a positive relationship with the natural world and cultivate environmental stewardship in our students.
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Equity and Inclusion Statement
The Shining Willow team is dedicated to combating social injustice.
As we continue developing our charter school, we are committed to integrating proactive, anti-racist actions and systems at every level of our school.
We categorically reject any and all racial undertones or implications associated with Rudolf Steiner. Waldorf education was designed to be inclusive and inspire respect for humanity. To that end, we are committed to advancing the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. This work remains central to every aspect of our development.
In our commitment to these priorities, we welcome and value staff, families and students of all races, ethnicities,
socio-economic backgrounds, religions, genders and sexual orientation, and we support all family structures.
Declaración de Diversidad,
Equidad e Inclusión
El equipo de Shining Willow está dedicado a combatir la injusticia social. A medida que continuamos desarrollando nuestra escuela autónoma, nos comprometemos a integrar acciones y sistemas proactivos y antirracistas en todos los niveles de nuestra escuela.
Rechazamos categóricamente todos los matices o implicaciones raciales asociados con Rudolf Steiner. La pedagogía Waldorf fue diseñada para ser inclusiva e inspirar respeto por la humanidad. Con ese fin, estamos comprometidos a promover los principios de diversidad, equidad e inclusión y ese trabajo siempre será fundamental en todos los aspectos de nuestro desarrollo.
En nuestro compromiso con estas prioridades, damos la bienvenida y valoramos al personal, familias y estudiantes de todas las razas, grupos étnicos, orígenes socioeconómicos, religiones, orientaciones sexuales, identidades y expresiones de género y apoyamos todas las estructuras de familia
Mission Statement
Shining Willow Charter School will provide k-8 students in Baltimore City with a nurturing learning experience guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education using an arts-integrated, developmentally appropriate approach to learning. We will focus on developing the whole child – heart, hands and mind - and will foster a rigorous educational environment that is equitable, inspires agency, and instills a passion for lifelong learning in our students.
Our Mission
Shining Willow Charter School will provide k-8 students in Baltimore City with a nurturing learning experience guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education using an arts-integrated, developmentally appropriate approach to learning. We will focus on developing the whole child – heart, hands and mind - and will foster a rigorous educational environment that is equitable, inspires agency, and instills a passion for lifelong learning in our students.
Our Vision
Shining Willow Charter School envisions a future in which children have access to a safe, educational oasis that nurtures the spirit and exercises the intellect. Guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education, we will work to engage the intellectual, emotional/social, and physical capacities of our students through an arts-integrated, nature-focused and interdisciplinary curriculum.
We are an inclusive, welcoming community of parents, students and teachers working to cultivate healthy and meaningful relationships through collaborative learning and leadership. Each student’s unique gifts and talents will be honored and developed to inspire confidence and self-awareness. Children will be held in a space that embraces freedom of exploration, spirited reverence for the natural world, passionate creativity, and joy in learning.
Through the promotion of equity, social justice, cultural responsibility and environmental stewardship, we inspire agency, advocacy and conscientiousness in our students. Shining Willow remains committed to preparing children to be adaptable, competitive and thriving members in the ever-changing, multicultural society in which we live.
Philosophy
To Educate the Whole Child -
Heart, Hands and Mind
The pillars upon which our school will be built and inspired are guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education. Specifically, for Shining Willow we will embrace and uphold the following:
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Child development guides educational programming
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Social change and renewal through education
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Access and diversity
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Lifelong learning
Nurturing the whole child – heart, hands and mind, and cultivating in the children a conscientiousness and self awareness that will guide them throughout their lives is at the core of this work.
Through our approach, we can effectively foster a sense of creativity, confidence, and wholeness that will bring forth positive change, both within the children we serve and throughout the communities that those children go on to impact.
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"Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love, and send them forth in freedom."