Bright Water Waldorf School

I find it hard to imagine a more wonderful environment for a child to develop securely and happily to their fullest potential. I'll write a fuller review when I get a chance. Incidentally, it's worth noting that some of the accounts posting negative reviews here don't seem entirely legit.

As a parent observing my children, I’ve had the moment that a lot of Waldorf parents have had where we’ve seen the magic.The interactions between the teacher and the students, and student to student, that are informed with respect, affection and tolerance. One senses a harmonious family-living, learning, and working together, and much enjoying itself in the process. Nimble minds and joyful hearts! That’s what comes to mind when I describe the children at Bright Water Waldorf School (BWWS). If they don’t know the answer, they are very comfortable in a personal belief that they will eventually figure it out. They feel their bodies can climb any tree, and that their hands can create whatever they put their minds to. When the weight of the wrong pressure at the wrong time is lifted, the real child is able to emerge and flourish. I’ve over heard one of the teachers say…”they aren’t afraid of a blank piece of paper!” You can see it when you look at their faces.The children are happy and fulfilled and inspired as they learn to read and act to music, learn to speak Japanese and Spanish, learn to play a string instrument and brass, learn to enjoy modern history and the renaissance, and learn artful woodworking and embroidery. Waldorf education rigor is gradual as they master cursive writing and creation of their own textbooks. My daughter's stellar K teacher understood what a 4,5 & 6 year old world should be-listening to magical stories with puppet shows, building forts, cutting vegetables for the soup pot, setting tables and pouring tea, dancing and singing with joy. She was learning to work with her hands by sculpting with clay, threading with yarn, painting with water colors, and building structures with wood. Guided by an extremely skilled Waldorf teacher, my daughter was not only washing linens and manipulating beeswax but stopping to smell the roses and witnessing a bird building its nest as her K family got to know every nook of Volunteer park. Total bliss! The invaluable teachers know that what they are doing transcends conventional educational processes, as they beautifully model the Steiner philosophy of schooling the head, hands and heart. This holistic and developmentally appropriate approach provides an exceptional educational experience that not only means so much to all of the families on a daily basis, but becomes a part of who our children are for the rest of their lives. --Grateful Parent

I've had 2 children at Bright Water for past 6 years, and could not be happier. We were introduced to the school by our wonderful babysitter, who would always entertain our girls with wonderfully creative and artistic evenings. What we've found: 1) Highly integrated and well-designed curriculum designed to mirror children's developmental stages. All subject teachers (handwork, language classes, movement/PE, etc.) work to reinforce the main curriculum (math, reading, art, history, etc.). 2) Extremely thoughtful, creative, and dedicated teachers (as one would expect from private school), devoted not only to the academic but also emotional well being of students. 3) Incredible community. Not only are the families tight knit, the children are amazingly respectful and nurturing of students in other grades. 4) A maturing school governance and administration that clearly places priority on teaching quality and isn't afraid to replace teachers that are sub-par. A few caveats: - The school does not believe in highly accelerated academics. Instead it strives for balance and challenging children across modalities. Our early-reader outpaced her peers initially verbally but was well challenged by her handwork, language instruction, and movement and at same time was challenged appropriately individually by her teacher. I attended an Ivy League college and have no concerns about quality of her academic prep. - Screen time (TV, video games) is frowned upon especially in early grades, though school is not overly zealous about this. (The benefits of no/limited TV in our household have been tremendous - made kids much more independent in their play in particular.) - I've noticed that as a relatively inexpensive private school with an alternative flavor, Waldorf in general & BW in particular has in the past seemed to attract a fair number of parents of difficult-to-serve children, and the school is not equipped to serve highly specialized needs beyond a very strong general remedial/educational support person. You may have to seek outside tutoring if your child struggles with, for example, dyslexia.

Early into our daughter's middle school year, a Brightwater School student told teachers & students he would return to school, "Kill all the kids, lock them inside, & set the school on fire while dancing on their ashes!" Brightwater School Director decided it best for the safety of the students & school, to then HIRE the STUDENTS' MOTHER to RUN the operations of the school (now their family had access to student files & keys to the school). Fast forward: Cancer/impending death in family. Hardship. Daughter not able to attend following year. Notified Director who acknowledged our hundreds of hours volunteering, fundraising & donations, BUT insisted us a "contract is a contract!", and demanded we pay 25% of the following year's tution despite daughter being unable to attend! The Director refused to wave our recently signed ReEnrollment Letter of Intent! 'We need the money." she said. BWS pointed out that we were fortunate to have found out about the impending death when we did, because had we notiified them weeks later she would have forced us to pay the full years tuition!

Bad for our children...