 Honolulu Waldord School at a glance
By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer
Third-graders at Honolulu Waldorf School have been busy with hammers and nails this week, building an ark. They’re not anticipating a flood, but building a play structure for preschoolers.
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| Arri Nguyen, using a circular saw, gets help from teacher Svenja Buntjen and volunteer Charles Mossholder while Koa Gibson, left, and Kimo Preis-Carpenter look on at Honolulu Waldorf School.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser |
A regular part of the third-grade year, the project teaches them math and other practical skills, plus self-confidence.
The project is representative of the Waldorf experience, where the emphasis is on hands-on learning.
"Our curriculum is geared toward the developmental stages of children," said administrative director Roberta Bishop.
 What are you most proud of? "Our children and parents. These children come to us as creative, enthusiastic, loving human beings ... and bring these wonderful parents with them. I’m really proud of our community."
Best-kept secret: "We’re always joking about our school being the best-kept secret because there are people who have lived in the area for years and have just discovered our school." That’s changing, Bishop said, as word-of-mouth spreads the school’s reputation.
Everybody at our school knows: Joseph Martin, the buildings and grounds supervisor. "He’s been with the school for 20 years, he’s here all the time, and everyone knows him. He’s always here when we need him for school events. His birthday is in July so we hold an un-birthday party for him every year."
Our biggest challenge: "Because of our expansion to a high school, (the challenge is to) expand and grow but still retain that sense of a small school and close-knit community."
What we need: "We need space. We’re very lucky to be on 2 1/2 acres here and to have a lovely, lovely location, but we just need more classroom space and storage."
Projects: Expanding the high school, which is expected to reach an enrollment of about 100. The high school campus is in Kahala, but Waldorf is looking for a larger site.
Special events: This Saturday the school holds its annual Waldorfaire with hands-on activities for toddlers, middle schoolers and parents. Children can try their hand at crafts, participate in activities and visit various booths. The fair’s goal is community-building, plus raising $20,000 for tuition assistance and facility upgrades. It will be held on the Niu campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
| At a glance
Where: Nursery — Grade 8: 350 Ulua Street, Niu Valley; High school: 1339 Hunakai St., Kahala.
Phone: Niu campus: 377-5471. Kahala campus: 735-9311.
Web address: www.honoluluwaldorfschool.org
Administrative director: Roberta Bishop has been at this faculty-run school for 18 years, previously as a teacher and the past six years as director.
Chair of college of teachers/high school coordinator: Genie Sakaguchi, with the school since 1980, a former teacher and one of founding forces of the high school.
School nickname: Waves
School colors: Blue and white
Enrollment: 325 students
HISTORY: Started in September 1961, Honolulu Waldorf School will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. The high school opened in 1994. An independent, nondenominational school, this is one of more than 700 Waldorf schools around the world. There are also schools on Maui and the Big Island.
SPECIAL FEATURES: The Niu campus is notable for its six old monkeypod trees that shade every part of the school. The school’s lease is conditional on the trees remaining.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS OR CLASSES: All students learn German and Japanese from Grade 1. Hawaiian, Greek and other languages are introduced later. The arts are integrated into every class. All children sing and play instruments, beginning with a wooden recorder, then violin, then other band and orchestra instruments. Classes concentrate for two hours every morning on one subject, undertaking group and individual projects, doing research and field trips and delving deeply into the topic. Main-lesson teachers stay with their class from first through eighth grade.
COMPUTERS: Computer instruction does not begin until high school. Earlier grades stress physical activity, the arts and interpersonal communication. |
To get your school profiled, contact education editor at Dan Woods at 525-5441; e-mail, dwoods@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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