Welcome to School!
We are thrilled to welcome students and families to the 2024-25 school year. You are an essential part of our 53rd school year at BWS!
A healthy social life is found when, in the mirror of each human soul, the whole community finds its reflection, and when, in the community, the virtue of each one is living.
— Waldorf Education founder Rudolf Steiner
A little recent history: on the occasion of Berkshire Waldorf School’s 50th anniversary (2021), when we renewed our school governance model with a collaborative structure, BWS Board of Trustees, Council of Teachers, Faculty, Administrators and Families welcomed a threefold Leadership Team who collectively serve as our Heads of School. Together, they intersect with a 360-degree view across all aspects of a healthy school and share in action the philosophy of a threefold community: collaboration, balance and belonging.
Learn more about BWS and our sibling school BWHS on our Discover page.
“Each year, we renew our commitment to our school, the children we teach, our community and the greater world around us. Honoring renewal asks each of us to dedicate ourselves to this place of great change and newness, extending gestures of kindness and compassion to each other and to ourselves. As we embark on a new school year this September (our 53rd!) with new friends and families joining our community, we are eager to continue the important journey of renewal with each and every one of you. We can’t do this without you–thank you for being here.”
— Christianna Riley, Kendra Smallwood and Renee Far, BWS Leadership Team
First Days of School
- First Day of Grades School WED, September 4 – A half day, 8:10a-12:00p, followed by an all-school picnic in the Big Backyard. First full day of school (8:10a-2:50p) is THURS September 5.
- First Day of Early Childhood MON, September 9 – A short day, 8:15a-11:00a, followed by a picnic in your child’s play yard. Regular school schedule (morning or full day) starts TUES, September 10.
Watch this space for the latest Back to School news!
Save the Date! School Orientations
Early Childhood Welcome to School Orientation on WED, September 4, from 5:30-7:00p. Toddler, Nursery and Kindergarten parents/caregivers only. Book your sitter now!
PLUS
JOIN our New Family Orientation after morning drop off (8:30-9:30a) on WED, September 18. One member of each family (for new Grades and Early Childhood students) is expected to attend. This helps school run smoothly for the whole year!
Helpful Maps for the School Year
Updates to the school calendar are “live” in your EDUCATE Parent Portal and on our website.
You’ll also find the Academic Calendar (one page with key dates) right HERE.
You’ll find many questions about becoming a Berkshire Waldorf Family answered in the BWS Family Handbook HERE. You’ll also find the Leadership Team’s introduction (from the community meeting earlier this year called “Becoming a Berkshire Waldorf Family”) right here. Key school policies such as media guidelines and dress code are also highlighted on our website.
School Communication
For questions about your student’s class or curriculum, please contact your student’s Class Teacher.
Other first points of contact include:
- Absences, late arrivals and general school questions: please contact the BWS Front Desk (413-528-4015 x. 0 or frontdesk@berkshirewaldorfschool.org). We will direct questions where they need to go if we do not have an immediate answer for you. The Front Desk is also your liason if you need to get a message to your child or teacher during the school day.
- Medical records, student reports, household information changes, enrollment, registration, Educate or TADS questions: Registrar Philip Ormanovich (413-528-4015, registrar@berkshirewaldorfschool.org)
- Other questions/concerns: See the BWS Family Handbook (linked above or in your Educate Family Portal) for your school directory and who to contact.
- Further questions? Please contact Community Lead Renee Far at rfar@berkshirewaldorfschool.org. Your Leadership Team as a whole is also accessible (leadership@berkshirewaldorfschool.org) to help support you with any concerns.
