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A great deal is said today about the need for engineers and for scientists, and the point of view is taken that if you have better science courses and specialize sooner in the scientific branches of knowledge, you are going to get better scientists. I think that the best scientist is the best and most creative thinker and the task of education is first of all to educate human beings who then become scientists.
Mixed-Age Kindergarten The Clover Hill Mixed-Age Kindergarten for Children Ages 3-6 Freedom to Play...
A child coming to our mixed age kindergarten arrives each day to join his or her extended
family - indeed, to be in their second home. The atmosphere of our beautiful classroom is
simple, warm and inviting. It is permeated with a mood of love and safety. The morning begins with a warm welcome from teachers and friends, followed by freedom to play for forty-five minutes to an hour. Uninterrupted, extended play time is one of the greatest gifts we can offer young children today. While the children are playing with simple, open-ended toys made of only natural materials such as silk or wool, the teachers observe as they themselves complete practical, purposeful work typical of the home environment. We recognize that when we provide sources of imitation, the children take it up into their imaginative play. Each movement, task or gesture carried out by the teacher is done with consciousness, care and purpose, knowing it is being absorbed and imitated with precision. One teacher may be washing and ironing napkins, or perhaps chopping vegetables for the winter soup to be served for snack, with eager helpers who join out of their own free will. The other teacher may be joyfully knitting a new toy for the room, each day the children noticing a little more progress, until finally it is finished and presented to the children, who receive it with a deep sense of reverence and gratitude for all the work put into it. We recognize that when we allow long periods of self-directed, uninterrupted play, we are making room for them to develop strong concentration. And we see that giving children ample time to move about freely is crucial for healthy brain development and is creating the inner experience - the very foundation - for geometry or physics. Form and Rhythm...
While the kindergarten morning is rich with free play time, our Waldorf environment also
provides the young child with form and rhythm. We regard these as necessary for health and
optimal development. We move through the year on a daily, weekly and seasonal rhythm,
knowing how repetition and sameness bring a deep sense of security to a young child. Our
morning moves with a regular rhythm of circle time, or story time, play time and snack
time). This rhythm supports harmony in body, soul and spirit. It teaches the body to
alternate activity with rest, the emotions to be in balanced movement, and the thinking to
be open and flexible. Circle time is a time for building community and having fun. Following a short "Good Morning" verse that marks the start of our new day together, the teacher leads the children through a story theme connected with the current season, in a combination of verses, songs and movements. 
Our story time begins with the teacher gathering the children together on the rug with a
song about the "story angel" coming to visit. Then a quiet, listening mood is created with
the lighting of a candle and a special verse. In order to nurture a balance between heaven
and earth, stories oscillate between fairy tales and nature stories, often told as puppet
plays. Repetition of the same story for several days allows for deep penetration of images
and wisdom.
In Waldorf education we meet the needs of the whole child. We teach with a balance between the arts and sciences, between nurturing the individual and the individual's innate desire to connect with and serve the world. We preserve the young child's connection to spirit while we gently and gradually bring him into a healthy connection with the earth. The space is created to allow for the full development of the human being - clear thinking, deep feeling, and a courageous will. Our 4-Day Program
The Clover Hill School currently offers a 4-day Kindergarten with a 3-day option. The
Kindergarten meets Monday through Thursday. Children attending school for three days come
either Monday through Wednesday or Tuesday through Thursday.
Our Home
Our Kindergarten is located at the Christ Episcopal Church, 2 Emerson Street in East
Norwalk, Connecticut. We are situated in the fully renovated and upgraded 700 sq. ft. Small
Parish Hall and have use of a professional kitchen for bread baking and snack preparation.
Our beautiful, off-the-street play yard is a haven for curious and playful children. Take a Peek into our Norwalk Mixed-Age Kindergarten
Click here to read some of the updates and letters sent to our community by our kindergarten teacher. Admission
Please visit our Admissions page to download the appropriate forms for enrollment.
Visit About Waldorf Education to learn more about Waldorf Early Childhood Kindergarten programs. |