Bright Water Waldorf School

The best of the Waldorf Schools, all 3 of my children graduated here. One is a molecular biologist planning on medical school, the other an award winning Industrial Designer, the third an honors student entering the University of Oregon. Believe in your kids, believe in yourself as a parent. Unplug as much as you can. Slow down and teach your children a love of the outdoors. Come to this school and transform your family. We did.
May 13th, 2019

I met one of their teachers and her preschool class on an outing with my adult ESL class and had a nice chat.  I would have loved to send my kids there.
Apr 13th, 2019

My son has been a student at Bright Water Waldorf School from Early Childhood (he was 3 years old) through 8th Grade.  He'll be graduating this spring.  I guess that makes me an 11-year customer!  HOT TIP -- if you are interested in Bright Water School but concerned about the cost for your family, please don't hesitate to inquire, there is a strong financial aid program at the school.Our family fell into Waldorf education on accident, and its been amazing.  The curriculum and programs are supported by a real philosophy, and every teacher and staff person at the school has shown a serious commitment to our son's academic, physical, emotional, and social growth.  They challenge him when he needs a challenge.  They show patience and deep kindness, even when offering corrections.Of course parents should research Waldorf education, and take a tour, and thoroughly research the school.  Waldorf offers a boldly immersive curriculum, and is based on teaching what is developmentally appropriate for young brains to learn at different ages and stages.  There is no push towards 'accelerated' learning that you see in some other educational systems.  Its a special flavor of education, and its not for everyone!At the end of this 11-year journey I see my son standing tall and ready for High School with an incredible store of knowledge, solid work habits, wild curiosity, and a respectful, joyful way of encountering other people.  I believe he learned these things growing up inside this loving school community.
Dec 13th, 2018

This is our fourth year at Bright Water, and I don't think we could be any happier with the education that our children are receiving, not to mention the warm school community that we have become part of. We did not know much about Waldorf education before starting our oldest son in BW's kindergarten, and it was certainly a big leap of faith, because Waldorf schools are quite different from the mainstream. At Bright Water, my children's social, emotional, creative, musical, artistic and physical development is given just as much attention as their intellectual development. I believe that the world is in need of empathetic, curious, and confident problem-solvers, and from everything I have seen, this education is deeply geared towards nurturing these traits. My children are still in elementary, but I can tell you I have never seen such happy middle-schoolers as I see at BW! Yes, it is a different path than public or most private schools, so it is important to educate yourself about the pedagogy and look much deeper than traditional academic metrics and outcomes, particularly in the early years. Sure, it may seem strange that my third-grader learned to knit way before learning to read, but he got there when he was ready, was reading at grade-level in a flash, and is now a voracious reader (AND loves to knit -- which let me tell you is a great activity for a VERY active 9-year-old boy!). One thing that I wasn't quite expecting is how amazing the community at our school is. Parenting is not easy, and I don't know what I would do without the non-judgmental, mutually supportive group of parents I have gotten to know here. There is so much to share that won't fit in a Yep review -- I know from experience how overwhelming it can feel to choose a school for your child, but I can't recommend enough that you add Bright Water to your list of possibilities! It will take some research and experience to really understand what it is all about, but I think it is well-worth the effort.
Dec 5th, 2018

As a parent observing my children, Ive had the moment that a lot of Waldorf parents have had where weve 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! Thats what comes to mind when I describe the children at Bright Water Waldorf School (BWWS). If they dont 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. Ive over heard one of the teachers saythey arent 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
Mar 26th, 2018