Parents & Caregivers Grow Here, Too

As parents, we know that school has the capacity to shape our children’s lives in ways that go beyond the classroom. We know that children thrive when they are understood and valued by their peers and teachers, and that being part of a warm and inclusive community will promote their sense of confidence and well being, now and in the future.

“We rarely consider how the school we choose will shape our own personal lives and affect our parenting experiences.”

We rarely consider how school we choose will shape our own personal lives and affect our parenting experiences—even though school has a tremendous impact on home life, family culture, and even our adult social lives! At Portland Waldorf School, we see education as a partnership between students, teachers, and families. Through diverse activities and parent education, we create a bridge between home and school, striving to make parenting easier, more intentional, and more meaningful for our families.

At Portland Waldorf School, parents, caregivers, and even extended family are encouraged to take part in life on campus, from attending birthday celebrations to volunteering in the classroom. Parents are invited to campus for student plays and musical performances, and our families (and extended families!) participate in all-school festivals and special events, like our beloved autumn Harvest Festival.

In fact, we don’t just welcome our parents, we rely on them to lend a hand as fundraisers, field trip chaperones, festival planners, and campus care volunteers. In this way, our parents truly are valued partners, invested in and essential to the healthy functioning of our school community.

Fostering Family Bonds

Within each class, we nurture a strong parent community through parent education and teacher-led parent evenings, which give our families an opportunity to connect with each other, and to discuss social or academic issues arising in the classroom. These meetings offer an opportunity to listen, to share, and to support both families and children by ensuring that school and home rules and values are in alignment.

In addition, we offer parent enrichment events throughout the year, including guest speakers on topics like simplicity parenting or technology at home. These events aren’t strictly didactic, but an opportunity for our parents to more deeply explore who they are and how they want to parent, bringing more meaning and purpose to our role as caregivers and guides. 

In these—and many other ways—parents are an integral part of the Portland Waldorf School culture and community.

Families at Portland Waldorf School gather every fall for Harvest Festival, where we share food at a potluck and simply enjoy each other’s company.

Learn more about what it’s like to be a Portland Waldorf School family on a tour of our campus.