As winter approaches, Waldorf classrooms focus their stories and themes on the darkening days and the holidays that brighten them. As children paint, shape beeswax, and draw with colored pencils, they do so with the human capacity to bring light into darkness in mind. In November, younger classes begin to prepare for one of the most beloved moments in the Waldorf year: The Lantern Walk. In preparation they make simple lanterns out of jars and tissue paper, needle-felted wool,

With gratitude for all who have stood beside us, I want to share with the Encinitas community that North Star Waldorf Academy will not...

In Waldorf education, festivals are more than social events, they are living experiences that nourish the soul of the child and the...

At the heart of Waldorf education is a commitment to nurturing not only the intellect but also the character of each child. To truly...

This past Tuesday night, the EUSD board voted not to approve our charter petition. While we are, of course, disappointed by the board’s...

In Waldorf education, rhythm is the quiet heartbeat of the day. Children thrive when life has a steady flow in which one activity...

“In Waldorf classrooms, we don’t rush to explain, we make space to be amazed.” In Waldorf education, wonder is considered one of the most...

North Star Waldorf Academy: Let’s support all students by making room for many educational pathways to thrive Recently, I wrote to the...

Learning Through Embodied Cognition By Melissa Nilsen, Ph.D. A foundational feature of Waldorf education that has persisted for over a...

We’re excited to share that North Star Waldorf Academy is now on Instagram! Our mission at Compassion in Education has always been to...

One of the lesser known yet deeply meaningful traditions in Waldorf classrooms is the morning handshake. Every morning upon entering...

8th Grade Chemistry Main Lesson Book Introductory Page In Waldorf education, students create their own  Main Lesson Books  instead of...

Over a century ago, in the aftermath of World War I, Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner was asked to design a school for the children of...

Dear Friends of North Star Waldorf Academy, Last Tuesday evening, many of us gathered at the Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) board...

Show your support for North Star Waldorf Academy by writing to the Encinitas Union School District board members : Superintendent...

North Star Waldorf Academy is a proposed tuition-free public charter school seeking to open in Encinitas in September 2026. Our goal is...

Melissa Nilsen Ph.D. Waldorf classrooms evoke a sense of calm and beauty through the use of natural materials and soft colors With its...

As depression, anxiety, and death by suicide become an increasing threat in the lives of ten- to eighteen-year-olds, schools have an...

“Play is the ultimate personalized educational curriculum, with each child creating their own challenges and solutions at little or no...

Classrooms are microcosms of society, and the stage upon which students practice becoming adults. This is where adolescents hone the...