At The Juniper School, each teacher takes a class on a multi-year journey and is committed to a personal path of practice that cultivates self-actualization: the conscious realization of one’s talents and potentialities. This self-actualization serves as a model to children. A rich, broad and engaging curriculum that focuses on visual art, music, literacy, number sense, embodied movement, appreciation of the natural world, handwork, dignified form, social health and emotional intelligence are the hallmarks of the journey of First Grade and beyond.
With each year, the form, strength and health of the class increases in a way that seeks to empower each child’s sense of responsibility, special gifts and love for learning. When children reach the end of Third grade and the beginning of Fourth, their burgeoning sense of identity lends itself to a sense of real leadership and challenge-- the children move forward (with the teacher receding a bit) to rule their classroom environment with dignity, responsibility and a striving to do what is right yet challenging. At this point, the curriculum becomes increasingly more demanding and complex, focusing more on subject matter in depth.
The multi-age classroom environments lend a sense of closeness and family, while allowing for variations in each child’s development to be met with gentleness and confidence. Literature that matches the archetype of the class’s stage of development is brought through the teacher in a way that nourishes the soul and intellect. Each summer, teachers take part in deep training that allows them to become equipped to meet both the growing children and the new curricular needs. Continued, kind assistance and accountability from the community of parents serves to inspire the classroom environment as well.
Together, our shared purpose is to help children love learning for its own sake, to self-start, to ask questions, to use their powers of observation, documentation and interpretation. Through rhythm and simplicity and balance, we teach them to be at ease in the world and with each other. We provide the resource of strong and committed adults who will support them at every turn. If they find ways to gain confidence, and if they have trusted adults to turn to, then they tend to resolve the sense of separation and forge connection, trust and commitment to themselves, each other and our world. This form of education is intended to spark true freedom in the child, that they may determine their path in life with the skills, strength, empathy and motivation that are needed.
The following letter explains the journey of our grades classes as they progress into the higher grades.
Dear Juniper School Board, December 13, 2020
The Pedagogical Council of Teachers have been discussing the long-term viability of the Juniper Grades, and the wisdom with which we transition our beloved students into their future educational environments.
We aspire to offer a high quality program to our community, and this requires stamina, skill, support and the proper resources in order to be done successfully. And lots of warmth and kindness! In essence, we want to feel confident that we have the capacity to meet the needs of our students and families throughout the grades. Being a new school, quality is at the heart of our growth, and the two are linked.
We would like to emphasize the use of the word ASPIRE when we state the intention of each class going on a collective journey to Grade 8. In order for this to be of high quality, we would need a willing, confident teacher that is given the proper training and support to bring forward the very vigorous middle school curriculum. We would also need both students and parents to be committed to this unique learning journey, a journey rooted in the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. Simply, we believe we will need to hold conversations between parents and teachers for each class.
The health and well-being of our teachers, students and school is one which we all share. Thank you for loving and supporting us. May our work together be of benefit.
With Warmth and Appreciation,
The Juniper School Pedagogical Council
Nicole Graf , Zaryana Bezu, Kate Curlis, Marcelle Knittel
