Frequently Asked Questions

​Registration and Tuition
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* Why do you require a non-refundable registration fee that is not applied to tuition?
Starting the school carries various costs for us. We have to acquire materials and furniture, transform the rooms, pay lease deposits, pay for insurance, commit to teaching contracts, and many other things. We also need to know that we have committed families who will, in fact, come to the school. For this reason, we set a non-refundable registration fee of $500 for the first child and $250 for any further children (except if you register a child for 1 day a week only – then the registration is a flat $200 per child).

The fee is not applied to tuition as we need these funds to start up the school before the fall and will require continuing funding with operating expenses in the fall. Since YOU, the family, determine independently how much you pay monthly in financial support to the school, you have the ability to take the registration fee into account when determining this amount, if required by your situation.

*  What happens to our registration fee if you are not able to offer a program to our child?
If, for whatever reason, we are not able to offer programming to your child for the school year, then we will fully refund your registration fee.

*  When is the registration deadline?
Since the school year has begun, please contact us to discuss a late registration possibility.

*  What is the cost per child to attend the school per month?
The operational cost per child at the school averages to about $10,000 per year, or $800. a month paid over 12 months.

* Why should I consider giving more than the average cost per child?
As a community, we want to make it possible for every child to be able to attend our school, regardless of the financial situation of the family. This can only work if families that have greater financial means can help carry those with less. Consider your contribution as more than a tuition fee, but a membership in our school community that helps carry every child. If you are able to give beyond the average cost per child, please do, and know that it makes a difference!

*  How much is tuition?
Our school is using a unique affordable-to-all (ATA) tuition model under which we do not set a tuition rate. We are very proud of our approach and hope it will create a unique mutually supportive community.

*  Why do you not have a fixed tuition rate?
We believe that no child should be turned away because of finances. Offering a school which is accessible to all who are willing to commit to the school community is one of our most important founding principles. Having done a lot of research on school financial models and affordable tuition models, we are trying something a little different. It is a model that asks for each individual family’s responsibility within a community that will shoulder the school’s needs together. This is to allow for greater flexibility in the families’ financial contributions and to increase each family’s involvement in the school community. Any funding shortfalls must be obtained through our fundraising efforts.
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*  What are the options for registration for the grade school?
You can register for the full 5-day program or choose between or combine any of the following:

- the 3 day main-lesson programming
- the community and arts day
- the farm and nature day

*  What are the options for registration for the kindergarten?
You can register from 1 morning per week to 5 full days per week.

* Who do I talk to about tuition?
For any questions related to tuition and registration fees, you may contact the us at [email protected].

Curriculum and Schedule

*  Are homeschoolers welcome at your school?
Yes, very much so! We offer a flexible program which allows homeschoolers to register anywhere from 1 day a week to 5 days a week of programming.

*  Do you offer a pre-school program?
At this point we do not offer a pre-school program. However, we will be working on adding this and other early childhood programs in the future.

*  Do you offer a high school program?
We are offering a supporting program for high school students. This program will provide guidance and mentorship, and blocks of Waldorf curriculum throughout the year. At times, we will have our high school students working together with younger students as we believe in the value of the different age groups learning from each other.

For this pilot year, we are not able to complete the necessary inspections to issue credits towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Therefore, officially, our high school students will be considered to be homeschooling. Our program will be designed to support the home-based learning. Students wishing to work toward OSSD credits may do so through online courses (e.g., https://www.ilc.org/en-ca/our-students/home-school-non-inspected-private-schools) in conjunction with our program. How many days per week high school students spend with us will depend on individual needs.

*  Are your teachers certified?
We aim for all our teachers to be Waldorf-certified or to have at least a strong background in Waldorf education. All of our teachers must pass a vulnerable service record check. Our teachers are not necessarily Ontario Certified Teachers.

*  How many children will be in each class?
We are planning to have up to 20 children per class for the grades, and about 12 (full-time equivalent) children in the kindergarten.

*  What is the Farm/Nature Day all about?
Throughout the year, the Farm/Nature Day will offer the children the opportunity to connect deeply with nature. We have the possibility to do a program at a horse farm with our archery teacher, and to work with other farms connected to our community. From September to December, the Farm/Nature Day will take place at the Just Food Farm which is located on a 150 acre farmstead in the Ottawa Greenbelt on the west side of Blackburn Hamlet (2391 Pépin Ct). We are excited to be collaborating with Bryarly McEachern, Field Naturalist and Executive Director of Earth Path, a non-profit organization bringing wilderness awareness to children through a rich, experience-based program. For more information on Earth Path, please visit
http://www.earthpath.ca
Drop-off and pick-up will be at the Just Food Farm.

*  What is the Community Day all about?
For the community day, all of the grades and high school students will be together. In the mornings, the program will provide an opportunity for the children to build their own community and then to connect with the community around them, to be “good neighbours to their neighbours”. In the afternoons, the children will engage in creating nature art and also do Eurythmy together.

*  What about sexual education?
Sexual education is part of the grade 8 curriculum in a Waldorf School. We do not follow the Ontario sexual education curriculum. If you have further questions about it, please do not hesitate to contact our educational team.

*  Do you encourage the children to spend time outdoors and engage in “risky play” (challenging themselves physically, within common-sense boundaries)?
In short: YES! Children need the outdoors and children need movement and to be challenged physically.

The School

*  How is your school different from other schools in Ottawa?
Our founding principles set us apart from other schools in Ottawa. In particular, our commitment to the freedom of teachers is central to what defines our school. We are offering a rich curriculum inspired by Waldorf Education and do not participate in provincial standardized testing or follow the Ontario curriculum.

Our great task is to develop free human beings that are able to give meaning and direction to their life.
​Imagination, a sense of truth and a feeling of responsibility
- those three forces are the very nerve of education.
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 - Rudolf Steiner