Prairie Hill Waldorf School

"Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility -these three forces are the very nerve of education."

- RUDOLF STEINER, founder of Waldorf Education

The future is asking a lot of our children. Waldorf education provides our students with the necessary foundation for adapting to our ever changing world. Our curriculum nurtures risk-takers, critical thinkers, future innovators and fearless leaders. Students graduate from our school armed with confidence, creativity and a unique sense of purpose.

Different by Design

Waldorf education is more relevant today than ever with a curriculum designed to inspire the best in each student.

Teaching With Intention

We offer a developmentally appropriate, experiential, and academically rigorous approach to education.

Our Admissions Process

Prairie Hill is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 School Years for Wonder Garden (Pre-K) – Grade 8.

Go to Admissions

Visit us on Instagram for a glimpse into our days:

prairiehillwaldorf

Service and the Community We work hard to instill

Service and the Community

We work hard to instill service into our curriculum; starting in our Wonder Garden through to our Middle school classes. This could look like a Kindergartener delivering handpicked flowers to the faculty to our middle school students helping our farmer friends @gwenynhillfarm

When engaging in community, students see firsthand how their actions have an immediate impact on the lives of others. Students who engage in projects aimed at helping others begin to see their role as a connected and valuable part of the whole. Each player has meaning. Each and every role is important. This is one of the most essential and valuable lessons of life for all of us, and nothing connects us to our inherent value in the world like stepping out to help others or our environment.

Engaging in community service provides students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large.

As we often say: many hands make light work.

#community #servicework #curriculum #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorfeducation #waldorfschool #manyhandsmakelightwork

1st Grade Buddies. Each year our the students in

1st Grade Buddies.

Each year our the students in our Grade 1 class gets paired up with one of our 7th or 8th grade students. By being a Buddy to a first grader, eighth grade students serve as a positive and loving role models for the younger students. It is a gift to witness the strong relationships that develop between the oldest and the youngest students in the school, and often, outside of our hallways. The bond between them exemplifies the nurturing, child-centered environment which contributes to the education of the whole child and the social fabric of our community.

They will share lunches and recesses together as well as have story time and take special field trips together. The big kids get to take on additional responsibility of being a leader in the school and the little kids truly enjoy having a role model to spend time with!

#buddies #relationships #leadership #rolemodel #responsibility #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #community

Michaelmas. Every year, approximately seven days

Michaelmas.

Every year, approximately seven days after the autumnal equinox, Waldorf schools throughout the world celebrate Michaelmas, the "Festival of Courage."

The festival is celebrated with stories of courage from around the world. Stories that explore the strength of humanity to overcome the "dragons" of apathy, laziness and disinterest that grow like weeds in gardens left untended and to overcome that, which stands in our way.

We celebrate with work projects done as a community to help make our school more beautiful. We top off our day with a play and share a meal together.

May we all have the courage needed to slay our dragons today and every day.

#michaelmas #festivalofcourage #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #outdoorclassroom #manyhandsmakelightwork #teamwork #communitybuilding #waldorf #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #waldorflife #waldorffestivals #festival #courage #hope #bravery

Integrating Art in Lessons There is extensive res

Integrating Art in Lessons

There is extensive research on the benefits of art in schools, including how the arts bring joy, foster creativity, increase engagement, build determination and problem solving, and help students acquire complex skills.

However, new research suggests that teachers can also use art as an effective teaching tool to help students remember and master difficult academic subjects.

Arts integrated academics is central to how we teach. Likewise, we know that incorporating music, drama, poetry, visual arts, and movement all help our students engage, retain concepts, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Grade 8 continues to deepen their understanding of the anatomy of their unique human bodies; now through sculpture.

"The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art." - Leonardo da Vinci

#arts #curriculum #anatomy #sculpture #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #grade8

Meeting new friends. We got to get up close... *r

Meeting new friends.

We got to get up close... *really up close* ...to our friends from the Lake Country Fire & Rescue today! Firefighter Jake came by to show us all of the gear firefighters wear, the truck they drive and to talk about fire safety. The kids started out shy at first, but as you can see...they weren't shy for long!

The kids had so many great questions about Jake's gear and he was so patient answering each and every one!

#lakecountry #firefighter #firesafety #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #grade1 #community

Field Trips. Field trips play a integral role in

Field Trips.

Field trips play a integral role in the curriculum. These trips are designed to meet the children’s developmental level, help them gain self-confidence, and encourage their connection to the natural world and to each other.

Last week, the 4th grade made their way to Washington Island and Rock Island. Not only were they exploring buildings that tied into the Norse curriculum and Icelandic traditions and stories they have studied, they were building their resilience and courage. While this isn't their first overnight field trip, it is a quite significant one. Two ferry rides are needed to reach the island, and everything they need, is carried by them for the 3 day camping trip.

Cars and even bikes are not allowed on the 912-acre island, making for an experience unlike any other Wisconsin state park. There are 10 miles of hiking trails, including a one-mile interpretive trail, a naturalist program, and 5,000 feet of beach.

#rockisland #washingtonisland #grade4 #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorf #waldorfeducation #fieldtrip #outdoorclassroom #camping #resilience

Botany and Grade 5 How does a seed grow to meet i

Botany and Grade 5

How does a seed grow to meet its fullest potential? What is its purpose, and how does it contribute to the health and well being of others in this world? What does it give, what does it take?

The botany curriculum really does ask and answer many (if not all) of these big questions in a subtle, yet impactful way, and the material grows with the growing fifth grader in a meaningful way.

They started off a morning this week on a prairie walk; finding botany treasures along the way.

#outdoorclassroom #botany #grade5 #phws #prairiehillwaldorf #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #science #sciencecurriculum #experientiallearning

The Great Butter Sale. Tis' the season for the Se

The Great Butter Sale.

Tis' the season for the Semi-Annual Prairie Hill Butter sale---if you’ve tried this hand rolled butter, you know there’s nothing quite like it. Grass fed, hormone free, salted...plus these rolls freeze exceptionally well.

One pound rolls sell for $6.50. Order 10 and get 1 FREE! Sale runs through 10/14 and butter pickup will be at Prairie Hill the following week!

Believe us. You don't want to miss out! In Fall of 2021, we sold a whopping 2,700lbs of butter!

PHWS butter won't be back until Spring 2023... so don't miss out.
Comment below if you are local and interested and we will PM you with details on how to order!

#handrolledbutter #grassfed #fundraiser #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorf #waldorfeducation

Millet Porridge on Wednesdays. Healthy nourishing

Millet Porridge on Wednesdays.

Healthy nourishing meals are critical for a child’s ability to thrive in their environment. The Early Childhood weekly menu is prepared with hearty ingredients to sustain the children through their active days. And as any parent who has tried to recreate the meals at home will tell you - the kids only really love the food when it’s made by their teachers! 🙃🤷‍♀️

#wondergarden #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorf #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #waldorflife #steinerschool #waldorfkindergarten #kindergarten #classroomideas #home #healthy #healthyfood #nutrition #wholeingredients #organicfood #healthykids #pantry

Owl Pellet Dissection Pellets are a record of wha

Owl Pellet Dissection

Pellets are a record of what owls have eaten, and scientists can study them to learn more about the owl and the ecosystems in which they live. When the students dissect owl pellets, they can see and identify the tiny bones from that owl's meal! Check out what Grade 8 found today during their lesson!

#science #anatomy #skeletons #grade8 #prairiehillwaldorfschool #phws #waldorfeducation #waldorfschool #handson #experientiallearning

Skeleton in Motion Grade 8 is in their Anatomy bl

Skeleton in Motion

Grade 8 is in their Anatomy block and are learning about all the bones in the body.

"If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred." - Walt Whitman

#anatomy #grade8 #chalkboardart #waldorfschool #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorfeducation #skeleton

Waldorf window stars have long been a favorite way

Waldorf window stars have long been a favorite way to brighten our classrooms and homes. The Denver Waldorf School has shared a tutorial on how to make the kite-paper window stars often seen in Waldorf schools!

https://denverwaldorf.org/wisdom-of-waldorf/waldorf-window-stars/

Window stars are made using only three items, kite paper, glue and scissors, and can be easily done by children of nearly all ages! Additional tutorials can be found online with a simple search 💜

#windowstars #beauty #phws #prairiehillwaldorfschool #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #headhearthands

Happy First day to our Early Childhood classes! I

Happy First day to our Early Childhood classes! It's great to have all our students back on campus!

Pictured here: Miss Vicki and Miss Lindsey had the Wonder Garden room set and ready for everyone's arrival this morning!

# #prairiehillwaldorf #waldorfeducation #phws #waldorfschool #wondergarden #earlychildhood #toddler #toddlerlife #playbased #letthembelittle

Basket Making: a favorite tradition One of our fa

Basket Making: a favorite tradition

One of our favorite traditions at Prairie Hill is for our incoming first grade parents to make a basket for their child. The baskets house the children's extra clothes, hats, mittens etc and are stored above their cubby.

While making a basket from scratch can be intimidating, parents each year step up to the plate, ready to try something new. And look! They turn out amazing! Each different and unique; just like the children they belong to.

We tell the children, "You can do hard things." And as adults, we also have to remember to tell this to ourselves. The basket making is a great lesson in this.

It's these traditions that make our school unique...what's your favorite PHWS tradition?

#keepsake #basketweaving #traditions #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorf #waldorfeducation #waldorfschool #grade1

First Grade Bridging Ceremony On the first day of

First Grade Bridging Ceremony

On the first day of school, the new first graders are led to their classroom by their former Kindergarten teacher. Our community gathers with branches forming an arch to signify the passage from Early Childhood to the Grades. The community sings 'Simple Gifts' as the children walk through the arch. At the door to the classroom, the each child shakes their new teacher's hand before walking across a small bridge into the classroom to join their peers. This special ceremony is revisited at the 8th grade graduation ceremony, as the students walk out under branches held by their parents.

It was a beautiful morning to gather and celebrate this milestone!

" 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight."

#grade1 #backtoschool #bridgingceremony #prairiehillwaldorf #waldorfeducation #phws #waldorfschool #tradition #outdoorclassroom #lakecountry #pewaukee #simplegifts

First Day Assembly Today, the Grades students gat

First Day Assembly

Today, the Grades students gathered together, as they do each year, for their First Day Assembly. They heard stories, poems and even riddles from each grade teacher and then welcomed the incoming First Grade into their community circle via song and ringing of the bell tower! It was an amazing day to spend outside together.

#firstday #firstdayofschool #grades #outdoorclassroom #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #community #lakecountry #pewaukee

Drum Roll Please... Please join us in welcoming C

Drum Roll Please...

Please join us in welcoming Candace Decker as the new grades Practical Arts Teacher for 2022-2023 School year!

Mrs. Decker has a background in theater and has taught arts, theatre and music for over 25 years.

"I've seen students step out of their comfort zone and allow themselves to be expressive through art. These projects not only allow for their inner artist to shine, but also promotes social interaction, problem solving skills and encourages students to go at their own pace without judgement. What excites me about this position is teaching students in a way that promotes the importance of arts, relationships, imagination and nature."

#practicalarts #handwork #knitting #crocheting #crossstitch #prairiehillwaldorf #waldorfeducation #phws #waldorfschool #art

...and here we go! Check out what our students wi

...and here we go!

Check out what our students will be jumping into as they come back to campus next week! 👀 What sounds most exciting to you?

#curriculum #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #chalkboard #backtoschool

Work Hard. Eat Pizza. Faculty and staff enjoyed s

Work Hard. Eat Pizza.

Faculty and staff enjoyed some personalized 'Pizza on the Prairie' this work week! Everyone brought different toppings to share and we all enjoyed our al fresco lunch.

#workhardplayhard #gather #faculty #phws #prairiehillwaldorf #workweek #teamwork #pizza #pizzaontheprairie #fromscratch

Blackberry Bramble. Hazelnut Hedge. Mossy Meadows

Blackberry Bramble. Hazelnut Hedge.
Mossy Meadows. Goldfinch Grove.

In 2018, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris produced a book called The Lost Words. The prompt of the book was the editing of the ‘Oxford Junior Dictionary’. The junior edition of the Oxford Dictionary is aimed at readers ages seven and up and since 2007, the editors have removed many words used to describe things in nature – some of them relatively common words, such as: acorn, bluebell, ivy, fern, moss, blackberry, dandelion, lark, raven, heron, starling, hazel, heather, goldfinch, grey seal, otter and kingfisher.

This sparked a conversation in our 7th grade classroom and the importance of keeping these these words alive and awake for future generations. They took their ideas and words to the chalkboard and began a wonderful brainstorming process and practiced the use of alliterations. They deliberated on a bounty of beautiful words and presented their top choices to the faculty. The circle of colleagues was called to these words not only for the important meaning behind them, but for the land in which we teach on.

We are working hard to get the grounds ready for the students to return and we are excited for everyone to see the new blooms and additions to the property!

#outdoorclassroom #prairiehillwaldorf #phws #waldorfschool #waldorfeducation #lostwords #goldfinch #hazelnut #moss #blackberry #lakecountry #headhearthands