Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor

The Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor is a private school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It provides a Waldorf based education for students in grades PreK–12, and is one of two Waldorf Schools in the State of Michigan.

History

The school was opened on September 4, 1980 in a small building in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It initially had 10 students. Current enrollment exceeds 350. After moving to a leased facility in York Township, MI to meet the needs of the expanding student body, the school relocated back to Ann Arbor in 1986 when the purchase of the current Lower School campus was made. The High School was opened in fall 1997 in a leased facility, the Genesis Building on Packard Road. In 2001, a six-acre property located on Pontiac Trail was purchased for the growing High School. After extensive renovations to the building and site, the new campus opened for classes in the Fall of 2002.

Current administration

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the legal and financial operation of the school. The board includes faculty, parents and community members. In order to facilitate the work of the board, committees have been established which implement policy, make policy recommendations and report directly to the Board of Trustees. All board committees have at least one faculty representative.

College of Teachers

At the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor, ultimate responsibility for all matters of pedagogy rests with the College of Teachers, a core group of full-time faculty dedicated to the philosophical integrity and the long-term interests of the school. Any issue regarding curriculum, a teacher's conduct in the classroom, student learning concerns, etc., falls into the initial decision-making realm of the College of Teachers. The full faculty assists the work of the College during business meetings and by faculty committees, which take their mandate from and report to the College.

Administrative staff

The school's administrative team is responsible for operational matters that support both the daily educational programs and the long-term viability of the school. It is also responsible for implementing the policies established by the Board of Trustees and the College of Teachers. The Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor maintains a Lower School Administrative Staff (Grades PreK-8), a High School Administrative Staff (Grades 9-12) and an All School Administrative Staff.

Affiliations

AIMS,[1] AWSNA,[2] ISACS[3]

Accreditation

AWSNA,[4] ISACS[5]

Newport Road Campus - Lower School (PreK - Grade 8)

The Lower School is located at 2775 Newport Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan. It offers programs for parent-tot through Grade 8.

Early Childhood Program (PreK and Kindergarten)
The Pre-Kindergarten program is create specifically for the younger child. The Program's unique daily rhythm is filled with reverence for the magic of early childhood. Students under the age of six or seven learn primarily through imitation and activity.[6][7] In the Kindergarten the students engage in creative play with home activities and simple, natural materials that encourage imagination. Rhythms of the seasons and festivals are woven into the daily activities. Kindergartners start each day with a walk through the woods surrounding the campus. Through each season they experience the natural wonders surrounding them.

Grades 1-8
All Rudolf Steiner School teachers recognize that each student has unique academic, artistic and physical gifts. The task of the teacher is to provide the inspiration and environment in which these gifts can be cultivated. Each subject is initially presented artistically through a story, poem, drama, drawing or song. This artistic doorway is one through with the students with widely varying intellectual capacities and learning styles can readily enter. The class teacher ideally remains with his/her students from first through eighth grades. Not only is the teacher's intimate knowledge of the students a tremendous advantage, but he/she can also draw out connections with the material across the years. The teacher's commitment to the class enables students to develop trust. They can then focus joyfully on their academic work.

Pontiac Trail Campus - High School (Grades 9 - 12)

The Rudolf Steiner High School is located at 2230 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is for students in Grades 9 through 12.

High School Teachers

The high School has numerous faculty and full-time staff, all specialists.

Curriculum

Graduation requirements are as follows:

English – 4 credits Science – 3 credits Mathematics – 3 credits History – 2 credits Music/Art – 2 credits Foreign Language – 2 credits Movement – 1 credit Computer – 0.5 credit Health – 0.3 credit Other – 7.2 credits Total = 25 credits

College Placement

99% of students continue to college. Students and alumni have been admitted to the University of Chicago, Curtis Institute of Music, MIT, University of Michigan, Boston University and Oberlin College, among many others.[8]

Athletics

RSSAA is a member of the Ann Arbor Independent Athletic Association (AAIAA).[9] The Lower School sports teams are known as the Steiner Stars. Starting in grade 6, Co-ed Soccer and Volleyball are offered in the Fall, Boys' and Girls' Basketball are offered in the Winter and Co-ed Track is offered in the Spring.

The High School Team is known as The Steiner Storm and competes in the following Varsity Sports:

Fall: Volleyball, Boys' Soccer, Co-Ed Tennis, Boys' & Girls' Cross Country Winter: Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Boys' Hockey (Co-Op) Spring: Girls' Soccer, Co-Ed Golf (Club Level), Boys' Lacrosse (Co-Op), Track (Club Level), Girls' Softball (Co-Op), Boys' Baseball (Co-Op)

All of the sports teams compete in the Class D level of the MHSAA.[10] Rudolf Steiner is a member of the Mid-South Conference, and has achieved a high level of success in recent years. In just the last 5 years, the Storm has won 15 Conference Championships, 5 District Championships, and 2 Regional Championships among their varsity programs.

Clubs and organizations

Hiking Club

Yearbook Committee

Drama Club

Community Service Club

Model UN

Improv Club

Debate Club

Garden Club

High School Robotics Team

Lower School Robotics Club

Bee Club

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of the school include:

References

Specific References
  1. http://www.aims-mi.org/
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2015-01-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. http://www.isacs.org/page/472118_Search_for_a_School.asp?school=241
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2015-01-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://www.isacs.org/page/472118_Search_for_a_School.asp?school=241
  6. http://www.waldorfinthehome.org/2012/03/learning_through_imitation_1.html
  7. http://www.iaswece.org/waldorf_education/what_is.aspx
  8. "High School - Rudolf Steiner School". www.steinerschool.org. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  9. "Athletics - Rudolf Steiner School". www.steinerschool.org. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  10. http://www.mhsaa.com/schools

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