Vision
Woodland Star Charter School is an educational community committed to the healthy growth and development of the whole child, including the physical, emotional and social realms. Through a curriculum guided by the principles of Waldorf education, our teachers nurture the imagination in the early years, build a foundation for abstract thinking, and gradually challenge the intellect as children move through the grades. This philosophy places emphasis on a solid academic program, artistic expression, social development, and attention to the inner life and natural rhythms of the child. Our school is committed to creating a healthy community which reflects and supports our common values.
We believe that children develop social responsibility and feel a greater sense of significance in a small supportive environment which promotes long-term relationships with classmates and teachers. In an atmosphere of respect, clear communication, cooperation and parent participation, we believe children flourish and grow to be healthy, capable contributing human beings. We believe that teaching children to care for and respect for the earth encourages global responsibility and promotes environmentally conscious living. The celebration of seasonal festivals is an integral piece, and children joyously experience the earth’s natural cycles. By reducing or eliminating exposure to electronic media and encouraging a cooperative rather than competitive environment, a child’s inherent creative and intellectual abilities will naturally unfold. At the heart of this approach is the recognition that content must be presented to children in a way which fills both teacher and student with wonder, reverence and enthusiasm.
Mission
Woodland Star Charter School is a community of families and educators dedicated to the conscious evolution of the whole child that utilizes developmentally appropriate holistic education that nurtures body, mind and spirit. Our aim is to bring forth healthy, confident, free-thinking, self-directed children who are passionately engaged with their education and empowered to contribute positively to the world.
School Wellness Committee
Committee Role and Membership
Woodland Star Charter School will convene a representative wellness committee that meets at least twice a year. The Wellness committee shall establish goals and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation and periodic review and update of this wellness policy.
The Wellness committee membership may represent all grade levels and include to the extent possible but not be limited to : parents and caregivers, students, school lunch program staff, physical education teachers, health education teachers, school administrators, and board members.
Leadership
The Executive Director or designee(s) will convene the wellness committee and facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy, and will ensure the school’s compliance with the policy.
The designated official for oversight is Erin Lee, Food Services Director.
Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Accountability and Community Engagement
Woodland Star Charter School will develop and maintain a plan for the implementation of this policy. The plan will set forth specific goals and objectives for:
- Nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on campus
- Food and beverage marketing
- Nutrition promotion and education
- Physical activity
- Physical education
- Other school-based activities that promote student wellness.
This wellness policy and assessment reports can be found on the school’s website.
Annual Notification of Policy
Woodland Star Charter School will actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about this policy, including
- It’s content
- Any updates to policy
- Implementation status
Triennial Progress Assessments
At least once every three years, Woodland Star School will evaluate compliance with the wellness policy to assess the implementation of the policy and include:
- The extent to which the school is in compliance with the wellness policy
- A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the school’s wellness policy
The position/person responsible for managing the triennial assessment and contact information is the Food Director in conjunction with the Wellness Committee. The wellness committee will monitor compliance with this wellness policy. Woodland Star Charter School will actively notify families of the availability of the triennial progress report.
Food Guidelines
- Woodland Star Charter will provide a healthy school breakfast and school lunch for those who choose to take it.
- We ensure all foods and beverages sold on campus during the day are consistent with the school meal nutrition standards.
- Woodland Star will serve nutrient-dense, whole foods for lunch and breakfast.
- To the extent possible, all food served to students will be free of artificial additives, such as MSG, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and trans fat
- Woodland Star Charter will not provide candy or conventional sweets, except as a part of a community festival or celebration. (Sweets are defined as a product in which conventional sugar is one of the first four ingredients). Students are strongly discouraged from bringing candy or conventional sweets in lunches or for birthday celebrations. (see birthday celebration policy following)
- Parents who send lunches and/or snacks with their children are asked to follow the Food Guidelines. Candy, soda pop, energy drinks, desserts and other foods high in sugar or caffeine are highly discouraged in school lunches or snacks
- To support healthy eating habits, food rewards or punishment are not to be used for academic or behavioral performance.
Safe and Healthy School Environment
Woodland Star Charter School recognizes that a healthy and safe school environment is necessary in promoting and sustaining the nutritional, physical and emotional health of its students and staff.
- Woodland Star Charter School will provide a clean and safe space for students to enjoy their meals.
- Meals will be served in a pleasant environment that provides sufficient time for eating, while fostering good eating habits, enjoyment of meals, good manners and respect for others.
- Staff will educate the importance of cleanliness and hand washing. Convenient access to hand washing facilities and restrooms will be provided.
- Safe drinking water sources will be available for students to get water at meals and throughout the day.
Special Dietary Needs
If a child has special dietary issues, parents are asked to make these known to the office and class teacher. Any severe allergies and other dietary concerns can be brought to administration and the food director.
Birthday Policy
Woodland Star Charter School recognizes the importance of acknowledging and celebrating student birthdays. Furthermore, the School would like to actively share in the joy and wonder of each child’s life and individuality by learning about the events in his/her life, including family members, friendships, and favorite activities, rather than focusing on foods or trinkets that a child may bring into school for a party. Participation in any such classroom birthday recognition or any related celebration activities are completely optional choices for each student.
To protect the health and safety of students, to eliminate the financial burden on families, to protect the educational learning time in classrooms, and to respect the rights of parents in choosing what their children consume while at school, Woodland Star Charter School has adopted a Birthday Celebration Policy, which solely focuses on the essence and uniqueness of each child. Birthday recognition timing and any related activities are at the discretion of each Teacher. Social and personal growth is encouraged via the sharing of student life/histories/timelines, favorite books and/or hobbies.
Cultivating Connection to the Natural World
Central to Waldorf education is a deep connection to nature, which we see as integral to wellness and personal growth.
- Outdoor Education and Nature Study: Time spent outside, observing and exploring nature, instills respect for the environment and fosters a sense of wonder and calm.
- Gardening and Sustainability: Students actively participate in gardening, composting, and recycling practices, learning to respect the land and value sustainable living. Increase the student connection to food sources through growing and harvesting foods in our gardens
- Seasonal Rhythms and Festivals: Observing seasonal changes and celebrating related festivals connects students to the rhythms of the earth, bringing a sense of grounding and continuity.
- Eco-Friendly Practices: The school is committed to environmentally conscious choices, such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and using eco-friendly materials.
Festivals and Ceremonies
Festivals serve as an opportunity for the entire school community to join together in seasonal celebrations. Planning and working together in anticipation of the festival and celebrating the festival creates a bond among the entire community. Woodland Star Charter will seek to promote the same standards of healthy living.
Integrating Physical Activity into the Classroom Setting
At Woodland Star Charter School, physical activity and movement are a normal part of our curriculum. We fully embrace regular physical activity as a personal behavior, and students need opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, combined with learning. Movement is used as a regular part of academic instruction to promote deeper learning and memory.
Recess at Woodland Star Charter
Recess is a magical time when children get a chance to experience the world and express themselves on their own. Kind, respectful and compassionate behavior is expected of everyone on the playground at all times.
At recess, the children have the freedom to play energetically or quietly. They tend to have a yearning for what it is they need and will seek it out. This is what we want, but will also minimize dangers and prevent mishaps.
When we need to redirect, we try to state the positive choice first. For example, they may run as long as they want, but they may not climb the fence. They may dig mines, but may not make clouds of dust for others to breathe. They may carry rocks, but not shatter them.
The most important work of the teachers on the playground is the ability to observe. While staying aware of the overall activity, we are watchful for any escalating disagreements, for behavior that seems unusual or inappropriate, and for any children who seem unhappy or anxious.
Recess guidelines
Inclusion
Everyone is always welcome to join another group at play, as long as they are within one grade range from their own. A supervised class-specific game or activity would be off limits to others. Generally we encourage children not to rely on grownups for company at recess, though we can certainly comfort them for a moment or do things to get things going like twirl the jump rope to get them going.
We encourage a lone child to find another lone child to play with, giving the child suggestions like “you could ask—– how they are feeling, or if they’d like to build something with you.” We do this gently and let it go if they resist.
Accepting Change
Children are encouraged to problem solve on their own unless it becomes a question of safety. We encourage them to accept changes in the direction of play in a group and to be easy going enough to find something else to do if they no longer like the game, rather than demanding their own way. Similarly, one child should not be allowed to insist on a change in play for all the others.
Sharing resources
Materials on the playground are not owned from one recess to the next, thought the the children are encouraged to be respectful of things like other’s miniature fairy house creations. Children need to practice courteous manners with each other when working out how to share things. They often need some assistance with this.
Physical Well Being
Children should always be free to move. The only contact allowed is a light tap on the shoulder, back or hip when playing tag. Tackling or wrestling of any kind is not allowed. There is no violent play allowed, including imaginary.
After School Activities
In order to promote healthy, active lifestyles, Woodland Star Charter School will encourage a variety of afterschool activities for students
School and Family Partnership
Family involvement is essential to the success and vitality of Woodland Star. Studies have shown that the success of schools is directly tied to the level of volunteerism and involvement of parents and guardians. The following are elements of our school that allow for parents and families to be a vibrant part of our school community.
Family Rhythms
Families can enhance the educational experience of their children by understanding the rhythms of the day. Children flourish in environments that are loving, orderly, and predictable. With an external sense of order and routine, children feel comfortable living in the moment. Just knowing what is expected at different intervals in the day can help children feel secure in the world. As an example, a bedtime ritual can help to calm and soothe children and prepare them for restful sleep. Once this routine is established, the ritual may become parents’ most treasured time with their children. These other home activities support the work of the school:
- Regular bedtime that allows 10-12 hours of sleep
- Eating a healthy protein rich breakfast consisting of whole foods and minimal sugar
- Reading to your child daily
- Household or yard chores
- Outdoor play
- Gardening
- Indoor creative play
- Hobbies
- Artistic and musical endeavors
- Cooking
- Nature hikes and walks
- Picnics, Community or spiritual/religious activities
- Volunteer or community projects
- Providing a quiet, uncluttered space and time set aside for homework, when necessary
MEDIA POLICY
The educational philosophy of Woodland Star is based upon a deep understanding of child development. Waldorf education is known for its holistic approach, instilling a love of learning, creativity, independent problem-solving and healthy social skills through a balance of academics, art and direct experience. We believe that children need to move, run and use their bodies to learn. They need to interact with others and their environments, exploring and discovering things for themselves first hand. Playing helps them to learn how to handle aggression, to share and be friends, to work out differences. Children also need time to be alone and discover that quietude is sometimes a necessary condition for imaginative play and creativity to blossom.
Dress
Woodland Star Charter School strives to be a model of quality and beauty in the educational process and to bring an atmosphere of care and respect to everything that concerns the children at school. Physical warmth is vital to the healthy development of children. Children need to be dressed in layers for ease of movement and comfort. Their clothes should allow them to run, jump, raise arms above their heads, and bend over to touch their toes with complete freedom of movement and without embarrassment to themselves or others. To further these ideals, we ask all parents and caregivers to direct their children to the appropriate standards of dress and behavior.
The school environment is one where we wish to encourage and nurture reverence for what is noble, true and beautiful. In order to create a suitable environment for learning, we try to surround the students with living images rather than movie or cartoon characters.
We recognize that all students are valued individually for who they are and not what they wear. Clothing, however, can be distracting to students and teachers and can undermine the school environment.
Therefore, Woodland Star Charter School has a specific dress code.
Wellness Goals
Nutrition and Nutrition Education
- Woodland Star Charter will procure fresh local produce for the breakfast and lunch program as much as possible, depending on seasonal availability, ordering minimum.
Physical Activity
- All students will have multiple opportunities for movement and physical activity within each school day.
Health education
5th -8th grade health education, anatomy and physiology blocs, and for some it may include a maturation program and/or instruction in sexuality
Assessment and monitoring of goals
Progress of these goals will be assessed by the Wellness Committee on an annual basis and reported to the community as part of the triennial assessment and report. Wellness Committee members will gather data including lunch menus, school schedules and curriculum to audit the progress towards these goals.
