WHWS Grades Planning Update
August 20, 2020


Dear WHWS Families,

The end of summer is approaching and our first day of school, Monday, September 14th, is only a few weeks away. It will be a start to the school year like no other, and our classes will be in a very different form, yet the teachers are working harder than ever to prepare for the year ahead. Even though we have not seen our students for many months, they are first and foremost in our minds as we consider the curriculum for our coming year. 

We will be starting the year with three “live” early childhood classes on campus, as well as our new first graders. All other classes will begin with distance learning (DL). Grades teachers will also offer optional, small group pods on campus. Each student will have the opportunity to come for a two hour session each week and engage in enriching artistic and curriculum specific activities, as well as have the opportunity to connect with a small group of classmates. We will, of course, be taking all necessary health and safety precautions while students are on campus.

Some of our classes are no longer as “whole” as they were last year, but divided by necessity and choice into several different tracks. Some students are enrolled in our DL / Live Track, some families have opted for Supported Homeschooling, and some of you have elected to take a different path for the year, apart from WHWS. Whatever path your family has chosen, it is our hope that you will remain connected to, and embraced by our WHWS community. If you feel that you need to make a change in your track, please contact us, as our doors and hearts are open to you always. We look forward to the time when you are able to rejoin us, and all of our classes can become “whole” once again.

Next week teachers will be working closely together in a series of inservice days. Tech training, mentoring, preparing for our new supported homeschool program, and re-writing grade specific curriculum goals from our benchmarks in a way that will be parent friendly and easy to follow are all on our agenda. Another continued focus will be refining our curriculum for distance learning, and redesigning specialty offerings so they can be more “home friendly.” Teachers will be working together to envision how our optional, on campus pods will enhance the distance learning curriculum and keep human connection alive. In the next week or so, all teachers will be hosting their first parent meetings of the school year. You will receive an invite shortly if you haven’t already. 

As we move into the school year, the grades teachers will need to differentiate communication between families in different tracks, yet we still want to have the opportunity to address the ”whole.” For this reason, and to avoid inboxes becoming overfull with messages, we are in the process of setting up new email lists. We will still have our regular class email lists for times when we will communicate with the entire class community, and will also be adding two more lists, one specifically for the families who have chosen Track 1, and one for families who have elected to join Track 2. Below is a description of each track and what you can expect from your teacher as the school year gets underway. 

With warmest wishes,

Emma Zook and Jamie Sanday, for the Pedagogical Committee



Track 1 Students: Live / Distance Learning
Email address example: classof2028t1@whws.org

Health circumstances in Whatcom County have resulted in most grades’ classes beginning the year with Distance Learning (DL). For this track, families can expect the following:
  • You will receive a back to school letter at the end of August that includes a picture of the year, block rotation, curriculum description, as well as specifics about the first days of school and how to pick up materials from your teacher. 
  • For distance learning, students will need access to a computer or tablet (smartphones are not ideal), the internet and a printer. Please let us know if this is problematic for your family and we will do our best to support you.
  • Google Classrooms will go live for each grade, and will be used for sharing lesson plans and assignments, as well as organization and communication.
  • Lesson Plans will be offered by class teachers Monday - Thursday.
  • Every Friday will be set aside as catch up / finishing day.
  • Certain Fridays will be reserved for families to drop off student work and pick up ‘DL Packets.’
  • Short Zoom meetings will be held Monday - Thursday to open the school day for all grades. Morning verse will be spoken, attendance will be taken, and the teacher will provide a brief introduction to the day ahead. Families who find this problematic to their situation may choose to opt out as long as they arrange in advance an alternative routine with their teacher. This may include a daily telephone call or text at an agreed upon time. 
  • Teachers will present material through a variety of methods which may include audio, video, and written material. Occasionally teachers in Grades 4-8 may use Zoom to present new material, host group meetings, or for sharing projects.
  • DL lesson plans will include new content, as well as daily practice of language arts and math skills. 
  • Teachers will hold office hours (which may include Zoom calls) to offer support to families engaged in DL.
  • We will hold optional pod sessions of 4-6 students on campus. Each student will have the opportunity to come to school for two hours once per week. We hope to build on this as health mandates allow.


Track 2 Students: Supported Homeschool Option
Email address example: classof2028t2@whws.org

Track 2 is for families who would like to use a Waldorf homeschooling program for parent led instruction, and also maintain a connection with the school. We truly hope that parents choosing to homeschool will enjoy the process of creating a living education for and with their child(ren).

While our supported homeschooling option will need to run independently of our Live / Distance Learning Curriculum, teachers will stay in touch with homeschooling families as detailed below. All support materials listed below will be made available to Homeschooling families by September 1st. Children in the supported homeschool program are considered enrolled and will retain their place in the class.

Here are more details of what our supported homeschooling option includes at WHWS:
  • You will receive instructions on how to pick up your homeschool supplies at the end of August which will include the following:
  • WHWS Class Specific Block Rotation with dates (so families have the option to follow a similar block schedule at home if they choose.) Please note that periods of DL (Distance Learning) may result in changes to Block Rotation.
  • WHWS suggested math texts and resources for grade level.
  • WHWS suggested reading and resource lists for grade level.
  • Written instructions for WHWS projects that mirror in-person students’ learning. (For example, Grade 3 Shelter Reports, Grade 4 Animal Reports, Grade 5 State / Botany Reports, Grade 6-8 History, Science or Geography Reports / Projects.)
  • Homeschool supplies such as main lesson books and art supplies will be provided for you to pick up.
  • When WHWS is engaged in DL, homeschool families may request access to Google Classrooms for an additional fee.
  • Class teachers will offer twice-monthly office hours as a support for homeschooling families.
  • Class teachers will host twice -monthly Zoom meetings for homeschooling classes.


Track 3 Students: Hold My Place
Track 3 families will be included in full class emails.

Track 3 is for families who choose to manage their child/ren’s educational experience for the 2020-2021 school year independently. Teachers would welcome letters from the children and pictures of their work throughout the year. Please know that if at any point you would like additional homeschool support, please contact us so that we can place you in the Homeschool Support Track.