Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School (HVWS) is an independent co-educational Waldorf day school set in the foothills of the

Taconic Mountains The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range () are a range of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western Vermont. ...

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...

Columbia County, New York Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,570. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the ...

, USA. The school offers classes from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. It is accredited by the

New York State Association of Independent Schools The New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) is an association of 201 independent schools and organizations, ranging from nurseries to high schools, in New York (state), New York State. Founded in 1947, NYSAIS is the second la ...

and by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Founded in 1973, the school is one of the oldest and largest of the approximately 170 independent

Waldorf Education Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Its educational style is Holistic education, holistic, intended to develop pupils' intellectual, artistic ...

schools in North America. The first high school class graduated in 1983. The high school has a boarding program for students from other schools. It has enrolled students from Afghanistan, Canada, China, several European nations and Mexico.

Curriculum

The school follows an interdisciplinary approach based on the Waldorf curriculum, with a strong emphasis on English, mathematics and science skills and on art, music and intercultural understanding. The high school curriculum is college preparatory. Situated on an organic biodynamic farm, all grades at the school have classes that integrate farm science (biology, economics, nutrition) with their curriculum. In 3rd and 9th grade, HVS students spend a week directly learning at the farm.

Events

The school's annual public events include: * The Fall Farm Festival (the second Sunday of October) * The Yuletide Fair (the first Saturday of December) * The Spring Fair and May Day Celebration (the first Saturday of May)

Sport

HVS competes with public and private schools in cross-country, volleyball and basketball. It also fields club soccer teams for boys and girls. * In 2008, the HVWS varsity cross-country team won the New York State Class D cross-country championship. * In 2009, the HVWS varsity cross-country team finished third in the New York State Class D cross-country championship.

Larger community

HVS is a branch of the Hawthorne Valley Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to social renewal through education, agriculture and the arts.

External links

Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School
{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1973 Private elementary schools in New York (state) Private middle schools in New York (state) Private high schools in New York (state) Student exchange Waldorf schools in the United States Schools in Columbia County, New York 1973 establishments in New York (state)