Raphael House Rudolf Steiner school is a State Integrated School. This means we follow New Zealand curriculum but with some adaptations that mean we also follow a Steiner Waldorf education curriculum.

The CEO of Steiner Education New Zealand sent this in her final newsletter at the end of last year and we think it's worth re printing here:

What makes a Steiner Waldorf School and Steiner Teachers?

I have been asked several times “What makes a Steiner Waldorf School?” and “How can we call ourselves a Steiner school without ‘Steiner’ teachers?” 

My response to the latter is that teaching, and especially Steiner teaching, is a process, not a destination. We are never “trained” Steiner teachers. Every teacher, whether they have been involved in Steiner education for one year or several decades, is still on a journey of learning and discovery. Teachers are attracted to our education because they see its value and, invariably, approach it with an open mind, heart and spirit. With that, they are already ‘Steiner’ teachers and the curriculum, professional development and their colleagues support their journey. 

And the former question: “What makes a Steiner School?” 

It is the people – the parents who have chosen this education for their children, the staff who are drawn to it, the volunteers who serve it because they all want the same thing – a Steiner Waldorf school. We are all in the process of becoming. 

Although I write of schools, it goes without saying that the same applies to our early childhood centres and kindergartens.

This year we will be attempting to highlight as many aspects of our Special Character as we can.