When we were looking for schools for our son, the local school gave us a very bad impression. Remember this was before all the school tragedies - but the school had signs saying that parents were not allowed on campus, not just that they were to sign in thru the office, but they were not permitted on campus! That and that there were no grouping for writing or math put me off of the school. Another school only used workbooks for the kids to learn - it was a very non-creative environment. Another one had a super high percentage of handicapped and disabled children who needed diapering and feeding care. None of the schools had groupings for writing and math, only reading...
So when we were thinking about what school to have our son attend we started hearing about Waldorf. There were three times we learned about it, let's see if I can remember any of them. The last was a notice at a garage sale telling about the Waldorf Open House. I will think to see if I can remember the other ways.
Anyway, Waldorf seemed perfect as it was so arts and craftsy - the opposite of what my husband and I could offer our son. He started in a kindergarten program. Before school started I missed hearing that the kids were supposed to wear different colors on different days of the week. We had red, yellow, and green shirts, but needed orange and purple. So that first day after leaving our son off I went to the store to get some white t-shirts and fabric paint - so we could decorate a shirt together. But I got rear ended that afternoon, so was late with picked our son up. One mother stayed on the playground with my son and her son and they played together. I will always remember how wonderfully kind that was for her to do.
The four of us spent many hours together after school during that year. Her husband was living in their native country, so she had lots of time to share with us. We would take the boys to so many places - it was always fun! My husband was working all the time so he didn't miss us at all... I cried when she and her son moved back to be with the husband. They wanted their son to live in their country and learn that language. I caught her at a time when she needed company too, as we had met her just after her husband had left to work in the family business.
We have seen each other a handful of times since then. Here, in Boston and Buffalo, and in their country two times! I always feel like we just start up where were left off even though we have not done a good job of keeping in touch in between visits.
Her son is now a dentist working at the university where he did his training.
The last time I saw her was in 2015 at the beginning of my wonderful drive across the country with my Swedish friend. The first friend's son was starting dental school in Buffalo so we drove from Boston to her and stayed a few days. We went to Niagara Falls, did a self-guided architectural walking tour of Buffalo, the Teddy Roosevelt Inauguration House Museum, had Buffalo Wings, and ice cream and sponge candy at an old fashioned classic ice cream parlor (Fowler's?), (pretty sure we went to the Modern Art Museum). Chatted, shared thoughts and feelings. It was a great beginning of the driving trip.
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At Waldorf the kindergarteners and teachers make lunch together every day. I found the recipe booklet while going thru a box so will write them down here so they are handy! While typing I searched the web to be sure of the bread recipe and discovered that different schools have different recipes for their schools. Makes sense, but I thought all these years the schools all did the same thing...
Monday - Violet Day - Rice Cereal
(For 25-30 children)
3 c sweet brown rice - cover with 1.5 inch water
Cook until tender (watch pot and stir often) The school had a heat disperser the grains didn't burn.
Sprinkle with gomasio (sesame salt) or sweeten with honey.
Tuesday - Red Day - Bread
1. Sponge: Combine and set aside, 1/4 c water, 2 T yeast and 1/4 t maple syrup
2. Combine 1/4 c oil, 1/2 c maple syrup, 1/5 t salt and 2 c water
Add 1 & 2 together, add 1.5 c flour, stir 200 times and then let rest 5 - 10 min. Add 4 c whole wheat flour (okay to sub 1/2 c oats for 1/2 c flour) Knead, add flour as needed. Shape and place on oiled pan. Bake in 325 degree oven for 20 min for rolls, 45 min for a loaf.
I'm not sure now if the kids only had bread on this day. I'm remembering they all had baskets for their lunch and how I had to look for metal bowls and cups for him to use. I made cloth napkins and a cover for the basket. I still have the napkins and one of the baskets - now holding hand towels. My favorite napkin was made with red and white checkers, but it had ants printed on it so they were crawling around. Anyway, maybe these recipes are for a mid-morning or afternoon treat, not a full lunch.
Wednesday - Yellow Day - Apple-Millet Cereal
Serves 25-30 children
2.25 c millet
6 - 8 c water (or apple juice)
5 - 7 apples, cut up
2 t cinnamon
Cover with water, add more as needed. Cook until tender - around 20 minutes.
Perhaps serve with maple syrup.
Thursday - Orange Day - Barley Soup
For 25-30 children
1 onion
3 carrots, chopped
3 c barley
1/2 c tamari
1 T parsley
1 T oregano
2 quarts water
Chop onion, saute in oil until soft.
Add remaining ingredients.
Cook until barley is tender.
This was our son's favorite. A few times that year they asked me to have him bring in a few carrots or apples to use.
Friday - Green Day - Rye Cereal
6 c rye flakes
1.5 t salt
12 c water
Cook until tender.
Serve with maple syrup and bananas or honey.
Note: 3 cups rye and 6 cups water for 11 to 12 children.
Birthday Cake
For our son's birthday the teacher made a cake and decorated it with beautiful orange nasturtium flowers they picked from their hillside. I'd never had them before, they added a fresh and peppery taste to the cake. They must have had this cake many times during the year, but it felt special for us and our son to have it to celebrate his birthday.
Applesauce "Birthday" Cake
3.25 c whole wheat pastry flour
1.5 t baking soda
1.5 t cinnamon
3/4 c butter
1 c maple syrup
1/2 c molasses or honey
1 egg
1.5 c applesauce
Combine dry ingredients. Cut in the butter. add rest of ingredients, Beat well. Bake at 350 degrees for around 1 hour.
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Compared to our lives, there was a lot of religion in Waldorf, but we felt it wasn't a religious school. I'm looking over this verse and recipe booklet. Ah well. It's good to be good to each other and ourselves. Here are a few poems/verses the kids recited. I don't remember them all, but do remember I thought it was sweet the way they added to the order of the day, the rituals, the community, and the memories.
Verse of Anticipation
When I have said my evening prayer,
and my clothes are folded on the chair,
when Mother switches out the light,
I'll still be ___ years old tonight!
But at the break of day,
before the children rise and play,
before the darkness turns to gold,
Then I'll be ___ years old.
Birthday Verse
In heaven shines a golden star
An Angel lead me from afar
From heaven on high unto the earth
And brought me to my house of birth.
Birthday Song
We wish you a happy birthday
a joyous and celebrated birthday
To our friend _____
May you have a long, long life
Candle Lighting
I can light a candle
God can light a star
Both of them are helpful
Shining where they are
Candle Snuffing
Candlelight shining bright
Thank you for your loving light
Good night
Good-bye Verse
Our work, our play, our song
In us becomes a light
We carry it along
Until the stars shine thru the night
To God we bring it all
Answering his call.
Good-bye Song
Good-bye now, Good-bye now.
We leave you now
And home we go.
Good-bye now, Good-bye now.
Good-bye to all of you.
It's time to go or we'll be late.
Let Martin lead us to the gate
Good-bye now, Good-bye now.
Good-bye to all of you.
Come Out and Play
Bright is the day
The birds are all singing
The flowers are gay.
Stretching up, oh, so high
Trying to reach the sky
Come Out and Play!
Bright is the day
The birds are all singing
The flowers are gay.
Wash Hands
Wash hands wash
The men have gone to plow.
Now's the time to wash your hands
So wash your hands now
Snack Blessing
Earth who gives to us this food,
Sun who makes it ripe and good,
Dear Earth, Dear Sun, by you we live
Our loving thanks to you we give
Amen
Join hands, join hands, join hands.
Blessings on our food.
Lunch Blessing
Before the flour, the mill
Before the mill, the grain
Before the grain, the earth, the sun, the rain
The beauty of God's will.
Join hands, join hands, join hands
Blessings on our food.
Morning Verse
To Earth I come to greet the light, to greet the Sun
The stones that rest
The plants that grow
The beasts that run
To greet all people who walk and work and will
Love God in all
Then God greets me, in all I do
And you and I and God are one.
Morning has come
Night is away
Rise with the sun
And welcome the day!
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There is more to remember about those Waldorf days, but I will save that for later. Going to get ingredients for barley soup now!
