Family Involvement

As an Urban Prairie parent/guardian, you have the opportunity to grow with your children in a unique educational environment. Family participation is an essential and integral part of your children’s educational experience and serves to unify families and create a strong sense of community. Urban Prairie welcomes parents/guardians to participate in a wide range of ways such as: serving on a Board committee, volunteering to be a Room Parent, helping your child’s class teacher or specialty teachers, participating in fundraising events or festivals or helping in the school office.

 

Community Connection

The purpose of Community Connection is to coordinate parent/guardian volunteer opportunities for faculty and classroom assistance, and assistance to Administration, community building and parent education, as well as to foster communication among parents/guardians and the governing bodies, including the Board of Trustees, Faculty and Administration. Its mission is to actively engage parents and guardians in the school community through volunteer opportunities, including the following:

  • Fostering parent/guardian enrichment and support
  • Facilitating teacher support
  • Engaging in community building and outreach
  • Assisting in the fundraising goals of the annual fund

These volunteer opportunities are coordinated by teams. Interested in joining a team? Contact your class delegate or email info@urbanprairie.org.

  • Welcome Wagon
  • Facilities
  • Library
  • Class Delegates (Room Parent/Guardians)

Waldorf Resources

Waldorf education is the fastest growing non-sectartian educational movement in the World. The pedagogy was first put into practice ninety years ago. Even with the long history Waldorf remains one of the best kept educational secrets in the United States. As a parent of a Waldorf student you will often be asked about the pedagogy, the school and the curriculum. We have compiled some wonderful resources for parents to learn more about the education as well as to share with others who are interested in your child’s education.

There are many good books available on Waldorf education and Rudolf Steiner. We have chosen a few of our favorites to list here:

  • Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out. Jack Petrash. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House, 2002.
  • Waldorf Education: A Family Guide. Edited by Pamela J. Fenner. Amesbury, MA: Michaelmas Press, 1999.
  • School As a Journey: The Eight-Year Odyssey of a Waldorf Teacher and His Class. Torin M. Finser. Great Barrington, MA: Steiner Books, 1995.
  • Rhythms of Learning : What Waldorf Education Offers Children, Parents & Teachers. Roberto Trostli.Great Barrington, MA: Steiner Books, 1998.
  • Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit DisorderRichard Louv. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2008.