Education is not a question of what knowledge children need to acquire
to enter society, ​but what capacities in human beings can be developed
​to bring new forces into society. 
​~Rudolf Steiner

Our Philosophy

Hearthstone School is inspired by the Waldorf education method and many of the teachings of Rudolf Steiner; however, a wealth of other resources and traditions are drawn on as well. The school flexibly responds to the needs, interests, and resources of its member families.

We balance academic, artistic, and practical work, educating the whole child: heart, head, and hands. Our developmentally-appropriate curriculum addresses the child's changing consciousness as it unfolds, stage by stage. Imagination and creativity are cultivated, as well as cognitive growth and a sense of responsibility for the Earth and its inhabitants. Hearthstone is inspired by Steiner's detailed psychology of child development, which has been supported by modern research in education and neuropsychology. Hearthstone’s curriculum and practices strive towards Steiner’s goals: that young people would develop the capacities of soul and intellect and the strength of will that would prepare them to meet the challenges of their own time and the future.

The Waldorf classroom also emphasizes direct experience and application of learning. And so, alongside a traditional classroom experience, our students once built a geodesic dome in math class, hatched chickens in biology class, and flew real airplanes in physics class.  They plant organic vegetable gardens and put on plays in English class. In Wildlife Ecology class, the students found a Least Brook Lamprey and a Fence Post Lizard never before documented in this region. Field trips to art collections, plays at the Kennedy Center, museums in Washington D.C. and Richmond, and hikes in Shenandoah National Park complement the curriculum. Guest lecturers are invited in to speak on topics ranging from ceramics to the Holocaust. It is a practical and exciting curriculum for the students and faculty. 
 
Also, the Waldorf system and Hearthstone pay close attention to the rhythms of the changing seasons. We find in these forces of natural growth, blossom, decay, death, and regeneration an "outer" complement to the "inner" processes of the child. We recognize the changes in the natural world with various festivals and holidays. 

​Download our Handbook

Parent-Child Class

For Children 12 to 24 Months
​Join our weekly Google Meet group to learn more about the Waldorf method, connect with other parents, and give your child the opportunity to socialize from a distance. Led by our Nursery/Kindergarten teacher, this class includes developmentally-appropriate activities such as verses, songs, stories, and rhythmic movement.  
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Classes for Homeschoolers

Part-Time Enrollment
Part-time enrollment in selected classes and activities is available for home schooling and road schooling families. Classes include core subjects, languages, art, knitting, and even archery. This type of enrollment is arranged on a case by case basis. Please inquire for more information. 

At the start of every school week, all students and their teachers come together for Dances of Universal Peace.

These dances were introduced to the world in the 1960s by Samuel Lewis, a scholar of Buddhism, Judaism and Sufism, advocate of organic agriculture, and international proponent of world peace. Lewis believed that if people could eat, dance, and pray together, there would be peace on Earth; teaching these dances formed part of his mission.

The dances, most of which are performed in a circle, combine simple movements with songs and chants from spiritual traditions from around the world. The themes honor peace, love, the Divine, nature, and the unity of humanity. Through the music, our students become acquainted with foreign phrases, names and stories from various cultures.
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While not formally part of the Waldorf curriculum, Dances of Universal Peace are very much in keeping with the spirit and purpose of Waldorf-inspired education. Waldorf education came into being in the aftermath of World War I, when some forward-thinking individuals felt the need for a new type of education. They asked philosopher Rudolf Steiner to develop a new kind of school: one that would help children become harmonious citizens who would create a just and peaceful society. 

Dances of
​Universal Peace

Organization

Hearthstone is a parent cooperative. This is not merely a school to send children to: it is a community and commitment for the whole family. We see Hearthstone as a living community and value active participation and support from all of its members: parents, teachers, students, and friends. Members are perform volunteer hours and attend monthly meetings. 

The Core Council, a group of five to eight leaders, meets throughout the year. Recommendations for the school are brought before Core Council for review, and decisions on the operation of the school are brought to the membership for a vote.

Core Council, from left: Kevin Weisgerber, Jane Mullan, April Strickler, and Vanessa Dunn. Not Pictured: Torry Keane.