City of Lakes Waldorf School

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

As summer settles in and graduation day becomes a memory, we hope our newest alumni have a chance to reflect on their years at City of Lakes Waldorf School, the friendships formed, the challenges embraced, and the experiences that shaped them along the way.

We wish each graduate the very best as they begin the next chapter of their journey. Wherever their paths lead, we know they carry with them curiosity, creativity, resilience, and a deep appreciation for community.

Congratulations, graduates. We are proud of you and excited to see what comes next.

In our early childhood programs, we intentionally choose natural, simple, and open-ended materials for play. Items like wooden blocks, silk cloths, pinecones, and handmade dolls do not dictate how they are used, allowing children to transform them through imagination.

This kind of play supports deep creativity and problem-solving. Without fixed instructions or electronic features, children are free to create their own stories, roles, and worlds. A single piece of wood might become a bridge one moment and a boat the next, strengthening flexible thinking and imaginative capacity.

Natural materials also engage the senses in a calm and grounding way. Their textures, weight, and simplicity help children stay present in their play while supporting healthy sensory development.

We have limited openings remaining in Preschool and Kindergarten for the 2026–2027 school year. Schedule a tour to experience our classrooms in person.

https://www.clws.org/admissions/schedule-a-tour/

As we enter our final week of school, the halls of CLWS tell the story of a year of learning.

In a Waldorf school, the arts are not separate from academics. They are woven into every aspect of the curriculum. Through painting, drawing, handwork, music, movement, and carefully crafted main lesson books, students engage their creativity alongside their intellectual development. Art becomes a way of exploring history, deepening scientific observation, expressing mathematical understanding, and bringing language to life.

The work filling our hallways reflects months of practice, curiosity, skill-building, and growth. As we prepare to close another school year, we're taking a moment to appreciate it all!

With appreciation for the students behind all of this work. ❤️

Our eighth graders have returned from an unforgettable class trip to San Francisco and Occidental, CA!

From exploring Chinatown and wandering through rose gardens, to whale watching on the Pacific Ocean and taking in breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, the trip was filled with memorable experiences. Students also explored the towering redwoods at Westminster Woods and completed a challenge course among the trees.

The eighth grade trip serves as an important rite of passage and a meaningful way to mark the end of their journey at CLWS. It is a time for students to reflect on how much they have grown, strengthen the bonds they have built over the years, and celebrate this unique moment between childhood and what comes next.

As they prepare to graduate and step into new chapters, we are filled with gratitude for the memories made, the joy shared, and the remarkable young people they are becoming. ❤️

Our Grades Program gathered together for an all-school photo today. It was a beautiful day, even if nobody could fully open their eyes. ☀️

As graduation season invites reflection on where our students go after CLWS, we’re celebrating the many paths our alumni have taken — and the strong foundation they carry with them into high school, college, careers, and beyond.

Our graduates go on to thrive in a wide range of high schools and career paths. After graduating from CLWS, students successfully transition into both public and private high schools, where they are well-prepared academically, socially, and creatively. They bring with them strong critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, and a sense of purpose that supports their success in many different environments.

CLWS graduates have gone on to pursue a wide range of fields and professions, including science, the arts, environmental studies, research, public service, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Their college paths reflect this breadth, with alumni attending institutions such as Brown University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Minnesota Twin Cities, The Juilliard School, and California Institute of the Arts, among many others—demonstrating both the versatility and depth of a Waldorf education.

Last week, our fifth graders traveled to Wisconsin for the Pentathlon which is a beloved Waldorf tradition and a joyful celebration of childhood.

Gathering with students from Waldorf schools across the region, they competed in the five classical events of the ancient Greek games: javelin, discus, long jump, running, and wrestling.

In Waldorf education, the fifth grade year stands at a unique threshold; the beautiful space between childhood and adolescence. The Pentathlon honors this moment with movement, courage, grace, teamwork, and reverence for the growing child.

Students are recognized not only for strength and skill, but for beauty of form, perseverance, encouragement of others, and sportsmanship. It is a celebration of the humanity we share and the foundations being laid for the years ahead.

There was sunshine, laughter, cheering teammates, and moments of true confidence and joy. We are so proud of our fifth graders and grateful for this meaningful rite of passage.