Olympia Waldorf School

Thank you to the Thurston Chronicle for a great write up celebrating our 40th year!

Olympia Waldorf School celebrates 40 years of child-focused alternative education - Thurston Chronicle The 2025-26 school year marks the 40th anniversary of the Olympia Waldorf School — a non-profit private school established by a group of parents looking for an alternative education …

You’ll be winning as a parent if you hear these three words from your child this summer: : “I am bored.”

Boredom in childhood can feel uncomfortable to adults. From a Waldorf perspective, boredom is not something to fear — it is often the doorway to imagination. When children are not constantly entertained, something beautiful begins to awaken. A stick becomes a fishing pole. A blanket transforms into a castle. A child discovers their own inner world.

Unstructured time invites creativity, resilience, and self-directed play. It teaches children to listen inwardly instead of always seeking stimulation from the outside. In the stillness they learn to wonder, invent, dream, and become.

Waldorf education honors rhythm, simplicity, and space — space for the child’s imagination to unfold naturally. Because the goal is not to fill childhood with endless activity, but to protect the sacredness of childhood itself.

Sometimes the most meaningful growth begins with the words:
“I am bored.”

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Waldorf education aligns the history curriculum with the inner, psychological development of the students for each grade. In 6th grade, Roman history is introduced to mirror the child’s developmental transition into puberty, early adolescence, and an awakening of rational thought.

At ages 11-12, the students experience a rapid physical growth that can feel clumsy. The Roman focus on structure, earthly conquest, law and building physical empires mimics this grounding into the physical world. Just as Rome transitioned from kings to the Republic and finally to an Empire, students at this age begin developing personal boundaries and a desire for their own “space.” With regards to ego and ethics, the study of Roman figures allows pre-teens to reflect on morality, egocentrism, and the consequences of power.

Why are Olympia families choosing Waldorf preschool & kindergarten?

If you step into a Waldorf preschool or kindergarten class, you’ll notice the air feels different. Instead of pushing early academics, the children spend their days exploring the outdoors, the storytelling is rich, the students are creating art, singing, gardening, and most importantly engaging in imaginative play.

If you are seeking a space with calm rhythms, a strong sense of community, a screen-free environment and a place that supports confidence, empathy, and independence, our early childhood program may be the place for you.

We have admissions determination events before the end of the school year. Contact our enrollment manager ([email protected]) to begin the process and ask your questions. We look forward to meeting you!

OlympiaParents Kindergarten PreschoolLife

Bravo to our 8th grade class and their rendition of “The Little Prince”