INITIATIVES:
A Steiner School for Taupo
Guided by a group of four families with very young children, who all met at the Four Seasons Playgroup in 2007, a vision was created to open a Rudolf Steiner kindergarten in Taupo in January 2011. Having now operated for over eight years, the kindergarten community is thriving. In 2017 there was ever growing interest from parents asking if there was the possibility of a Steiner School for their children to continue the journey started at kindergarten.
Two public meetings, held in late 2017, saw over 70 parents keen to investigate what Steiner education looked like for children beyond early childhood. From these meetings emerged a group of ten people, who have been meeting fortnightly to bring the vision of a Steiner School to a reality, with a hope to open in 2020.
Whilst most of the group are new to anthroposophy, there is a beautiful enquiry into what stands behind and supports the teachers they see working with their children in the kindergarten on a daily basis. We enliven anthroposophy at the beginning of each of our meetings with a dedicated time for readings and discussion. These gentle steps into the philosophy have helped build relationships within the group, and lay a foundation for the school. It’s beautiful to see the group striving three-fold in the creation of the school, and trusting in the work of the angels.
So far, having created a vision, mission and aims for our school, along with the beginnings of a strategic plan, we have just embarked on finding the right piece of land. We have had generous offerings of time and wisdom from within the Steiner Education Community from around New Zealand. As we are walking a new path here in Taupo for Steiner Education, we are so grateful that many communities have gone before us. We are open to offerings of support and guidance – anyone who would like to share in our path, please get in touch with Traceylee Hooton, who manages the kindergarten. 07 378 8042 or 021 520 118, admin@fourseasonskindergarten.co.nz.