Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Receives

Recognition For Full Accreditation

The Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, located at 40 Dodgingtown Road, received word December 9 that it achieved full accreditation at both the state and national levels.

The school recently completed a two-year process with the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools and the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.

The entire school community worked on a self-study in preparation for the application for accreditation. Areas of focus included mission, governance, and experience of the students, early childhood, infrastructure, faculty, and programs.

The Housatonic Valley Waldorf School is now in its 21st year. It began in New Milford as a playgroup with the goal of blossoming into a grade school.

By 1995 the initial grade school class opened as a combined first and second grade. The school made Newtown its home in 2000 and to date has graduated five eighth grade classes.

Accolades in the accreditation report include The Housatonic Valley Waldorf School being commended for commitment to and understanding of the Waldorf philosophy and pedagogy and the delivery of Waldorf education, its understanding of child development and for recognizing and celebrating the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical need of each child within the framework of an authentic Waldorf education, a strong development of curriculum and teaching of various arts and a rich and complete music program, a cohesive and committed staff, faculty, parent community and board dedicated to the children, families, and the school, and its model of collaborative leadership.

Patrick Cushing, PhD, president of the Board of Trustees, said, “Receiving accreditation from both [the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools and the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America] is a wonderful achievement. It demonstrates formal recognition for the outstanding education provided by dedicated faculty and staff here at [Housatonic Valley Waldorf School]. Congratulations to all.”