About Us

The Waldorf School of Bend (formerly Sagewood School) was founded in 1996 with a preschool class of 18 children. We have grown into a school that provides Waldorf education to students through 6th grade. We are located just minutes from downtown Bend. Rock ridges, open pastures, old-growth Junipers and Ponderosa pines vary the landscape. We are a private, non-profit school that has achieved a Waldorf "Developing School" status from the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA).

Waldorf School of Bend Mission Statement

The Waldorf School of Bend, inspired by Rudolf Steiner, joins in community to educate, nurture, and celebrate the journey towards each one's highest potential. We do this in harmony with the earth for the good of all. The healing social life is found when, in the mirror if each human soul, the whole community finds its reflection, and when, in the community, the virtue of each one is reflected. -Rudolf Steiner, Motto of the Social Ethic

Why Waldorf?

Life in the classroom is the foundation upon which the success of a school is built. Teachers begin nurturing the child in 1st grade and build upon that relationship through the 5th grade. When children feel understood and loved by their teacher, many other areas of difficulty can be successfully overcome. In a Waldorf School, the ART of teaching is what makes the education unique. Waldorf curriculum is a STRUCTURED CURRICULUM and remains consistent throughout Waldorf schools around the world. The teacher, however, is given the freedom to present the curriculum in his own creative way. Such an approach creates a feeling in the child that there is just the right balance in the classroom, that he is in the perfect class, and that his is the best teacher in the school.

Elements of "education as an art" :

• Teachers quality of perception in looking at the child, the class as a whole, the environment, his colleagues, the parents, and himself.
• Balance between intellectual, emotional, and hands-on activities.
• "Live" story telling of all main lesson material creating a living approach. The concept comes at the end of a lesson through a kind of "discovery", rather than explanation.
• Affirmation of the child's natural growing experience through an understanding of development stages.
• Lessons planned anew for each block, presented creatively to students.

Our Campus

We have 3 separate classroom buildings, including vegetable and flower gardens, nature paths and plenty of room for play and discovery.