Maple Village Waldorf School

Best thing I can tell an anyone about this school is the kids that go here are more sociable.

Love it!

If you're a minority DO NOT send your kids here. Against my better judgement I gave this school a chance and it was a huge mistake. His teacher was old and lethargic. She seemed to ignore the kids so she can take rest breaks. By his second week there my son started to say things like, " I just don't like it there" or "the kids aren't very nice there."
I brushed it off as just normal kid stuff till he came home one day and told me 2 white kids had punched him because he was playing on "their" swing. My wife and I were furious that we heard this from him and not his teachers or the staff.
We called a meeting with his teachers and administrators and they immediately when into talking about how they try so hard to get more minority enrollment, the teacher was blaming my child for getting hit in the face, etc etc.
They charge WAY more than most other private schools just so the kids can "learn through play"
You'll be paying over $1,000 a month just so your kids can play with blocks and make oatmeal.
Do yourself and your family a favor and find another school. I sincerely hope this helps you.

It's hard to put into words just how magical this sweet school is. My nearly 4 year old has been attending early childhood classes (Me and My Baby, Parent Toddler, and now preschool) here since she was 7 months old. The campus is so cozy and homey feeling, but that's nothing compared to the people who work here. Educating children is truly their passion and they love the children and families involved with the school. It feels like one big family. My daughter talks about preschool every day, even though it's been out for the summer for two weeks. In preschool they knead bread with their own hands on Thursdays and then eat that bread for their snack, they grow strawberries from seeds, they have the sweetest little nature walks...and that is just a snippet. I've noticed changes with my daughter at home too. She is singing all of the time (this is what they do often at school, especially during transition periods), her pretend play has really blossomed, and she is so proud of the things she accomplished in preschool and can now do at home (like sewing a bean bag with " a real needle").

The moms that were in the Me and My Baby class with me 3 years ago are some of my best friends. If you are a mom with a new baby looking for your people, I highly suggest this class! The parent toddler class is completely magical. Stories, group snack, open ended play with the sweetest toys, crafts, and adult conversation while the children play...it was always the highlight of our week.

Children learn by doing here. As a parent, you have to trust the process, and the result is a deep thinking and kind child who wants to understand everything rather than just memorize it.

During our initial entrance interview, the teacher proposed that we take our child to school on a trial basis for assessment. On first day of school, the teacher and some parents were talking about being tired due to daylight saving. Out of no where, the teacher asked me,"Do they have daylight saving in China?" I replied," I don't know." Teacher asked," Aren't you from China?"
I was shocked by her ignorance but since she's a teacher, I gave her benefit of the doubt and that she did not intent to belittle and/or make us feel othered on first day of school.

On our last day there, my child had a hard time saying bye to me at drop-off in the morning and refused to let go of my hand. The teacher told me she would give us 5 min and if he doesn't go in, I should take him home. I understand her concerns and agreed. It's best that I take my child home if he is scared of her or not comfortable there. The 5 min count down made me anxious but it was what she said next that pushed us away. She mentioned my 5 year old son doesn't speak english and that he may not understand instructions. I reminded her that he does because my husband and I both speak english at home but we made the decision to only speak mandarin to him as we don't think 5 year olds would have any problem learning English. After that, she suggested that I take him to "Chinese groups" to socialize. Her remarks about us joining some "Chinese group" and assumptions about me is something I never expected from a kindergarten teacher.

After spending a few days trying to process our experience, I made the decision to speak up and share our story with the community& school. Even though I felt validated and heard after talking to the Dean, the teacher's excuse is that she was trying to be helpful, meant no harm...which are all predictable answers. Sometimes your mean no harm comments will hurt people the most, especially for culturally marginalized groups.

Edit:
We started at a new school the following week. When I spoke to the new teacher on day 2 about my son not being able to speak english, she told me twice that my son "speaks well". On 3rd day of school, my son waved goodbye, walked into class by himself and did not look back. Turns out there's nothing wrong with our child. We just needed a teacher who would accept him for who he is. As for the teacher at maple village, she still works there as a kindergarten teacher after I reported the incident to the school.

Pros: Sweet little school with a great philosophy and wonderful teachers. Their hearts are definitely in the right place.

Cons: The play area, which is shared by the toddler classes all the way up to high school, is inadequate, edging on inappropriate. There is not enough outdoor space (and no outdoor structures due to the confined space) for children to run and play. The older children play games in the alley, which is unsafe, because there is no field or large enough play area for even a simple game of ball or tag.

They have continued to manage their budget poorly, so while tuition increases, resources are stagnant. They have been in the red year after year despite charging quite a bit in tuition and fees.

Their preschool is unlicensed (there is a loophole for schools that operate as a co-op), and I imagine this is because they do not have adequate facilities for a preschool.

If I could select zero, I would. This school is like a cult. Teachers are selected based on nepotism.

My daughter attended this school since Pre-K. She left 3rd grade with a less than 1st grade reading and math level. We tried to enroll her in a better private school like Westerley and they indicated they will not take any students from Maple Village Waldorf specifically. Any other Waldorf was fine. Our only option was public school.

Maple Village mishandled her school records in violation of FERPA. They could not even provide grades or attendance records. I should have filed a formal complaint but the 90 days expired for the FERPA filing.

One year later, our daughter is finally working at grade level. She is happy in public school and she doesn't feel bad anymore. When in Maple Village, there were SO many lice breakouts. Since public school, we have not had any issues.

We had the fortune of reading a blog article about the annual Harvest Faire (put on by this school) about 7 years ago, went on a tour for the Parent tot class, and instantly knew we found something special. Our son has been at Maple Village since Parent tot, and has been there ever since (just finished 1st grade). The teachers and staff treat him the same way we would treat him. With gentleness and love, giving him guidance and rhythms and routines that are appropriate for his age / development. His vocabulary is amazing and his love of learning is evident everyday, which is fostered by this method of teaching. There is a sense of magic, warmth, and community that is noticeable as soon as you step inside.

As an engineer for aerospace, people always ask me if Waldorf education supports STEM if they don't utilize technology. I reply with a resounding YES! Technology and advancements come from creative out of the box thinking. Engineers and scientists that excel are ones that do more than just follow rules. They are always looking for new and better ways to do things. And at Maple Village, they don't just memorize facts and figures. They learn holistically and discover on their own - They learn math and coding skills with clapping, stomping, jumping, knitting, patterns, drawing.... no flash cards there... there is no need! They learn with their whole selves!

It's worth checking out - even if it's not for you, you won't know until you come by! You may be surprised and even discover a little magic along the way.

We are new to Maple Village, having joined the family during this pandemic. Even though our entire experience has been virtual, including the Walk-through, we feel like we are a part of the community. We appreciate the transparency and communication put forth by the administration and various task forces during this uncertain time. We feel included and apprised of what's going on during this ever-changing uncertain time.

School begins two weeks, and although it will be virtual,I appreciate the time and thought that has been given to distance learning. The school has created a solid structure with space for growth, rather than strictly a zoom schedule and a bunch of busy work. Additionally, I feel supported as a parent by the teacher (and school), and I am more set up to succeed at "school at home" this time around.

Furthermore, when we are ready to return in-person, Maple Village already has different plans ready to roll out once the green light is given. We are happy with our choice and are looking forward to growing and navigating these unprecedented times at Maple Village Waldorf School.

What a crazy year due to COVID. Wow, Maple Village staff, faculty, and parents were simply amazing this year. The Maple Village community really pulled together and made the most out of a challenging time. This included getting a waiver out of the box, allowing the school to operate outdoors for a good portion of the year. Online education is challenging so getting back into the classroom as soon as possible was obviously a high priority. Operating outdoors took tremendous effort and commitment, I can't stress enough how impressive this effort was by the Maple Village staff. The school made every effort to get the students inside as soon as possible as well. So much is dependent upon parent volunteers, which is a sign of a strong community. We had book clubs and lots of support through the r to help us stay engaged. The parents we encountered are always so cool, you will never experience any "keeping up with the Jones" kind of Thing. While Waldorf is a different approach, I saw the benefits this year as my son has genuine intellectual interests and loves learning. Your child won't play with iPads or do worksheets, they will learn through narrative, play, and creative activities snd you will notice a big difference.

What can I say about this little school that has changed our lives for the better...The emphasis on kindness, inclusion, empathy is palpable upon entering the gates. The teachers and staff truly love the children. We began our journey in the parent toddler class four years ago and plan on staying all the way till eight grade. We initially shuttled our two girls in an hour commute because the environment is so worth it. They look forward to school daily. I only wish it was year-round. I changed work locations and we finally moved to Long Beach just to be closer to the school and community. We love Maple Village.