How to Get into Waldorf School of the Peninsula: A Comprehensive Guide

Why Should I Apply to Waldorf School of the Peninsula?

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula is an esteemed institution that serves students from preschool through 12th grade, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. The school has two campuses – one located in Los Altos for preschool students through 5th grade, and one in Mountain View that caters to students in 6th through 12th grade. They have an average class size of 14 for their Nursery School, 20 students for Kindergarten, 25 students for elementary and middle school, and 16 for high school.  It implements the Waldorf education, which is based on a deep understanding of human development, and wherein the school believes that kids have their own natural pace of learning and that should not be hurried. Since its establishment in 1984, the school has been committed to providing a holistic education with a whole-child approach, allowing students to achieve their maximum potential in both academics and their physical, cognitive, emotional, and moral aspects. During their early childhood programs, kids are given practical and hands-on activities to develop not only their minds but also their bodies, creativity, and imagination. During grade school, each student’s artistic and social expressions are given focus to develop their capacity to be the source of social change. Lastly, during high school, students are taught to think critically and develop independent judgment, ultimately forming interests in profound life questions, such as how they can make a difference in the world, and ultimately gaining the skills and understanding to do so.

How hard is it to get into the Waldorf School of the Peninsula? 

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula is renowned for its holistic approach and small class sizes, making it one of the most sought-after schools in the Bay Area. With many families aspiring to get in, the admission process is competitive and challenging, with only the best fit students gaining entry. 

The application involves several steps, including questionnaires for both students and parents, as well as interviews for both. Depending on the grade level, there might also be a student assessment or placement exams. 

Given the comprehensive process and the school’s reputation, early preparation is key to success. Many families find it helpful to partner with an experienced private school admissions consultant like Cardinal Education. Their expertise can provide valuable guidance through each stage of the application, ultimately increasing your child’s chances of being accepted. They can offer insights into what the Waldorf School of the Peninsula looks for and help you present your child in the best possible light. 

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula School Admissions Process

The application for the Waldorf School of the Peninsula starts with creating an account in Ravenna. This is where you will be submitting the application requirements and keeping track of its status. Below are the requirements for the application.

1. Fill out and submit the preliminary application form and fees
2. Scheduling a Shadow Visit
3. Completing the student assessment or playgroup
4. Filling out the Behavior Questionnaire
5. Fill out the Student Questionnaire, Sample Work, and Artistic Piece
6. Delegating and requesting teacher recommendations.
7. Submissions of report cards

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula School Admission Requirements

Behavior Questionnaire for the Waldorf School of the Peninsula Admissions

Applicants in middle school and high school will be required to answer a student questionnaire. This will give the admissions officers a view of the applicant’s experiences, personality, character, and perspectives, and see if they will be a good fit for the school. The student questionnaire consists of 8 questions, all of which are character count-free. Additionally, there will be an optional submission of an artwork prompted by the questionnaire.

How to answer the WSP behavior questionnaire

Your child will be asked to tell their favorite subjects, activities, clubs, organizations, and even their favorite movies or TV programs. In answering the behavior questionnaire, be honest and genuine. Admissions officers would want to get a glimpse of your child’s character and see if they will be a good fit for the school. It will be helpful to submit a self-portrait using any medium your child is comfortable with. Your child’s self-image will be reflected in the artwork, so be sure your child is motivated and in good spirit when doing this activity. 

Student Essay  for the Waldorf School of the Peninsula Admission

How to write a student essay for Silicon Valley’s Waldorf School

In writing the student essay, it is important to think about the various characteristics you would like to show. Remember that uniqueness and differentiation are crucial factors in writing these essays, so you must show not only how strong of a learner your child is, but also how strong of a community builder, friend, and classmate they are. By displaying all these traits, the admissions committee will understand how your child will be a great addition to the school’s community. As always, it is a must to stay positive and highlight your strengths while focusing on turning weaknesses and challenges around into something motivating and inspiring. Lastly, providing anecdotes to support the essay and solidify your child’s experiences, and ultimately make them more impactful. To learn more about how to write a great and amazing student essay, click here.

Student Assessment for the Waldorf of the Peninsula School Admission

In applying to the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, applicants will be required to do a student assessment depending on the grade. The setup of these assessments may change from year to year, but no matter how it is structured, it is all for the same reason. Admissions officers use the student assessments not only to assess intellect and academic dominance and make placement decisions, but they can also be used to see how students interact in real time with other kids their age and with some adults. This will be the perfect opportunity to demonstrate and show your collaborative skills, social skills, and communication skills.

Recommendation Letters for the Waldorf of the Peninsula School Admission

The application to the Waldorf School of the Peninsula will require three recommendation letters – one from the English teacher, one from the Math teacher, and one from the Principal or counselor. If you’re applying for pre-school or kindergarten, a recommendation letter from a daycare teacher can be submitted, though it’s optional. The request form for the recommendation letters is available in Ravenna. You will be able to delegate the recommendation writers from there and track if they have submitted it or not.

How to get strong recommendation letters for Silicon Valley’s Waldorf School

In getting strong recommendation letters, there are multiple factors to be considered. The first factor to be considered is grades. With great grades, it is more likely for teachers to write amazing compliments. Second, is involvement with the school. The more a student is involved in the school, the more anecdotes a teacher, the principal, or the counselor could write about the student. Lastly, the most important piece is having a great relationship with the teachers. At the end of the day, they will be the ones writing the recommendation letters and will be the ones to decide what to put in them. Thus, it will be important to truly maintain great relationships with the teachers, the principal, and the counselor, since they will be the ones advocating for your child with the letters. Our private school admissions consultants will give you guidance on how to manage and thread these relationships to that admissions-worthy recommendation letter.

Report Cards and Transcripts  for the Waldorf of the Peninsula School Admission

Applicants will be required to submit their report cards from the current semester and from last year. These will be uploaded through the school’s portal in Ravenna. These transcripts will be used by the admission officers to see your child’s academic performance in school and how it compares with other kids from your school.

How to improve grades  for Silicon Valley’s Waldorf School

The transcripts will be an important part of the application since they determine if your child will be able to thrive in the school’s academic curriculum. Thus, through the grades, you must show your academic excellence by not only achieving top grades but also achieving them in the top rigorous classes. If your child needs to improve their grades, consider enrolling in independent tutoring and academic coaching programs.

Interviews for the Waldorf of the Peninsula School Admission

After the application requirements have been submitted, Waldorf School of the Peninsula will contact you to schedule an interview for the student applicants and the parents. Interviews like these are usually casual, conversational, and just a way for the admissions officers to personally see your family dynamics, confidence, behavior, and if the applicant, along with their parents, will be a great addition to the school community.

How to prepare for admission interviews for Silicon Valley’s Waldorf School

Admissions interviews are not just about perfectly answering the questions but also forming a connection with the interviewer. With the interview, it is important to double click on the various things you have talked about in the questionnaires, add more, and really show your love and commitment to the school. In preparing for these interviews, it will be a matter of knowing the various stories you can share for different kinds of questions. This is where our comprehensive interview preparation program comes in. With nearly 2 decades of being in the business, we have gathered knowledge on the various possible questions that can be asked and have built a formula on how to finish off these interviews with flying colors. With these, along with the guidance of our great admissions consultants, you can rest easy with confidence that you will be thoroughly prepared for these interviews.

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula Online and In-person Events

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula offers some events to help families know more about the school and for them to know more about the family. These events are both available online and can be used to portray interest in the school, which can give a few plus points in your overall application. Below are the ways you can engage with these opportunities.

• Booking an Introduction Call: The Waldorf School of the Peninsula makes it possible for families to schedule a 1:1 introduction call with one of their admissions officers. This will be a 15-minute call for the school to introduce their learning community and for you the make a positive first impression on the admissions officers so that when you submit your application, they will know that it’s you.

• Signing Up for an Open House: You can sign up for open houses via the school’s website. Open Houses are an opportunity to not only learn more about the school and experience being there firsthand, it is also an opportunity to build connections and network with the various school staff that might help in boosting your application.

Tips for engaging in Waldorf School online and in-person events.

• Stay Positive: The most important rule in any event is being positive. Being positive not only makes the school want you as an addition to their community, but this also allows you to build good relationships and connections with people in the school, and who could then advocate for your family in terms of admissions.

• Take Notes: During these events, it will be important to take notes of the experiences, information gathered, lessons learned, and such. These notes will come in handy in adding anecdotes to the essays and when interacting with the admissions officers during the interview.

• Asking Smart Questions: Asking smart questions during these events will show how much interest you have in the school. Simply asking obvious questions or questions that can easily be answered by looking through the school’s website must be avoided. These help in showing your potential as an active, involved, and interested potential addition to the school community..

Student life at Waldorf School of the Peninsula

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula aims to nurture and develop its students to become critical thinkers who act with purpose and look for challenge.  Therefore, the school provides opportunities and school activities integrated into its academic curriculum. With these options, students are encouraged to spark their inner enthusiasm to learn and work, challenge their intellectual capacities, develop their artistic and emotional side, nd last build practical hands-on skills to ultimately give a holistic education and develop their students into well-rounded individuals.

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula Curriculum Overview

In Waldorf School of the Peninsula, a three-fold approach is used to teach every lesson is an educating, dynamic, and collaborative manner. The school’s three-fold approach, often called learning through head, heart, and hands, aims to not only develop their minds but also their emotions, body, and creativity to thrive and grow in their challenging and stimulating academic program.

Core Academic Programs at Silicon Valley’s Waldorf School

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula has its academic program centered around the Waldorf discipline, which deeply integrates art into its curriculum. The school’s main teaching discipline is a three-fold approach, encompassing the education of thinking, feeling, and doing. The school’s curriculum also reflects the three developmental phases of childhood, which they use to tailor and detail the different facets of their curriculum and adjust their methods as their students grow from early childhood to high school. Through the school’s curriculum, students are taught about the importance of community and their relationships with themselves, their friends, classmates, teachers, and the world around them. 

The school implements Main Lesson Blocks and Track Classes, which enable students to explore not only the core curriculum but also pursue unique academic subjects. Students can get into unique academic subjects in the main lesson blocks. These are month-long double periods that occur each morning, and they help students really get into a subject matter of their interest. Some track classes are also offered by the school to follow the main lesson block.

The sciences in the school are taught in an experiential manner, where students conduct experiments to make their own observations and draw their own conclusions. This ensures that each student will develop true scientific thinking to be competent, along with the school’s ascending spiral of knowledge in various fields of science. The school’s humanities program offers a rich immersion for each student. The students are taught about various cultures and literatures to widen their perspective of the world and ultimately develop a deep appreciation for the diversity of mankind.

What are the athletics at The Waldorf School of the Peninsula?

With the focus on developing team-building skills and promoting of having a healthy body, several athletic options are given by the Waldorf School of the Peninsula for its students to join while emphasizing the importance of discipline, respect, and sportsmanship. The school aims to make its athletics program not only complementary to its academic program but also an additional facet to make the school experience richer and balanced. With the school’s commitment to inclusion and participation, every sport is open to any student who is willing to commit to practice and playing. Students are also allowed to advocate for a new athletic initiative if their sport is currently not one being hosted by the school.

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula’s extracurricular arts and music activities

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula’s art programs are integrated into its academic program to enhance the students’ school experience and provide them with a balanced and holistic education. With this, the school encourages its students to be emotionally invested in their education, be self-aware, and be more responsible with their aesthetic pursuits. Aside from producing beautiful pieces of art, through art, the school also teaches its students to develop not only be ability to solidify their creativity and ideas into art but also to initiate growth in their imagination, self-control, and critical thinking skills to help not only in academics but also in real-world events.

Clubs and organizations at The Waldorf School of the Peninsula

Aside from athletics, Waldorf School of the Peninsula offers a variety of extracurricular activities for students to participate in and pursue their passions along with their peers and with the guidance of faculty advisors. Whether it’s in the arts or in academics, the school offers an environment to foster community participation and student pursuit with collaboration and friendship. The school offers activities such as theater, bands, community service, and activities that teach practical skills. All of these with the goal to develop each student’s skills, communicative skills, and collaborative skills, and to promote community and school engagement while being able to do what they love to do.

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula Famous Alumni

• Laila Waheed –  Court Executive Officer at Superior Court of California, County of Nevada

• Alyssa Woodman – Sr. Manager at Tesla and a co-founder of the Tesla Mentorship Program

• Phoenix Bick-Maurischat – Property Manager at Smith Commercial Management
  
• Zack Wurtz – Director of Operations at Acterra

• Erika Johannsen – Lead mixologist at Roe

• Maxwell Goldman – Musician and Songwriter

• Merlin Woodman – Market Research Analyst

• David Kellenberger – Senior Director, S Ventures at SentinelOne

• Owen Metzger – Manager, Strategic Initiatives at HealthImpact

• Ilana Siegel – Director of Graphic Design at Office of the Queens Borough President

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