Community Pledge

The education of a child is best served when the school and parents/guardians share a commitment to collaboration, open lines of communication, mutual respect, and when roles, responsibilities, and expectations are clearly defined.

As teachers, staff, Trustees, parents, and guardians committed to the principles of Waldorf Education, we hereby pledge to uphold the following guidelines and contribute to the wellbeing of our community, helping to fulfill the mission of Alabama Waldorf School:

1. Respect for the Waldorf Philosophy

• Respect that the Alabama Waldorf School educational policies and curriculum are informed by the anthroposophical lens of developmental life stages in the child 0-14 years.

2. Basis of Mutual Trust

• Commit to fostering relationships on the basis of mutual trust between parents/guardians and faculty/staff, recognizing its significance in creating a positive educational environment.

• Be aware that events have many perspectives, be prepared to listen to them, seek to verify facts, and demonstrate an ability to give others the benefit of the doubt.

• Recognize that there will be situations in which all the adults involved will not agree on action taken, but with a commitment to mutual trust, all the adults can respect decisions and support one another.

3. Respect for Governance and Policies

• Demonstrate respect for the governance, policies, and procedures of the school by reading this handbook and requesting additional information as necessary.

• Support members of the school community in following school policies by directing them to the school handbooks or school personnel.

• Contact your class teacher or school leadership directly when you have a question or need clarification of a school matter rather than depending upon the interpretation of parents/guardians or other non-official school sources.

4. Active Communication and Conflict Resolution

• Use courteous, polite, and socially acceptable language at all times.

• Agree to follow the school’s established process for communicating and resolving concerns, maintaining respectful discussion of concerns or disputes with those who are able to bring about change.

• Respect the individual needs and privacy of each family by placing a high value on maintaining confidentiality.

• Seek to clarify a child’s version of events with the adult’s view in order to avoid misunderstanding and to help bring about successful resolution.

• Consider the safety of others’ emotional and physical well-being and embrace a culture of compassion by not labeling individual children and their behavior within the classroom community.

• Commit to having constructive and restorative conversations aimed at bringing about positive resolution, and refrain from using social media, group email and texts, or group social events to fuel discontent or spread unsubstantiated criticism or gossip of individual school employees, other parents and guardians, students, school programs, or services.

5. Participation and Shared Responsibilities

• Commit to staying informed through school communications, and to attending parent/guardian support nights, back to school events, and other school functions.

• Be an active volunteer with the Family Association, participating in workday activities, special events, and other requests as available.

• Contribute to fundraisers and giving campaigns.

• Honor and respect the diversity of humankind, demonstrate tolerance for individual differences, and commit to responsible care for the natural world.

By embracing these principles and the guidelines within the Parent and Guardian Handbook, we actively pledge a positive contribution to the nurturing and supportive atmosphere of Alabama Waldorf School, and to preserving an environment conducive to the well-being and development of our children.