AWS History
Alabama Waldorf School began as The Redmont School in the Waldorf Tradition, and was initiated by a small group of Birmingham-area parents who desired a more well-rounded and creative educational experience for their young children than what was readily available in 1987.
It has grown from a basement day care to a flourishing school with its own 4-acre campus.
Multi-age programs in Nursery, Kindergarten and Grades culminate to prepare students to enter high school with compassion, confidence and an academic foundation permeated with joy. Our graduates continue their education in competitive public and private high schools and then beyond in their chosen universities.
From its inception, the school has developed because of the knowledge, dedication and hard work of the school’s founders, supporters, parents, and educators. The school was accredited in November 2015 by the Southeastern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and in March 2016 by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). AWS is also accredited by Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN).
Educational Philosophy
Alabama Waldorf School established its curriculum utilizing the traditional Waldorf philosophy as defined by world-renowned scientist, philosopher and artist Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Waldorf education evolved from Steiner’s thorough understanding of human development and addresses the needs of children as they move through development on every level: physical, mental, emotional.
In the preschool (Nursery & Kindergarten), children enjoy a rhythmic day alternating between focused activity (Circle, Story, Snack) and unhindered play both indoors and out of doors. Our low-media policy ensures that play is filled with the child’s own imagination.
In the Grades, educational material is presented in themed blocks so that students understand how disparate subjects — math, language arts, science, music, history, etc. — work together. This creates a deeper and broader understanding of the world, allowing knowledge to be absorbed easily and effortlessly applied to real-world situations.
Through a curriculum that includes 4,000 years of history, annual dramatic plays, and a phenomenological approach to Physics and Geometry, Waldorf middle school students gain high levels of critical thinking ability, and they possess the self-awareness and confidence needed to foster success and a lifetime love of learning. Worldwide, 94% of Waldorf graduates choose to attend college, and 91% consider themselves active in lifelong education.
For more information about Waldorf Education and other resources, visit AWSNA's website.
