Mayfest

May celebrations come from a tradition of the celebration of the beginning of summer. Children and adults have traditionally worn flowers when dancing around a May Pole. A "May Crown" or wreath of flowers for the head symbolized the full arrival of spring and new growth.
--Festivals, Family, and Food

Michaelmas

In the North, the festival of the harvest takes place in the season when darkness is increasing. But beyond the season, the message of Michaelmas relates to the growing courage of the human heart.
-- Celebrating Festivals around the World by Evelyn Capel

Martinmas

From France comes the legend of St. Martin, who as a young man passed under an archway in the city of Amiens and discovered a poor beggar huddled there. On seeing he, the young Martin took his own cape from his shoulder, tore the garment in half and  covered the poor man to warm him.The experience confirmed in him his devotion to all mankind regardless of their station in life. The evening of Martinmas is remembered with a festival of lanterns.
-- Festivals, Family , and Food

Wintergarden

As we approach the darkest time of year, the eternal nature of the light within each child's heart is reflected in the outward experience of walking to the center of an evergreen spiral to light a candle from a central flame.

Community

Who we are:

Working together as a community is one of the cornerstones of Waldorf Philosophy. The Shining Rivers School faculty, Board of Trustees, and parents are dedicated to providing quality Waldorf education to the St. Louis area. Even though we have different ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds, we are all drawn together by common values. We believe in protecting the innocence of childhood, limiting media exposure, eating wholesome foods, and educating our children in a way that promotes a natural love of learning.

What we do:

The faculty is the backbone of the Shining Rivers School community. With extensive background in the Waldorf method, they act as guides and advisers in every aspect of the school’s functioning. Besides teaching, the faculty also educates our community through its monthly parent lecture series and by making the school readily available to parents.

The Board of Trustees is composed of faculty, parents, and friends of the community, who provide effective leadership to the school and strive to incorporate Waldorf principles in their meetings.

Parents play a very active role in the Shining Rivers community by attending Parent Council meetings, volunteering on at least one committee, and participating in the many activities such as festivals, fund-raising events, and assemblies. Parents form close bonds with each other during these activities and others, such as school work days, the annual brunch, and the Gold and Silver picnic at year’s end.

How We Have Succeeded:

Through the efforts of our dedicated community, we have recently purchased a beautiful new campus for our children. The campus provides many opportunities for children to explore nature in an “English Woodland Garden” and a meadow that were constructed through the efforts of our faculty and parents.

Because of the high priority our community places on quality teachers, we also provide the means for our faculty to receive additional training during the summer.

In short, each person in our midst brings to the school unique talents and skills, which blend with those of all the others to form a community that enriches all of us.