This year, Seneca has partnered with Community School for Creative Education (CSCE), a Waldorf public charter school located in the San Antonio district of Oakland, California. CSCE serves TK-8th grade with approximately 200 students. CSCE’s mission is to provide a rigorous college-preparatory program integrated into a culturally rich, arts-infused, highly personalized curriculum inspired by Waldorf education for the diverse students of Oakland, to promote equity and prepare culturally competent, well-rounded, lifelong learners to lead, contribute to, and successfully participate in our rapidly changing multicultural society.
The Waldorf approach to education is an inclusive and holistic experience for all students, focusing on more than academics in hopes of providing students with the tools to navigate life. Staff work to understanding the developmental nature of the students as well as their lived experience both inside and outside of school. CSCE strives to be a vital community partner by cultivating robust connections for students and their families. CSCE’s core values are to take care of yourself, others, and space. Education for the hands, head, and heart enhances both social emotional and academic outcomes for all students. Similarly, Seneca’s Unconditional education (UE) model strives to provide opportunities for all students to be integrated into their greater school communities while working deliberately to close the immense educational opportunities and achievement gaps. Both the UE model and the Waldorf educational approach focuses on centering students and relationships.
CSCE chose to work in partnership with Seneca to boost overall culture and climate and to enrich their Coordination of Services Team (COST). In melding UE with the Waldorf approach, our work is to build consistent systems and structures, enhance CSCE’s relational approach to working with students, and to celebrate student and staff wins along the way. As in all of our partnerships, the work will be to support the school in integrating the behavioral, relational, and ecological approach to student support. This includes finding the balance between leveraging the power of individual relationships in support of student growth and development, while also creating a level of predictability and consistency in school-wide expectations for behavior and behavioral supports. All of this work is in support of creating a trauma-informed, and healing-centered learning environment where students, staff, and families feel safe, seen, and empowered to be their most authentic selves.
The Waldorf approach to education is an inclusive and holistic experience for all students, focusing on more than academics in hopes of providing students with the tools to navigate life. Staff work to understanding the developmental nature of the students as well as their lived experience both inside and outside of school. CSCE strives to be a vital community partner by cultivating robust connections for students and their families. CSCE’s core values are to take care of yourself, others, and space. Education for the hands, head, and heart enhances both social emotional and academic outcomes for all students. Similarly, Seneca’s Unconditional education (UE) model strives to provide opportunities for all students to be integrated into their greater school communities while working deliberately to close the immense educational opportunities and achievement gaps. Both the UE model and the Waldorf educational approach focuses on centering students and relationships.
CSCE chose to work in partnership with Seneca to boost overall culture and climate and to enrich their Coordination of Services Team (COST). In melding UE with the Waldorf approach, our work is to build consistent systems and structures, enhance CSCE’s relational approach to working with students, and to celebrate student and staff wins along the way. As in all of our partnerships, the work will be to support the school in integrating the behavioral, relational, and ecological approach to student support. This includes finding the balance between leveraging the power of individual relationships in support of student growth and development, while also creating a level of predictability and consistency in school-wide expectations for behavior and behavioral supports. All of this work is in support of creating a trauma-informed, and healing-centered learning environment where students, staff, and families feel safe, seen, and empowered to be their most authentic selves.
Blog Post Written By: Devina Brooks, Director of School Partnerships
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