The Waldorf School of Garden City was home to a whirlwind of activities this past weekend, as Parents, Alums, Faculty, Students, and Friends all came together to celebrate the fall season as a community and enjoy a variety of fun and informative events.

The Waldorf Symposium kicked off the weekend on Friday, October 18^th. Entitled, “An Alumni Introspection: Experience the Journey after Waldorf,” this incredible gathering saw twelve alums representing classes between 1978 and 2013, plus Moderator Anne Murray ’85, return to share their journeys and wisdom with our current high school students and prospective Waldorf families. After a continental breakfast sponsored by the Board of Trustees, the alums took the stage to address the crowd of over 100 guests, in Bonner Hall where they described their own professional journeys, and how Waldorf helped inform the choices they made and the paths they followed.

“[The Waldorf School] taught me how to learn, and that is the most important thing you can get out of an education. It taught me intellectual curiosity, it taught me how to think, how to ask questions… I always come back to the foundation I got here because it taught me how to be a thinker.” – Nathaniel H. Robin, MD ‘81

Following the panel discussion, the alums met with small groups of seniors and juniors to discuss in greater detail their personal and professional journeys after Waldorf. These groups allowed students the opportunity to ask specific questions and gain valuable insight into their future careers while also making important connections in fields that interest them. While each alum’s path and story were unique, they shared one commonality, they all blazed their own trails and had the capacity to think and plan for themselves, rather than simply follow common knowledge.

“The biggest thing I took away from Waldorf was the ability to show up, to be persistent, to be present in every moment, and to find opportunities that might not always be apparent.” – David Resnick ‘79

Friday evening, alums met at Prost Bar and Grill in Garden City for the School’s annual welcome back reception. This was a great opportunity for graduates of all ages to reconnect and reminisce about their time at Waldorf. The night was filled with recounting fond memories and expressing gratitude for the School that helped make them who they are today.

Gorgeous weather welcomed the 40th annual Fall Fair at the School on Saturday. The entire community and beyond spent a day filled with friends, food, and fun. Across the grounds, children were seen playing, crafting, singing, and dancing. Young children were able to enjoy carnival games, jump-rope making, arts & crafts, as well as the annual puppet play featuring a presentation of  “Pico the Gnome,” performed by the Early Childhood Faculty. For the older children, there were games and music, and for the adults, there were plenty of craft vendors and class fundraisers to explore. The annual Alumni Soccer games also proved to be a crowd-pleaser as alums and students competed in intense bouts of skill. The Soccer games also provided a special moment for students, faculty, alumni, and community members to remember former Athletics Director, Paul LeSueur. The LeSueur family joined our community in a moment of silence followed by a small ceremony in which it was announced that the School Gymnasium will be renamed Paul LeSueur Hall following a round of renovations supported by a special fundraising initiative.  The official naming is set to take place in Summer/Fall 2020.

Overall, the Fall Fair once again proved to be a huge success as an important fundraiser for the Parent-Teacher Association.

Thank you to all those who participated in our Alumni Weekend and Fall Fair 2019, and a special thank you to all of the volunteers who took the time to make the event a memorable one.