The Waldorf School of Garden City completed its 65th school-year on Thursday, June 14th. Continuing a Waldorf tradition, the school year ended with a beautiful closing assembly where students performed recitations, songs, dances and short plays for their teachers, families and friends. In addition, each first grade student presented the gift of a rose to a graduating senior as part of the annual Rose Ceremony. Later that evening, the class of 2016 took part in the eighth grade graduation ceremony.

During the assembly, Faculty Chair Sabine Kully presented flowers and thanked Mrs. Jo Ann Shaw and Mrs. Rebecca Soloway – two well-respected members of the faculty who are each retiring after 23 years of teaching at Waldorf. In 1989, Mrs. Shaw joined the faculty as a lower school class teacher for the class of 1996 (grades 6-8) – and later added the classes of 2001 (grades 4-8), 2002 (grade 8), 2006 (grade 5), 2011 (grades 1-8) and 2016 (grades 5-8) to her tenure. Mrs. Soloway, who also joined the faculty in 1989 as a middle and high school math teacher, later added lower school class teaching to her impressive resume – teaching the classes of 2005 (grades 1-8), 2010 (grades 4-8) and 2017 (grades 6-7). At the assembly, colleagues, students, parents, and friends gave both teachers standing ovations.

With a successful year behind them, the students and families at the Waldorf School can look forward to the relaxation and rewards of the summer vacation. Opening day for grades 1-12 for the 2012-2013 school year will be on Tuesday, September 4th.