Whatcom Hills Waldorf School

06/02/2026

Our 8th graders recently returned from their culminating trip, a week-long rafting adventure on the Green River in Utah with Deer Hill Expeditions. Their teacher, Ms. Sandwith, shared:

"One of the great gifts of this trip is that students are device-free. In a world where screens so often mediate experience, it was profoundly moving to see fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds fully present in the wild. They noticed things. They smelled sage after rain. They watched the river. They studied cryptobiotic soil. They wove willow baskets from willow harvested near the riverbanks. They saw wild mustangs, bighorn sheep, great blue herons, cows, lizards, and one unforgettable snake eating a lizard. They learned why rapids form. They cheered each other through challenges. They stepped outside habitual friendships and found new ways of connecting.

I saw courage, tenderness, humor, resilience, silliness, care, and joy. I saw students who had been reluctant at the beginning become reluctant to leave when we finally reached the take-out."

Read the full recap on our blog: https://www.whws.org/blog/8th-grade-rafting-trip-on-the-green-river

05/26/2026

The 6th grade recently traveled to Hood Canal for the Medieval Games! Joining students from other regional Waldorf schools, they were divided into shires that competed in archery, rope jousting, a running relay, puzzle challenges and more. A highlight was the medieval feast hosted by the community.  We look forward to welcoming many of these friends to the Renaissance Faire at Whatcom Hills in 7th grade!

05/25/2026

There are so many reasons to smile when you’re a Chickadee! Our nursery preschool children spend their days learning through play and exploring our nature-filled campus ☺️🌳🌿

05/20/2026

From branches and Cedar planks to bricks of clay, bamboo, reeds and stone, Grade 3 has been traveling through their classroom to far away AND not-so-distant lands, discovering the many ways that human beings have created shelter from the resources around them.

In Waldorf schools across the world, 3rd graders study lots of different kinds of primitive homes created by early human civilizations, as well as traditional and indigenous dwellings used today. Thoughtfully considering materials, purpose, and place, as part of this exploration the students complete a shelter project: they must research, design, and build their own model version, while also preparing their first handwritten research report on their chosen dwelling and the people who inhabit(ed) it.

This curriculum meets the children at an important developmental moment, when they are beginning to experience themselves as more independent and separate from the world around them (the 9 year change). The study of shelter offers a grounding, practical way to explore how human beings create safety, belonging, and relationship to the land, while offering a rich and integrated academic experience of history, geography, and language arts.

Families are invited to see the shelter projects this Friday, May 22, after school! 🛖🏠🔨

05/19/2026

It was a treat to welcome the to WHWS last week for a wonderful musical performance for our students and staff! We were especially excited to see two of our Whatcom Hills alumni, Ella (Class of 2022) and Odessa (Class of 2024); Ella even conducted one of the pieces!

In Waldorf education, music and the arts are woven into daily learning from the earliest years, nurturing confidence, creativity, and a deep sense of expression. It was inspiring to see our graduates carrying that love of music forward and sharing their gifts with our community 🎶

05/18/2026

Our 5th grade teacher, Mr. McDonald, writes of his class's recent experience at the Greek Games! It's a treat to see this tradition through his eyes. Click to read!

Whatcom Hills, a private school in Bellingham, WA, has been offering a vibrant, academic, arts-infused PK, primary & middle school education since 1986.

05/13/2026

Mr. Shannon's 7th grade class recently presented their Explorer Reports, including Malala, Amelia Earhart, Don Sheldon, Laura Dekker, Ernest Shackleton, Georgia O'Keefe, Nain Singh Rawat, Mae Jemison, Jackie Robinson, and more. In the Waldorf 7th grade curriculum, history focuses on the Age of Exploration, meeting the students’ adolescent quest for independence through the study of navigation, discovery, and the inner journeys of explorers of all kinds 🌎

05/12/2026

At WHWS we know that recess isn't a break from education ~ it's an essential part of it. Students through 8th grade have two daily recesses and weekly outdoor Movement ("PE") classes, in addition to integrated movement during Main Lesson, Eurythmy, and more. Waldorf education is embodied learning!

For the first time in more than a decade, a leading pediatricians group has put out new guidance about recess, saying it’s crucial for good health and good grades and should be part of the school day for students of all ages.

05/11/2026

The 8th Grade Project is a rite of passage in the Waldorf curriculum, with each student completing a year-long independent study alongside a mentor from their chosen field. The journey culminates in a formal presentation to their peers, parents, and community members, and we warmly invite you to support this hardworking 8th grade class. Presentations begin tonight!

💚 May 11, 12, and 13
🧡 6 - 8:30pm
💛 Alia Hall

All are welcome!