WINDSONG SCHOOLFestival & Events
Note: Provided timeframes for events are approximate. Please consult the school calendar for exact dates. Events and details are subject to change.
Photo & Video Policy: We ask that community members do not take photos or video at events so that as a participant or audience member, you can focus on being present in the experience with your child. Photos are typically taken by a designated person and shared in our community newsletter afterward.
Summer Break
When: Early June through end of August.
All School Meeting
Who: Adults only (non-mobile babes-in-arm welcome)
When: Late August, the Wednesday evening before school begins
Where: UU Church of Spokane (next door to Windsong) & Classrooms
What: The All-School Meeting is our community touch-point to gather after a long summer just before the school year begins. Teachers hold class meetings before or after the All-School portion to share the year’s curriculum and welcome new families.
First Day of School
Grades Students: Tuesday after Labor Day
Kindergarten Students: Wednesday after Labor Day
Parent-Child Families: First full week after Labor Day
Rose Ceremony
Who: Windsong Community
When: Second Thursday of the school year, at 8:15am
Where: Grassy area next to EC morning circle location
What: The short and sweet ceremony formally welcomes the incoming first grade class to the grades program. Roses are given to each first grader from their older “rose buddy.” Grades and EC give the new class a gift.
Michaelmas “Festival of Courage”
Who: Windsong Community*
*Michaelmas is geared towards grades students and families, but early childhood families are welcome to attend. The dragon in the performance can be scary for some children and the games are geared toward older students but many youngers enjoy the excitement of it all.
When: Last Friday of September, after school (about 2:00-3:00 pm)
Where: Grades Play Yard
What: This festival held by the grades program where students in grades three & up perform the story of St. George and the Dragon to give us a living picture of what it means and what is needed to overcome fear and darkness in the world. This courage is present from the initial incarnation of the human being deciding to come to earth, to the youngest of the kindergarteners being brave enough to cross the threshold to kindergarten for the very first time, to the grades student who stands up for a friend in the play yard, to the adolescent who tries something new to the adult to overcomes unhelpful patterns of behavior. The human condition requires courage! The performance is followed by games of courage and tasty dragon bread.
Come prepared: Wearing fiery colors yellow, orange, and red – is encouraged!
Volunteer opportunity: Volunteers are needed to help set up the games of courage, to supervise the games, and to bake dragon bread.
Picture Day
Who: All Students
When: Late September/ early October, during school hours
What: We partner with TotShots Studio to take our school, class, and student photos on Windsong’s campus. Parents/guardians receive photo order forms if they wish to purchase print or digital copies.
Carnival
Who: Grades Students Only
When: Last Friday of October, during school hours
Where: Grades Play Yard
What: Hosted by the 4th grade class, the grades play yard fills with games of skill and chance that students play to win fun prizes. The carnival concludes with a group event involving some kind of fun with pumpkins (pumpkin rolling, pumpkin racing, pumpkin launching…).
Lantern Walk
Who: Windsong Community (extended family & friends welcome!)
When: First Friday of November, in the evening (around 6:00 pm)
Where: Cannon Hill Park
What: The Lantern Walk begins with a story play peformed by the oldest graders at the school about a person journeying through life who at times needs their lantern relit and at other times is able to provide light to others. Isn’t this a picture of what it means to be in community? This festival is also held at the time of the year when harvest has ended and with it the abundance of life and energy that the earth has provided. As we turn toward the darkness of winter, our soul forces must carry us and the earth through to the next season.
In that spirit, we light each others’ lanterns and walk around the pond, lighting the path for one another in reflection, reverence, hope, and gratitude.
Students make lanterns ahead of the festival and additional lanterns are available for guests. When walking around the pond, we sing “Glimmer, Lantern, Glimmer” or hold reverent quiet. A recording of the song is shared ahead of time if you wish to learn it.
Come prepared: Bring your child’s lantern. A long-stem lighter is helpful if you need to re-light the lantern. Wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes – parts of the path are uneven. A small flashlight for extra light may be helpful.
Volunteer opportunity: Volunteers are sometimes called to create extra lanterns for guests.
Autumn Break
When: The week of Thanksgiving.
Winter Faire
Who: Windsong Community (extended family, friends, and the wider community are welcome!)
When: First Saturday in December
Where: Audubon Park Masonic Lodge
What: The Winter Faire is a beloved community event celebrating the season through artistry, creativity, and warmth. Local artisans and crafters offer handmade goods, perfect for holiday giving, while families enjoy festive activities, treats, and the joyful spirit of togetherness. Children delight in face painting, crafts, and a crystal cave, where they can visit the Snow Queen. If we’re lucky, Jack Frost and King Winter may stop by to spread a little extra sparkle and cheer.
Come prepared: Bring your family and friends, your festive spirit, and perhaps a little spending money to support our local makers. Warm clothes are recommended, as some activities may take place outdoors.
Volunteer opportunity: Volunteers are needed to help set up, bake cookies, pass out treats, and assist with children’s activities. It’s a wonderful way to contribute to the magic of this event and connect with others in the Windsong community.
Saint Nicholas
Who: Grades Students Only
When: Early December, during school hours
What: Saint Nicholas visits each grades class to share wisdom and recognition with each student. Students leave their shoes outside, and after the visit, find a little gift left in them!
Children's Store
Who: All Students
When: Mid-December, during school hours
What: The eldest grades class transforms their classroom into a winter season gift store, stocked with simple, handmade items contributed by the whole community. Each kindergarten and grade class comes to shop for item to proudly give as a gifts to their families (and maybe a little something for themselves…). Younger students are assisted by the hosting class in selecting and wrapping their items.
*MAJOR* Volunteer opportunity: We ask that families contribute 10-12 simple, handcrafted, gift-able items to the store. To preserve the magic of the Children’s Store, these items should be created by adults without the help of the children. Items should be non-perishable and brought to the office in a labeled display basket. Expert craftsmanship not required.
Winter's Gifts
Who: Windsong Community (extended family & friends welcome!)
When: The Friday before winter break, beginning around 12:00 p.m.
Where: UU Church of Spokane (next door to Windsong)
What: Before parting for winter break, we celebrate the winter season together with gifts of a puppet story performed by faculty and a rich program of musical performances by Windsong students. Homemade muffins are offered by the Merry Muffin Shop in the foyer at the end.
Volunteer opportunity: Parent Circle organizes the Merry Muffin Shop, and volunteers are needed to bake muffins and manage the shop before and after the performance.
Winter Break
When: The two weeks covering Christmas and New Years.
Middle School Dance
Who: 6th – 8th Grade
When: Valentine’s Day (or closest weekday), in the evening
Where: Holy Names Recital Hall*
*Typically held here; check community newsletter to confirm.
What: Middle school students balfolk dance the night away with the musical direction of Windsong’s music teacher. Students get to get fancy, get down, and share a potluck meal. And no parents allowed!
February Break
When: First week after Valentines day.
Spring Break
When: First full week of April.
May Day
Who: Windsong Community (extended family & friends welcome!)
When: First Friday of May, late afternoon (around 4:30pm)
Where: Campus field near Early Childhood
What: The May Day Festival comes from the ancient human rituals in the Northern Hemisphere celebrating the return of light and life – the sun’s growing warmth, the sprouting of new crops, the blossoming of flowers – which mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring. We gather as a community to celebrate the new spring together.
May Day includes a pageant performed by grades students, including the procession of the May Queen to her throne. Then families enjoy a picnic dinner and treats from the community dessert table. The festival is capped off with cascarones – eggshells filled with confetti – that students (and adults!) can crack over one another’s heads, and then a community circle and song.
Parent Circle also hosts Gear Swap before and after the pageant.
Come prepared: Wear clothes of white, pink, or green. Bring a picnic dinner for your family a dessert to share, and camp chairs and/or a picnic blanket.
Since May Day proceeds rain or shine, if it rains, you may want to bring a pop-up tent if you have one, an umbrella, and your rain gear.
Volunteer opportunity: Volunteers are needed to collect eggshells for cascarones and to fill them with confetti.
Movement & Music Sharings
Who: Grades Families (but all are welcome!)
When: Throughout May, after school
Where: Grade Classrooms
What: Throughout May, each grade has a ‘capstone’ sharing of their year’s work in their Music specialty class and Movement specialty class. Consult the calendar for each grade’s sharing days.
Riser Assembly
Who: Rising Kindergartners & Grades Students
When: Late May, during school hours
Where: 1st Grade Classroom
What: In this special gathering, kindergarten students rising into 1st grade are invited to join grade students in the 1st grade classroom for a puppet story performed by the 6th grade class with table puppets they crafted just for this event.
Kindergarten End-of-Year Picnic
Who: Kindergarten Families
When: Last day of school (kindergarten), 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: Outside on campus (varies by class)
What: To celebrate the last day of school, kindergarten families arrive before the end of the school day and gather with their classes to enjoy a picnic.
Come prepared: Bring a picnic blanket or camp chairs.
Games Day
Who: Grades Students
When: Wednesday before the last day of school , during school hours
What: Grades students spend the day playing a variety of structured games together, culminating in an epic game of Capture the Flag by the eldest students. Students tie-dye shirts in their grade’s color ahead of time to wear at Games Day, and enjoy eating hydrating fruit between games.
Volunteer opportunity: Parents & guardians are asked to provide cut fruit and coolers for students to eat during Games Day.
Bridge Crossing
Who: Grades Families (all of the community is welcome!)
When: Last day of school (grades), about 12:00-2:00 pm
What: On the last day of school, grades students hike from campus to Bowl & Pitcher at Riverside State Park, where families gather to see their child cross the swinging bridge. This crossing over the river symbolizes the student’s completion of their grade and crossing into the next.
After crossing, families enjoy a picnic, we have closing remarks, and then a community circle closes out the school year.
Come prepared: Discover Pass is required to park. Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged. Bring camp chairs or a picnic blanket. Leave pets at home.
Last Day(s) of School
Parent-Child Families: Second to last week of May
Kindergarten Students: Thursday or Friday of the week of May
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An Education Toward Freedom.
ADDRESS
4225 W Fremont Rd,
Spokane, WA 99224
Spokane, WA 99224
PHONE
(509) 326-6638
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NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY
Windsong School and Spokane Waldorf Education Association do not discriminate on the basis of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, gender, or sexual orientation in relationship to hiring, administration, and students. This educational institution admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and other school administered programs.
