the walk through

The day was beautiful. The sun was shining and the breeze was cool. We arrive at school at 10:30 or so.

Alex joined his class and I joined the parents. I noticed that all the parents had flowers and I didn’t. Wow. I forgot. No problem. I asked one that she had a bunch of bouquets and she sold me one. Excellent. Now she had a bouquet of white carnations that she could give to my son, his best friends, and my former students from Davis Waldorf School when I was her Spanish teacher.

Soon, it was time to start the tour. This is what the Sacramento Waldorf School calls the last day of school for seniors. It is his time to say goodbye to all classes, teachers and parents, and thus close his many years at school. I understand that the Sacramento Waldorf School is the only Waldorf School to have such a rite of passage. Lucky us!

Anyway, we all follow the class of 2006 to the garden that belongs in kindergarten. There they were, waiting and holding a flower.

The older ones formed a circle and the little children, all dressed in a flower garland that they had made themselves, recited a verse and sang a song, in the typical way of kindergarten children. I remember when Alex was so little, his teacher asked him: what happens with this vibrato when he sings? She never knew what a powerful soprano he would become until his voice changed at age 14 or so. He can still do a great falsetto.

Anyway. After they received the flowers from the little children and left the kindergarten grounds, we parents spontaneously formed a tunnel for our children to go under. It was very powerful and symbolic.

Then they went to Elementary School. Because the classes are so small and this is the largest class ever to attend a Waldorf high school in this country, there was no way the 46, plus the parents, plus the parents of the other kids would fit in each lounge.

To ensure that the walk continued to be a beautiful experience, the teachers decided that the children of all grades would form a walkway under the terrace that connects all the classrooms.

So, on both sides, there was a line of about 200 children holding roses and other flowers. It was a sight to see. The line started with the 1st graders and ended with the 8th graders and that meant we could see the line sloping up, depending on the age and height of the children. Beautiful.

So the older ones come here and at the end of each class they stopped their walk and the class teacher made a small farewell speech and the children presented them with songs and verses. Each song was related to the theme of the grade. Thus they understand, among other things, native, Hebrew, folkloric, animal and earth songs, among others.

And after their singing, the children gave a flower to each senior. Two things abounded during this passage: tears and flowers. No senior walked in with dry eyes. Parents, too. The flowers were just beautiful. There were so many and the aroma was so powerful that it left us amazed. There was also a poem by Rumi and songs by the Beatles.

The last song was sung by the High School, who then made another pathway for the seniors which led to the large school canopy where the school meets at the beginning and end of the school year. “Let it be” was. And now there were hugs and tears and goodbyes in abundance, because they are all your friends from HS.

After that, lining up were the HS teachers. More tears and more hugs. And finally we, the parents.

Thus ended the walk; the whole school gathered under the canopy. All classes were sitting on the floor according to grade. The older ones in line came to the front, to the set of stairs that replace a stage. They were all hugging their flowers, oh so colorful and so fragrant! And there they were applauded as if they had just finished a most brilliant performance. I would say they have.

At last, the bell began to ring, the whole school stood up and were led by the elders in one of their verses that is said every day during their school life. So this was the last bell the elders heard and the last time they said their verse, thus ending their Waldorf Education.

marvel at beauty,

stand guard over the truth,

Look at the nobles,

Decide for the good;

Lead the man on his journey

To goals for your life,

Right on your homework

For peace in your feeling,

To illuminate in your thought,

And teaches you to trust

In the guidance of God

In everything there is;

All over the world,

In the deep soil of the soul.

Then the classes left and the seniors stayed for the last photos. I didn’t take any. I thought that I might as well enjoy this last day and keep it in my heart.

Like I said, I was sobbing. After all, this is also the end of my years at the Waldorf school. Too many questions crossed my mind.

Will there be more talk of gnomes and fairies? Will there be birthday verses? Will there be morning verses? Will there be homemade bread and soup? Would I hear beautiful music and see grounds more beautiful than the Waldorf School campuses? Will I see more beautiful artwork on the walls and artifacts on display? Will there be candles on the table? Will there be nature tables that express each passing season? Will there be blessings before meals?

Will I hear the teachers sing when they call the children? Will I see such artistic drawings on the blackboards? Will I see square crayons and beeswax modeling “clay”? Will I see faceless dolls? Will I see woolen scarves and embroidered napkins? Will I see woven covers for your tape recorders? Will I see shields and hear Michael’s song when I defeat the dragon? Will I drink hot cider and walk with a lantern to welcome the dark winter months? Will I celebrate May Day and watch dancing around the Maypole? Will I walk the dangerous path during Halloween? Will I celebrate Advent with candlelight and walks? Will I see teenagers sitting, talking and knitting?

Will I listen to the faculty sing to the students and the parent body? Will I see the beautiful main lesson books? Will I hear inspirational verses and songs created by my child and other children? Will I hear him sing in that powerful soprano voice of his? Will I read well written and interpreted and mature research papers? Will I see my son in slippers while he moves to Eurythmy? Will I see teachers hugging my son because he needs care and love? Will I see the teachers playing with my child? Will my child teach me what he is learning? Will I pack lunches?

Will my life be surrounded by so much beauty and love?

My gratitude to the Waldorf Schools that welcomed Alex and to Waldorf Education that sculpted his soul into this beautiful human being is limitless. From now on I say: he may have made some mistakes raising Alex. But the Waldorf Education is the best gift I could give him.

Although he may not be ready to let it go, he, on the other hand, is absolutely ready to take his first steps into the world, always wondering about beauty, standing guard over the truth, admiring the noble, and deciding the good. .

May God bless you and enlighten your life, my son. I will be walking in silence with you forever.