About Us
BRIEF HISTORY
1987 Early beginnings of Anthroposophy and Steiner Education/Waldorf studies
1989 Teacher Training overseas by 2 Filipino Founding teachers, in Australia and the United States of America
1991 Preparations for the first Waldorf kindergarten began by the 2 trained teachers
1992 First public orientation on Steiner/Waldorf Education
1994 First Waldorf Kindergarten opened (now Manila Waldorf School) Formation of advocacy organization called Rudolf Steiner Education in the Philippines (RStEP)
1996 Summer intensive course organized by RStEP, in preparation for Grade School, conducted by a German resource person
June 1996 Manila Waldorf School – Grade School opened
1997 First Toddlers-Parents’ Program began in the Manila Waldorf School
1998 Opening of a home-based Waldorf-inspired kindergarten in southern island of Cebu, initiated by a group of parents and individuals undergoing studies in Anthroposophy (closed in 2001)
1999-2001 3-Year part time Training in Early Childhood Education by RStEP in cooperation with the International Association of Waldorf Kindergartens (Stuttgart), with foreign mentors from Australia and New Zealand
1999 Opening of home-based Waldorf-inspired kindergarten in southern Metro Manila, initiated by a participant of the 3-year training (eventually became the Acacia Kindergarten, Sta. Rosa Laguna in 2003, & then the Acacia School in 2004)
1999 RStEP influenced the philosophy, policies & management of a home for abused children now servicing around 120 children from infancy to adolescence
2000 Shift from mainstream kindergarten to a Waldorf-inspired kindergarten (John-Paul Kindergarten in Isabela, northern Philippines, initiated by a participant of the 3-year training (discontinued in 2004)
2001-2002 Two-year part time Training in Waldorf Grade School Teaching coordinated by RStEP with foreign mentors from Germany & Australia
2002 Beginnings of Training in Pedagogical Eurythmy conducted by Leonard Orta & Christoph Graf (discontinued in 2005)
Beginning of study for Waldorf High School initiated by group of parents in Manila Waldorf School
2003 Beginning of small Waldorf-inspired playgroup in Iloilo (now Gamot Cogon Waldorf School, with Kindergarten & Grades 1-4 w/ around children)
2003 Beginning of Local Training in Early Childhood Education by RStEP along with other related courses such as Conception, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Child Health & Nutrition, & Mindful Parenting (on-going)
September 2003 Opening of Acacia School, Sta. Rosa Laguna (now with Playgroup, toddlers-Parents’ Program, Grades 1-4 w/ more than 30 children)
April 2004 Manila Waldorf School held its first Graduation Rites for 21 pupils who completed the Grade School level.
June 2004 The Kawayan Upper School opened with 11 pupils in Class 9. It is now part of the Manila Waldorf School and up to Gr 12.
July 2004 A small home-based Waldorf Playgroup with 10 children, was initiated by the parent-participants of the local training in Early Childhood. It was operational until March 2005.
Jan 2005 until March 2007 RStEP began the program Steiner Education for the economically-poor communities. Series of lectures & seminars in 14 different provinces/cities all over the Philippines, have been conducted to provide orientation on Steiner Education, in order to generate interest in having community-based/supported Waldorf kindergartens and primary Grades (i.e. Grades 1 to 4) This is an on-going program.
2005 Beginning of 1-year part-time teacher training for kindergarten till Grade 4 in Iloilo, the Gamot Cogon Initiative. The second batch finishes April 2007. This is an on-going program.
August 2006 Opening of MIKAEL Playgarden, Makati, Metro Manila - a full-day childcare program (8:30am to 4:30pm) for children ages 2-5 years old. It is a co-parenting program to service working parents seeking quality care for their young children. It started with 4 kids and now has 10.
January-February 2007 Start of 15-Day Intensive Beginner’s Course in Steiner Early Childhood Education. It includes basic Anthroposophical studies, Child Development from Conception till 21 years focusing on early childhood, an overview of Steiner playgroup & kindergarten, self-development, & different artistic activities. This is a yearly course from late Jan to Feb every year.
April 10-19, 2007 3-unit course in Steiner Early Childhood offered in a State College in Talisay, Negros Occidental – an island south of Manila, conducted by RStEP.
Jan-Feb 2008 15-Day Intensive Beginner’s Course in Steiner Early Childhood Education.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Brenda Fajardo
Mary Joan Fajardo
Reimon Gutierrez
Francisca Grace Zozobrado-Hahn
Teresa Jalandoni
Kathryn Carpenter
James Sharman
Joaquin Tan
Bella Tan