Introduction
 All parents/caregivers enrolling children (over 6 years old) at Taikura Rudolof Steiner School are required under the Preference Clause of the School’s Integration Agreement to have established a Connection with the Special Character of the School. On the basis of this Special Character Commitment Contract preference will be determined by our Proprietors Trust who may delegate implementation to the Principal/College of Teachers interviewing panel.
A contract is signed and then adhered to by both parents/caregivers. In the case of separated parents where the child spends considerable time with either parent, the School requests the commitment of each parent.
The School may need to reconfirm the parent contract at anytime of change or other difficulty in a child’s journey which may prompt particular needs which require the school’s response and support (eg. changes through separation, trauma, death, medical diagnosis, social/academic difficulties).
Parent Commitment
 By enrolling their child/ren at Taikura Rudolf Steiner School, Parents commit to;
- Understand that their child/ren will receive a Waldorf/Rudolf Steiner education as determined by the Taikura Rudolf Steiner School.
- Strive to actively engage with and become informed about the ‘Special Character’ of Taikura Rudolf Steiner School and while learning about it, to respect and trust it.
- Support and uphold the rules and guidelines in the Parents Handbook, such that the social and emotional well-being of my child reflects the ‘Special Character’ of the school.
- Pay all school charges and annually renew the commitment to Taikura Rudolf Steiner School by pledging according to the Special Character Financial contribution process.
- Support their child’s education in the home by recognising the adverse developmental impact inherent in exposing young children to the range of electronic technologies (TV, electronic game consoles, computer etc)
- Meet all five core parent expectations:
1.To read the weekly newsletter as a means of being informed about parent evenings and other important school events.
2.To attend teacher/parent evenings (usually one per term) and teacher/parent interview (one per year).
3.To respond to requests from Class Liaison Parents re class activities (eg working bees, help with outings, camp).
4.To participate in helping make the Annual Advent Fair and other school fundraising initiatives a success.
5.To participate in Festivals.
- In the case of identified specific learning or other needs at the time of enrolment or at any later stage in the child’s school journey, to actively support recommendations made at the enrolment interview or through a subsequent IEP. Please be aware that some of the support programmes are provided by the school, whereas for other programmes, referrals or therapies, all or part of the costs will need to be met by the parents, after prior consultation.
The context of ‘Special Character’
 As an Integrated School, Taikura Rudolf Steiner School has a defined ‘Special Character’ described by the Ministry of Education as meaning:
Education within a framework of a particular or general religious or philosophical belief, and associated with observances or traditions appropriate to that belief.
From the Integration Agreement Clause 5.1:
The School provides and shall continue to provide education with a Special Character the essential elements of which include:
- The Special Character of the School is that it is a Rudolf Steiner Waldorf School for boys and girls established by The Queenswood Educational Trust (now named The Rudolf Steiner School Hastings Trust) for the community of parents who wish their children to receive Rudolf Steiner Waldorf education. The Rudolf Steiner School Hastings Trust promotes and supports the School in its provision of education with a Special Character, that is to say:
- ‘The School is a Rudolf Steiner Waldorf School in which Rudolf Steiner’s Art of Education is practised.
- Anthroposophy, as a world conception, its description of the universe and the human being, is the basis of the art of education and of all endeavour in the school. The education with a Special Character includes festival observances and religious education which is Christian in its deepest sense, free of dogma or sectarianism.
- The College of Teachers, which works collegially and in a spiritual way, shares responsibility for maintaining the Special Character of the School and the Anthroposophical impulse which are inherent in all aspects of school life.
Rudolf Steiner’s Educational Approach
 There are fundamental characteristics of Rudolf Steiner Waldorf education which are described in the School Charter. These touchstones inspire and shape the vision for the School;
- A commitment to each and every student becoming free, responsible and caring individuals able to impart purpose and direction in their lives and contribute in manifold, as well as unique, ways to society.
- A realisation that the best education of the child requires a close, mutually respectful working together of parents, teachers, staff and others in the community.
- A broad Waldorf curriculum through to graduation that brings together art, science and religion.
- The importance of the arts and handcrafts in the development of the child and young adult and the integration of these into the curriculum.
- That child development is seen as a process of gradual and purposeful incarnation.
- The child as being of ‘hands, heart, and head’, that is, a being of will, feeling and intellect. That these three soul faculties manifest in different degrees at different ages and the curriculum is designed to address this process.
- The child is a moral, social, and spiritual being.
- An understanding of the stages of child development which reflects unfolding soul faculties, hence a pedagogy that brings content, method and skills to students at the appropriate times.
Parent Involvement In School Activities
 There are many ways in which parent help or involvement is appreciated by the school and the kindergartens.
These include:
- Attend class meetings
- Attend and participate in Festivals
- Attend Community Assemblies
- Attend Parent Education sessions
- Attend parent coffee mornings (held 1st and 3rd Friday of the month; 8.40 am in the parent room at Taikura Kindergarten)
- Assist with class trips and camps
- Assist with class activities (for example; handwork, swimming, reading and maths programmes)
- Manage, coach or umpire a sports team
- Become a Class Liaison parent
- Co-ordinate or help with schemes such as Young New Zealander’s Challenge (Duke of Edinburgh Awards) and Young Enterprise Scheme (YES)
- Working Bees
- Fundraising and Events
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