Opening of Northern Lights School – Arlene Thorn

11 Dec Opening of Northern Lights School – Arlene Thorn

On September 29th, 2017, Northern Lights School held the official opening of its kindergarten with a small group of 7 students, a Waldorf-trained teacher Vicki McQueen, a group of dedicated parents and a motivated Board. Our mission is to re-imagine education in Thunder Bay, a centre for Northwestern Ontario. The vision to support the unfolding of each child through the head, heart and hands has sprouted.

The kindergarten is in the upstairs of the North McIntyre Recreation Centre. The space is open, clear, light-filled and simple. Each object is beautiful and meaningful. The teacher has a calm warmth and clarity in her movements and her speaking. The space is blessed with presence and a feeling of joy. The children are thriving. The parents are heartened and grateful.

Community Building

We have made a wonderful start. Our devoted families host a monthly dinner to create community, celebrate the students, enjoy the seasons and raise funds. Little by little families and friends are hearing about the school and the vision of an alternative education which provides a real option to public education that is moving toward early academics, technology and ‘superschools’.

Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario with a population of 110,00. Located on the northern shores of Lake Superior, the city takes its name from the immense Thunder Bay at the head of Lake Superior, known on 18th-century French maps as Baie du Tonnerre (Bay of Thunder). The city is often referred to as the “Lakehead”, or “Canadian Lakehead”, because of its location at the end of Great Lakes navigation on the Canadian side of the border.

European settlement in the region began in the late 17th century with a French fur trading and it grew into an important transportation hub with its port forming an important link in the shipping of grain and other products from western Canada, through the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway, to the east coast. Forestry and manufacturing played important roles in the city’s economy. They have declined in recent years, but have been replaced by a “knowledge economy” based on medical research and education.

Waldorf and Anthroposophy in Thunder Bay

Little Lions Waldorf Daycare was established in 1984 as a single childcare.   In the 2000’s the Ontario Ministry of Education invited independent childcares into public schools. Little Lions took the leap and has grown to operating in 12 locations in Thunder Bay, most of them in public schools. They provide care to approximately 450 children with 90 staff. Little Lions laid a strong foundation for Waldorf education in Thunder Bay.

Little Lions Childcare offers a Waldorf Early Childhood Educators program in 16 long weekends over 2 years. The program is for any staff member who would like to take part. The program follows the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America guidelines and is working toward accreditation.

An anthroposophical study group was established in the spring of 2015 with three founding members of Marilyn Grudniski, Wendy Schilke and

Arlene Thorn. The study group meets for 7 sessions of study and

biography in each of the fall, winter and spring terms.

Northern Lights School is a not-for-profit organization. Community support is needed to help cover startup costs and to support operations. Funds raised will help ground the school in these beginning years and build a foundation for future success.   Our dream is to create a Waldorf-inspired school in Northwestern Ontario. We are excited to imagine it growing up to grade eight.

In gratitude, Arlene Thorn,

on behalf of the Northern Lights School Board.

A Gift of Support for the Northern Lights School may be made at:

https://startsomegood.com/northern-lights-school

Or mail a cheque to Northern Lights School, 250 Dog Lake Road,

Thunder Bay, Ont., P7G 2G2

Or call with your credit card information: 807-707-4311