Suncoast Waldorf School

Although we had just changed our children’s school three weeks earlier, my wife and I accepted an invitation to visit the Suncoast campus with the 2016 — 2017 school year in mind. The campus visit was absolutely incredible; so much so that we decided to start the admissions process (again, with next year in mind).
As part of admissions, Suncoast requires a teacher/​family interview, which took place outside on the school playground. The teachers observed our children playing, asked my wife and me questions about the children’s life at home and at school. At the end of the interview, our family agreed that the interview experience had been very positive and the children said that they wanted Suncoast to «be my school every day».
Next, the children attended Suncoast as «visitors» for three consecutive half days and we received verbal feedback from the teachers each day on how the children did in class. Their comments were always very positive. Based upon these comments, the children’s enthusiasm for Suncoast, and our appreciation of the Waldorf education program, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to transfer the children to Suncoast immediately.
The children had their first official day as official Waldorf students on the following Tuesday, which went very well according to teacher comments. On Wednesday, the very next day, I had a meeting with my son’s teacher to discuss how he was doing. I will never forget this day… she tells me that my son is «squeezing hands too tight during circle time» and that he «tried to tip a boy off the tire swing» and said that my son is not fitting in. She then said, «He can stay until Friday». I was (and still am) completely shocked. How do I receive nothing but positive comments from the same teacher that is now telling me that Friday will be my son’s last day? And to make matters worse, she would provide no additional explanation of her decision.
Later that day my wife came home from work early so we could call our son’s teacher together. Like the earlier conversation, the answers to questions were evasive and my wife and I struggled to understand why we have been asked to leave Suncoast. Finally, my wife asks, «Are you saying that our son’s status at Suncoast is on a day by day basis?» Our son’s teacher answers, «Yes». Now we are really confused. Is our son’s last day at Suncoast this Friday or is his enrollment status on a day by day basis? And what does «day by day basis» mean? Either way, we would have never transferred to Suncoast had we known that we were so close to the edge from the start.
How something like this can happen is beyond my understanding. The children attended Suncoast for only three visitation days and for two days as students and we receive only positive feedback from their teachers and now we are effectively expelled without any reasonable explanation or a grace period for transition.
ME BEING OBJECTIVE: At the risk of appearing contradictory and having said everything above, I believe that our terrible experience at Suncoast Waldorf School may be attributable to the poor judgement of a single person at a specific point in time. I say this because my entire family felt a strong and immediate attraction to the school and very much loved all of our interactions with the Waldorf families, school staff and the teachers (except for the last day, of course). As such, I want to point out that my one star rating is for our experience at the school, which is fully deserved, not the school itself. I still believe that Suncoast Waldorf School is a unique, beautiful and ideal school for some children and I would recommend it to families whose children stay in line pretty well. Have a strong-​willed child? At least be cautious. One teacher does not make a school and any human is prone to make mistakes.

We found this school after attending a preschool fair over 6 years ago. It really stood out from the other schools. I was amazed by the handwork the children did and their approach to educating the ‘whole’ child. Not to mention that they actually get recesss and a chance to play, run, and get dirty. We have three children in the school and are very happy with not only the academics, but the emotional develop of the children. The kid are happy and enjoy going to school each day.

Our daughter has attended all of her schooling years at Suncoast Waldorf and it has been an absolutely wonderful experience. Some of the things that they get to do and things they learn make me wish I was a kid again so I could enjoy them as well. The teaching staff is exceptional and truly caring of each child. The one thing I would say to any parent looking for a Pre-​K through 5^th grade school for their child (or children) is do a school visit to experience the uniqueness of this teaching approach. There is also a great sense of community among the families that helps to create a nurturing and comforting environment that seems to contribute to the children’s well being. I’ve been in attendance on a couple field trips over the years with my child’s class and people always comment about how well behaved and polite the children are. I can truly say that sending our child to this school has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

This school is the best kept secret in the Tampa area. I am extremely happy with the experience my son has had there these last two years and I can’t wait for my younger son to start there soon. The school creates a warm and nurturing environment and experience for the children that nurtures a love of learning and develops them as whole people. My son’s teachers are highly trained, have many years of teaching experience and are extremely committed to the children — they really get to know them and work to give each of them what they need individually. I love the feeling of being at the school — the grounds are designed as a ‘food forest’ (fruit trees! herbs! tons of edible plants!) and they have a big tree-​lined ‘meadow’ where the children get to run and play. I also really enjoy the other parents and the broader school community. Love this place and so happy that my kids get to go here.

Our daughter is happy and thriving at this school. She wakes up each day excited about going to school. The teachers care about the students and get to know each child and their learning style. The curriculum is well rounded and taught in a developmentally appropriate way. I love the hands on approach of Waldorf education. We look forward to many happy years at the school.

Our two girls love it here. Being a product of an excellent public school I was skeptical of Waldorf education, thinking it was too «touchy-​feely» and «crunchy granola.» Now that I understand the basic philosophy of Waldorf, to let younger children learn from play and, before trying to cram a lot of data into them, help them develop their social skills, sense of community and respect, and connectedness with the natural world into which we’ve all been born and fit. When this healthy foundation has been established, and their little bodies finally have grown enough to grasp and integrate the data, they’re ready to learn how to read and do math, etc. Our girls are not only getting an excellent education but are growing into the savvy, well-​rounded and happy women citizens of the world their caring parents know they’ll be. And, let’s not forget that successful, high achievers like the chairman of AmEx and a former NASA rocket scientist are products of a Waldorf education.

I have been involved with this Waldorf school for two years now. Coming from a public school to the waldorf has been a wonderful experience. Our child loves going to school and is all smiles when we pick her up. The teachers and staff are amazing. I am so glad to provide our child a safe environment to learn and grow. I love that this school encourages children to be children and learn while having fun.

My daughter was attending another school in Westchase and started to get bored. She always wanted to go to school and all of a sudden we started hearing «I don’t want to go» on a weekly basis. We looked into other options and found out she could start the kindergarten class at the Suncoast Waldorf School. Now she jumps out of bed in the morning excited to get to school early so that she can have more outdoor play time before school starts. The teachers are so nice and loving — she adapted immediately to the new school. If you think your child doesn’t like school then you haven’t tried the Suncoast Waldorf school yet.