Handbook
Extracurricular Programs & Activities
Participation in extracurricular activities requires students to be in good academic standing in all classes. Students will be ineligible to participate in an extracurricular activity on days they are absent from school. Watch the Bulletin for the spectrum of extracurricular activities that will be offered this school year.
Athletics & Clubs
Students may choose from a variety of athletic and club opportunities as part of their extracurricular school involvement.
Athletics include basketball, volleyball, and flag football for Grades 6-8. High school students may participate in additional sports including soccer, volleyball and swimming.
Clubs provide a wide range of experiences through participation in Bee Keeping, Circus Club and Rumble Club. High School students may additionally participate in Yearbook, Student Council, Drama Club, Math Club, Golf and Environmental Action Club. All clubs are supervised by faculty. Some activities, including athletics, require additional fees for participation. A physical exam prior to participation in athletics and clubs involving physical exertion is strongly recommended. Please see the Athletic Handbook for additional information.
Foreign Exchange
The High School students are encouraged to perfect their language skills and broaden their cultural understanding through study abroad at other Waldorf high schools. Students who are hosted as foreign exchange students also host a visiting student who will attend CWS. Students continue to pay their CWS tuition while abroad, and there are no other charges except for transportation costs. Interested students should consult their foreign language teacher and the High School Office Manager.
College Counseling
The Chicago Waldorf School is committed to helping its students gain admission to colleges, universities or other programs where they can pursue their educational and professional goals. The College Counselor works closely with parents and students in all aspects of the college planning and admission process. College-bound students are assisted by the College Counselor in determining the schools and programs that meet personal educational needs and interests. Parents are asked to be active participants and to meet with the College Counselor in the spring of the student’s junior year and in August previous to the beginning of the senior year. Please see the College Counseling Handbook for more information.
Standardized Tests
The Chicago Waldorf School recognizes the importance of standardized tests in today’s society although we consider them questionable indicators of individual abilities or future successes. The first formal academic assessment administered is the Illinois Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), a series of timed sub-tests in areas of basic language arts and math skills. It is given in Grade 6 as a practice, and again in Grade 7 to yield scores which are used in the High School application process.
All High School students take the PSAT/NMSQT in Grades 10 and 11.The PSAT/NMSQT is given at school and will be offered this school year on Saturday, October 18, 2008. The SAT I, II and ACT examinations are given at other testing locations throughout the year. Students are assisted in registering for these examinations and are required to take either the SAT I or the ACT at least once during the junior or senior year. If a student chooses not to take either the SAT I or the ACT, we require a written statement from the student’s parents indicating that the student has their permission not to take the standardized test.
Driver Education
High School students may take driver education at the public high school in their district if it does not conflict with the CWS class day. Illinois state statutes specify “…public school districts offering courses in grades nine through twelve must provide the driver education course for any legal resident of the district between the ages of 15 and 21 years who request the course.” Further, “Students, as individuals, have the option of applying for the course at the high school district of their residence or of purchasing the course from a commercial school.” Please contact your local public high school for course availability.
Educational Support
The school offers limited educational support that focuses on providing services for students in the Grade and High School. The Educational Support teachers do movement- based assessments for all incoming first graders and grade school transfers. They can provide some tutoring and assessments for Grade and High School students. They also can refer parents to outside educational support and assessment programs when necessary. This year the school has added an additional Educational Support Teacher.
After Care Program
The school offers an After Care program from 3-6:00pm for students age 3 through Grade 5. The program is designed so the children can relax after school. They can play, talk to friends, eat a healthy snack, do crafts and work on homework. Parents can sign up for the complete five-day program, or for individual days.
Drop-ins are welcome based on space availability at a rate of $40 per day. Requests for drop-in service need to be made by 2:00pm the day of the need. Payment is due in check or cash before the drop-in date. There must be a completed registration form on file to participate in the drop-in After Care program.
Please note that After Care is not provided on days when school is dismissed early. Refunds are not available for absentees or early pick-ups. Late pick-ups (after 6:00pm) will be charged at a rate of $5 per each five minutes late. Payment for the late fee must be made in the form of cash or check is due immediately upon pick-up.