Aloha Kakou - Welcome
“To truly know the world, look deeply within your own being;
To truly know yourself, take real interest in the world.”
— Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf Education
Admissions Information
It is the intention and policy of Haleakalā Waldorf School to welcome students from the broadest possible range of social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. The school does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, color, nationality or ethnic origin in its admission, financial assistance or educational policies.
The goal of HWS is to provide a balanced and comprehensive education that engages children's imagination and curiosity by integrating academic achievement with an active, hands-on experience with the arts.
Our teachers are dedicated to creating a genuine inner enthusiasm for learning that is essential for educational success. The humanities and sciences are blended with art, languages, music, movement, handwork and practical activities to meet the needs of the developing child and adolescent. Children experience each lesson’s content through drawing, painting, song, recitation, drama and movement. As a result, our students are academically, socially, and spiritually prepared to thrive and create lives of meaning and purpose.
Admissions decisions are made upon an interview with the class teacher, receipt of previous school records, and all other required documents. Assessment tests may be administered at the time of the interview.
Application Procedures
1. Online Inquiry
Families complete an online inquiry via our website at www.waldorfmaui.org. Click here to begin the inquiry process.
2. Receive your Sign-up Link by Email
Once the inquiry has been submitted, an email with a sign-up link and our online application will be sent to the parents/guardians to begin the application process. The HWS Admissions Information will also be sent via email in addition to receiving the online application.
Please contact the HWS Office for the current tour schedule - (808) 878-2511
3. Complete the Online Application
The parents/guardians complete an online Application for Admission and submit it with a current photo of the applicant and a copy of his/her birth certificate. Once the application is received the Enrollment Coordinator sends out an application checklist via email which indicates the required documents needed to complete the application process, including school reports from all prior years of schooling and the non-refundable application fee. The applicant should be age-appropriate for the grade to which they are applying (see chart on Application). Applications for fall consideration should be submitted by February 15, 2024. Subsequent applicants will be considered and processed only as space allows. We will notify you of class availability when we receive your child’s application.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
4. Interview with Class Teacher
The class teacher will review the application and supporting documents to determine if/when an interview is appropriate. Admissions decisions are made upon an interview with the class teacher, receipt of previous school records, and all other required documents. Assessment tests may be administered at the time of the interview.
Our Enrollment Coordinator will arrange an interview with your family and the class teacher at the appropriate time. Assessment interviews for fall consideration are conducted January through April. Additional assessment interviews are conducted throughout the year as necessary.
5. Class Visit
After the initial interview, a one- to three-day class visit may be requested by the interviewing teacher and the Enrollment Coordinator will arrange the class visit.
6. Accept Enrollment
Our Enrollment Coordinator will notify your family of the admissions decision by email. When an acceptance is made, you will then have ten days in which to make a decision and submit the required fees, forms and health requirements to enroll your child.
Should we be unable to offer a seat due to space constraints, we will hold the application in our applicant pool (we do not use a waitlist). We are often able to make a second round of acceptances in April after our initial enrollment deadline.
Please note: Kindergarteners are assessed each spring to determine appropriate placement for the following year and are not automatically advanced to first grade based on age.
Once the Admissions process is complete...
Upon acceptance, your family will receive the necessary forms and information required to enroll your child(ren). Before your child’s first day of school, the following requirements must be met:
- All required enrollment forms must be completed and submitted to the office by the deadlines listed in the acceptance letter.
- Completed Health Record (DOE Form 14), indicating a current physical examination and all immunizations required by the state of Hawaii have been met or a signed statement from the child's doctor that the child is in the process of completing them. HWS follows state law in relation to vaccines. You can find detailed information about school health requirements on the State of Hawaii's website.
- Proof of TB clearance within one year of entrance into school in the state of Hawaii. No child will be admitted to school without such proof.
- Tuition deposit and TRP (Tuition Recovery Protection) payments have been made.
Children with Special Needs
The education offered at Haleakalā Waldorf School is based on a specific curriculum. The curriculum embraces many learning modalities and styles. However, it is not intended to accommodate children who have special learning needs. Although the substance, cultural content, creative underpinning and social health of the classroom may provide positive experiences for some children with special needs, in the final analysis, Haleakalā Waldorf School has neither the services nor trained personnel required to meet the needs of the child with special learning requirements.
The school may assist parents in suggesting and facilitating proper testing and evaluations provided by the Department of Education. In some instances, an entrance exam may be administered. If auxiliary services are recommended, such services will become the financial responsibility of the parent.
