Steiner Waldorf education was developed by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner in the 19th century.
The method takes into account all the needs of your child, including their academic and physical development as well as their emotional and spiritual worlds. It is also rooted in putting your child’s special needs into focus and is based on a deep understanding of the di erent phases of child development. It develops a love of learning and an enthusiasm for school! And sees artistic activity and the development of the imagination as integral to learning.
The Steiner Waldorf method is tried and tested and is part of many state funded, mainstream schools in most European countries and is respected worldwide for its ability to produce very able young people who have a strong sense of self and a diverse set of skills that enable them to become socially and economically responsible citizens.
It promotes universal human values, educational pluralism and meaningful teaching and learning opportunities. For more info on the Steiner Waldorf method of education in Ireland and the UK, visit the website: www.steinerwaldorf.org
Our school is a fully State recognised, multi denominational school, with a thriving community of children, parents and teachers.
Early learning in the ‘Junior/Senior infants’ room uses regular patterns of activities to create routine helping your child to know what to expect which creates a feeling of security for them. We use imaginative play, simple toys, story and song to nurture and strengthen your child’s senses and physical body. Irish language is interwoven through verses and stories, meal times are shared and conversation is cultivated.
This approach to early schooling enables your child to step towards formal learning, kindled with a love for life and the world around us. This unique approach by the school serves as a bridge between the familiar world of home and the new world of the school.
When your child is ready to start formal learning, usually sometime in senior infants, their formal academic study will begin. Each day starts with the ‘Main Lesson’ which usually lasts around 2 hours. In this lesson a single theme is studied by the class for a number of weeks, which enables the children to study the topic in depth. Our teachers aim to bring the subject matter to life in an artistic and imaginative way, limiting the need for text books.
As your child moves through the school, their work develops and takes on an increasingly academic character. The children learn a wide array of skills with us and are tasked with learning them in an intuitive and artistic manner. The school invites you to work closely with your child’s teacher to enhance their education further. We meet many times through the year, in school, at celebrations, festivals, parent teacher evenings and the like. We urge all parents to take part in the school community on a regular basis. Like all schools, fundraising is ongoing throughout the year and all families are expected to play their part.
We have a full time classroom assistant in the infants’ room. They are essential for our very active infant programme. They also enable us to offer more personalised attention to each child at this critical, preliminary, stage of your child’s education. The Department of Education do not fund the assistant position so we ask parents to help with fundraising to help to cover their salary.
Our school recognises the importance of the spiritual world of your child and acts with reverence toward all the worlds spiritual traditions. Our children are introduced, through story, to many different religions and cultures from around the world. However, our school policy toward spiritual or religious teachings is that the responsibility for educating your child in this important area of their life, lies with you the parents and family.
Day to day school life looks much like it does at any other school. There is lot’s of energy in the school yard with children running around and playing. There is a bell and all the usual rushing to classes. Expect lots of great festivals and events to attend and to make new friends with parents of other children.
We start at 9.20am and finish at 2pm, for Junior and Senior Infants, and 3pm, for everyone else. Many of the children catch the bus to school and can be seen lining up before and after school to enter/exit the school. Students at Mol an Oige are not required to wear a uniform. However, parents are required to provide good rain gear and wellies to wear on our regular walks in nature.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in your child’s school life. By getting involved in the running of the school and giving your time and skills, you help to make the children’s schooling a special and memorable time.
It has been proven that parental input into school life helps children to grow more confident. Remember you’re doing it for your children 🙂
Click here to read more on the benefits of parents involvement in their child’s schooling.
The school needs your help!
Fix It Friday currently runs from 11.30 to 13.00 on a Friday. Parents come to help the children with various building projects in the school. Plans in the pipe line include a mud kitchen, a climbing frame and benches for the yard.
Please offer your skills and help our school thrive. We know there are many talented parents with a little spare time that could help develop the school community at Mol an Óige Steiner National School to flourish.
Please contact Sian Harris on:
087 662 35 20
Mol an Óige After School is a wonderful place for children to go after the day is over, for fun and relaxation with friends. Our open hours are from 2pm to 5:15pm Monday to Friday throughout the school year. The After School team feature a trained childcare worker, an EVS volunteer and the manager, Deiric. Designed to be a relaxed and natural continuation of the children’s school day, our After School retains a Steiner theme to the activities they carry out and is open to all children in the community. There is emphasis on out and indoor imaginative free play.
Throughout the school year classes such as drama, pottery, cooking and spanish lessons are offered. We also run a soccer club and homework club which have both proved to very popular. You can find out more information on these activities throughout the year in the school newsletter.
It should be noted that after school club runs separately from the school as a ‘not for profit’ organisation. This allows for reasonable charges. Help with the After School fees is also available, pop in to see Deiric to see if you are eligible to avail of this service.
For more information, please contact After School manager, Deiric de Siún on: 087 154 96 60 or via email:
At the start of each academic year, each class has a parents meeting with the class teacher. All parents will be notified in advance of this meeting and it’s agenda. It is very important that at least one parent from each child attends. Parents can nominate themselves or other parents that they think would fit the role of class representative. Once the class meeting has been held, then the election of class representatives takes place.
The primary role of the class rep is to assist the class teacher in running class activities- they help to co-ordinate the festivals and events that the school run each year. They also become automatic members of the Parents Association Committee. Here is a list of possible activities the class rep is involved in; Running festivals, helping out on class trips, the class play, sports events and gardening etc.
The school is run by the teachers, guided by The Dept of Education’s curriculum. There is a Board of Management who oversee the running of the school.
Department of Education Curriculum
(https://www.education.ie/en/The-Education-System/Primary/)
Other important information about our school
School Bus info
A network of school transport routes are available to Mol an Óige Steiner National School students – Please make your enquiry or application to Bus Éireann at 061 217484 or schools.limerick@buseireann.ie. New parents are advised to contact Bus Éireann immediately to make a booking for your child. Any comments or complaints in relation to school transport, should be addressed to Bus Éireann at the contact details above. Full information can be found on the Bus Éireann website under the heading of ‘School Transport’ www.buseireann.ie
School lunch policy
The School operates a healthy eating policy. Children have a choice as to whether they bring a healthy lunch from home or avail of a free school lunch which are provided by freshtoday.ie. All lunches should include fruit, bread etc. no bars, sweets, chocolate, crisps or juice. There are free water fountains in every classroom, but all classes apart from infants are welcome to bring their own water, milk, herbal tea or soup to drink.
What’s the bullying policy?
The school operates the Department of Education ‘No Blame Approach’ to bullying. We advise that all parents familiarise themselves with this and the code of behaviour at www.molanoige.ie/policies
School Costs
The school attempts to keep all costs to a minimum. School book grants and subsidies are available to families in financial need. The school relies on families playing their part through fundraising and paying monies owed. Please help keep costs low, by paying all monies promptly. For further enquiries please don’t hesitate to contact the school secretary, Suzanne on 065 707 2814.
If you have a concern relating to your child, or the school, you should firstly speak to the class teacher about your concern. Full details are contained in the Parents/staff communication policy available on the school website www.molanoige.ie
The school newsletters are sent to every parent via email or hard copy and are important to read as they often contain critical information related to issues at the school. You can expect to hear from the school via email, text message and notes sent home in the school bag of your child.
can you add this text between volunteer and after school care
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in your child’s school life. By getting involved in the running of the school and giving your time and skills, you help to make the children’s schooling a special and memorable time.
It has been proven that parental input into school life helps children to grow more confident. Remember you’re doing it for your children 🙂
Click here to read more on the benefits of parents involvement in their child’s schooling.
The school needs your help!
Fix It Friday currently runs from 11.30 to 13.00 on a Friday. Parents come to help the children with various building projects in the school. Plans in the pipe line include a mud kitchen, a climbing frame and benches for the yard.
Please offer your skills and help our school thrive. We know there are many talented parents with a little spare time that could help develop the school community at Mol an Óige Steiner National School to flourish.
Please contact Sian Harris on:
087 662 35 20
Find a selection of answers to questions that are often asked about Steiner Education on the Steiner Waldorf website here.
