"Creating education for life"
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE SCHOOL
Escola Livre do Algarve, welcomes all parents and pupils of all nationalities to our Portuguese Waldorf Primary School. We currently employ three Waldorf trained teachers, plus two language teachers, for 20 Pupils. All our teachers are fluent in Portuguese, English and three of our teachers are fluent in German.
One of the key principles of our school is to provide an education which understands the complexity of a child's development and aligns the teaching methodology accordingly to the child's needs.
At primary school age, our teachers engage the feelings of the child, so that a strong personal identification with the teacher is made, which then enables the confidence of the child to grow and actively follow the guidance of the teacher in the classroom.
In the classroom the use of the child's imagination is a key element in their learning process and pictorial imagery is a vital factor in making learning a personal, inner experience. Art, rhythm, movement and music also play an important role in engaging the child's feelings, creating a deeper sense of understanding. Other factors which are important are the changing seasons, the development of both the child's mental capacity and their physical growth. Our teachers are specially trained to recognise these changes and support the child, and also the parents, through these periods of change.
Workshops are available for parents introducing Rudolf Steiner philosophies - these courses are presented in interesting, practical and imaginative ways, often utilising eurhythmy and craft activities.
The administration staff, all speak Portuguese and English. Our curriculum in available in Portuguese and English - please email us on the contact form for a copy.
Portuguese blog: escolalivredoalgarve.blogspot.com.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The school is administered by a non-profit making association, and provides primary school education for children aged 6yrs -10yrs (we hope to extend this to include children up to 12yrs). The curriculum follows the Rudolf Steiner "Waldorf" pedagogic.
All the teachers are Waldorf trained and the classes are taught in Portuguese.
In the school year 2010/11 we has three classes, increasing to four classes from September 2011.
Class1 6 -7 yrs
Class2 7-8 yrs
Class3 8-9 yrs
Class4 9-10 yrs ( 2011/12)
Inscriptions for September 2011 are now open across all classes. Please contact one of the administrators via email or phone to receive a curriculum and information regarding fees, open days, events, volunteer work and donations.
Ana Sara is the main class teacher for classes 2&3 this year and is the Director of Pedagogic at the School.
Having worked in the Portuguese primary school system she is experienced in many different aspects of teaching. She trained in Lisbon at the Curso de Waldorf Pedagogy Training Centre and the Escuela Libre Micael in Spain.
Joao is the main class teacher for class 1 this year. He also trained in Lisboa at the Curso de Waldorf Pedagogy Training Centre and is the music teacher for all the classes.
Claudia is the teaching assistant to Ana Sara and her two classes. She is continuing her Waldorf training in Spain.
Andrea is the German and theatre teacher and supervises in the afternoon when the children have free play. She is continuing her Waldorf training in Germany.
Susie is the English teacher and has trained extensively in England in theatre studies.
The Teacher of the 2nd & 3rd Class
The Teacher of the First Class
Above are some examples of the childrens work.
The children use plant pigment crayons and paints in all their work - these material blend together on the page enabling the child to understand how colours our mixed to form new colours.
November - craft workshops bringing together expertise from both the primary school and the kindergarten.
Here the parents are making knitted animals for the Christmas Bazaar.
October - craft workshops for parents - making soaps for the Christmas Bazaar.
September - first day of term. Each new child was welcomed by the teachers and they all received hand crafted headbands from the older children. There was singing in the garden followed by a presentation from the teachers.
November, St Martinho Lantern and Chestnut Festa.
The children performed a play for the parents. Afterwards, the children took their own hand-crafted lanterns and were led around the garden singing with the teacher. Then, all the children, teachers and parents formed a huge circle for more singing and dancing. And finally, we cooked chestnuts on the fire to the sound an accordian played by a local musician.
PHOTO GALLERY
The Waldorf Kindergarten - Infancia Viva - was established over fifteen years ago. It is Portuguese speaking and both teachers speak fluent English too. It has capacity for 42 children in two classrooms for children aged three to six years. The Waldorf qualified teachers are very experienced and provide a loving environment for the children.
Contact Filipa or Ana at Monte Judeu 8600-020 Barao de Sao Joao, Lagos , Portugal tel/fax 00351 282 761 786 email: infancia.viva_iol.pt
The Creche Project will open soon for children aged six months to three years. Contact Ina - email: josch_sapo.pt
Fontes Vivas Association provides care for the elderly and have purchased land next to the kindergarten to expand their work
Contact Bernadette - email: bernadette_algarve-total.com
The senior school project - as part of a joint venture with Fontes Viva we hope to include a Senior school within this project on the land next to the Kindergarten. Contact - email:ianhodges1_hotmail.com
EVENT PRIMARY SCHOOL OPEN DAY
DATE 5TH , TIME 9AM - 1PM, LOCATION PRIMARY SCH RAPOSEIRA.
Meet our team of teachers that support this pedagogy in their Classroom environment. This initiative is aimed at parents,
teachers and educators who are interested in this form of education
for the future of their children.
Program:
From 9:15 to 11:15 Open Classroom
From 11:15 to 11:40 Break
From 11:40 to 12:10 Presentation of the school project
From 12:10 to 12:30 Space for questions
Location – Former Primary School Raposeira.Directions from Lagos, travel for 25mins south on the EN125 in the direction of Sagres at the traffic lights of Raposeira on turn left and then directly right, the school is straight ahead next to the play park.
Contacts:
E-mail: escolalivredoalgarve_gmail.com
Phone: 910 875 088 (Prof. João Ferreira)
The google pointer will only find Portelas. From here travel towards Barão São João, across A22 bridge, through Monte Judeu, then after bend on the right you will find the kindergarten.
Admin Contacts
Ian 00 351 914211528 (Eng)
Ana 00 351 919915789 (Pt)
Vera 00 351 912544770 (Pt)
