True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.
- Nikos KazantzakisRunning River School's Beginnings
Running River School is an independent and nonprofit grade school inspired by Waldorf education, located in Sedona, AZ serving 1st through 8th grade.Our ongoing work gives us the opportunity to work together to offer children a hands-on, holistic and integrative educational opportunity; commonly referred to as the "whole child approach" serving the "head, hands and heart" of each individual child in a developmentally-appropriate model.
Our school arose from a small group of devoted parent's desire to continue building upon the Waldorf foundation given by our former Waldorf-inspired kinder and its beloved long-time Director (no longer in operation). Six families embarked on a monumental journey to build a school out of nothing but their heart's desire for their children, and the children of Sedona, to be provided a nurturing path that encompasses the needs of the whole child. Through sheer will forces, heart forces (love), countless volunteer hours, and many, many, small miracles a school was born in the fall of 2013, less than a year after hearing the call, with 5 students in one of the parent's homes. Today, the magical and rewarding journey continues with 100s of hearts and minds having contributed to the history and the ongoing living, growing, and changing place that is Running River School.
The true meaning of the gift that was given by these six families' hard work and dedication is difficult to put into a mere few words. Our heartfelt and unending gratitude from now until the end of time goes out to these families: The Abrahamson-Wolvekamp Family, the Caccavari family, the Lee family, the Hansen-Pollock Family, the Hromada family, and the Ramos-Pauli family. Your giving has changed the lives of so many Sedona families.