At Waldorf School of the Peninsula, education reaches far beyond the confines of the classroom and campus. Our High School Exchange program facilitates cultural immersion, offering students transformative experiences that extend across borders. I recently sat down with program participants—both students and parents—to ask them to share how these experiences have impacted their lives.
Sandy Welch, a parent of a current 11th grade student who went on an exchange to Argentina, shared that the experience provided her daughter with a cultural immersion that positively influenced her Spanish language proficiency. She also underscored the value of hosting a student as well, noting it offered her family a fresh perspective on their own culture, too. The exchange of customs and traditions facilitated mutual understanding with their host student. Sandy highlighted the joy of introducing their Argentinian student to the Bay Area and experiencing the excitement of our own cultures and customs through her eyes. Additionally, the exchange reignited the family’s commitment to regular family dinners, fostering meaningful conversation and connection. Sandy also offered some practical advice, suggesting that students concerned about missing school time can consider attending a South American school during WSP’s summer break.
“Hosting Morena brought joy, perspective, and humor to the family. It was wonderful to see our culture through her eyes.” — Sandy
Emmery, a junior student whose exchange took her to a Waldorf School just outside of Paris, France at the end of her sophomore year, was inspired by her mother’s past exchange experience, and motivated to enhance her French proficiency. Reflecting on her time abroad, Emmery recalls exploring Paris with newfound friends, savoring local cuisine, and immersing herself in novel experiences such as learning rugby in physical education class to be highlights. Despite encountering differences in teaching styles and classroom dynamics, as the host school offered a little more hands-off learning style than WSP, Emmery found joy in expanding her horizons and forging meaningful connections with peers from diverse backgrounds. In terms of hosting another student here at home, she felt that learning to be responsible for another person had a positive impact on her, found it fun and would absolutely do it all over again.
“Best thing ever, highly recommend it!” — Ellen
Ellen Siminoff, parent of two WSP students who have studied abroad, offers firsthand experience with both hosting students and having her teens participate in exchanges to the Spanish-speaking countries Spain and Argentina. To put it bluntly, Ellen absolutely loved hosting students. She said, “Adding another teenager to your family brings a delightful experience. They are a teen who is new and exciting to everyone, and they are thrilled to be here and be in your family. They can elevate your household with a new dynamic.” For her students, she adds that their exchanges had a significantly positive impact on their Spanish language skills. She advises that no matter what level a student is starting with, they will get so much out of their exchange experience and improve their language skills.
Ashley Brickeen, mother of a current 10th-grade student who is hosting a student from a Waldorf School in Paris, France, shared her family’s hosting experience and their anticipation as their daughter prepares for her own exchange trip. Excited for her student to experience life in another country within the framework of a family, Ashley has found joy in witnessing their host student’s seamless integration into their household. This being their first hosting experience, Ashley is delighted to see the strong bond formed between their host student and all of the teens in the household. They’ve enjoyed shared experiences, such as a family trip to a cabin in Utah over the February break, where they introduced their host student to skiing and snow tubing for the first time. Shown here, they took their students and classmates to a nearby beach boardwalk for fun. Ashley has enjoyed witnessing her guest’s curiosity about typical life experiences, and the opportunity it provided for their family to explore their typical surroundings in new unique ways.
Current twelfth grade student Annika’s experience attending the Seoul Free Waldorf School in South Korea during her junior year speaks to the transformative power of international exchange. Despite initial challenges in establishing connections with a school that was brand-new to hosting international students, Annika’s perseverance led to a life-changing experience immersed in Korean language and culture. She emphasized the rewards of embracing new opportunities, regardless of initial uncertainties and challenges.
Elowyn, also a senior, felt her journey as both a host and visiting student helped reinforce the importance of adaptability and self-discovery. Having spent most of her junior year hosting two students, it was a completely new experience for her to not be the youngest in the family. She found it enjoyable to have others in the household who were her age to interact with. Upon arriving at her host family’s home, she found it interesting to navigate big cultural differences in family dynamics, which led her to a new-found independence in traveling and exploring a new city. This has given her the desire to explore solo travel in the future, and to both return to her host country of France, and other places around the world.
Each of the parents and students interviewed had so much valuable advice for prospective participants, far too much to list here, but some recurring points are:
be open-minded and adaptable to new experiences and cultures.
embrace the opportunity to learn a new language and immerse yourself in a different way of life.
take initiative in forming connections with your host family and local community.
engage in cultural activities and explore your surroundings to gain a deeper understanding of the host country.
communicate openly with your host family about expectations and preferences to foster a positive living experience.
actively participate in school and community events to integrate into the local community and build lasting friendships.
seek support from program coordinators and fellow exchange students to navigate challenges and maximize your exchange experience.
If all of this sounds intriguing, the first step for a WSP high school student with an interest in going on an exchange is to talk to their Spanish teacher about it. For families within the WSP community who have younger students or students who might not yet be considering participating in an exchange program but are intrigued by the idea of becoming a host family, please reach out to Audrey Lee, the HS Admissions Director. WSP frequently seeks host families for our International Student Program as well.
Our High School Exchange Program is designed to promote global citizenship and intercultural understanding. By welcoming diverse perspectives and facilitating connections across borders, both students and families embark on journeys of personal growth and mutual enrichment. Through this program, participants develop empathy, expand their horizons, and forge lifelong connections within our ever-changing global community.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley, the serene oasis of our beloved garden lies on our Los Altos campus. Our garden is an important part of the curriculum, as well as a community space, regularly used by our students, teachers, and parents. Frequent campus visitors may have noticed a lot of changes in the garden over the last couple of years. Our gardening teacher Claire has taken hold of the project with a clear vision, determination, and a whole lot of hard work. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Claire to uncover the journey behind this transformation.
It began with the realization that our older garden boxes were falling apart, prompting the need for a fresh start. However, after removing the boxes, instead of rushing into action, Claire took a step back to reflect on what the garden and our community truly needed. It was a moment of pause and contemplation to ensure that our efforts would be meaningful and sustainable in the long run.
One of the pressing issues Claire identified was the soil quality – predominantly clay, causing it to dry out quickly, especially during the dry and hot summer months despite having irrigation. It was clear that a fundamental change was needed to address this challenge. WSP parent Nienke had previously suggested the concept of Hügelkultur to Claire, at a time when implementation of such a concept was not possible due to the garden’s layout. However, after removing the boxes Claire revisited the idea and saw its potential to revolutionize our soil management. The Hügelkultur approach involved removing cubic yards of clay soil and replacing it with logs, compost, and topsoil. This innovative method will not only help the garden retain moisture but also improve soil fertility, laying a solid foundation for future growth.
Claire envisioned the garden as more than just a space for plants and her classes – she wanted it to be a venue for healing and community, which is another big change. Drawing inspiration from San Diego State University’s Healing Garden, she incorporated a circuitous walking route, providing teachers and students with a tranquil space to walk for reflection. She felt it is important to create an environment where everyone feels welcome. The clear delineation of planting areas and walking paths will help keep the plants safe from feet.
None of these remarkable changes would be possible without the hard work of her gardening students and our dedicated WSP parent volunteers. During the Wednesday morning and weekend Family Garden Work Days, the helpers have rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly alongside Claire, turning her vision into reality. Their contribution goes beyond mere assistance – it’s a beautiful expression of community spirit, and Claire is filled with gratitude.
As the garden’s transformation continues to unfold, there remains a need for additional support. Wednesday Volunteer mornings are still available to sign up for in Konstella, and Claire wants to make sure that all parents know they are welcome, regardless of which campus their child attends. She also seeks assistance in building structures and undertaking painting projects, offering a diverse range of tasks beyond traditional gardening duties.
Our campus garden stands as a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and community. Under Claire’s guidance, it has blossomed into a vibrant, inclusive space where nature thrives, and bonds are forged. As we continue to nurture and cultivate our garden, let us remember that its beauty lies not only in its blooms but in the collective effort and passion that sustains it. Thank you to Claire for leading this vision, our garden volunteers, and to our Los Altos campus grades students for creating this beautiful space for the WSP community.
Keep it Simple
Melanie shares some timeless lunchbox wisdom:
Wrap It Up: Turn anything into a wrap! Leftover dinner? Favorite salad? Wrap it in a tortilla or lavash for an easy and satisfying meal.
The 3-Item Lunch: In first grade my oldest would come home declaring he didn’t have enough time to eat. After a quick chat with his teacher it turned out my Pinterest-worthy lunches had him spending a lot of time just staring at it trying to decide where to start. Of course I still sent plenty of food, but only three items means less time making decisions and more time eating. Stick to a few healthy favorites!
Pack at night: Lay out the lunch boxes on the counter the night before, packed with everything non-perishable, and have each child’s chilled items already separated out and stacked in the refrigerator ready to place into their lunch cooler bags in the morning.
For the rushed teenage lunch self-packers: having a selection of grab & go items readily accessible on the counter helps help ensure lunches are taken.
Community Favorites 🍕🌮
Don’t forget about the school fundraisers! Taco & Burrito Tuesdays/Thursdays and Pizza Wednesdays are always a hit.
Born in Germany, Woodman grew up in the Bay Area, and attended Waldorf School of the Peninsula (WSP) in Mountain View, California, from kindergarten through Grade 8. For high school, she spent one year
at a German international school and the last three at San Francisco Waldorf High School, commuting to the city every day for three-plus hours because she loved Waldorf so much. Woodman attended Drexel University in Philadelphia for a BS in Design and Merchandising and then worked at a software start up, working up to project manager in two years.
She then joined Tesla as a project manager in low voltage harness engineering. Nine years later, Woodman has worked her way through various departments (vehicle engineering, sales operations, new markets, engineering finance) to find her way back to engineering, this time on the Dojo project leading a team of PMs in building a supercomputer to accelerate autopilot AI training. She joined the board of WSP several years ago, which she says, “has given her a huge appreciation for the
infinite work from faculty and staff to make the Waldorf magic happen!”
How did the Waldorf teaching approach support the development of your analytical mind? Instead of being given text books that held facts to learn by rote, we dove into topics from source material and first
principles. Physics, chemistry, and biology main lessons always started with an experiment, observing and measuring the results, posing hypotheses and testing those again until we could confirm or deny our assumptions. History and humanities started with a question, or a story, or belief system that was researched, discussed, reflected on in the context of the time and culture. Learning in this investigative way keeps you curious and perceptive, open to new ideas and willing to challenge given assumptions.
“Engineering is ultimately a
creative, problem-solving,
and collaborative pursuit that
very much reminds me of my
time at [Waldorf].”
How did the study of arts, movement and music impact your journey? I can’t say that I was very musically gifted (my parents may remember a particularly embarrassing flute solo presentation freshman year in high school), but I very much enjoyed painting, knitting, sculpture, weaving, basketry, stained glass and many other visual/practical arts. On the one hand, just the joy and freedom of creating something from a blank piece of paper or a set of raw materials, bringing your ideas and imagination to life, getting your hands dirty and having direct and immediate impact on the materials. But also practically working through a design concept, hitting snags or mistakes along the way, adjusting or adapting your methods, or simply learning to accept a different outcome than the one you originally imagined; these are all lessons that artistic pursuits slowly teach us one painting or knitted sock at a time. I have adjusted my personal path many times, and I consider flexibility and adaptability one of my greatest assets. I have little doubt that artistic endeavors are a key to developing those skills.
How did the well-rounded, liberal arts focus of a Waldorf school shape your decision to work in the field of science/tech? Honestly, I still don’t know what I “want to be when I grow up!” But along the way, I did learn that I enjoy “real work”—designing things, building things, fixing things—and so my gradual transition from design arts, through various roles, back to engineering was less of a single decision and more of a journey through trial and error to find a role that keeps me engaged, challenged, and constantly learning.
Engineering is ultimately a creative, problem-solving, and collaborative pursuit that very much reminds me of my time at school. Part of my struggle as a Waldorf graduate was that I felt I could go in so many directions, it was hard for me to choose a major for college, and tough to choose where to look for my first job. I have always been a tad envious of people who know exactly what they want to do, and can map a path forward based on those goals. I have had to embrace my ‘jack of all trades’ tendencies, and make choices and course corrections as they arise. The exciting thing is I still feel like I could go in many different directions with my life and career, and am looking forward to the next adventure when it finds me!
How would you describe rigor in a Waldorf school? Subtle. I never felt pressured to do more or be better, but the environment brings out the best in you. Teachers who are passionate about their subjects, fellow students whose skills and abilities inspire your own growth and development, and a climate that encourages exploration while supporting failure. I don’t think I missed a single day of high school, and walking through the hallways of the WSP high school now makes me want to go back!
Ellen Siminoff, parent of two WSP students who have studied abroad, offers firsthand experience with both hosting students and having her teens participate in exchanges to the Spanish-speaking countries Spain and Argentina. To put it bluntly, Ellen absolutely loved hosting students. She said, “Adding another teenager to your family brings a delightful experience. They are a teen who is new and exciting to everyone, and they are thrilled to be here and be in your family. They can elevate your household with a new dynamic.” For her students, she adds that their exchanges had a significantly positive impact on their Spanish language skills. She advises that no matter what level a student is starting with, they will get so much out of their exchange experience and improve their language skills.
Ashley Brickeen, mother of a current 10th-grade student who is hosting a student from a Waldorf School in Paris, France, shared her family’s hosting experience and their anticipation as their daughter prepares for her own exchange trip. Excited for her student to experience life in another country within the framework of a family, Ashley has found joy in witnessing their host student’s seamless integration into their household. This being their first hosting experience, Ashley is delighted to see the strong bond formed between their host student and all of the teens in the household. They’ve enjoyed shared experiences, such as a family trip to a cabin in Utah over the February break, where they introduced their host student to skiing and snow tubing for the first time. Shown here, they took their students and classmates to a nearby beach boardwalk for fun. Ashley has enjoyed witnessing her guest’s curiosity about typical life experiences, and the opportunity it provided for their family to explore their typical surroundings in new unique ways.
Current twelfth grade student Annika’s experience attending the Seoul Free Waldorf School in South Korea during her junior year speaks to the transformative power of international exchange. Despite initial challenges in establishing connections with a school that was brand-new to hosting international students, Annika’s perseverance led to a life-changing experience immersed in Korean language and culture. She emphasized the rewards of embracing new opportunities, regardless of initial uncertainties and challenges.
Elowyn, also a senior, felt her journey as both a host and visiting student helped reinforce the importance of adaptability and self-discovery. Having spent most of her junior year hosting two students, it was a completely new experience for her to not be the youngest in the family. She found it enjoyable to have others in the household who were her age to interact with. Upon arriving at her host family’s home, she found it interesting to navigate big cultural differences in family dynamics, which led her to a new-found independence in traveling and exploring a new city. This has given her the desire to explore solo travel in the future, and to both return to her host country of France, and other places around the world.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley, the serene oasis of our beloved garden lies on our Los Altos campus. Our garden is an important part of the curriculum, as well as a community space, regularly used by our students, teachers, and parents. Frequent campus visitors may have noticed a lot of changes in the garden over the last couple of years. Our gardening teacher Claire has taken hold of the project with a clear vision, determination, and a whole lot of hard work. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Claire to uncover the journey behind this transformation.
