At WSP, we are fortunate to have two alums of our school serving as physical education teachers. Liam and Marina bring with them rich backgrounds in physical fitness and athletics, coupled with a deep passion for cultivating our students’ growth in these areas. Liam teaches our ninth and tenth grade PE classes, while Marina leads our eleventh and twelfth grade classes. They recently provided insights into WSP’s Physical Education that I am excited to share with our community.
WSP’s PE curriculum is designed to enhance students’ understanding of movement and spatial awareness through age-appropriate activities, empowering them to apply these skills throughout their lives. Emphasizing a social component in these activities fosters self-awareness in movement, space, and group dynamics.
In ninth grade, the curriculum places a strong emphasis on activities that cultivate courage and inner focus by challenging students to overcome obstacles. With students coming from a variety of backgrounds and movement experiences, the class begins with simple activities to quickly engage everyone and transition into gameplay. A popular introductory game is “pillow polo,” resembling field hockey, which helps students enhance their hand-eye coordination. Throughout the year, students develop their concentration skills, enabling them to progress to more complex sports like volleyball, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, ultimate frisbee, and street hockey. An important element of this year is the principle of respecting each individual’s starting point, fostering an environment in which students unite to explore new experiences together.
Once students move into tenth grade, the classes revisit the sports introduced in the previous year, benefiting from an additional year of practice that enhances their hand-eye coordination and deepens their ability to focus and engage in each sport. With familiarity comes faster recall of the rules, enabling the group to dive into activities more swiftly and confidently.
In these first two years of the high school PE program, the goal is group work – to learn how to be teammates while getting more comfortable with movement and coordination.
Transitioning into eleventh grade, the physical education program undergoes a shift towards a deeper understanding of body mechanics. Students explore how muscles function and provide support, refine their breath control during exercise, and enhance overall body awareness. Alongside traditional sports, they delve into personalized activities such as yoga and weight training, aiming to strengthen the mind-body connection essential for lifelong functional movement. This foundation not only promotes current fitness but also helps them learn to prevent future injuries.
In the twelfth grade the students participate in much of the same activities as the prior year, but with more confidence and experience. Now they will start to make more independent choices and create their own weight lifting routines. They also learn more deeply what movements affect their specific bodies and in what ways.
In these last two years of high school, the students move from competing against one another to being their own competition. In most of our lives, people sit so much. We want our students to get outside, get their heart rates up and get moving. We hope that through these experiences they will learn what they enjoy, and take it forward into the next phase of their lives – both in being physically active, but also growing their social awareness.
Like all of our programs, WSP’s high school physical education classes seek to meet the students where they are developmentally and support them in their growth. Over the four years, we hope our students will develop and strengthen their cardiovascular abilities, strength, mobility awareness, and individually improve in ways such that they find movement joyful and fun.
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.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a Waldorf student or why we say experience drives learning, come and feel it for yourself. At WSP we are intentionally different—so why would our open house be the same as all the others? Join us for a one of a kind event with demo lessons, interactive experiences and a High School student panel.
Demonstration Lessons include:
High School Science & Humanities demo lessons
Eurythmy through Grades 1-8 (for parents/guardians only)
Developing mathematical thinking through Grades 1-8 (for parents/guardians only)
Scientific thinking through a botanical lens (for parents/guardians only)
WSP Curriculum Explorations include:
Blacksmithing
Stone carving
Bal-A-Vis-X movement
Musical performances
Fiber arts display
Join us for a one-of-a-kind event with demo lessons, interactive experiences, and a high school student panel.
This event is intended for all parents or guardians. Students entering 7th grade and above in fall 2024 are also invited and are encouraged to attend our high school demonstrations.
While infants in arms are always welcome, this event is not intended for younger students.
Congratulations to our Co-Ed Middle School Cross Country team who ended their season earlier this week. They had a tremendous season and the girls earned a third place trophy in the league finals this week.
Our Middle School Girls’ Volleyball team also finished up their season with a great win vs Synapse and their last game against Hausner. I’m so proud of everyone and happy to witness their growth. I hope this season helped our players develop a strong passion for volleyball.
The Middle School Golf Team has a league tournament next week and its great to see them continue to improve weekly!
Our HS Girls’ Volleyball team had a fantastic 3 – 0 win over Liberty Baptist earlier this week, and closed out their season last night against Kahn Labs last night with another 3 – 0 win! Congratulations to our team and our two senior players, Maya & Frejya! Great season everyone!
by Ashley Brickeen | N – Grade 8 Admissions Director & Member of the DEIJ Committee
What is DEIJ?
DEIJ stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. Put simply, it means working to create a space where everyone sees themselves reflected in our community and where our community enjoys the benefits of each person’s ability to participate fully, creating a sense of true belonging.
Why DEIJ?
WSP’s vibrant and diverse community of people come from all over the world. We have families representing every major religion, with ties to every continent. Our community has families in all shapes and sizes with family members with different gender identities and orientations.
What is the DEIJ Corner?
WSP’s DEIJ committee meets weekly to plan professional development workshops, study related topics and work on projects related to DEIJ. In the DEIJ Corner, we will report to the community on our work, share resources, and provide information.
This month we are spotlighting the local group, Girls Leadership. They were founded in Oakland in 2008; and offer workshops, professional development and classes for students from K-12th grade as well as adults. Many of their materials are offered for free, such as SEL (social-emotional learning) check-in materials or their workshop on Belonging in Basketball, offered through a partnership with the WNBA.
I’ve found their Bias Intervention and Developing Culturally Responsive Mindsets workshops particularly useful for my work at WSP. As a parent, I’m currently taking a Girl & GrownUp class with my daughter about friendship, managing conflict, learning to set boundaries, and find her own voice. I’ve found this one to be helpful, not only by providing skill sets, but also by creating a space for us to talk about some of the social challenges she is facing.
Keep an eye out for future updates from WSP’s DEIJ committee in our DEIJ corner. If you have any suggestions for resources or comments, please contact us via email.
In ninth grade, the curriculum places a strong emphasis on activities that cultivate courage and inner focus by challenging students to overcome obstacles. With students coming from a variety of backgrounds and movement experiences, the class begins with simple activities to quickly engage everyone and transition into gameplay. A popular introductory game is “pillow polo,” resembling field hockey, which helps students enhance their hand-eye coordination. Throughout the year, students develop their concentration skills, enabling them to progress to more complex sports like volleyball, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, ultimate frisbee, and street hockey. An important element of this year is the principle of respecting each individual’s starting point, fostering an environment in which students unite to explore new experiences together.
In these first two years of the high school PE program, the goal is group work – to learn how to be teammates while getting more comfortable with movement and coordination. 
In these last two years of high school, the students move from competing against one another to being their own competition. In most of our lives, people sit so much. We want our students to get outside, get their heart rates up and get moving. We hope that through these experiences they will learn what they enjoy, and take it forward into the next phase of their lives – both in being physically active, but also growing their social awareness. 
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.
