30th Anniversary of Hartsbrook’s Foundation Stone

Thirty years ago, on October 21, 1988, the Foundation Stone for the Hartsbrook campus was laid in the ground under what is now the center of the windrose in the lobby of Piening Hall. The Foundation Stone was a shining copper dodecahedron (twelve-sided geometric form) containing hopes and wishes for Hartsbrook from all of the students (nursery through fourth grade), parents and teachers who were here at the time. It also contained two special verses written for the occasion, one by Ekkehard Piening – our Foundation Stone Verse – and the other by Arthur Zajonc.

From this beautiful seed, the campus has grown and flourished these past thirty years and Hartsbrook has become a full school with programs from early childhood through high school. Every year, on or near October 21st, students in grades 1 – 12 gather in the lobby of Piening Hall to speak their morning verses, to join in singing and to hear stories from Hartsbrook’s history, of the work of alumni, and of Hartsbrook’s connection to Waldorf schools around the world.

100th Anniversary of Waldorf Education

This year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Foundation Stone and also kicked off the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Waldorf education with the Waldorf 100 Postcard Project. The first Waldorf school opened in 1919. Every Waldorf school in the world is sending postcards to every other Waldorf school. Thus far, we have received over two hundred cards from thirty-two countries. They are posted on the big map in the hallway across from the main office in Hartsbrook Hall. We expect to receive hundreds more over the next couple years!

The students worked in buddy classes (1st and 8th, 2nd and 9th, 3rd and 10th, 4th and 11th, 5th and 12th, 6th and 7th) to craft beautiful handwritten cards. These messages from Hartsbrook will adorn the walls of Waldorf schools around the world. We all felt connected to a very great community that spans the continents.

You will hear more about other Waldorf 100 projects in the months to come.
Click to learn more about Waldorf 100