Elmwood

Elmwood where to begin?. Elmwood the school that was more like a fairy tale then a school. An old fashioned waldorf inspired school. That was housed in a church. It wasn't what I was used to in a school. I was used to big noisy classrooms with a lot of students and one very strict teacher and bullies But Elmwood wasn't like that. I remember the first day I walked into that classroom which was to school three different grades. It was the day before school started, my parents had agreed to help set up the classroom. A large woman grey haired woman with thick rimmed glasses came to greet us. She was to be my teacher Ms. Julie. She was friendly,soft spoken and gentle. There were fifteen desks lined up in a horse shoe like circle. in the middle was a rocking chair where the teacher sat and behind that was a chalk board. The first thing a got there Ms. Julie asked me to choose a desk. I choose one toward the middle of the classroom. Then a cubbie I chose one close to the door.
The first day school started Parents and students would gather in a circle to welcome each other and introduce themselves to new people. It was very welcoming. Many of the other students from Elmwood are still my friends today. There were only five girls in my class and i became friends with all of them. Elmwood was a very different environment from most schools. When we were in class we wore slippers instead of shoes. We baked bread every wednesday. Had PE every thursday where we would play games like dodge ball or cranes and crows. We would do form drawing and do math with bean bags and learn violin. We pereformed plays and did things in the community. We worked on farms, saw how everyday foods were actually made. Our class was the biggest. Some classes were only three students. At recess I for the first time ever was included like and equal the classmates didn't tease or bully me for the most part and i found strength. I went to that school for two years. It closed down because it went under but it has taught me some of the most valueble lessons i have ever learned in my life.