Essex on Lake Champlain
\"Essex
  • About
    • Essex, New York (Town)
      • Essex Maps
      • Essex, New York Weather
      • Town of Essex Government
      • Close
    • Essex on Lake Champlain (Blog)
      • Contributors
      • Sponsors
      • Testimonials
      • Get Involved
      • Close
    • Close
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Calendar
    • Add an Event
    • Upcoming Events
    • Close
  • Essex on Lake Champlain
  • Connect
    • Social Media
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Google +
      • Pinterest
      • YouTube
      • Flickr
    • Newsletters
    • GET INVOLVED
    • CONTACT
        • Your Name (required)

          Your Email (required)

          Subject (required)

          Your Message

      • Close
    • Shop
    • Search
        • Search
          • Close
        • Categories
            • Agriculture (518)
            • Architecture (76)
            • Arts (352)
            • Business (122)
            • Daily Doodle (62)
            • Dining (151)
            • Doodle Quotes (5)
            • Doodlebomb (3)
            • Education (295)
            • Entertainment (369)
            • Environment (28)
            • Essex Doodles (62)
            • Events (1701)
            • Exercise (54)
            • Government (247)
            • Health & Wellness (134)
            • Heritage (397)
            • History (183)
            • Hyperlocal (29)
            • Landscape (35)
            • Lifestyle (197)
            • Lodging (16)
            • Music (274)
            • Nature (256)
            • News (1213)
            • Nightlife (18)
            • Obituary (9)
            • Opinion (45)
            • Outdoors (177)
            • People (115)
            • Philanthropy (85)
            • Real Estate (3)
            • Recreation (213)
            • Resources (7)
            • Services (7)
            • Shopping (95)
            • Sports (22)
            • Transportation (71)
            • Worship (17)
          • Close
        • Archives
            • June 2018 (21)
            • May 2018 (30)
            • April 2018 (28)
            • March 2018 (30)
            • February 2018 (31)
            • January 2018 (26)
            • December 2017 (23)
            • November 2017 (25)
            • October 2017 (22)
            • September 2017 (32)
            • August 2017 (35)
            • July 2017 (30)
            • June 2017 (30)
            • May 2017 (35)
            • April 2017 (31)
            • March 2017 (33)
            • February 2017 (30)
            • January 2017 (35)
            • December 2016 (30)
            • November 2016 (37)
            • October 2016 (43)
            • September 2016 (53)
            • August 2016 (49)
            • July 2016 (59)
            • June 2016 (70)
            • May 2016 (57)
            • April 2016 (64)
            • March 2016 (69)
            • February 2016 (56)
            • January 2016 (46)
            • December 2015 (39)
            • November 2015 (43)
            • October 2015 (61)
            • September 2015 (57)
            • August 2015 (61)
            • July 2015 (54)
            • June 2015 (41)
            • May 2015 (67)
            • April 2015 (66)
            • March 2015 (72)
          • Load More
          • Close
        • Contact us
          • CONTACT US

              Your Name (required)

              Your Email (required)

              Subject (required)

              Your Message

            • Close
        • Close
      • Log In
        • Log Into Calendar
        • Log Into Blog
        • Close
      • Skip to primary navigation
      • Skip to main content
      • Skip to primary sidebar
      • Skip to footer

      Essex on Lake Champlain

      Essex, New York Community Blog Since 2011

      • Lifestyle
        • Agriculture
          • CSAs in Essex, NY
            • Essex Farm
            • Full and By Farm
          • Farmstead Catering
          • The Hub on the Hill
          • Reber Rock Farm
        • Outdoors
          • Champlain Area Trails (CATS)
          • Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center
        • Entertainment
          • Champlain Valley Film Series
          • Whallonsburg Grange Hall
        • Arts
          • Adirondack Art Association
          • Essex Community Concerts
          • Champlain Valley Film Series
          • Essex Poetry Open Mic
        • Music
          • Essex Community Concerts
        • Shopping
        • Recreation
          • Champlain Area Trails (CATS)
        • Health & Wellness
          • Lake Champlain Yoga & Wellness
          • NEW Health
        • Nature
          • Champlain Area Trails (CATS)
        • Education
          • CFES Brilliant Pathways
          • Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center
        • Nightlife
        • Worship
      • Events
        • Christmas in Essex
        • Downtown Essex Day
        • Fourth of July in Essex, NY
      • Dining
        • Chez Lin & Rays
        • Essex Ice Cream Cafe
        • Essex Inn on the Adirondack Coast
        • Farmstead Catering
        • Old Dock Restaurant
        • The Pink Pig Cafe
      • Lodging
        • Essex Inn on the Adirondack Coast
        • The Cupola House and Cottage
      • Transportation
        • Essex-Charlotte Ferry
      • Heritage
        • Architecture
          • Essex, New York Architecture: A Doodler’s Field Guide
        • Historic Essex
        • History
        • People
        • Government
          • Essex Post Office
          • Town of Essex Government
        • Vintage Essex Trivia
        • Vintage Essex Artifacts
      • Directory
        • Adirondack Art Association
        • Champlain Area Trails (CATS)
        • CFES Brilliant Pathways
        • The Cupola House and Cottage
        • Essex-Charlotte Ferry
        • Essex Farm
        • Essex Ice Cream Cafe
        • Essex Initiatives
        • Essex Post Office
        • Farmstead Catering
        • Full and By Farm
        • Historic Essex
        • Lake Champlain Yoga & Wellness
        • NEW Health
        • Pedal Power
        • Reber Rock Farm
        • The Hub on the Hill
        • Town of Essex Government
        • Whallonsburg Grange Hall
      • Show Search
      Hide Search
      You are here: Home / Education / Lakeside School: Words from an Intern

      Lakeside School: Words from an Intern

      January 10, 2013 By Lakeside School Leave a Comment

      Lakeside Farm House at Black Kettle Farm in autumn
      Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm (Credit Jen Zahorchak)

      Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm offers birth – 1st grade education based on the Waldorf philosophy on a working farm in Essex, NY.

      Lakeside School Intern Experience

      I first came to Lakeside in September to tour the school in preparation for internships that completed St. Lawrence University‘s Adirondack Semester. As soon as I set foot in the school’s rustic farmhouse, I knew that out of all of our internship partners, I wanted to be at Lakeside. I knew very little about Waldorf education but was instantly reminded of my own preschool years at a Montessori school in New Jersey. I have had an extremely unique experience over the last two and a half weeks at Lakeside and will attempt to express this, although I am doubtful that it is possible for me to truly verbalize how powerful of a time it was.

      Lakeside is first and foremost a school, a place for individuals to learn and grow, but it is also much more than that. Lakeside is a haven. Teachers can share their feelings, emotions and opinions, parents can voice concerns and be heard, and children can run, fall and roll outside in every element while expressing themselves. There is even a place for newcomers, like myself, who are quickly welcomed and accepted into the school’s family by all. There is something about the picturesque landscape and old farmhouse that create a magical atmosphere where anyone can feel comfortable and at peace.

      After a few short days in the Kindergarten classroom and with Robin’s beautifully clear and concise explanations, I was able to pick up some of the basic principals of Waldorf education. I now see this alternative style of learning to be made up of the following: 1) Students learn through experience rather than explanation 2) All activities and lessons are developmentally appropriate and purposeful 3) Song, rhythm, repetition and creativity all play a large roll in child development 4) In exploring their surroundings with ALL senses, a young brain is able to retain and absorb more knowledge in the future. While to an outsider these principals and beliefs may seem far fetched or lacking in purpose when compared to traditional schooling, it is obvious to me that something about Waldorf teaching is working. I have never met more mature, intelligent and enlightened children than those I came to know at Lakeside.

      While my time at Lakeside was devastatingly short, I nevertheless felt like a part of both the Lakeside community and the greater Essex community. The teachers invited me into their homes and were always asking if I had everything I needed. The students embraced my presence in the classroom and on the play yard and parents were always eager to converse with me before or after the school day. I already am excited to return to Essex this summer with the hopes of working alongside such a diverse and interesting group of people.

      I would like to thank Kathleen, Robin, Dari, Greg and Kristin for their warm welcome into their close circle and for all of their support and friendship. Parents, thank you for choosing to send your children to Lakeside, otherwise I never would have been touched by so many wonderful young people.

      Laura Stasi
      A St. Lawrence intern on the Adirondack Semester
      Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm, Essex, New York

      Related articles
      • Lakeside School: Initiative Foundations
      • Lakeside School: View from the Office Window

      Share this:

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Pinterest
      • Email
      • More
      • Print
      • LinkedIn
      • Pocket
      • Reddit
      • Tumblr

      Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Black Kettle Farm, Lakeside School, Laura Stasi, View from the Office Window, Waldorf Education

      Avatar photo

      About Lakeside School

      Lakeside School is a Waldorf inspired early childhood and elementary school in Essex, NY. Learn more at www.lakesideschoolinessex.org.

      Reader Interactions

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Rewilding Earth: Best of Rewilding Earth 2019 

      Essex, New York Architecture: A Doodler's Field Guide

      View all Essex Editions books...

      Follow Essex, NY on FacebookFollow Essex, NY on TwitterFollow Essex, NY on PinterestFollow Essex, NY on YouTubeFollow Essex, NY on FlickrFollow Essex, NY on RSS

      Search

      Top 10 Contributors

      • Katie Shepard (595)
      • Geo Davis (394)
      • Whallonsburg Grange Hall (259)
      • Avatar photoChamplain Area Trails (CATS) (208)
      • Avatar photoEssex Farm (205)
      • Olive Alexander (190)
      • Sara Kurak (165)
      • Avatar photoTom Mangano (142)
      • Avatar photoFort Ticonderoga (142)
      • Avatar photoLakeside School (116)

      Footer

      Resources & Policies

      • About Essex on Lake Champlain
      • About Essex, New York
      • Essex, NY Weather
      • Disclosure Policy
      • Privacy Policy
      • Submit a Story
      • Contact Us

      Popular Essex, NY Searches

      • Essex, NY
      • Essex, New York
      • Essex on Lake Champlain
      • Essex Charlotte ferry
      • Essex ferry schedule
      • Essex Charlotte ferry schedule
      • Full and By Farm
      • Essex Farm
      • timber rattlesnake
      • Essex NY fireworks
      • Christmas in Essex, NY
      • Champlain Area Trails

      Local Links

      • Adirondack Art Association
      • Belden Noble Memorial Library
      • Champlain Area Trails
      • Champlain Valley Film Series
      • Essex Community Concerts
      • Essex Theatre Company
      • Historic Essex
      • Rosslyn Redux
      • The Crater Club
      • Town of Essex Information
      • Whallonsburg Grange Hall

      Copyright © 2023 Essex Editions

       

      Loading Comments...