CWS 2025 Back-to-School Guide
- Beth McDaniel
- Aug 7
- 8 min read
Here's your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know to get Back-to-School.
1. Plan to Attend Back-to-School Night
All parents with children in preschool-12th grade are encouraged to attend Back-to-School Night! During this event, you'll receive a warm welcome back from the CWS faculty as well as vital information to get the year off to a good start. Back-to-School Night will begin with an assembly in the gym, after which parents will be dismissed to attend class meetings.
This year's program features another exciting keynote address by Caroline Harwood, CWS Lead Teacher and College Co-Chair. Her talk will focus on the way that Waldorf pedagogy meets the emotional and spiritual needs of the children in the modern world. Don't miss it!
This is an adults-only event (babes in arms always welcome) with one important exception: high school students are asked to attend with their parents.
During this year's Back-to-School Night, you are also welcome to tour the building and see all the exciting changes on our campus! All are invited to stop by the school kitchen to sample some of Chef Lex's delicious new lunch items. You will absolutely be glad you did!
2. You're Invited - CWS Community Events!
Head to MadTree Parks & Rec in Blue Ash on Saturday, August 9th from 4-7pm to meet up with old friends—and meet new ones! Several tables on the patio will be reserved for Waldorf families - big thanks to MadTree & the Duncan family for hosting us!
It's all hands on deck Sunday, August 10th at 1pm as our brand new CWS Facilities Manager, Chris Culley, heads up a Community Work Day to ensure our campus is looking beautiful for Back-to-School.
Join us at the CWS Garden at Ann Becker Park Saturday August 16th, 11am-2pm!
Our Garden is in need of some love, and the best way to get it on track for the school year is with community, food and fun! Join us for all of the above!
Back-to-School-Night is NOT to be missed! Sunday, August 17th.
3. 2025-2026 School Calendar and Arrival Times
You can access the CWS school calendar on our website here. There is also a designated Athletics calendar, which can be accessed here. Please note that the first day for students in Grades 1-12 is Wednesday, August 20th (Noon Dismissal). The first day for Preschool and Kindergarten students is Thursday, August 21st.
This year the school day for all students will begin at 8:30am. The school day will end at 3:15pm for Preschool-Grade 8 and 3:30 pm for High School. See the specifics below:
Official School Day Time:
2025-2026 School Year
8:30 am-12:00 pm (Preschool & Kindergarten)
8:30 am-3:15 pm (Grades 1-8)
8:30 am-3:30 pm (High School)
New Arrival Time Window:
8:00-8:30 am Arrival Window:
Preschool Park & Walk to Preschool Play Yard
Kindergarten, Grades 1-3 Carline Drop-off Outdoor Arrival
Grades 4-12 Carline Drop-off Indoor Arrival
8:30 am School Day Starts:
Students are Tardy if arriving after 8:30 am
New Dismissal Time Window:
Class | Dismissal Window |
Preschool & Half Day Kindergarten Dismiss | 11:45-12:00 pm |
Early Care Students Dismiss | 3:00 pm |
Full Day Kindergarten & Grades 1-3 | 3:00-3:30 pm |
Grades 4-8 Dismiss | 3:15-3:30 pm |
Grades 9-12 Dismiss | 3:30 pm |
4. Attendance
Please contact the school by the phone number or email address listed below if your student will arrive late to school, leave early for an appointment, or be absent. If we do not receive a notification and reason for your student's absence, the absence is unexcused.
CWS Main Phone: 513-541-0220
Email: attendance@cinciwaldorf.org
Please do not send sick students to school. Students should be fever free with improved symptoms for at least 24 hours and feel well enough to participate in the day's activities before returning to school.
5. Fill Out Student Forms Before 8/10
Please set aside some time to complete student forms well before school begins so that we can have time to be prepared to receive your children. Students are attending school in violation of Ohio law if certain forms are not received. If your student forms are not received by August 29, your student/s will not be permitted to be in school until the forms are turned in. This includes submitting copies of your student's birth certificate and physician medical statement with immunization record as requested.
Please be sure to review and update all forms for completeness and confirm they are dated for this current school year. Remember to select the [SAVE] button on each page.
Student forms are located in your family portal. From the school website https://www.cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org/, select [School] on the left side bar, [Webforms]. You can also find helpful information such as the CWS Family Handbook, Prescription Medication Authorization Form, and the Required Medical Statement for students under [School/Resource Documents].
Some specifics to note on particular forms:
Student Information Form: Please make sure the Local Public School you enter is the most up to date school building that your child would attend this year in your local district. Ex: Symmes Elementary or Sycamore High School.
Student Medical Statement: The form (found in the Family Portal under Resource Documents) in the student's file should be dated by a physician from a visit within the past 12 months. This form can be dropped off in the main office or emailed to Jennifer or Nicole.
Prescription Medication Authorization Form: Please send in a paper copy if your student needs to have prescription medications on hand while at school. CWS likes to have two quantities of RX medications if possible (one for the class medical backpack and one for the main office). It is very important to have this paperwork and these medications and to know whether your student will self carry or if the medication will be stored in the main office or teacher class medical backpack. You can bring these to Back-to-School Night or drop them in the school office.
Student Self-Dismissal Permission Form: If you give your student permission to self-dismiss, CWS must have a self-dismissal permission form filled out and dated for the current school year.
Thank you so very much for partnering with CWS/CWHS to care for and educate your children. They are inspiring to us!
6. You're Invited to Community Singing!
Families and friends of CWS students are invited to join choral music teacher Adam Petersen on Friday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 AM in the CWS Community Room for Community Singing! This is a wonderful opportunity to cultivate our community, to make new connections, and to share in the songs of our school's festivals and our students' curriculum. No musical experience is necessary.
Our first meeting will be Friday, August 22. The Community Room is just beyond the office at the front of the school. Little ones are welcome, with space to roam and play.
If you'd like to get a jump start on learning songs - or just enjoy singing these songs with your your family - check out our CWS Community Singing recordings here.
7. New Parent Coffee Social - Friday, September 19th
8. School Policies and Important Reminders
The CWS Family Handbook is your one-stop-shop for school policies and procedures. It is being updated and will be posted on the website and in your family portal soon.
Here are two policy changes to note:
Hot foods need to be pre-heated at home and sent in a thermos.
Please send cough drops if your child needs one. Class teachers and the office have a limited supply.
Thank you in advance for reviewing the handbook to ensure a smooth start to the year!
9. Please Review Arrival/Dismissal Policies:
The speed limit on Chestnut Street (and all other Mariemont side streets) is 25 mph. Please do not exceed the speed limit on this or any other Mariemont street. In addition to this being a neighborhood with several schools, many families with children and pets live on these very narrow streets. It is essential that we look out for the safety of everyone - our own families and those of our neighbors.
Stopping in front of the school to drop off your student is not permitted. When this happens, the school crossing zone is blocked, meaning that other drivers cannot see students who are trying to cross safely. Stopping in front of the school also prevents traffic from being able to move in both directions. Being late is not a reason to disregard this rule.
Do not park in the school crossing zone directly across from the front entrance.
Do not park where the yellow curb and fire hydrant are located directly across from the front entrance.
Leaving both of the above mentioned spots open and free of cars is critical to allowing drivers to be able to see our students who are attempting to cross the road safely.
When traveling west on Chestnut St from Plainville, please do not turn left into the school parking lot during arrival or dismissal. There is a sign there specifically prohibiting this.
The Mariemont police will ticket if they see this take place. Please also consider abstaining from this practice as a show of kindness to fellow parents who have waited patiently in the carline. A better option is to take Plainville to Wooster Pike, then turn right and join the carline at Oak Street.
When turning right out of the parking lot after dropping off/picking up your student, plan to move very slowly and expect students to be crossing the road in front of the school. Please stop and wait for them to cross.
Thank you for your attention to these reminders and please take a look at the neighborhood photo below detailing traffic flow dos and don'ts - great for visual learners! We all know what it’s like to be rushing through a busy commute; however, we need to remember to set a good example for our children and take extra care on our little street to keep everyone safe.
10. Return Your EdChoice Acceptance Letter
EdChoice Acceptance Letters have been mailed to your home, or will be mailed to you once your scholarship has been awarded. Please sign the acceptance letter, and either email it to the school at edchoice@cincinnatiwaldorfschool.org or bring it to the main office. EdChoice scholarships are not distributed until they have been formally accepted.
11. Sign Up for After Care (If You Haven't Already)
Our CWS After Care program is designed to support parents and children by providing flexible and nurturing after school options for children of all ages. After Care provides an essential care option for working parents; it also offers after-school fun, enrichment, and support for families looking for an engaging and screen-free way for their child to spend time after school hours.
We offer four different After Care options, depending on the age of your child and the needs of your family. Learn more about all of our After Care programs at the CWS website HERE.
To enroll your child in After Care, please contact our Business Manager, Libby Rupp, at lrupp@cinciwaldorf.org. Contracted after care is provided at a discounted rate and guarantees that your child's space will be held. Spaces are limited, particularly for preschoolers, so please contact Libby right away if you're needing regular care for your child. To book single day drop-in After Care sessions as space allows, please visit our website HERE.
12. Plan to Order School Lunch
If you're tired of packing lunch — or would just love for your child to have a hot, homemade meal instead — Chef Lex has got you covered. Chef Lex offers a healthy school lunch featuring organic, seasonal, local ingredients 5 days a week! Check the menu, and order here. Orders must be placed by 8am for lunch that day.
School lunches get rave reviews from faculty and students, but don't take our word for it — Chef Alexis will be offering "sweet and savory" samples for parents to try on B2SN. Swing by the cafeteria between 6:30-7:30pm, have a bite, and meet Chef Lex!
+Check Out Chef Lex's New Cafe Offerings
*For parents only.
New this school year ... Chef Lex will also be offering new cafe items for parents and faculty in the mornings! The menu features low caffeine drinks and health conscious, delicious food meant to sustain you throughout the day.
More information to come about ordering — but get excited about this delicious and convenient option for breakfast and/or a morning pick-me-up!
13. Don't Forget Your Labels, Mabel!
Mabel's Labels are a great way to keep track of all your child's things — from clothes and shoes to water bottles and lunch boxes. And best of all, when you order your labels, your purchase supports the CWS Parent Association. It's a win-win!
14. Join Our Team!
