The South Shore Waldorf School is seeking an Early Childhood kindergarten assistant. The ideal candidate has familiarity with Waldorf education and experience and/or training in early childhood settings. The Kindergarten Assistant works under the direction of the Kindergarten Teacher in a collaborative fashion with the potential of growth and the possibility of one day becoming a Kindergarten teacher.

We are looking for someone who is hard-working, has a positive attitude, excellent communication skills, and possesses handwork, storytelling and singing skills. The perfect candidate works with purpose and joy and is looking to grow with our school and community.

We work daily with the children on the joy of domestic and practical work, maintaining a garden where we grow vegetables and herbs. Responsibilities also include care of a kitchen where we cook organic meals daily for the kindergarten children. This is combined with caring for our classroom and our outdoor space, along with painting, sewing, puppet shows and seasonal crafts and celebrations. We spend a large part of our day outdoors and in the kitchen so our ideal candidate would be comfortable spending several hours per day outdoors in all weather and enjoy cooking, cleaning up and being in the kitchen. 

A background that includes completion of, or is currently enrolled in a Waldorf Teacher Training program in Early Childhood, is preferred. As a faculty we are committed to ongoing professional development.

ASSISTANT RESPONSIBILITIES, SALARY AND BENEFITS

Responsibilities and Salaries 

This is a 10-month contract with the possibility of renewal for 2024-2025 year. All new employees are subject to a 3-month probationary period. Salary is determined based on qualifications and years of experience and is in the range of other Waldorf Schools in provinces that receive no government support. There is a possibility of tuition reduction for faculty children.

The work day is from 8 am - 3 pm Monday - Thursday and 7:30 - 2 pm on Fridays.  The assistant will also be required to attend weekly faculty meetings.

Responsibilities include: 

• Working with children ages 3-7 under the direction of the Kindergarten class teacher.
• Care for the physical and emotional well-being of the children and their families.
• Work with individual children who need guidance
• Foster positive relationships with their colleagues, children and families
• Be aware of the creative play of children, redirect and inspire them as necessary
• Know and implement discipline policy as set in the School Handbook.
• Participate in domestic activities joyously, which include:
• Care for the physical environment both inside and out such as maintaining a beautiful classroom and boot room that is clean and orderly, helping with the gardens, shovelling snow in the winter and raking leaves in the fall. Teaching by example.
• Enjoy and interact with the outdoors in all weather conditions,
• Maintain needed paperwork, including taking classroom daily attendance
• Be able to comfortably lift and carry a 35 - 40 lb child if necessary.
• Be willing to climb a tree if needed.
• Attend and participate in the Festival life of the school
• The assistant is expected to step into the kindergarten teacher's role in their absence and hold the rhythm and order of the day. This will include every Friday when the kindergarten teacher is running the Parent and Tot program.
• The Assistant is responsible for caring for children during parent-teacher meetings
• Encouraged to attend all Parent Evenings.
• Expected to attend the weekly faculty meetings.

OUR SCHOOL: The South Shore Waldorf school in Blockhouse is set on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada close to the UNESCO town of Lunenburg, the charming small town of Mahone Bay, and about an hour from the city of Halifax. SSWS is an AWSNA developing school and a full member of WECAN.

The school was founded in 1996 with a handful of students. SSWS is faculty-led with staff working collaboratively with parents, administrative staff and a committed board of directors.

Our school resides in a century-old building situated on a 6-acre campus with an organic garden, woodland area, meadow, sledding hill and outdoor amphitheatre. Our school community life is strong and filled with festivals and other events.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with our school through our website: http://www.waldorfns.org

REQUIREMENTS:

Early Childhood Teacher training or experience

Hold a current Child First Aid and CPR

Submit a completed Vulnerable sector check from the RCMP

Submit a completed Child Abuse Registry check from Social Services

Be able to follow Public Health guidelines

Start date: August 20

Interested applicants should send a resume, 3 professional references, copies of relevant certificates and a letter of intent and short professional biography that highlights how you are prepared for this role.

SEND TO:

admin@waldorfns.org Subject line: Kindergarten Assistant position.

Applications will be accepted immediately.