CVS History

The Cedar Valley School is a BC certified independent school that is inspired by Waldorf education. The school’s history began in 2000 with formal programs offered for the first time in 2002. The programs offered now consist of a parent and tot group, preschool, kindergarten and early elementary grades. All teachers are fully certified with various degrees of Waldorf Education training. The school is guided by an active board of directors which has the vision of offering classes that encompass all the elementary grades.

During the winter of 2000, a group of parents began to dream big about their childrens’ education, and set about making their dreams real. At that time an informal parent and tot playgroup was offered. Starting in September 2001 that group morphed into an informal preschool. By the 2002/03 school year, Morningstar Kindergarten was formed and headed by a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Educator The following school year (2003/04) saw an additional kindergarten assistant was hired. The Rainbow preschool was also born that year, led by a waldorf certified ECE teacher. During that same year, the grade school was created with a mixed age grade one and three, which was officially run as a homeschool. The 2004/05 school year brought independent school status and the addition of an additional grade school teacher, for the incoming first grade. Since the 2005/06 school year we have housed all of our programs in one location and continue to grow and blossom as a Waldorf inspired independent school. The school plans to eventually offer all the elementary grades, with the addition of a grade per year. The school and its teachers are inspired by Waldorf education. The long range plans are for the school to own land upon which is built a schoolhouse that can accommodate a full faculty, including such Waldorf specialties such as eurythmy and spatial dynamics, as well as administrative and maintenance staff.

The Cedar Valley School Association (formerly known as the Squamish Community School Association) was established in 1999, and was registered as a society (# S-40954) in January 2000. The Association is a non-profit charitable organization. Our Federal Charity Number that we received in January 2001 is 86696 8373 RR0001. The CVSA is the legal entity which makes the school possible and which provides financial, planning, legal, business and practical support though the work of its elected Board of Directors and its various committees.

As an independent school, tuition is charged for all programs. The school also receives government funding and holds fundraising events. These funds are directed towards a tuition adjustment program in order to make this education affordable to any and all interested families.