Lively Arts Homeschool

The Steiner-Waldorf philosophy of education is that there is no end to human knowledge, or to what a learner can discover. In this context, Waldorf-inspired learning does not focus on potential, because potential is actually a limiting factor in student growth and achievement. The Steiner-Waldorf philosophy of education focuses on the whole child. It strives to facilitate the spiritual and artistic development of students. Most importantly, the Steiner-Waldorf philosophy of education considers both logic and emotion to be integral components of learner development.

The intimate communal nature of our program allows us to effectively implement some important facets of Waldorf inspiration. All the specialties can be guided and inspired by the Steiner-Waldorf philosophy of education, particularly the components that are most universal, including: Regular learning in the out of doors; Gardening; Seasonal celebrations; A focus on the arts at all ages and across the curriculum; All-school gatherings and celebrations including parents/caregivers and siblings; Cooking, sewing, knitting, building, and gardening; A focus on core values that tie directly into daily activities; A particular focus on gratitude; Nurturing Imagination through folk and fairy tales, fables, and legends are integrated throughout the Waldorf curriculum, emphasizing development of creativity and imagination.

For the 2025-2026 school year, students in grades K-8 will attend on either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. PK students attend one and a half days per week, either full day Monday and half day Wednesday, or full day Tuesday and half day Thursday. 

In the 2025-2026 school year we will meet from 8:45am-3:00pm. Half-day preschool on Wednesdays and Thursdays will meet from 8:45am-12:30pm

Students are grouped based on age and grade. Typically, we have Kindergarten, Grade 1/2, Grade 3/4, and Grades 5-8 grouped but this is subject to change based on the enrollment.

Students need to be 4 years old by October 1st of the current school year.

Students must have reached the age of 5 by October 1st of the current school year to attend our kindergarten classes.

Yes, 2 years of Kindergarten is part of the regular program at Lively Arts, in line with most Waldorf programs. Because our grades classes include a mix of grade levels, we find it beneficial for the children to have two years of kindergarten before moving up to class with with 7-9 year olds.

For the 2025-26 school year, the program starts on August 18th, 2025.

Students have the opportunity to attend several field trips throughout the school year. Most of our “field trips” are actually visiting artists or programs that come to the school for students during school hours. Students are welcome to attend visiting artist programs on any day of the week, regardless of day of regular attendance.

The program is tuition-free for grades K-8. PreK is covered by Universal PreK in Colorado. All students are asked to pay a $100 materials fee at the beginning of the school year. 
If your student is enrolled in another state-funded program, they may also attend Lively Arts on a tuition basis.

Technically, students may only be enrolled in one state-funded program. If the other program is funded by the state of Colorado you may also attend Lively Arts, but will need to pay tuition. Please call 720-808-5181 for information.

Yes, any student living in Colorado may participate.

Yes. Unless you request otherwise, all students in your family will be placed on the same day of attendance.

Yes! This is one of the many benefits of homeschooling. We simply ask that you inform us of your plans and call in any unexpected absences for attendance tracking purposes.

After one year in the Lively Arts program, students are given priority over other Jeffco residents if they would like to apply to the regular school during the Enroll Jeffco lottery process.

Yes, Lively Arts celebrates all Waldorf Festivals in community. We also believe in building community for students and families alike, and offer monthly hikes, book discussion groups, storytelling evenings, caroling, and quarterly community skill-shares.

Under our charter with Jeffco Public schools, as a supplemental Homeschool enrichment program, we are unable to provide intervention support for our students who have Individual Education Plans (IEP) and need support with reading and math intervention, counseling, speech therapy, or occupational therapy.

We can provide resources and contact information to parents who are seeking these services outside of the school. For families with children from birth to age five, you can find information on the Colorado Department of Education website section – Child Find. www.cde.state.co.us/early/childfind.

As a Jefferson County charter school guided by the Core Principles of Public Waldorf Education and in acknowledgment of our school’s explicit value of diversity and access, we at Lively Arts Homeschool accept the difficult truth that Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, expressed beliefs that, by the standards of equity we strive for today, can be considered discriminatory. Our school formally denounces any such beliefs and statements made by Rudolf Steiner. It is imperative that we seek to understand why such statements were historically part of our educational philosophy. We believe it is necessary to fundamentally question Steiner’s teachings to determine how they have negatively affected the development of Public Waldorf education, especially with regards to questions of discrimination on the basis of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity, culture and religious beliefs. Our school community believes public Waldorf education should be based on the idea that all human beings have the right to be treated equally and respected when they raise their voices against discrimination.