Grade 8 Reflections

Students of Grade Eight are ending their time with us at Tamarack and leaving the nest. It’s been a blessed gift to spend time with them these past weeks, they are strong and ready to embark on their next big academic adventure, high school.

Each student wrote a reflection to share with the community. 

Dear Grade 8, you will be missed.

Love,

Mrs. Marks



Ambria: It has been a great few years here at Tamarack. Mrs. Marks helps me get caught up, she tries to make things fun, and all my friends are nice. For instance, Tania, she looks out for me and everybody else, and she is super nice. Ms. Duncan is really helpful too. During handwork, she will make time for you and make sure everyone leaves with at least half of their work done. These past years, I can see that everyone who goes here will be successful when they grow up. Our school is all about having fun and being successful with life and experiencing new things like nature. I hope that everyone will follow their dream like I will follow mine. My dream was to go to art school, and Tamarack has been perfect to prepare me.

Elliot: Growing up with all my friends was really fun and cool. Most of my best friends I have known since I was six. Some I have known for longer and some I have known for only three years. I feel like some of my friends are like siblings. I just feel like I know them really well. I am sad that I am graduating because I will not see them in school anymore but overall, I like going to a Waldorf school. It has been fun.    

Ezra: I came to Tamarack in 4th Grade. It was a big change from my last school, for instance having no homework, bringing my own lunch, and the dress code. But if I did not come to Tamarack, I would have half the people in my life who I now know. So, I am glad I went to Tamarack, it is a good school, I like going here and I like having the same people and the same teacher each year. Overall, I have loved going to Tamarack.    

Grade 6 Concert

Babette: I have been a student at Tamarack for 11 years. I started in Pre-K, where each student was given a symbol. Mine was the star. For the next two years of kindergarten, I had the swan symbol. My teachers would cook all our meals and take us on adventurous walks along the river. In first grade, I met my teacher for the next eight years. Having the same teacher every year allows you to build a unique relationship and get to know each other. Throughout the years, we performed many plays, and even learned Greek sports. We sewed bags, animals, and moccasins, and carved spoons and bowls. Every year, we moved to a new classroom. The whole school is painted in pretty colors, each room a different one. The education is filled with art and freedom.    

Loli: Over the years at Tamarack, I feel that it really helped me become the boy I am today. I really cannot express how thankful I am for the teachers throughout the years. Senora Geiger is one of the kindest people I have ever grown up with and she definitely helped me mature through the years. Every teacher in this school has not only taught me a lot but has taught the whole class extremely well. Whether it was handwork, Spanish, German, or PE, I learned so very much. Thank you, Tamarack!    

Grade 6 Ropes Course

Meryl:  In a Waldorf school, you stay with the same class and teacher from 1st Grade to 8th Grade. I have been at Tamarack for 12 years. Being there for so long, you really get to know your teachers, and your class. The teachers always push you to do your best, and the students are always there to help. Tamarack, in my experience, is a community everyone can enjoy.    

Adela: Transferring to a Waldorf school for my middle school years was a difficult adjustment as the teaching methods are so different and unique than a public school. I was able to become comfortable by welcoming teachers and classmates. I enjoyed taking nature walks and learning from a chalkboard rather than a screen. I also really like the style of each classroom and how high the ceilings are on the third floor.   

Zeph: Waldorf education has been an interesting experience. There are many things I got the chance to take part in here, that I would not have gotten in a regular public school. For instance, we go outside no matter the weather, we have the same teacher and group of classmates all throughout grade school, and we take frequent fieldtrips to places off school grounds that we have gone to often over the years, and even have a little amount of homework. These are all things that students who do not attend Waldorf schools do not usually get to experience, and I am thankful to have been one of the lucky few who have spent most of my school days being creative, active, and social with my close friends.   

Grade 3 Hats

Elka: I have been going to Tamarack for almost 12 years now. I know no other way of schooling. Throughout the years, many of the friends I made have come and gone, but while they were here, they always fit right in. For eight years, Mrs. Marks has been my teacher. It is nice to have a reliable figure there for all this time.  For as long as I have had Mrs. Marks, I have had our specialty teachers, Mrs. Duncan and Senora Geiger. Both in Handwork and Spanish, the teachers love and dedication for their classes make me excited to learn more about their subjects in the future.  I know that no other school will never be quite like Tamarack, and that no other school could teach me the things I learned, but that is ok, because I will always have the lessons with me.  

Chloe:  Being a student here at Tamarack has been great. I love that we get the same class and teacher every year. Being able to make fun and happy memories with the class is what matters the most to me. Going on field trips were my favorite part of school. I will miss Tamarack so much.  

Grade 2 Play

Divine:  Being at Tamarack was fun. It was a very different learning style from my other school, and I loved it. It was weird and new for me, but I got used to it very quickly. Having the same teacher for three years was great because having to get to know a different teacher each year is too much. This school will be very missed by me and getting to get fresh air every day was great. All our field trips were fun. Creating friendships, having an open, welcoming group was so nice. Adding art and creative writing was fun for me. Language was one of my favorites because I did not learn another language in public school. I want to give a big thank you to Mrs. Marks for being an amazing teacher. She did a wonderful job teaching me these three years, getting me ready for high school. She was always there for me, and someone to talk to. Also, I thank all my other teachers, friends, and classmates.   

Remy:  My experience at Tamarack was fun and I learned a lot. The teachers are supportive and make you feel heard. The students are friendly and extremely nice. Ever since Rainbow Garden, I have felt in place and accepted. You get lots of time in nature to keep you refreshed and get your energy out. I know when I am older, I will look back on this as some of the best times of my life.   

Tania:  I came to Tamarack in the 2nd Grade, but when I visited in the 1st Grade, I felt welcomed, and all of the girls came up and asked me a bunch of questions. When I came in 2nd Grade at first, I was a little shy because I did not really know anybody, but little by little, I started making friends through the year.  

I remember in 2nd- 4th Grades, we had a service where we would find harmed bugs and we would try to save them by putting water on them, which ended up killing them. In 3rd Grade, we would pretend to be fairies in the woods. In 4th Grade, we had this field trip, which is my favorite field trip, where we went to 'Old World Wisconsin' and I loved it. We went into the old houses and schoolhouses, and we got to see the farms. It was so cool. I wish I lived in those times. 

Because of Tamarack, I have learned some awesome ways to paint, and I love painting. When painting, you can put your emotions into it. I am not going to lie, I am going to miss this class. We became so close through the years. Everybody in the class has character, and it is never boring. We were not a judgmental class, and we were pretty chill, and we can hang out together without a problem. I am going to miss that because you cannot really find classes like that.   

We will miss these brilliant, brave, compassionate, resilient, and fun young people. We are excited to see what the future holds for them!