About Us

Founded in 1984, Merriconeag Waldorf School serves some 265 students in early childhood through high school. The school’s main location is in Freeport, a town on the southern coast of Maine. Merriconeag’s high school is a short distance away, in the town of New Gloucester. The region served by the school is known for its beautiful and varied natural environment and its rich cultural life.

As a Waldorf school, the curriculum is based on research into child development conducted by Austrian educator and philosopher, Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925). Fundamental to Waldorf education is the recognition that each human being is a unique individual who passes through distinct life stages and that it is the responsibility of education to address the intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each developmental stage.

A Waldorf student learns about the world through an experience of the hands and the heart, as well as the mind. Subjects are presented imaginatively to engage the wholehearted participation of the students and to cultivate a real inner enthusiasm for learning. The educational environment is designed with care and infused with beauty. To foster compassionate people who value learning for its own sake, Waldorf education deemphasizes grades and exams, assessing student progress through individualized written appraisals and frequent parent-teacher conferences.

While independent, Merriconeag is part of a worldwide Waldorf school movement that encompasses more than 1,000 schools and 1,600 early childhood programs on five continents. Merriconeag is a member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and is also accredited by that organization.

The name “Merriconeag” (MER-e-con-EEG) comes from an Abenaki word for “a place of easy portage or passage.” Freeport is located on Casco Bay, which has a Merriconeag Sound and a Merriconeag Neck, so the name has regional as well as poetic significance.

The school seeks to develop a diverse community and welcomes families of all ethnic, social, economic and religious backgrounds.

Mission

     The mission of Merriconeag Waldorf School is to foster in our students a sense of wonder, meaning, and compassion in their lives, so that they may freely meet their destinies.

     Inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s educational insights, we teach according to a developmental curriculum that honors each child’s unfolding individuality. To this end, we strive to educate the whole human being through a balance of will-strengthening, artistic and intellectual pursuits.

     Our aim is to preserve in our students a spiritual openness that will enable them to develop creative, independent thinking, an abiding love of learning, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the world.

     In pursuit of our mission, we are guided by the following intentions:

• To foster a sense of community which extends to the world at large in the hope that Merriconeag will serve as a center of cultural renewal.
• To celebrate the beauty of Merriconeag’s natural setting so that our stewardship will inspire others to live in harmony with the environment.
• To deepen our essential humanity and make Merriconeag increasingly worthy of its

       original Wabanaki meaning (place of careful portage).

For more information on Merriconeag and the application process, please contact our Admissions Office at 207-865-3900, ext. 103 or email admissionsdirector@merriconeag.org.