Andrew Gilligan is a class teacher at Meadowbrook Waldorf School and he wrote the following beautiful story about the founding of the first Waldorf school. He first spoke it on September 19, 2019, the season of Michaelmas when traditional tales of a marauding dragon teach us much about community cooperation and the will to build a brighter future.
Grateful for Challenge
Following the devastating fire of July 29, MWS received donations from 17 Waldorf schools and kindergartens across America. Faculty and Staff, as well as parents and alumni from Canada and schools around the world, also made individual gifts. As an expression of gratitude, MWS sent an open letter of thanks to the members of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), as presented here.
About the Fire of July 29, 2018
In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 29 fire broke out at Meadowbrook Waldorf School in Richmond, Rhode Island. The fire was caused by a lightning strike that also destroyed the electrical and telephone systems needed to activate the alarm and emergency response. Despite the efforts of 250 fire fighters from 22 towns, the building was declared a total loss and the remains were demolished.
A Building Lost, A Community Endures
We Are Meadowbrook
On Sunday, just one week since our school burned to the ground, we gathered to mourn the loss of our building and its contents. Much of the wreckage has been removed but a huge pile of debris remains piled on the concrete foundation behind a chain link fence. For some, on their first visit, the sight was overwhelming and tears flowed.