Kimberton Waldorf School

Education That Matters

Sports

Unity Rock Basketball Tournament

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Spirit Week culminated with Day 1 of our annual Waldorf Basketball Tournament!

Seven Waldorf schools are gathering at Kimberton Waldorf School for three days of spirited play, sportsmanship, and community. Healthy competition among like-minded Waldorf schools is a beautiful thing. The winner on Sunday will take home the Unity Rock!

Our students had so much fun repping their KWS spirit, cheering on their classmates, and celebrating one another – on and off the court. Today’s only day one – see you at the next games this evening and tomorrow morning!

Senior Night – Congratulations Seniors!

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Senior Night is one of those evenings that reminds us what community truly means. Each January, we gather on our home court to celebrate our seniors – their accomplishments, their dreams, and the journey that brought them here. Walking through walls of classmates alongside their families, shaking the hands of our administrators, and hearing their goals spoken aloud, our seniors are held by the whole school community. A beautiful night of gratitude, pride, and belonging.

Volleyball Team WON Championship League!

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CHAMPIONS! Huge congratulations to our Varsity Girls Volleyball Team on an incredible win over a tough squad at Community Academy of Philadelphia in the Final round!

This group has battled through every high and low of a truly historic season, showing heart, resilience, and determination every step of the way. We couldn’t be more proud of everything they’ve accomplished and the way they represent our school and community. Congratulations Girls Varsity Volleyball!

-Director of Athletics Anwar Abernathy

Photos by Brian Canniff

Champions! Girls Cross Country Team WON PJAA Championship

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🏆 CHAMPIONS! 🏆 Huge congratulations to our amazing Girls Cross Country team for winning the PJAA CHAMPIONSHIP yesterday! 💪 And to the entire XC team for a season of hard work, incredible PRs, and inspiring teamwork and camaraderie.

Their grit, heart, and teamwork were on full display from start to finish – proving that age is just a number when you have determination and passion! 👟🔥

We couldn’t be prouder of our XC team; your hard work and commitment have paid off in the biggest way! 💙🐂

Annual Fifth Grade Pentathlon

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Yesterday, our fifth grade students honored the culmination of their Greek mythology main lesson block with the annual Pentathlon—a beloved tradition in Waldorf education. In the spirit of the ancient Olympic Games, 7 Waldorf schools Fifth grade classes participated in javelin, long jump, discus, a 55-yard dash, wrestling heats, and a city-states relay, each event embodying the Greek ideals of strength, grace, and harmony.

The day concluded with a shared Greek lunch, celebrating community and the cultural richness of the classical world. We are proud of our young athletes for their noble effort and joyful participation. 🇬🇷🏛️ Thank you everyone!

Our Varsity Girls Basketball team won the League Championship!

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by Anwar Abernathy, Varsity Girls Basketball Coach and KWS Athletics Director

I couldn’t be prouder of the Kimberton Lady Bulls for winning the PJAA League Championship! This victory is a testament to the team’s unwavering dedication and relentless preparation. We embarked on this journey back in November with one clear goal: to avenge our loss in last year’s championship. The KWS Lady Bulls were focused on one word—redemption.

The road was challenging, filled with tough opponents, but we never lost sight of our mission. After a heartbreaking defeat to the reigning champions, New Foundation, in the divisional championship, we knew we had another chance in the league playoffs. Our path wasn’t easy, facing undefeated division champions at every turn. Yet, we pushed through, defeating Mastery of Camden in a nail-biting game filled with lead changes, securing our place for the rematch we desired.

With a championship showdown against New Foundation ahead, our girls stayed locked in. Despite falling behind early, our resolve only grew stronger. Led by our senior guard, Ciara O’Hara, and the phenomenal MVP Camron Nixon, the Lady Bulls rallied back, forcing overtime in a dramatic display of skill and grit. In the extra period, Camron took charge, dominating the game with 38 points, 16 rebounds, and seven steals.

We’ve achieved what many thought impossible, and it feels incredible! I will cherish this special group of girls and the memories we’ve created for the rest of my life. Together, we’ve shown that hard work and determination truly pay off. Congratulations to the Kimberton Lady Bulls—champions!

GO BULLS!!

We Celebrate the Class of 2025 at Senior Night!

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On Thursday January 16th, in between two impressive basketball games played by our Varsity Girls and Varsity Boys team, we honored our entire class of 2025 and their accomplishments the last 3.5 years. Class Advisors Frau Elisabeth Burgess and Hezi Haut, alongside High School Leader Deb Merroth-Ahola spoke to and congratulated the seniors on their accomplishments. Seniors walked through a wall of supportive and loving classmates alongside their parents and siblings, and shook hands with Athletic Director Anwar Abernathy and Varsity Boys Basketball Coach RJ Nixon.

We are so proud of our seniors and all of their athletic and academic accomplishments. It was an emotional and beautiful ceremony attended by our school community. The lobby of our gym was filled with posters made by senior parents, adorned with pictures from throughout their time at KWS. Congratulations class of 2025! We love you!

Photos by Melissa Kelly Photography

The Positive Impact of Sports in the Lives of Our Youth

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Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy and Waldorf education, emphasized the holistic development of individuals, integrating intellectual, artistic, and practical aspects of education. Regarding high school sports, Steiner believed that physical activities and sports play a crucial role in a student’s life and development.

  1. Holistic Development: Steiner believed that education should foster not just academic skills but also physical, emotional, and social development. He saw sports as a valuable tool for developing teamwork, discipline, and physical health.
  2. Movement as Learning: He often spoke about the importance of movement in education, aligning physical activities, including sports, with cognitive and emotional learning.
  3. Youth and Creativity: Steiner valued the creativity and individuality of students, encouraging activities that allow for self-expression and initiative, which can often be found in sports and physical education.
  4. Balance in Education: He advocated for a balanced curriculum that integrates physic artistic, and academic studies, promoting sports as a vital component of overall education.
  5. Physical Development: Steiner viewed physical activity as essential for healthy development. Engaging in sports promotes physical fitness, coordination, and well-being, all of which contribute to a balanced and healthy life.
  6. Social Skills: Participating in team sports fosters cooperation, teamwork, and communication among students. Steiner believed these social interactions help develop interpersonal skills and a sense of community.
  7. Character Building: Steiner emphasized that sports could teach important life lessons such as discipline, resilience, and fair play. These experiences can cultivate strong character traits and prepare individuals for challenges outside of sports.
  8. Emotional Well-Being: Engaging in physical activities can enhance emotional health by providing a constructive outlet for stress and anxiety. Steiner believed that sports foster joy and enthusiasm, which are vital for a balanced emotional state.
  9. Integration of Mind and Body: Steiner advocated for the integration of intellectual and physical education, arguing that high school sports help to unify the mind and body, leading to a more well-rounded individual. This holistic approach aligns with his vision of nurturing not just academic skills but also physical and emotional aspects of students.

In summary, Steiner emphasized the holistic development of a child, recognizing that physical activity is not only a means of promoting health but also a pathway to building character, resilience, and teamwork. While the extended practices and dismissal times may seem daunting, it is essential to remember the profound benefits that participating in sports offers.

Here at the Kimberton Waldorf School, we prioritize movement and games classes, outdoor education, outdoor play time, and our Athletics department. Together, we nurture not just student athletes, but well-rounded individuals prepared to face life’s challenges with confidence.

Written by Anwar Abernathy, Athletics Director at Kimberton Waldorf School

Student athletes receive PJAA league honors

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Submitted by Anwar Abernathy, Director of Athletics and Games

KWS is proud to share the news of many victories for high school athletes who were honored this spring for their achievements on the field and court.

The Golf Team was honored for their season success as the winners of the league championship!
Ciara O’Hara was chosen as the PJAA “Player of the Year” for basketball for the second time!
Sophomore Camron Nixon and junior Ciara O’Hara were selected for First Team All League honors for basketball.
8th grader Kira Sorzano received Honorable Mention for varsity basketball! She led the team in rebounds and was third on the team in scoring, and ranked 18th in the state for rebounding.
Amy Precopio received Second Team All League honors for her participation in volleyball.
Freshman Yatin Kapu received Honorable Mention for soccer,
and freshman Franklin Matichak received Second Team All League honors for Basketball.
Junior Jojo da Graca received Honorable Mention for basketball.
Junior Thorin Dancy received an Honorable Mention for tennis.
Sophomore Yuga Saul received an Honorable Mention for basketball.

Interested in following our teams’ journeys each season? Follow KWS on MaxPreps to keep up with scores and player achievements. Go bulls!!!

Building Bonds and Creating Memories: Playing Sports at KWS

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Guest post by Ciara O’Hara, class of 2025, a rising junior who recently returned from being an exchange student in Germany. This past year, Ciara was a leading scorer on the varsity girls’ basketball team, performed a lead part in Mary Poppins, and worked part-time. She has been a Waldorf student all her life.

Playing a sport at KWS has brought me some of my best school memories. One of my favorites was our varsity girls’ basketball team going undefeated this past season and becoming champions in our division. I have never seen a group of girls work so hard as they did throughout the season, and we got to do what we set out to as a team and as a family. 

Our team travels throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey to play, and I think being able to travel with your team helps build relationships and brings the team closer every time. If you play high school basketball at KWS (or even if you don’t), once a year you get to experience an amazing weekend called the Waldorf tournament. Waldorf teams from all over come to our school for a three-day basketball tournament. Every year this tournament brings so much happiness and fun to our school and I couldn’t be more grateful that we have it. I have made some amazing friends at this tournament and have gotten to spend time with some of the best people.

As soon as you join a sports team at KWS you become part of a family and with that, there are responsibilities for each member. We work together as a team by showing up to practices, being there for our teammates, and always cheering them on no matter what the circumstance. We are a team, a whole, and I have never seen that so clearly as I do at KWS.

As you grow and start playing sports in high school not only does it begin to impact you physically, but I have found that it also can help impact how you deal with things. I have learned how to manage schoolwork and a social life and playing sports all at once, and my teammates and coaches have done nothing but help and support me and everyone around me. Managing your time is so important if you intend to play a sport; it can all add up very quickly but there is definitely enough time for everything at KWS.

Something that I have found to be so important in managing all of these things in high school is to be never afraid to ask or feel embarrassed because you need some help, whether that be from a friend and teacher or a coach. I am working on enjoying every moment and always putting my physical and mental health first!

If you are thinking about playing a sport, whatever it may be, I highly recommend it, no matter if you haven’t played before or are not sure how good you’ll be. Either way, you will come out being better and look back at some of the best memories you will make in school.