Housatonic Valley Waldorf School (HVWS), 40 Dodgingtown Rd, recently announced that it was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Petit Family Foundation.

The purpose of the grant is to purchase musical instruments and equipment for their incredible music education program, according to the school.

This year, HVWS celebrates its 34th anniversary as the only Waldorf grade school in the state. Music is a vital part of its curriculum; singing begins at a young age, along with exposure to several instruments including but not limited to lyres, woodwinds, ukulele, and many others; children join a String Orchestra beginning in third grade.

Waldorf schools are steeped in the arts and, according to founder Rudolf Steiner, the human being is a musical being, and the making of music is essential in experiencing what it is to be fully human, the release shares. The music program in each Waldorf school reflects the specific skills, talents, and interests of the class teachers and of the music faculty.

More information about the school is available online at waldorfct.org.