The stage is set at Eugene Waldorf School.
Nestled in South Eugene, Eugene Waldorf School offers a learning environment unlike most in the area. Farm animals roam nearby fields, and the campus reflects an educational philosophy that places creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning at the center of student development.
At the heart of that experience is the Great Hall, a gathering space that hosts school plays, concerts, celebrations, open houses, and community events throughout the year. The stage inside the Great Hall has been a place for generations of Waldorf students, from kindergarten to eighth grade, to build confidence, find their voice, and connect with their community.
With the stage needing a little TLC, a light bulb went on for teacher and administrator Cricket Clarke after she learned about SELCO’s Classroom Makeovers initiative.
“The funding (from a Classroom Makeovers grant) could go a long way for our school,” Clarke said. “The first thing that came to mind was our stage.”
A difficult choice with a hopeful solution
Clark started researching ways to improve the theater space. What she learned was that the stage curtain no longer met fire safety requirements. The school faced a difficult choice: invest in a replacement or remove it altogether.
Replacing the curtain would allow the school to preserve a performance space that serves both students and the broader Waldorf community, but the project came with a significant cost.
So, Clarke applied for a SELCO’s Classroom Makeovers grant in hopes that the funding would help offset some of that expense.
But then she moved on to the countless responsibilities that fill an educator’s day.
“As an educator, your mind is always working 110 miles an hour,” she said. “Since I had applied for so many grants, it felt like another submission that eventually just hid in one corner of my brain.”
A joyful surprise and community effort
By November, the application had largely slipped to the back of Clarke’s mind. Meanwhile, her coworkers were busy planning a surprise.
“They had been acting so funny that morning trying to keep me in the Great Hall,” Clarke recalled. “And I had so much to do!”
Then came the reveal. SELCO awarded Eugene Waldorf School a $15,000 Classroom Makeover grant, arriving with a giant check, flowers, balloons, and plenty of enthusiasm. Students and families alike joined the celebration, turning the reveal into a memorable moment for the entire school community.
The work began soon after. Members of the Eugene Waldorf community joined SELCO team members for a work party to prepare the Great Hall for its transformation. The centerpiece was a new stage curtain installed on an updated track system, ensuring the space can continue serving students and families for decades to come.
“I crossed my fingers as I entered the room,” Clarke said. “And, of course, it’s beautiful and makes everything brighter and more functional in our space.”
Supporting creativity for years to come
The renewed space supports a curriculum where the arts are an essential part of learning. Through theater, music, handiwork, woodwork, and other creative disciplines, students build confidence, collaboration skills, and meaningful connections with others. On stage, they learn to communicate clearly, project their voices, and engage with an audience.
For Clarke, SELCO’s investment reflects the same spirit that brings families together to support the school and its students.
“I like to call the space family-funded,” she said. “It’s a place where parents come together because we want to invest in our children’s future. And when a company like SELCO, a credit union like SELCO, comes through and invests in us, it supports that whole community effort of raising this next generation into the highest light.”
With a refreshed stage and a renewed gathering space, Eugene Waldorf School can continue providing opportunities for students to perform, collaborate, and grow for years to come.
