Los Banos became home to Merced County&#146;s first independent Waldorf inspired public school on Tuesday</p><p>Green Valley Charter School celebrated its opening with 75 kindergarteners through third-graders, their parents, city officials and other dignitaries. </p><p>The school's model is based on the Waldorf education method, which emphasizes arts and crafts, music and embracing the environment. </p><p>Tisha Blackwood-Freitas, principal and CEO of the organization that oversees the school, said opening a Waldorf-inspired facility was monumental to the San Joaquin Valley.</p><p>"To be able to offer this curriculum to our community is a valuable addition. You can't get this anywhere else," she said. </p><p>Mayor Mike Villalta, like Blackwood-Freitas, was once a new principal.</p><p>"I remember my first day as a principal of Los Banos Junior High School. She's going to have a smile from ear to ear all day long. This is just a wonderful occasion, having a new school open in Los Banos," Villalta said. </p><p>Los Banos Unified School District Superintendent Steve Teitjen welcomed Green Valley Charter School. The district rents space to the school at R.M. Miano Elementary School , but Green Valley Charter operates independently. </p><p>"We're excited to have a new option available for parents and children in our community," Tietjen said. "It was easy to support the main drivers of this charter because they brought a real option. It wasn't one of those charters that just wants to come and take money and put kids on independent study. It's a charter that's going to have students engaged in a real curriculum option in a real school."</p><p>The school will expand by a grade level each year until it serves kindergarten through eighth grade. Because of that, the school will need a new location in about three years. </p><p>Students keep the same teacher throughout their time at the school. </p><p>Green Valley Charter School originally planned to open with 125 students. As of Tuesday, its kindergarten class was full and a waiting list had been established. School staff said there is still room in first, second and third grades. </p><p>The school includes four teachers, two assistants and a handful of office staff and administrators. Yaochi Abarca of the Abarca Group will teach music and Mandarin. Spanish also will be taught at the school.</p><p>At Friday's opening ceremony, each class gave a gift to another class that would assist with that grade-level's curriculum. The third grade was given a shovel, representing gardening work and learning about the substantial farming community that exists in and around Los Banos. Other gifts included crafts and storybooks. </p><p>Blackwood-Freitas, whose school received a three-year federal grant for $575,000, said Green Valley Charter School will succeed. "It's going to work because Waldorf curriculum assimilates to the community. It really brings out what the community is," Blackwood-Freitas said.