Michael Hall Parent Portal

${item_alt_tag}$

5th July 2024

Dear Michael Hall Community,

It was another wonderful weekend full of Waldorf tradition in the form of the Olympics. Class 5’s from across the UK, arrived for two days of training and camping, before the main event on Saturday morning. A trumpet signalled the beginning of the opening ceremony, where the children appeared dressed in their white, Greek, carefully hand-crafted tunics, following the chosen torch-bearers into the centre of the arena.

Events included; wrestling, discus, javelin, long jump, high jump, relay races and the marathon. During a feedback session this week, I had the pleasure of seeing the children from Classes 5, who expressed their pride at completing these events despite feeling apprehensive beforehand. It is wonderful to experience such positive reflection from our young people.

Next week the children and teachers will embark on ‘moving day’, a physical and emotional move from this year’s classroom, to the next, signalling the beginning of a new chapter at Michael Hall.

Class 9 will be thankful for their raincoats and wellingtons as they spent last night camping on school grounds. Today they are heading over to Blacklands Farm.

Class 10 have been on work experience for the past two weeks and will return on Monday to share their reflections and advice, in the form of individual presentations, to Classes 8 & 9.

Class 11 will arrive back at school today after the completion of their social practical. The social practical is a wonderful and important experience for the students as they work closely in supporting people with special needs and disabilities.

Class 12 celebrated their graduation on Monday evening. An emotional and special right of passage. The confident, eloquent and well-rounded nature of each individual graduating student is a testament to Waldorf Education and the strong values held by these young adults as they embark on the next stages of life. I’m sure you will join me in wishing them the very best of luck for their future endeavours and thanking them for their many contributions to our school community. The students travelled to Italy this week with Miss Selter and Miss Bax to celebrate this momentous occasion and have been in touch this morning, letting us know they are having a wonderful time in Florence!

Wishing you a restful weekend and hoping for some drier weather.

Chloe Martin
Head of Inclusion

${item_alt_tag}$

05 Jul 2024

Class 5 Olympics

The Olympic Games is now in its 34th year at Michael Hall. It is an event which has grown over the years and this year we had 16 other Waldorf Schools from around the UK participating, making a total of 230 athletes. A key aspect of the Games is that all forms of conventional competition are remo...

05 Jul 2024

Crafts for Class 3

Having learnt all about farming, shelters and building this year, Class 3 visited three studios at school and explored the arts of spinning, basket making and pottery. Much thanks is due Mrs King, Mrs Heasman and Miss Coe for making this possible.

02 Jul 2024

Class 7a Play - Robin Hood

Class 7a's performance of Robin Hood took place in our wonderful grounds last week. Well done to all!

02 Jul 2024

Class 2 Play - The King of Ireland

Last week Class 2 performed 'The King of Ireland's Son' for children in the Lower School and for parents of the class.

01 Jul 2024

Class 4a Animal Projects

Class 4a have made animal habitat dioramas. They had to choose an animal that was not a mammal and write about their diet, habitat, and life cycle. The projects were greatly enjoyed and admired.

Class 2 Outdoor Poem and Blessing

Mr Dyer accompanied Mr Morris with Class 2 this week and asked all the children for one sound, smell or taste and write them down. He then composed the following and spoke it at the iron spring.

I wandered in the forest with Mr Morris and I saw:

Running deer flashing past
Rowan's protective red berries in autumn
Droplets shining on a fern
Sticks waving in the wind
Bouncing bunnies in the bracken
Green and black speckled frogs

I wandered in the forest with Mr Morris and I heard:

Leaves rustling together
And children's cries
Sweet singing birds
Voices echoing,
Rustling deer in the bushes
Water-trickling and flowing

I wandered in the forest with Mr Morris and I smelled:

Blossoms on the Blackthorn
Fresh rain from the sky and
Clear forest air.

I wandered in the forest with Mr Morris and I tasted:

Orange Metallic Water

I wandered in the forest with Mr Morris and I felt:

A wet cold frog
And the sploshy water in my boots

Alumni Feature

Thomas Godber - Class of 1995

After leaving Michael Hall at twelve, Thomas attended Waldorf schools in Germany and New Zealand before studying Chinese at Edinburgh. Having tried various jobs, he turned to teaching and spent 13 years teaching Mandarin at Brighton College. He then returned to Michael Hall as a class teacher. He has always loved writing and recently published his first novel, The Citizen (available here). A memorable school moment was the Class 6 trip to Hadrian's Wall and visiting museum shops in York. Waldorf Education fostered his creativity, which he has brought to every job.

Due to the mature content of this book, we recommend that this is only suitable for Class 11 age and above.

${item_alt_tag}$

Classes 8a Leaving Tea PM

From 02 Jul until 18 Jul

July

Al Hijra - Islamic New Year

Sports Day Classes 6-11

All Day

July

Early Childhood Term Ends at 12.30pm

All Day

July

Classes 9, 10, 11 - Beach Trip

All Day

July

Term Ends - Main School at 12.25pm

Astronomy Evening with Kayden

As a way of saying thank you to Michael Hall for all the years I have attended, I have decided to put on an event where I and some members of the seven sisters astronomical group will do some planetary and deep space astronomy for parents and children from class 7 and up. This will be at Michael hall from 9.30pm on Wednesday the 10th of July. We will be setting up some telescopes in the field outside the front of the mansion and looking at various objects in the night sky. This is off course if the weather is still good for astronomy.

(I make no apology for my dyslexic spelling / grammar)

${item_alt_tag}$

Cultivating Curiosity

Nature Connection and Bushcraft Holiday Programmes for independent 4-6yr olds and 7-11yr olds at Plawhatch Farm.

Develop existing skills, learn new ones and have fun. Activities on offer will likely include:
Wild cooking, Shelter building, Fire lighting, Story telling, Wood craft, Tracking, Woodland games, Survival skills and much fun!

www.cultivatingcuriosity.co.uk

House to let
Detached house to let, available from the end of August. Five bedrooms, large garden with swimming pool. Close to the centre of Forest Row on quiet secluded lane and within a 10 minute walk of Michael Hall School. Please call 07808264747 or 07779261167

Are you an “all growned up” and yearning for some play time !

I am opening up the nest for a one week summer camp just for you to come and fill up an art journal with explosions of creativity and rainbows of story telling.

All groups are held at “the nest” heaven farm, Danehill and include daily cake, and coffee and tea.
All materials including your own sketch part are part of the fee.
To book - head to eventbrite, or call / WhatsApp Jolene - 07429 528452 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sketchbook-camp-tickets-927805510257?aff=oddtdtcreator

Calling next year’s Class 4 children to join the Choir Club.

It’s on Wednesdays after school in the Eurythmy Studio from 3:20-4:05
It will be just Classes 4 and we have a lot of fun singing together.
I will send parents booking details via your Class teachers before the term starts in September.
Please do e-mail me with any questions, or to register interest: [email protected]

${item_alt_tag}$

27 Aug 2024

Happy Me Dance

Inspire Dance and Creative Arts Summer School here at Michael Hall -Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th August. Happy Me Dance is a dance and wellness company founded in 2019 by Michelle Clark and is based in the South East. Michelle has a wealth of experience in both education and dance having taug...