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25th October 2024

Dear Michael Hall Community,

Once again, we have had the pleasure of celebrating the work of all the children in the Lower & Middle School in our Autumn school festival. We have enjoyed contributions of language poems and songs, Roman marching, singing in the rain (not in rain!) and much more. It's always wonderful to see what the classes have been working on this term.

This week I was lucky enough to go on the Class 8 trip to Hampton Court, which was a huge success. Class 4 enjoyed the delights of Sealife Centre in Brighton to compliment their Human and Animal Main Lesson, which you can read about in School Life below.

When we return we have an exceptionally busy few weeks in the lead up to Christmas with the following events firmly in your calendar: Martinmas walks, the Advent Fair, the Advent Spiral for Classes 1 and 2, the Advent Festival of Music and the Christmas plays at the end of term (times for these to be confirmed).

As I write this, the sun is shining down on the front lawn, autumn mists are hovering above the ground and sunlight shows us the changing hues of the leaves and autumn's rich splendour.

Today as we go into half term week we send our good wishes to Emmeline, who continues to make a good recovery. 

Festive celebrations for your Halloween, All Soul's Day and All Saints' Day. 

Jacqueline Courtenay
Head of Lower and Middle School

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25 Oct 2024
Class 7 play " The Sacred Flame"
Congratulations to Class 7SN for their first play in the Theatre this week! The Sacred flame is a play based on a story by Selma Lagerloef. The hero Raniero di Ranieri is a man in need of reform. He lives in Florence in the Middle Ages and loses his love Francesca because of his reckless behaviou...
Read more
25 Oct 2024
Class 11 Main History Lesson
As part of Class 11's History, Medieval and Renaissance Main Lesson, they have created some projects. A Samurai Castle and a Medieval Indian-inspired painted cloth. 
Read more
24 Oct 2024
Class 4EN Sea Life Trip
Class 4EN visited the Brighton Sea Life Centre on their school trip this week. They went as part of their Human and Animal Main Lesson. They had just learnt about the octopus and then saw this one here! It was so wonderful!
Read more
24 Oct 2024
A glimpse inside Early Childhood
When you glimpse inside our Early Childhood settings at Michael Hall, the fact that we are a play-based setting is evident by the buzz of activity in each room.  Recently, I attended an Early Childhood conference where great minds in the sector spoke about behaviour and the impact of play...
Read more

Adult Movement and Games 

Every Wednesday 8.15-9.10am starting 6th November

Enjoy a mid-week movement boost in good company.  We will combine rhythmic warm ups (skipping, juggling) with a variety of games and sports.  You will get an insight into aspects of the Waldorf Movement Curriculum and explore the original Bothmer Exercises, which reflect certain core principles which underpin our work.  These are drop-in sessions and are all welcome along with any questions that you may have.  Please bring a pair of clean indoor trainers and meet at reception by 8.15am.  We hope to build a strong group.

Warm Wishes
Arthur
On behalf of The Gym Team

 Donations Needed Please!

The Inclusion Department are in the process of relocating our Sensory Circuit space to a more permanent location in the Lower school building, and need the following items

  • Rugs or small carpets

  • Comfy chairs or small sofas

  • Large bean bags (to sit on)

  • Large floor cushions

Thank you in advance!

Parents in Classes 3-5

A date for your diary. Maths workshop for parents: 

November 19th 2024 at 5pm-6pm in the Mansion.

Meet the Numeracy, Arithmetic and Geometry teachers and learn:

  • What maths looks like in classes Three to Five.

  • How maths taught at Michael Hall

  • How your children can be supported at home.

There will also be an opportunity for you to brush up on your skills, think about the challenges your children will be facing, and understand the progression towards middle school and beyond

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Battery/solar powered lights needed
Are you able to lend battery/solar-powered (not mains powered) outdoor lights? 

We would love to have some lighting around the place to make it look extra special. Please email [email protected] if you can help.

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Toy Donations Needed
The Advent Fair Team is now welcoming second-hand toy donations made from natural materials. Examples include wooden toys, musical instruments, stationary such as wax crayons and colouring pencils, wool or cotton dolls and teddies, steel kitchenware, card packs, puzzles and more. 
Please ensure that toys are in good, usable condition. 
Donations can be placed in the collection box at reception. 
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Advent Fair Crafting Workshops
Open to all Early Childhood parents, including Parent & Child, Saplings and Kindergarten groups. 
Mondays after drop off, starting next week! Join us on the following dates: 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th Oct, 11th, 18th Nov. For location details please email: [email protected] or check your WhatsApp groups.
Alternatively, join us in the canteen on Thursdays after drop off, until 9:45 am. Dates are: 10th, 17th, 24th Oct & 7th, 17th and 21st Nov.
Learn to make beautiful window stars, star lanterns and more for the Advent Fair.
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Advent fair decoration team
We need keen volunteers to join our work force, there are 3 teams that need participation, would you like to join one or more of the teams?

  • creation - would you like to be involved in making decorations for the 100th advent fair?
  • set up - are you good at making things look beautiful?
  • take down - do you have stamina after eating all those many waffles 🤣

If you are interested and would like to know what it entails, please contact Laeony at the advent fair team, we really need you [email protected]

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A notice from Class 2 

We are kindly requesting for second hands books for adults and children to enjoy and sell at the advent fair. Please put your donations in Reception after half term where they shall be collected daily. 

We are also be running a pocket money stall and ask for any donations parents may have of wool, felt, yarn, string, pine cones, fabric (for sewing books bags) and good quality card for making book marks. 

And finally if any parents have cushions we could use for a reading corner and spare bookshelves to display books please contact [email protected] 

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The School Online Shop is now open! Our Centenary Badges, 100 Years of Waldorf Education Tote Bags, and The Good School book are now available to buy via this link: https://michaelhallschoolshop.company.site/ More items to be announced soon... 

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Lucy Westphal- Kindergarten Teacher

Lucy was born in Forest Row, where both her mother and grandmother taught in the  kindergarten at Michael Hall.  She grew up in the wild west, went to film school in Montana, and worked in the film industry for a decade before becoming a teacher.  Lucy also trained youth in non-violent direct action as the operations manager of Students For a Free Tibet in New York City. Before returning home to England, Lucy taught at the Honolulu Waldorf School, and the Santa Fe Waldorf School.

“I chose Waldorf education because I feel that children have a great deal more to teach us than we them!”

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Half Term
All Day
From 28 Oct until 01 Nov
28
October
All Hallows' Eve/Samhain/Halloween
All Day
31
October
All Saints' Day
All Day
01
November
Diwali
All Day
01
November
Kidbrooke Park Music Festival
All Day
From 01 Nov until 03 Nov
01
November
Inset Day
All Day
04
November
Term Re-starts
All Day
05
November
Class 5VK Indian Evening
6:30pm – 8:30pm
07
November
Early Childhood Martinmas festival
All Day
08
November
Remembrance Sunday
All Day
10
November

Kidbrooke Park Music Festival News:

One week to go to our fabulous Kidbrooke Park Music Festival on November 2nd and 3rd. 

Come and enjoy an exquisite piano recital with music by Beethoven and Brahms. 

Stretch your imagination in a Painting to Music workshop with the original artist James Mayhew.

Be amazed by the virtuosity and sound range of the many recorders in Palisander's engaging performance.

And don't miss the wonderful Festival Chamber Orchestra performing the refined music of Ravel and Debussy. Our enthusiastic Festival Youth Orchestra will help to make this a truly unforgettable concert! 

For tickets and information, go to kpmusicfestival.org

See you at the Festival!

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Accomodation available

Ground floor, self-contained Annex suitable for one person or couple has become vacant and is available for immediate rent. It is situated very close to Michael Hall School; has own entrance, use of a wonderful garden,1 bedroom, 1 living room, 1 bathroom, and kitchen. Very reasonable monthly rent. For more details, please contact Susan Masters for viewing on 01342 822758.

Shoana Taylor Qualified Breathwork and well-being coach works from Anderida practise Forest Row. Breathwork is highly beneficial for self-regulation, emotional release, stress, anxiety, stuck patterns and excellent for health and vitality.www.7pathswellbeing.com - 07850168898 

To book click here. Half price tickets for all Michael Hall parents. Please use the code Elephantclassroom"

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