Friday Flyer - 12th December 2025
Dear Michael Hall Community,
It is the end of my first term here at Michael Hall and I find myself reflecting on the past 3- 4 months, but also aware that I stand at another threshold; a Christmas break, a time of thankfulness, a time for Hogmanay (Wha’s Like Us!), and then the new year.
Education is full of thresholds, both visible and invisible: the moment a child learns to speak, to read, the transition from Early Childhood to the Class Teacher years, the movement from adolescence toward adulthood. These are not simply markers on a calendar, they are portals we pass through. Along the journey they invite us to pause, to notice, and to reflect.
Humans across time and cultures have honoured these moments. In many traditions, the crossing of a threshold is never casual. The Japanese genkan, where shoes are removed, marks the passage from the outer world to an inner, more mindful space. In ancient Greece, doorways were protected by Hermes, the guardian of transitions. In Jewish homes, the mezuzah on the doorpost or doorframe offers a moment of blessing each time one enters or leaves. Many Indigenous cultures of the Americas teach that a doorway is a place to “leave behind what does not serve you” so you may enter with clarity and intention. These shared practices remind us that thresholds are opportunities to slow down and step forward with reverence.
Within our school community, one of the most tangible thresholds is the simplest: the classroom doorway. Every morning, our pupils cross this portal from the wider world into a space purposefully crafted for learning, creativity, and growth. When we pass through consciously teacher, student, or visitor we acknowledge that we are entering a place where something important happens. The doorway becomes a moment to arrive fully ready, fully respectful and completely safe to take a breath, to set aside distractions, and to welcome the learning that is about to unfold.
In Waldorf education, this act of arrival is deeply meaningful. It reminds us that learning is not merely the transfer of information but the awakening of capacities and the connection to others. How we step into the space shapes how we meet the day; a handshake, a greeting – a meaning. A class that begins with a sense of intention and presence creates the conditions for deeper engagement, for strong and resilient relationships, and for inner quietude that supports the exciting unveiling of our rich and varied curriculum.
Our daily experiences are filled with such moments. A child hesitates before trying something new, then steps forward with courage. A class enters a new main lesson block, discovering fresh questions and new capacities. Adolescents stand at the threshold between dependence and independence, and we witness the subtle transformations that accompany this passage. Each of these moments is its own portal, an invitation and opportunity to grow.
As a community, we too stand at thresholds: entering a new term, welcoming new families, revitalising long-standing traditions, and imagining our shared path forward. These transitions remind us that education is alive, fluid, and ever-becoming. Reflection enables us to recognise what we have carried well, what we are being asked to release, and what new possibilities are seeking to emerge. Our school and our curriculum will continue to grow from the strong roots which shaped the original Waldorf Steiner classrooms and practises, preparing our pupils for the rapidly changing world into which they will step, crossing the threshold from class 12 into a full, rich and successful adult life.
Thank you for all of the positive support which has been greatly received since my arrival back in late August, it has been very much appreciated. Thank you for all that you bring to rich the life of Michael Hall which supports the continued, positive development of all of our pupils, binds us together as strong community and keeps us all enthused with the ideal that we are committed to something that is greater than ourselves.
Whether it is Hannukah, Christmas, Kawanza, the arrival of the 3 kings, or quality family time, have a wonderful winter break.
Warm wishes,
Stuart
Stuart McWilliams
Principal
Lanterns and Wreath Kits
In the lead up to the final part 2025, our centenary year, we would love to hear from 100 past pupils of Michael Hall!
Ways to Contribute
On the 17th, 18th, and 19th of December 2025 Forest Row's Peter Griffiths hall will once again be filled with mulled pies, mince wine and expectant crowds singing along to seasonal hits and watching as a pair of lovesick but highly visible public servants strive to find true love in the cold winter snow.
