Friday Flyer - 13th March 2026
Dear Michael Hall Community,
Happy Friday dear Michael Hall community. With all the madness in the world I hope that everyone’s family and friends are safe and well wherever they may be. It is a time to be thankful for being on a small island, a safe distance away from conflicts. However, we cannot remove ourselves from the human connection and should keep in our thoughts, hearts and prayers all those who are suffering and living in fear of what might happen next. In all conflicts it is the most vulnerable who suffer the most, the children, the infirm, and the elderly.
On a personal note the increase in hostilities has made me consider time and timing, and it is this which I will focus on for this weeks Flyer.
I have lived in the Middle East where recent attacks have hit places I know well. I have lived in a Jewish community where I know losses have been felt and conversations around Palestine become more polarised and fraught than ever. I have lived in Thailand where border tensions and exchanges of fire are still occurring. I feel for the people in these areas deeply because at some time, I had a deep daily connection. At some time, it feels like that could have been me – I feel very fortunate that it is not.
Time flits between being our greatest friend and our worst enemy. We have all experienced moments of joy and happiness that we want to extend forever. And, we have all experienced those moments that we want to end now, but they seem to drag on forever. It is fascinating how we experience these extremes which create strong reference points for us, moments we revisit in our minds and through conversations, when the reality is that most of our lives occur between these moments. The most extreme example of this is seen on headstones or grave markers; we are born and this date is marked and when we pass, this date is marked. In the middle is usually a ‘dash’ or hyphen. How do we fil this dash and these moments in time with meaning, with purpose, with light and with the will to make the world a better place?
In our Waldorf education, we consider time on many levels. We have our school time (anything after 8:15 is late for our pupils) which includes our lessons, breaks, lunches and end of day. A solid and repeated cycle which gives structure, stability and security. But then we have within this times when events happen, stronger connections to seasonal timings begin to emerge. We also have central to our pedagogical practice the development of the child which Steiner broke into sevens, but within each block of seven there are more intricate developments. The timing then becomes a little more unique and deeply personal. All of these aspects of time fit together to make our lessons, school and our relationships work within a deep philosophy of Waldorf education.
Another layer of complexity to time is added when we look at the concept of why are we here at this time. Is the classroom teacher standing in front of those children coincidental and somewhat random, or do we acknowledge that they are there because that is where they are supposed to be; A meeting point of souls, energies, spirits and physical bodies drawn together for a reason. On a simple level I was looking for a new role and wanted to work in a school which did things differently to everywhere else I had been. I applied for the role, enjoyed the interview process and was successful in my application. All very pragmatic and practical. But if you ask me to reflect on that process, I had already had an application to another Waldorf school rejected so my intention was already. When I visited the school I felt a connection to the people I met. When I was selected to attend day 2 of the interview I felt a calm confidence. When I was offered the role, I had no feeling of hesitation. Looking back, it felt like it was meant to be – already written.
I doubt I will ever understand the complexities of the world, the different understandings of time, place, karmic cycles or spiritual energies. But, I will make sure that whilst I am where I feel I should be, I will be committed to making sure that Michael Hall stays strong, becomes a beacon of Waldorf educational excellence, and continues to prepare our wonderful pupils for whatever their next steps and future pathways are. I thank you all for the help which has been received and no doubt will be received in the future in reaching the highest of standards in all that we do.
Warm wishes,
Stuart McWilliams
Principal
Ways to Contribute
Spring Social – Worm Arrivals
%201).jpg)
page-0001.jpg)
