Michael Hall Parent Portal

Friday Flyer - 26th June 2026

Dear Michael Hall Community,

I hope that everyone has been coping well with the heat. I know that in other places in the world these temperatures would not cause the disruption it does here, but we are just not built for it in the UK. But with this feature maybe becoming our normal, we will need to investigate ways to moderate our indoor temperatures.

Before I started the academic year, I was told how busy the last part of the school year is. But, experiencing it now suggests that my colleagues are either masters of the understatement or didn’t want to scare me off!

It has been a series of late nights, longer workweeks and intensely focused days here at Michael Hall. There are so many thanks that need to go out to colleagues, parents, former parents, former teachers, former pupils, current pupils and community contributors that I really could not list you all. Thank you to all those who have contributed to talks, midsummer, musical, Olympics, Old Scholar gatherings, graduation events and fundraising events. It is greatly appreciated and the value that it has for our pupils to see the elders around them working together for them is enriching and empowering. They are imbued in a sense of community and purpose; a powerful combination.

What has come through strongly this year, perhaps more so recently with our Class 12 pupils going through the leaving process, is the importance of rituals and rites.I have written previously about crossing thresholds and how we mark them in our school in quite specific ways. But I have not addressed them in a bonding and cultivation manner.

Through morning verses, songs, and age-appropriate ceremonies, our pupils experience a sense of belonging that nurtures both security and identity. These recurring moments provide continuity, allowing each child to feel part of something greater than themselves. This is done while recognising their own unique place within the class community, held and led by the class teacher or guardian.

As each class journeys together through the years, these shared experiences become woven into the fabric of their collective story. Whether marking the changing seasons, celebrating milestones, or participating in class traditions (a birthday cake knife for Mrs Courtenay’s graduating group) that are unique to their class, pupils build memories that strengthen relationships and foster mutual respect. These rites of passage encourage children to support one another through moments of challenge, celebration, and growth, creating a culture in which every individual is seen, valued, and encouraged by their peers.

The power of these rituals lies not only in the moments themselves but in the deep sense of community they cultivate over time. They remind children that learning is a shared human experience and that they belong to a community that celebrates, reflects, and grows together. In a world that feels fast-paced and fragmented, our Waldorf education offers children the gift of meaningful traditions that create lasting bonds, helping each class become not simply a group of pupils, but a community that carries its shared experiences with them long after they leave school.

Thank you to Class 12 pupils who shared with me how important they thought these rituals were to them, and how much they will hold this as they move through their lives. Also, thank you for sharing this so personally in the graduation ceremony.

I look forward to seeing those coming to the Olympics on Saturday, joining us in a strongly embedded Michael Hall ritual of events.

Warm wishes,

Stuart

Stuart McWilliams
Principal