Friday Flyer - 25th September 2026

Dear Michael Hall Community, 

I hope that everyone is well and that all of the school community are now well settled and secure in their school routines after a cycle of 2 full weeks. 

I find great comfort in the routine and structure which school life provides, and I can see marked differences in how the children are arriving at the gate. The rhythms and routines, which are one of our central educational themes, are clearly having the intended effect. I have seen striding, awake and conscious young people arriving who seem to exude a purpose as they reach the gates; a contrast to the first week of adjustments to the new rhythms. 

Not to be an immediate contradiction, but we are reaching a point where we will have a day off from our weekly cycle to mark Michaelmas. Our youngest community members will celebrate and mark Michaelmas on Tuesday the 29th of September, and the older children will celebrate and take to the land and kitchen on Friday the 2nd of October. Mr Morris and the site team (thank you Ian, Pete, Mark, Cliff, Anthony, Seb and Matt) have identified a variety of areas which will all benefit from the hard work and graft from the whole school body. 

Please note that on our Michaelmas day, Friday the 2nd of October, school will finish at 3:15 for all classes and buses will leave as close to this time as possible. 

Over the past week I have had the pleasure of attending a few parents evenings, and it is here that I truly see the strong triangle of School-Parent-Child which is integral to our school and maintain us holding true to our Waldorf principles of a child centred and wholistic education. It is always inspiring to hear from our teachers in these meetings. They not only share tremendous insight into the curriculum, how, and why it meets children of that age, but also show the most important aspect of education – how well they know the children they see on a daily basis. I hope that all of the parents who have had a parents evenings have felt inspired and secure in how their children are being held on this new year in their school journey. 

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week ahead, and I look forward to seeing more parents across the next set of parents evenings, and to seeing those who are helping us on Michaelmas – fingers crossed the scales balance and the soup is tasty! 

Warm wishes, 

Stuart 

Stuart McWilliams
Principal

It's a time for clearing the garden to prepare for the autumn winter harvest. 

It can be a slow process but it's finally taking shape with spinach growing happily and trays of winter salads beginning to take shape.

Bags of salads will be available from the garden shop by October. 

I've got an abundance of spinach, rocket, lettuce, and oriental salad seedling trays available and soon to be available.  

These will be available on our WhatsApp group

To join in the harvest, click on the invitation link to our Garden shop WhatsApp group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/EuLICYvKY431Vmp6KZdmjp?mode=ems_copy_t

We also have a recipe group where we share ideas for preparing our produce.  Join the group through this invitation link 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc5eX9UAtesCG2BWB50mkr?mode=ac_t

Please consider donating to help with garden infrastructure projects 

https://www.michaelhall.co.uk/news-and-events/fundraising/the-school-garden

Darshan Robson
School Market Gardener

Room for rent

Large, ground floor room available to rent in a family home.  Located in Forest Row, 15 minutes walk from Michael Hall. Available 1 October. Contact [email protected].