28th June 2024

Dear Michael Hall Community,

Fire and community (geographical and temporal) feature this week. Fire featured at this time in Europe thousands of years ago when the Sun gods were honoured on the longest day and then many years later, fires were lit to repel evil spirits on St. John's Eve which is celebrated on 23^rd June. In some countries the tradition was for young people to jump over the bonfire.

At Michael Hall, we follow this tradition and on the evening of our Midsummer Festival, we light a St. John's fire as a celebration and farewell to our Class 12 students as they depart their school year and cross the threshold into adulthood.

Also at Midsummer, we welcomed the alumni community from across the years and Waldorf UK held their AGM here at Michael Hall, which was a gift as some of their members gave very inspiring speeches in the Theatre to kick off our Centenary Celebrations. We very much look forward to inviting them back again soon. They were also joined by Elliott, one of our students, who once again shared his articulate speech from the Spring Festival, on music education.

This weekend, fire comes again, this time in the form of the Olympic torch as it starts the proceedings for our Olympic games and we are joined by our geographical community as the students from Waldorf schools across the country join their fellow Class 5's for a feast of ancient sports and ceremony.

Today's issue is absolutely packed with all the wonder-filled things we have experienced recently.

Wishing you a weekend nourished by these themes of warmth and community,

With warm regards,

Emmeline Hawker
Director of Studies

Congrautlations Upper School Students!

Alex Gearing and I would like to congratulate all of the Upper School Students who have completed their exams!

All of the students adhered to the JCQ rulings around each exam impeccably and were graceful and confident with their approach to every exam. Well done to all of you!

At this point of the last term, the teachers have very limited time and having to invigilate exams is such an added pressure on them so we would like to take this opportunity to thank our parent and retired colleague volunteers who stepped in to help with the invigilation and freed the teachers of approximately 65 hours of valuable time! The volunteers have been reliable and professional and it has been an opportunity to create a great community feel between parents and the Upper School Exams Team.

If any parent of the school is interested in becoming a volunteer invigilator, please contact me via email, [email protected]; and I can then explain the role in more depth as well as the exam series dates.

‘Celebrating life’

On Monday the 24th June, friends and families gathered to plant three trees, a thank you gift to the school from class 12 and in memory of Simon Rogers -  a beloved parent from our community.

The trees are symbolic of life. They represent the three fold human, the body, soul and spirit, which is intrinsic to our Waldorf education and the formative years of growth - Kindergarten, Lower school and Upper school - ‘willing, feeling, thinking’.

The three blossoming trees are purposefully different in celebrating an individuals uniqueness. An autumn prunus, a fruiting apple and a spring blossom.

Simon loved our grounds and often walked the path where the trees have been placed, especially in his last months. They now join the ancient Cherry - the guardian angel of them until time permits.

We dearly hope they too will provide much joy to young and old for years to come.

Expressing our thanks to Ian for assisting in the planting and all that came together and joined us on the day.

With love from Class 12 parents and pupils 

Contact details request

I am trying to contact a lady called Ann Nandi. Anybody who knows her, could you please get in touch with Chiara Carones at 07906779488

There was a collision with my car at Michael Hall car park on Friday 14^th June after the Musical. Thank you!

House to let
Detached house to let, available from the end of August. Five bedrooms, large garden with swimming pool. Close to the centre of Forest Row on quiet secluded lane and within a 10 minute walk of Michael Hall School. Please call 07808264747 or 07779261167

Are you an “all growned up” and yearning for some play time ! 

I am opening up the nest for a one week summer camp just for you to come and fill up an art journal with explosions of creativity and rainbows of story telling. 

All groups are held at “the nest” heaven farm, Danehill and include daily cake, and coffee and tea. 
All materials including your own sketch part are part of the fee. 
To book - head to eventbrite, or call / WhatsApp Jolene - 07429 528452 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sketchbook-camp-tickets-927805510257?aff=oddtdtcreator