Round up a team of friends and join in for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition at Quiz Night on Friday, 19 June. Teams of 4 or 5 players are invited to test their knowledge while enjoying food, drinks, and a lively atmosphere.
WEEKLY LEAFLET 32
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As we move through another week at Michael Oak, we take a moment to share some of the recent highlights from the Class 10 camp, that they have been fundraising for this whole year, the Class 5 language sharing, and much more . We hope you enjoy this week’s leaflet!
Next week features the Class 1 parents evening, our key Annual General Meeting, the lively Friday Market, and a special Eurythmy showcase by Class 11.
24
November
Class 1 Parents Evening
7:00pm to 8:30pm
Meeting among Class 1 parents and teacher, taking place in the Class 1 classroom.
26
November
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
6:30pm to 8:30pm
General meeting in the big hall open to all staff and parents.
28
November
Market Day
12:30pm to 3:00pm
Our weekly market takes place every Friday at the school entrance.
28
November
Eurythmy Performance
7:30pm to 9:00pm
Performance by class 11 taking place in the big hall.
- Nikhita is a Class 6 parent, who took on the role of fair coordinator for 2025.
Over the years, the Michael Oak family fair has become a time to celebrate our wonderful school and community. It is not just another fundraising event, but it is the only annual event where our entire school community has the opportunity to work together, socialise, and celebrate as a whole school (high school, primary school, and kindergarten as one). Parents and staff members alike should feel proud, honoured, and enthusiastic about bringing such a wonderful event together. It is truly the only time of the year that we have a whole school experience at one event, with many parents appreciating the opportunity to mingle and celebrate together.
Crafting through the year to sell products at the fair has become a firm tradition at Michael Oak, allowing all parents to learn and master new skills, with many often not knowing their hidden talents. You will never know until you try. The monthly craft days are so special, as they give parents the opportunity to get to know each other better and strengthen the bonds within classes, whilst allowing children to play in a safe space, enjoying the morning with their friends.
The crafting lovingly undertaken by parents culminates in some of the most wondrous and beautiful craft items, sought after by many loyal fairgoers for Christmas or holiday gifts.
This year’s craft was no exception, and a massive thanks must go to all who participated in crafting this year, with special mention of Kindergarten 2 (Craft Link Sara Muhl), a young class whose class parents produced exquisite craft for the fair. Thanks and appreciation to the High School craft group, who also contributed beautiful craft, and to Adele for the gorgeous Waldorf dolls this year.
Huge thanks must also go to everyone who contributed to the baking and preparing of delicious homemade items for the Tea Garden and other food contributions, as well as shift duties done by parents at various stations.
These contributions, from Kindergarten to High School, have also become deep rooted traditions of our family fair, having started within our community many years ago. The sharing demonstrates the willingness of parents to help and assist, and also shows the dedication that parents have for the school. Thank you once again, dear parents, for all your heartfelt efforts, and to those who provided other donations. This is such a beautiful way to thank the school for teaching and nurturing our happy children throughout the year.
The family fair is planned throughout the year, with the month before the fair being the busiest period, yet with enthusiasm and positivity, it ultimately delivers an exciting day enjoyed and appreciated by many families. Once the Bedouin tent is raised on the Oval, the children feel that the fair has begun, and their excitement is palpable on the premises. The fair that they have been waiting for throughout the year has arrived.
It is this excitement and the smiles of the children that make all our fair planning efforts worthwhile, knowing that the children and their families create unforgettable memories at each family fair.
Without knowing it, the best and lasting memories of our children’s childhood are being made, and the fair will always be a connection to a past full of happy memories. While the memory of this year’s fair is still fresh in our minds, Class 6 of 2025 would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire Michael Oak community for the hard work, dedication, and willingness to help that made this year’s fair a success.
With special thanks to staff members Natheema Jacobs, Kyle Snapper, Rob Howe, and Chris Mathimba. Your help was invaluable. Last but not least, thank you to my dream team… Michelle Oliver (our incredible food lead for undertaking this huge portfolio), Mohamed Abbas (our super efficient finance lead), and Natasha Kemp (our amazingly sharp witted quotes and procurement lead).
I also need to mention the hard work and dedication throughout the year by Lesley Palmer (our themes lead) on her fantastic spirit and creativity, Sean Walsh (our games lead) who built new and exciting games from scratch for the fair, and Brent Palmer for his amazing ability to host the event and entertain the audience.
The Class 10s spent the week of 3 to 8 November at Bushwhacked on the Orange River, finally enjoying the adventure they had worked toward all year through their fundraising efforts. After a ten hour bus ride that felt like a small journey of its own, they settled into days of paddling, swapping partners and discovering the many unique approaches to keeping a canoe steady. One evening they built an impressively large bonfire that became a quiet highlight of the trip. And in the end, the students agreed on one thing with absolute certainty: the food was the undisputed favourite.
Our Class 5 children made their way to Constantia Waldorf School for the annual language sharing, a gathering where Class 5 children from Waldorf schools across the city come together in a spirit of celebration to share how beautifully their secondary languages have blossomed. The morning was filled with short plays, heartfelt songs, and thoughtful poems.
Our Class 3s recently embarked on a wonderful learning journey at the Bloublommetjies Biodynamic Farm. They rolled up their sleeves and immersed themselves in the rhythms of farm life, taking on real jobs like milking the cows and turning compost.
We can confidently say it was a hands-on experience. In fact, most of their tasks seemed to revolve around one very fundamental farm ingredient: poop! They handled it with great enthusiasm (and plenty of handwashing).
Of course, all that hard work was fuelled by the farm’s delicious, wholesome food, which was a highlight for everyone. It was a truly memorable trip that connected our children to the earth in the most grounded way possible
A group of Class 5 boys discovered a collection of forgotten woodwork offcuts as well as other scrap parts and immediately set their imaginations in motion. What began as a pile of spare parts quickly grew into a proudly handcrafted go-cart complete with working brakes, a turning system and even a personalised license plate.
As the year gently draws to a close, we warmly invite our high school families to a festive soiree filled with entertainment, laughter, and a bring-and-share feast.
As part of our commitment to ensuring a solid handover of the Fair to the organisers for 2026, the Class 6 of 2025 put together a survey requesting feedback on our Medieval Fair 2026. We received 87 responses, 9 of which were from members of staff and 78 from parents. Thank you so much to those who provided feedback. The responses were rich and provided a good sense of where we did well with the Fair this year and where we can still improve. A full report has been provided to the school and is ready to be made available for the Fair organisers in 2026. A brief summary is provided here.
The average responses to some key questions in the survey are shown in the figure below. Responses were scored 1 to 5 with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent.
Overall, feedback was very positive. Respondents loved the atmosphere at the Fair, as well as the food, entertainment and theme. This was not universal. Six respondents gave low scores for overall satisfaction, one of whom was very unhappy indeed, but a significant majority of scores were positive.
Respondents felt that the Fair achieved its goals of marketing and community building, although there were suggestions for more extensive marketing next year, aimed at reaching people outside of the direct Michael Oak community.
On the whole, respondents felt that the Fair was worth the effort that they put into it, but there were a lot of mentions of the unbalanced nature of the effort and calls to try and reduce effort or spread it more evenly.
The change in layout was received largely positively, with the banquet hall getting a lot of positive mentions, but the location of the games needs improvement as respondents felt that they were a little lost. The Dragon’s Lair did not receive substantial comments but there were some suggestions that the execution can be improved.
Feedback on the inclusion of KG was not extensive but what comment was received was mixed. There were several mentions appreciating the fact that KG was once again part of the main fair, but also several indicating that the Fair was long and noisy for KG children.
The main area for improvement next year is the entry and payment processes. Queues were long and this should be resolved. Other major areas for review are the approach to organising the Fair and the role that Class 6 plays, cost of food and craft, quantity of baked goods produced, and information and communication.
If anyone would like to see the full report, please feel free to reach out to Kim Walsh in Class 6 on 082 570 4565.
A supportive in person process group for mothers seeking greater self understanding, emotional resilience, and connection. Through mindfulness, expressive art, and somatic practices, participants explore the patterns of their nervous system, deepen their capacity for self compassion, and discover practical ways to navigate the challenges of parenting with greater awareness and confidence.
The Makery is offering a series of Winter Holiday Craft Workshops filled with creativity, and hands on making. Children can enjoy a variety of morning workshops, from biscuit decorating and origami mobiles to wooden wind spinners and string pictures, all in a warm and creative atmosphere.
Join us for our annual LIVE AUCTION fundraiser at Cape Point Vineyards on Friday, 12 June 2026 at 6:30pm. An evening of community, celebration, and fundraising in support of our school.
Step into the magic of The Fisherman and the Magic Fish, a delightful 30-minute puppet show designed for children aged 4 and up. Perfect for a family outing, this heartwarming tale comes to life with charm and wonder.
Tickets sold at the entrance on the day: R30 per adult, R20 per child
Venue: Novalis Ubuntu, 39 Rosmead Avenue, Wynberg 7800
Join Dr James Dyson for a thought provoking two part talk exploring the spiritual dimensions of human relationships through the lens of Anthroposophy. Drawing on his extensive experience in medicine, psychology, and Rudolf Steiner’s teachings, Dr Dyson offers a holistic perspective on human encounter as a path of inner development and meaningful connection. Donations at the door will support the Southern Cross Eurythmy Therapy Training.
These lectures are all open to the public.
0769047632
juliaoleary021@gmail.com
or Liz Smith (liz@quella.co.za).
Round up a team of friends and join in for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition at Quiz Night on Friday, 19 June. Teams of 4 or 5 players are invited to test their knowledge while enjoying food, drinks, and a lively atmosphere.
Step into a night of glitter, throwback tunes, and 2000s nostalgia at the Class 9 party fundraiser. From iconic fashion to unforgettable hits, it promises an evening of music, dancing, and celebration, with the Football World Cup game streaming live on the big screen.
Join a day of community, connection, and family fun at the Christian Community Family Fair. Enjoy a welcoming atmosphere with activities, entertainment, food, and opportunities to gather with friends and neighbours. All are welcome.
The How to Love course developed by Dr Tessabella Lovemore is now available in Afrikaans for the first time. It is an online course of 12 lessons over 12 months. “These 12 lessons have made a significant change in the way I relate to people, loved ones, colleagues, and strangers.”
Cobie Roelvert
A series of 6 Eurythmy sessions covering the child’s development from three to thirteen as a musical journey. Understand the child (or look back on your own childhood) through dance and song and experience how children’s needs change.
What happens when a strawberry gets run over crossing the street?
Traffic jam.
