WEEKLY LEAFLET 2
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We have arrived at the end of our second week of term and I (Ginny) see the school is beginning to breathe in its familiar rhythm once more. I see the morning greetings, the purposeful movement through the day and the quiet settling of work and play that are beginning to weave a sense of belonging into our classrooms and playgrounds and it makes me really so happy!
We hope that the children are beginning to feel held by the daily rhythms and finding their feet and their place within the life of the school. Over the years I have seen that these early weeks are a time of rapid adjustment and of allowing trust and familiarity to grow. We thank you for walking this beginning-of-term journey with us and for the care you bring as parents in supporting your children as they settle into the year ahead.
For Kyle and myself this term, much of our focus turns lovingly toward our Kindergarten, the heart from which so much of our school life grows. We are excited to share that we will be creating a dedicated space in the newsletter to offer a deeper glimpse into the everyday beauty of our Kindergarten life. We will share the imaginative play that bursts forth, the quiet work that creates works of art, the seasonal rhythms that shape the landscape and atmosphere in and around the classrooms and the incredibly nurturing environment that supports our youngest children so beautifully.
Having personally worked closely with Kindergarten of late, I feel this special faculty absolutely deserve great recognition and deep admiration for the way they so tentatively and calmly hold the space for the children in this special part of the school. Thank you wonderful ladies, you bring so many blessings to our children and community with your steadfast, kind and deeply loving presence.
Perhaps most exciting of all, we are currently creating a short promotional video in collaboration with Luke Younge, who is also a dedicated and long-standing Michael Oak parent. This video will beautifully showcase the gentle rhythm of our Kindergarten days, our rich and age-appropriate activities, the joyful atmosphere of the classrooms and the deep respect for childhood that underpins all that we do. We look forward to sharing this with you in time and warmly invite you to help us spread the word about our special Kindergarten home-away-from-home.
I hope all have a peaceful weekend and wish you a wonderful week to come.
Warm regards
Ginny Johnstone
Marketing Communications
Next Tuesday evening will be filled with fun and pancakes for the the Michael Oak community. On Thursday, Class 12 will go to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for an outing. Our weekly market will take place on Friday.
3
February
Pancake Evening
6:00pm to 7:45pm
Gathering of primary and high school communities to enjoy pancakes on the oval.
5
February
Class 12 Outing
8:00am to 1:00pm
Outing to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens as part of their botany lesson.
6
February
Market Day
12:30pm to 3:00pm
Our weekly market takes place every Friday at the school entrance.
Our annual pancake evening is just around the corner! Please join us on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026, from 6:00pm to 7:45pm for an evening of connection, music, dancing, and delicious pancakes. This is a wonderful opportunity for both Primary and High School families to come together, welcome new faces, and celebrate our vibrant school community. For all the important details, please download the flyer below.
It is a tradition in Kindergarten to bake sweet raisin bread. The children knead the dough, getting their hands messy, then shape the bread to any shape they’d like and top it with raisins. When the bread comes out of the oven, it always leaves the Kindergarten with a warm and comforting smell that parents who have been to Kindergarten will surely appreciate.
When the Class 4 students came back from holiday, they were greeted with many fresh vegetables in the vegetable garden including eggplants, tomatoes, and gooseberries which they harvested and took home. This week they worked on preparing the garden for the Class 3 students to take it over this year by removing weeds and dead plants.
The Class 4 students enjoyed a creative and hands on activity as part of their Norse mythology and Viking main lesson. Lengths of string were hung from the ceiling and, working in pairs, each child gently swung a strand to their partner. Together they wove the strings into a beautiful, flowing braid, a rope making method once used by the Vikings, for whom ropes were an essential part of daily life.
Dedicated art lessons that begin from Class 8 build steadily from technical skill to conceptual thinking. Each grade works with materials, themes, and processes that support their developmental stage, allowing learners to strengthen observation, experiment with new techniques, and gradually take greater ownership of their artistic voice.
Click below to find out what each class is doing this term.
Students embark on a journey of colour exploration, building on their foundational skills in drawing and painting. They practice shading techniques, mastering the greyscale to create depth and dimension in their pencil work. A highlight of the year is drawing a shoe, applying their understanding of form, texture, and shadow. The year culminates in a reimagined version of Albrecht Dürer’s Melancholia, a masterpiece that challenges their skills in detail, perspective, and symbolism.
The year begins with blind contour portraits, developing observational skills and hand-eye coordination. Students then delve into black and white drawing, focusing on charcoal to create expressive and textured artworks. The still life project: “Objects of Affection” challenges them to capture the essence of personal objects, exploring symbolism, composition, and shading techniques.
After a year of working in black and white, Class 10 steps into the world of colour. This term focuses on understanding the colour wheel, exploring colour relationships, and learning how to confidently mix and apply colour in their artworks.
In this class, new mediums will be introduced through a mixed media approach. Learners will experiment with paint, ink, pastel, pencil, and other mediums, discovering how different materials can be combined to create layered and expressive artworks.
Portraiture and self-image will be explored through both two dimensional and three-dimensional work. Learners will create self-portraits and clay sculptures of themselves, engaging with the human form and personal expression.
Students will explore South African artists influenced by African and indigenous art forms, discovering how Africa has shaped South African artistic expression. Alongside this, they will work with the practical theme of fragility, interpreting it in their own way.
Handwork this term gives students the chance to develop practical skills while creating a variety of useful and imaginative items. Projects are carefully sequenced so that each grade builds on what they have learned before, gradually introducing more complex techniques and materials as students progress through the years.
Click below to find out what each class is doing this term.
The children begin by making their own knitting needles from dowel sticks, this introduces care and purposeful handwork. These are then used to knit bunnies, before moving on to the longer term project of knitting their recorder bags.
Stocking stitch is introduced for the first time, starting with simple creations such as bears, cats, dogs, and eagles, before moving on to more complex animals as confidence and skill develop.
In this class, the children begin with crocheting plant holders, practicing steady handwork and learning to follow simple patterns while making something useful.
Cross stitch is introduced, teaching students to create pictures and patterns using small X-shaped stitches on fabric. This allows them to practice careful counting, improve precision and lays the foundation for future mathematical thinking while bring simple designs to life.
In this class, the children learn to knit their own socks, turning their learned techniques into functional items and overcoming the challenges of sizing.
Sewing South African animals from fabric, students create pieces such as rhinos and lions, carefully cutting, stitching, and assembling each part throughout the term.
Building on their sewing skills, students are making dolls, including the dolls’ hair and clothes, developing their ability to work with multiple parts and materials throughout the term.
Learning to use a sewing machine for the first time, students are sewing beanbags before moving on to making sweat pants, gaining confidence with both simple and larger projects over the term.
Students are sewing drawstring bags before moving on to making their own hoodies, applying their growing skills to increasingly complex projects throughout the term.
The woodwork year has begun, and students are diving into projects that challenge their hands and focus their minds. As the grades progress, projects become more complex, requiring greater precision, planning, and independence in both design and making.
Click below to find out what each class is doing this term.
Begun shaping their eggs and spoons with Caleb. Working from a single piece of camphor wood sourced in Noordhoek, students explore convex and concave forms, learning how inner and outer spaces are carefully revealed through patience and will. These forms gently mirror their own developing inner life as they learn to shape what looks inward and what reaches outward into the world.
Engaging deeply with their final Primary School woodwork project, the bowl. This work asks for focus, endurance, and sensitivity as they hollow and shape a singular block of wood to create a harmonious balance between inner and outer form. The bowl becomes both a practical object and a quiet reflection of self as they complete this meaningful milestone.
Beginning their first piece of furniture, the traditional folding table. This project demands careful measuring, attention to moving parts, and thoughtful finishing. Students are encouraged to continually imagine how each element fits together, learning to view their work from many angles, a fitting exercise for this age of growing perspective.
Turning their attention to the fundamentals of joinery, with a strong focus on accurate sawing and precise measuring. The goal is to master a solid box joint, which depends on squareness, hand eye coordination, and discipline. Through this work, students explore the idea of creating strong structure and a reliable inner space.
Bringing together skills developed over previous years to create a folding lap table. This highly useful object invites thoughts of service, whether for a breakfast in bed, quiet work time, or a picnic on the lawn. The project carries the gesture of offering something practical and thoughtfully made to oneself or to others.
Working with beautiful kiaat planks sourced from Rarewoods in Epping to build a solid footstool. While there is room for individual design, structural integrity is essential, as this is a piece intended to last for generations. Through this work, students are guided to consider strength, reliability, and character, values we strive to cultivate within the Michael Oak community.
The swing raffle from the fair is still underway, with entries at R50 each. You can secure your number with Zelda in playgroup, either with cash or via SnapScan. A winner will be drawn as soon as all 100 numbers have been taken, so don’t miss your chance to be the lucky recipient of this wonderful prize!
We Wish You All A Wonderful Week Ahead!!
Extramural art classes continue at Michael Oak this term, offering a space for children to explore a wide range of creative projects, from drawing and painting to clay and mixed media. Classes take place on Friday afternoons at the school, with additional sessions available in Constantia. Open to various age groups, the programme encourages creativity, confidence and enjoyment of art. Contact Sue for more information or to enrol.
Join The Makery for a fun opportunity to dive into hands-on crafts this term. These weekly hour-long lessons are perfect for ages 6 and up, hosted at Michael Oak Waldorf School. Come make, create, and explore.
Join Dr. Leah Murray and Coach Diane Schallert for Healing in Motion, a transformative event hosted by Stronger Together Cape Town.
🗓️ Date: 10 May
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
💰 price: R400
A series of Eurythmy classes exploring the timeless emotional themes found in Shakespeare’s works, including sorrow, grief, loss, and friendship. Through movement and expression, participants will engage with Shakespeare’s poetry in a reflective and artistic way while developing greater awareness, connection, and creativity in a supportive group setting.
Our trusted household helper has been part of our family for over 20 years and helped raise my two daughters, both of whom attended Michael Oak. She is a wonderful childminder, familiar with the Waldorf ethos, and prepares delicious meals, including vegetarian options.
With the children now grown, she is looking for one additional day of work. As we have lived across the road from the school for many years, she is well known within the community.
For more information, please contact Dudu – 083 595 3242, or Catherine – 076 932 9957 for a reference.
Join our nurturing Waldorf kindergarten community part-time! We’re looking for a warm, reliable Assistant Teacher to work alongside our lead teacher on Thursdays and Fridays. If you bring a genuine love for young children, a rhythmic, calm presence, and flexibility for occasional relief and school events, you’ll feel right at home. Become part of a supportive, nature-inspired team at Imhoff Waldorf School.
Parenting in the Digital Age
The DSK looks forward to hosting another public talk with The Digital Law Company and Emma Sadleir on 21 April 2026 at 18h00:
Parenting in the Digital Age – advice, guidance and education in all aspects of social media and the law.
Everything you need to know to survive about raising children in an online world – the laws, the apps, the issues.
For more than 20 years the Young Men & Women in Michael Oak’s Class 10 have stepped out of their usual world and into a week of adventure. A time where they can look back to see where they’ve come from (roots), inside to see who they are (heart) and ahead to imagine possibilities (wings).
This experience comes at a point in the curriculum where they have already started looking for answers which many of us are still searching for. The Roots, Hearts & Wings Adventure (RHWA) is an opportunity to take a courageous step into an understanding of ourselves and those around us.
Through all these years a constantly refreshed and trained team of volunteers from the school community (parents, teachers and alumni) has welcomed them into this safe space for growth and friendship. The magic lies in that the answers do not sit in any one of us, rather they are assembled out of all of our stories.
If you are interested in contributing to or being part of the RHWA team, then please contact the Class 10 Guardians (Caleb Gallant & Victoria Sigalas), or Roy Davids, to find out more and put yourself forward.
Caleb – cgallant@michaeloak.org.za
Victoria – vsigalas@michaeloak.org.za
Roy – rdavids@michaeloak.org.za
Safe, supportive morning vocal sessions for women. No singing experience needed. Build confidence, express yourself freely, and feel truly heard. See attached poster for details and contact Cindy at 072 210 9269.
An intensive course over 7 weeks where participants immerse themselves in the Theory U Four Levels of Listening. Learn to hold space for empathic and generative listening through awareness-based practices, conversation, embodying, and journaling to enhance the quality of relationship in life and work.
Learn the art of unconditional love – for yourself and others. Join Brian Grimley in a year-long journey of heart, healing, and connection. Blossom begins 14 April 2026.
Thomas Yohane (nephew of Chatama, a former Michael Oak gardener), a Malawian gardener, is fit, hardworking and available for work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
For a reference, please speak with Jean Cohen, piano teacher at Michael Oak, or WhatsApp her on 072 348 1860.
SCETT will host a lecture on Eurythmy Therapy with therapists Norman Kingeter and Rob Schapink. The talk explores the origins of this healing movement practice developed at the Ita Wegman Clinic in Switzerland. For workshop enquiries or registration contact:
Julia O’Leary ( juliaoleary021@gmail.com)
or Liz Smith (liz@quella.co.za).
A gentle yet powerful retreat for anyone willing to explore life’s big questions around meaning, mortality, and healing. Through creative processes, meditation, and group work, you’ll be supported to turn toward what we often avoid – and discover unexpected depth, spaciousness, and aliveness.
Dates: 30 & 31 May 2026, 9am–5.30pm
Location: Castle Rock, Simon’s Town
Cost: R2500 (early bird extended to 13 April)
Payment options: subsidised spaces, exchanges, or payment plan (R1000/month for March–May)
Contact to book or request support: groups@presenceinaction.co.za
Dharma is Michael Warldorf Alumni and studied at Centre for Creative Education, graduating as an Early Childhood Development teacher.
She offers music theory lessons to compliment the students that are already learning an instrument at MO.
Call: 071 776 0612
What's the difference between spring rolls and summer rolls?
Their seasoning.
