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!!
Join Dr Tessabella Lovemore online for a talk exploring the effects of testosterone on boys and how it can influence the way boys relate to care, learning and the world around them. The 30 minute talk will be followed by a 30 minute Q&A.
📅 Thursday 24 September
🕗 8.00pm SA time
💻 Online via Zoom
Donations are welcome. Email activepracticalloveinitiative@gmail.com to attend and receive the Zoom link.
Awaken your Inner Artist with this new five week art course, inspired by the work of five modern and contemporary artists. Through art, reflective writing, music and poetry, participants will explore their inner creativity and expression. No previous art experience is required.
All High School parents Welcome! Be part of a dynamic group of parents who engage with the School and help shape school policies on topics such as AI use in the high school; navigating a phone-free school and issues such as bullying or vaping. Please add any items you would like to be discussed in the final meeting of the year at the High School Parent Forum by completing this quick form linked HERE. For enquiries contact the Forum Chair Cecile Blake Benadé. cecileblake@gmail.com.
The date of the final meeting is 17 November 2026
Join us for the debut performance of ‘Awakening’ an exploration of the origins of our world and the human beings within it. Workshopped and co-created by Helios, an independent group of grade 7s and their teacher, Elinor Driver.
Weaving origin stories from around the world together into a web of questions, pictures, colours and sound this production is the culmination of the group’s primary school theatre journey and is an exploration of some of the answers that myths, stories and science give us to the big questions of what it means to be human and how we came to be here.
Music theory lessons for Grades 1 to 3, following Trinity College of London, with in person or Zoom sessions available. Lessons are R300 per session.
Contact Dharma for more information or to book.
From Jan 2027 for 3 months
Hello Everyone,
My name is Luiza, I am 16 years old and I was born on January 5th. I attend a Waldorf school in Berlin, Germany and I am currently in 10th grade.
I come from Berlin and live quite centrally with my mother, my brother (15), my little sister (7) and my stepfather. I would describe my family as open-minded, loving, warm and welcoming.
My favourite subjects are Art and Spanish, and I also enjoy Sports. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry are
not really my favourite subjects.
Don’t miss out! Remember to book your space at the Mommy & Me Expo on 3-4 October 2026 at Venue D’Aria!
Please contact Elzette at admin@donatoevents.co.za for more info and rates.
I am in Cape Town for a month with my 6 year old son, Jude. We have come over from Zimbabwe to have a baby here, and while we are here, I am looking for a tutor who could spend a little time with Jude a few times a week.
I would love some help with reading, handwriting and maths to keep him learning while we are away from home. I am trying my best, but I am definitely not a teacher and could use some help!
If you know of someone who might be interested, please get in touch.
Becky
073 533 3037
WhatsApp: 00263 772 234 349
Save the date for Imhoff Waldorf School’s Spring Fair on Saturday, 12 September! Come along for a wonderful day of craft activities, games, delicious food, music and family fun. Bring the whole family and enjoy a vibrant community celebration as we welcome the arrival of spring.
A gentle invitation to reconnect with yourself. Join this four day women’s retreat exploring Ayurveda, embodiment and women’s wisdom through a nurturing and restorative experience. No previous experience is needed, and all are welcome.
Join Constantia Waldorf School for their magical Annual Fair, A Fairy Tale, on Saturday 24 October 2026 from 10am to 3pm. Enjoy a day of fun, food, activities and fairy tale magic for the whole family.
📍 Spanschgemat River Rd, Belle Constantia
🎟️ Adults R30 | Children R20
💳 Cashless event
I went to the aquarium on the weekend, but I didn’t stay long.
There’s something fishy about that place.
