Weekly Leaflet 27 – Michael Oak Leaflet

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WEEKLY LEAFLET 27

August 28, 2026

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Dear Michael Oak Community

This week’s Leaflet brings together a collection of moments from across our school community. Adele Beaunoir reflects on Sounds for the soul, we look ahead to the High School Sing-Off, and share the latest issue of Ink & Oaks, the High School newsletter. We also revisit Kindergarten’s recent outing and take a look at the Class 3s growing vegetable garden, as well as Class 6s Handwork project, bringing their chosen South African animals to life in fabric. Class 7 took to the stage with their play Galileo, with another performance taking place tonight.

Looking ahead to next week, our annual Readathon takes place on Tuesday. Please remember to bring a book and join the whole school in making space for reading.

Kyle Snapper
Marketing

A Reflection: Sounds For The Soul

By Adele Beaunoir

“When a truly gifted musician plays the piano, a beautiful spiritual phenomenon occurs: the soul of the player must expand to fill the mechanical void.”

– Rudolf Steiner

Working on a daily basis with a pianist, I have a particular affinity for this instrument. I do not play nor have I (as yet) aspired to learn to play the piano. On my journey to becoming a Eurythmist I learnt about the qualities of sound and the importance of live music, and how recordings are considered to be dead sound – which is why the accompanist is so important to Eurythmy. This sharing and expanding of the soul is ever present in our lessons but even more so in our Eurythmy circle. As educators there is a giving over of ourselves, a surrendering of sorts in our classes. The intensity of these surrendering’s can lead to a quiet depletion of essential parts of our being.

How grateful I was to encounter a music series called Sounds for the Soul curated by our very own Jeremy Quickfall, our High School music teacher. Here you are invited to enter into a quiet listening space. Nothing is asked of you other than you be present and allow yourself to just be. The venue is a church but it’s not about the church, you could transpose this event to a warehouse and if you let yourself be, you can have the same or similar experience as it is about the music and the meditative space that you allow yourself to enter into.

There are no announcements, no applause, no commentary of any kind other than what you read in the programme. The lights are dimmed and the pianist quietly sits before the instrument. Then it begins…

The first tones are always so very powerful in this absolute silence. It is a kind of silence that we just don’t seem to encounter in everyday life. Maybe we did many years ago but not anymore. There is no discomfort in the silence, in this room filled with people just being. Nothing is said yet it is simultaneously a marvelous individual and collective experience.

I asked Mister Q how he came to create and facilitate this extraordinary moment that we are invited to partake in and was surprised to hear that it came from a need to practice with meaning. It was 2020 and all the Covid restrictions were in place. Mister Q felt he was becoming a messy organist and needed a way to keep his skill honed. He also needed a space to practice in.

It all started with a small audience of about 15 people and has grown with a dedicated following. The name Sounds for the Soul came about through conversations with his husband, Shaun and a dear friend Julie. Having no engagement with or understanding of what Waldorf and Rudolf Steiner was, their thoughts and ideas came to this very important aspect which Rudolf Steiner points to as much needed in this Age of the Conscious Soul.

Is this divine intervention? Angel guidance? Call it what you may but something very important is happening in this facilitated silence. Rudolf Steiner spoke of how human beings would evolve to become more individualistic and intellectual and how the piano could help the soul to fully incarnate into the physical body.

No matter what you believe or what your outlook on life is, dare to give yourself a moment of unhindered/unencumbered silence. It may just be the balm your soul needs. The next recital is on the 20th September 2026 at Christ Church Constantia at 18:30. Remember, no applause.

“The melodies emerge from silence and eventually return to it, reminding us that music does not end with the final note – it continues in the listener.”

Jeremy Quickfall

Wishing you all much Strength and Light on your journey through life.

Adele Beaunoir
Eurythmist

Class 7 - Galileo Play

This morning, Class 7 brought the story of Galileo Galilei to life as they performed their play, Galileo, for the Primary School.

The play follows Galileo from the beginning of his career through to the end of his life, exploring the story of a deeply curious man who never stopped questioning the world around him. At a time when asking questions and seeking new understanding could mean challenging the laws and beliefs of society, Galileo remained steadfast in his search for truth.

His curiosity and determination led him to develop a telescope that would transform our understanding of the heavens and change the course of astronomy forever.

The Class 7 learners will perform Galileo again tonight at 6pm for parents and guests. We look forward to welcoming our community for an evening of theatre, history and the spirit of inquiry that Galileo embodied.

Condolences

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Matthew Dowling’s mother, Sandra, last week. Sandy, as she was lovingly known, was an influential member of the community. She is survived by her husband, Patrick, four children and three grandchildren. We extend our sincere condolences to the Dowling family. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted, and that the loving memories they shared will sustain them during this time.

We are also deeply saddened to share the news that Roy David’s brother, Lester, passed away on Saturday morning. We offer our condolences to Roy, his sister Ilse, his niece Alex de Wet in Class 12, and their families. We think especially of Lester’s wife and two young daughters as they grieve this loss. May the whole family find comfort, love and support in the days ahead.

Happening Next Week

Below is an overview of the meetings, events, and activities happening around the school next week.

1 to 5

September

Roots, Hearts & Wings Camp

Tuesday to Saturday

Class 10 will be away at their Coming of Age Camp from Tuesday to Saturday

September

Santa Shoe Box Pledges Open

All day

Pledges open for this year’s Santa Shoebox Project.

September

Readathon

11:45pm to 12:30pm

An annual tradition – At 11:45, all staff and students take a break, sit outside, and read a book.

September

PS Parent Forum Meeting

7:00pm to 9:00pm

A meeting with the members of the Primary School Parent Forum taking place in the upstairs meeting room.

September

Class 3 & 4 Sharing

TBA

Classes 3 and 4 share some of their Eurythmy, Afrikaans, and music work in the big hall.

September

Market Day

12:30pm to 3:00pm

Our weekly market takes place every Friday at the school entrance.

September Experience Days at Michael Oak

This September, we are offering three opportunities for prospective families to visit Michael Oak. We ask our parents and Leaflet readers to please share these events with anyone you think may be interested in learning more about our school.

Kindergarten Experience Day

Saturday 12 September | 09h30 – 11h30

For families considering Playgroup or Kindergarten for children aged 2 to 6. Parents are welcome to attend with or without their children and will have an opportunity to experience something of the rhythm, play and creative activity of a morning in our Kindergarten.

Open Classroom Tour

Wednesday 16 September | 08h00 – 09h15

Prospective parents are invited to visit the school during a working morning. The tour will move through our Kindergarten, Primary School and High School, offering a glimpse into the classrooms and the progression of Waldorf education across the school.

High School Experience Day

Wednesday 16 September | 08h00 – 12h30

Students from Grades 7 to 11 are invited to spend the morning alongside our High School students, take part in lessons and experience the life of the school first-hand.

Choosing a school is about more than reading a prospectus or visiting a website. It is about spending time in the school, meeting the people and experiencing something of its daily life.

If you know a family who may be exploring schooling options, please share these dates and the booking links with them

Inaugural High School Sing-off

As part of this year’s High School Gees Week, every High School class will take to the stage for our inaugural Sing-off.

The idea for the event grew from the choir lessons Mr Quickfall has been leading with each class. Classes 10, 11 and 12 will each perform five songs: three prepared under his guidance and two chosen and prepared by the students themselves. They will compete for the title of Sing-off Champions.

Classes 8 and 9 will also join the evening, performing two songs each.

We are delighted to welcome Vocal Unity as our special guest choir. We look forward to an evening that brings the whole High School together through the celebration of music, and plenty of Gees.

Tuesday 8 September
Doors open at 18h30 | Singing begins at 19h00 – 20h15

Free entry

Extracts from Godspell, Sweet Charity, Mozart, Carl Orff, Dvorak, Moana, traditional music, What a Wonderful World and more…

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Ink & Oaks Issue 3

This issue brings together a collection of student perspectives, school happenings and thoughtful explorations. Inside are highlights from the Grade 10–12 Sing-Off, Gees Week and the Grade 9 Shakespeare play, alongside articles exploring women in sport, gender inequality, Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party and Little Women. There is also a practical guide to navigating periods at school and a crossword celebrating famous historical women.

Kathy's Birthday Outing

To celebrate Kathy’s birthday last Friday, she took her Kindergarten class and some parents on a special outing to the Alphen Green Belt in Constantia. They enjoyed a gentle walk through the green surroundings, spent time playing in the river and then gathered together for a picnic, complete with birthday cake. It was a lovely day of exploration, playing and celebrating Kathy while being together in nature.

Class 3 - Gardening

Class 3 has been busy caring for their vegetable garden, and their work is beginning to show. Fennel, spinach, carrots and more are emerging as the garden steadily grows.

This week, the children planted new seeds in recycled egg cartons, carefully preparing the soil and tending to each seed. As they continue to care for the garden, they are experiencing first-hand the patience, attention and responsibility involved in growing food.

Class 6 - Doll Making

In Handwork, Class 6 has been exploring the diversity of South African mammals. Each child chose a four-legged mammal to study, beginning with a detailed drawing before designing their own sewing pattern based on its shape and form. This week, their designs began taking shape in fabric as they carefully cut, pinned and stitched the individual pieces together.

The process asks the children to observe closely, think in three dimensions and work out how a drawing on paper can be transformed into a finished form.

Julianna’s Creative Achievement

Congratulations to Julianna Els, Class 7, who recently took part in the Western Cape Eisteddfod, an annual celebration of young people’s creative and artistic talents. Julianna submitted her own short story, Lix in Trouble, and also gave a prepared poetry reading of Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. She received a certificate for her participation.

Well done, Julianna, on this wonderful achievement and for sharing your creativity through storytelling and poetry!

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Lix in Trouble by Julianna Els

Celebrating Our Musical Oakies

Congratulations to all the Oakies who took to the stage at Cape Town City Hall this past weekend for the Beau Soleil Junior and Senior Gala Concerts. Many of our Primary and High School students performed, playing their instruments and singing alongside young musicians from across Cape Town.

It was a joy to see them sharing the stage and to experience the way music brings people together.

The Fair Notice Board

The excitement is building for our upcoming Michael Oak Fair – Rise Atlantis!

As part of our preparations, we kindly ask families who live in the area close to the school to come by the School Reception and sign the Noise Exemption Register.

Your support helps us ensure that our Fair can comes alive with plenty of energy, music and celebration! ‍️

Thank you for helping us make this a magical and memorable Fair for our whole community.

Calling all Michael Oak Creative’s Past & Present

If you are an artist, photographer, ceramicist, felt artists, sewer, knitter, jewellery designer, creative of any kind, we would LOVE to showcase your work at our 2026 Family Fair on 31 October. We are looking for donations for our Art Wall which is a wildly popular raffle with tickets sold at the fair as well as online. The Art Wall generates huge interest and is a perfect space to display your creative talent on the day of the fair. It can be a small item or a large item – whatever you are happy to part with and contribute towards this amazing community project. We will feature your biography and provide publicity in the leaflet in the run-up to the fair.

Visitors come from far and wide to view our Art Wall. Please consider gifting one of your creations for the Fair – a gift that goes on giving as it generates revenue for the school and much pleasure and joy to the raffle winners.

If you are willing to participate, please get in touch with
Firdous on 071 613 6835 (WhatsApp), or Genevieve (glangenhoven@michaeloak.org.za)

We would love any donations of semi-precious stones, beads, broken necklaces or jewellery for our scratch patch and treasure hunt. Please drop off donations at Genevieve’s office.

Dear Parents,
We welcome your donations of books to our much loved book stall. Donations can be dropped off at the office. Thank you!

“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”

― Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can’t Avoid

Trustee nominations

Follow Our Socials

Follow us on social media to stay connected with life at Michael Oak. Every follow, like, share, and comment helps us reach more families and grow our community. Thank you for your support.

We wish you a wonderful week ahead!

Community Notices

A Fairy Tale Fair at Constantia Waldorf

Up For a Student Exchange?

Looking for an Exchange Berlin-Capetown

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.

Looking For a Tutor

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

High School Parent Forum

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

A Poetry Tea Party

Celebrating Keith Gottschalk

Join us for A Poetry Tea Party celebrating Keith Gottschalk and his many years of dedicated service to New Contrast, which has championed South African writing and visual art for 66 years.

The afternoon will feature readings by our Board and Editorial Team, alongside poetry and reflections from Keith himself. We also look ahead to Issue 214, exploring African Speculative Futures in collaboration with the University of Cape Town’s Ethics Lab.

Your support helps us continue bringing new voices and creative perspectives to our readers.

For more information, visit www.newcontrast.net.