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.
WEEKLY LEAFLET 33
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With less than three weeks left of the term, we can feel the December holiday excitement beginning to build. Students are spending more time outdoors, enjoying the warm days. This week also brings a mix of activity on campus: some of our classes have started writing exams, students from Gaia Waldorf joined us for a friendly afternoon of chess, and Michael Oak was featured in two articles in Independent Education. It’s been a full and vibrant week as we head toward the end of term.
Next week features the Class 1 and Class 7 plays, a Trustee meeting, as well as the Class 3 students joining the Friday Market.
2
December
Class 1 Play
5:30pm to 7:00pm
The Class 1 children will be performing The Golden Goose, a classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, in the small hall.
3
December
Trustee Meeting
6:00pm to 9:30pm
A meeting of the Trustees, taking place in the upstairs meeting room.
4
December
Class 7 Play
6:30pm to 8:00pm
The class 7 children will be performing a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in the big hall.
5
December
Market Day
12:30pm to 3:00pm
Our weekly Friday market takes place at the school entrance, and this week Class 3 children will be joining as part of their main lesson.
As part of the Class 3 curriculum, our children have been exploring the fascinating world of money. They began by looking at how money first came into being, discovered the many forms it has taken throughout history, and dipped into a variety of foreign currencies before focusing on our own South African Rand.
To bring this learning to life, our Class 3 children will be stepping into the role of budding entrepreneurs at the Friday Market on 5 December. They will be running a selection of stalls, offering handmade goods created with great care and enthusiasm. This practical experience invites them not only to make something of value, but also to take the brave step of selling it, calculating costs, giving change, and interacting with customers along the way.
We warmly invite the Michael Oak Community to come along, bring some cash, and support our young marketeers as they put their skills into practice. All proceeds from the Class Three stalls will be donated to charity, allowing the children to experience both the joy of Entrepreneurship and the value of giving back.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Our Class 12 students have been hard at work as exams began last week. These study group moments show their focus, determination, and the supportive spirit they share as they move through their final stretch of the year together. We wish every student the best of luck with their exams!
A glimpse into the vibrant creativity of our high school students, featuring works from the projects ‘Our Land’ and ‘Copy of a Master’, along with a tender portrait by Amarah Edwards.
Our Land – Students explore the meaning of “Our Land” through personal reflection, research, and firsthand observation, gathering inspiration and reinterpreting found materials to create original artwork without plagiarism.
Copy Of A Master – students choose a painting from an established artist that they recreate using only primary colours, a great way to learn to mix colours.
Our Land
Jaidev Patel – Class 12
Copy Of A Master
Amelie O’Hagan – Class 10
Amarah Edwards – Matric
Our Land
Yusuf Moos – Class 12
Our Land
Aisha Richards – Class 12
Our Land
Isabella Cowley – Class 12
Our Land
Susan Major – Class 12
Copy Of A Master
Adelie Oddos – Class 10
Class 5 just finished their Greek Myths & Grammar main lesson. The children connected thoroughly to the Greek Gods and Goddesses and chose one each to honour in an Ode. In their Ode they acknowledge each God or Goddess and ask for their help to cultivate noble qualities within. This inner striving is a perfect preparation for the challenges that lie ahead for us at the Greek Olympic games in February 2026.
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.
Two recent articles have been featured in the Independent Education Magazine, the magazine for independent and private schools across Southern Africa. These articles highlight Michael Oak Waldorf School and offer insights into Waldorf philosophy more broadly. These pieces were written by Michael Oak parents, sharing their unique perspectives. Below, you’ll find a brief excerpt from each article along with links to read the full pieces.
Article by Janni Younge & Kate Obree – Independent Education
Waldorf education aligns with contemporary educational practices in several ways while maintaining its unique holistic and developmental approach. Below are the key areas in which Waldorf education intersects with modern pedagogy.
1. Project-based and experiential learning
Alignment: Contemporary education increasingly incorporates Project-Based Learning (PBL) to engage students in hands-on, real-world problem solving. Waldorf education naturally embodies this philosophy through its Main Lesson Blocks, which emphasise integrated, experiential learning.
Article by Mohamed Majapa – Independent Education
A technology professional reflects on an unexpected path to finding a more human-centred, screen-free education for his children at Michael Oak Waldorf School in Cape Town.
My journey to Michael Oak Waldorf School was unexpected yet deeply meaningful. It was shaped by a mix of professional insights, personal values and the search for a holistic approach to education for my children.
It all started during a conversation with colleagues in Silicon Valley. At the time, I was working for an aerospace and avionics finance company as a components project lead for North and South America.
Earlier this week, Michael Oak and Gaia Waldorf School came together for a few friendly chess matches. Students from both schools enjoyed testing their skills, exploring different strategies, and sharing a calm afternoon of chess.
Beyond the games themselves, this was a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends, connect with fellow chess enthusiasts, and enjoy the pleasure of playing together in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
From the Malgas Family
Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold. A circle is round; it has no end. That’s how long, I will be your friend.
The words of this familiar song at Michael Oak ring true as we end our 13-year journey as a family with Michael Oak. We joined the school in 2012 when our son Alex joined the Kindergarten in Kathy’s class. We were soon captivated by the magic and mystery of the school as we watched with wonder how Alex was received by Kathy and how he grew under her gentle care and nurturance. When Hannah joined the playgroup with Susanne and Lynette, we were in awe again of the special space which the playgroup and kindergarten hold for children and parents alike. Who can forget those morning sewing sessions with our children or reading stories on the floor while making sure that the crawling younger sibling did not swallow a marble!
Our time in the primary school did not always go as we had hoped. Both our children had multiple teachers during their respective seven-year journeys. As much as we were disappointed by this, we can look back and see how these experiences with different teachers have offered opportunities for growth and the development of a sense of resilience. The primary school years were filled with excitement and angst as our children started learning and growing in their own unique ways. I so appreciated the long-term view that the teachers in the primary school hold about learning and development. Learning never felt rushed. The children were allowed to relate to the work in the way that made sense for them and to work at a gentle yet consistent pace. The thing I loved most about primary school was the year-end reports. Who can forget the 6-page handwritten reports from Mrs Blankers! These reports were more than just feedback on academics and learning. They told the story of how adults saw and experienced our children. What a gift! I have kept all the reports and hope that one day my children will be able to read these again and appreciate afresh the gifts that their Waldorf education offered.
This Michael Oak community, as with any family, is filled with its quirks and challenges. As much as there have been moments of joy, there have been moments of annoyance and frustration. The democratic decision-making process within the school has at times felt so cumbersome and time-consuming. I am remembering a huge school meeting in the big hall a few years ago where the entire community was invited to give feedback on changes in the high school space. At these moments we often felt that someone just needed to please make a decision! But we sat and listened and heard and then some others sat some more and at some point, a decision gets made! Oh, the joys of circle management.
I have come to learn to hold the good with the bad as I reflect on our time at Michael Oak. The beauty of the many festivals we have witnessed and been part of. Each year the same but also unique and different. I have loved these rituals which marked the changes in the seasons or some significant spiritual moment. As much as these festivals are spaces of reverence there have been some wild moments. Like when a lantern caught alight in the St Johns Festival and Andre van Blerk grabbed the burning lantern with his bare hands! We just carried on with our singing while the poor man needed first aid for his second-degree burns!
Alphonso and I were privileged and honoured to serve this community in various roles. We are so grateful for the learning and growth which has resulted from this involvement. The experience that I most treasured was my time with the class 10 girls on the Coming-of-Age camps. Thank you, Kathy Abbott, for suggesting that I get involved with this camp. These camps offered an experience of a rites of passage process which was so rich and beautiful. On these camps I too experience my own rite of passage as woman and a mother. I will forever hold these spaces with reverence and awe.
And so, leaving feels bittersweet. We leave behind wonderful friends and a most beautiful school campus. But we hold on to the many memories and will treasure these always. Michael Oak has left its mark in our hearts and minds, and we are forever changed because of our time in this special community.
With love and gratitude
Alphonso, Helen, and Hannah (and Alex) Malgas
Join our beloved weekly art classes in a peaceful garden-facing studio (opposite the library). Pupils can arrive straight after school or other activities and settle in under supervision before class. We nurture creativity, self-esteem, and skill through diverse projects—from clay and paper mâché to pastels, ink, collage, and canvas prep—inspired by nature, South African artists, and current exhibitions.
3rd Term starts 31 July.
Fridays: 12:50–1:45 (KG–Gr 2), 1:45–2:45 (KG–Gr 4), 2:45–3:45 (Gr 5+)
Also Thursdays & Saturdays in Constantia.
Fees: R1 290/term (materials included). Try-out R170/lesson. Pro-rata for late joiners.
Contact Sue: 021‑794‑6609 | WhatsApp 083‑237‑7242 | sue.nepgen@gmail.com.
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.
Gaia Waldorf School in Pinelands is seeking a suitably qualified Class 1 Waldorf Teacher to join their team from January 2027. They are looking for a creative, enthusiastic educator with appropriate Waldorf qualifications, SACE registration, and a genuine commitment to the growth and development of children within a collaborative Waldorf community.
Applications, including a covering letter and CV, should be sent to admin@gaiawaldorf.co.za by Tuesday, 11 August 2026.
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.
I decided to sell my vacuum cleaner...
Because it was just gathering dust!
