WEEKLY LEAFLET 9
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The week has brought a welcome coolness and excitement is stirring for the upcoming Class 12 play, Musical Comedy Murder Mystery, promising laughter and intrigue. Around the school, students have been engaged in crafting and creating, preparing for the beauty of our Harvest Festival, a celebration of abundance and community.
This week also saw the student forum elections take place, and our stationery shelves have been freshly restocked. As Eid-al-Fitr approaches, we extend our warmest wishes to all who celebrate, may it be a joyful and meaningful time.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Kyle Snapper
Marketing
Below is an overview of the meetings, events, and activities happening around the school next week.
23 to 26
March
Class 12 Play
Musical Comedy Murder Mystery
7:00pm to 8:30pm
Class 12 presents a suspenseful, twist filled play at 7pm on 23 to 26 March, with entry by donation.
25
March
Trustee Meeting
6:00pm to 9:30pm
A meeting of the Trustees, taking place in the upstairs meeting room.
25
March
PS Parent Forum Meeting
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Parents and faculty meet in the meeting room to share ideas and support the smooth running of the Primary School.
26
March
PG & KG End of Term 1
11:00am
Playgroup and Kindergarten mark their final day of Term 1, bringing the term to a gentle close.
26
March
PS Harvest Festival Early Closing
12:30pm
With the Harvest Festival taking place, Primary School will finish early on this day.
27
March
PS & HS End of Term 1
11:30pm
Primary School and High School reach the final day of Term 1, closing the term and looking ahead to the upcoming break.
27
March
Market Day
11:30pm to 2:00pm
Our weekly market takes place every Friday at the school entrance.
27
March
Dads, Dudes & Kids Camp
Friday to Sunday
A weekend camp for dads, dudes, and kids featuring outdoor activities, farm fun, and community time at Petervale Farm.
As we approach our Harvest Festival this year, the children will hear the story of Happy-go-Lucky Simon. It is a simple tale about a farmer who always seems cheerful and generous, even though he works harder than everyone else in his village. While the other farmers only do what is necessary, Simon goes much further: he buries old wood in the earth, builds compost heaps, digs ponds to hold water, and sings while he works. His neighbours cannot understand why he spends so much effort on things that appear unnecessary.
When a time of drought arrives, however, something remarkable happens. Simon’s land remains green and fertile while the others struggle. The hidden work he has done beneath the surface, building humus, holding water in the soil, and nurturing the land becomes the source of resilience and abundance. What once seemed like extra work reveals itself as quiet preparation for the future.
The story offers a beautiful image for the meaning of the Harvest Festival. Just as compost transforms slowly underground into rich soil, many of the most important human qualities also develop quietly and unseen: patience, kindness, generosity, and perseverance. Harvest time reminds us that what we cultivate inwardly eventually appears outwardly in the life around us.
Simon’s relationship with the earth also shows how human beings can act as caretakers of the natural world. When he gives generously to the land, the land gives back. When the other farmers begin to follow his example, the prosperity of the harvest becomes something shared by the whole community rather than belonging only to one individual.
In this way, the festival reminds us that harvest is not only about gathering food from the fields, but also about recognising the inner fruits that grow within us. Much of the work we do as teachers, parents, and human beings is unseen, just like the organic matter that slowly becomes fertile soil beneath the earth. Yet through care, patience, and kindness, these quiet efforts become the living ground from which wisdom, compassion, and strength can grow.
Harvest invites us to pause in gratitude and remember that the richest growth often comes from the quiet processes beneath the surface, both in nature and in the human soul.
Next week, our Class 12 students take to the stage in a thrilling production full of intrigue, suspense, and unexpected twists. Lulu Haarhoff van Vollenhoven, a devoted patron of the arts, has devised a clever plan to trap the killer of three dancers. Using the promise of funding for a new production, she invites a group of possible suspects to her grand home.
But when a fierce Cape storm floods the roads, the guests find themselves trapped and isolated. More murders, mix-ups, and surprises ensue, turning the day into a whirlwind of muddled mayhem.
The play will be performed at 7pm on the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th of March. Entry is by donation. Come and enjoy an evening of suspense, drama, and the remarkable talent of our Class 12 students.
As we begin to imagine the beautiful creations for the 2026 Michael Oak Fair, we would like to share our crafting intentions for the year ahead.
In recent years, many of us have felt the weight of expectation—the pressure to produce more, attend every craft day, and ensure a high standard. While our hands have been busy, our hearts have sometimes felt overwhelmed.
This year, we choose a different path. One where we listen inwardly to what we can manage, honour our capacity, and hold clear, gentle boundaries. We remember that we craft for two reasons.
Firstly, for the children. Everything we create is woven with love to enrich their school, strengthen their community, and model meaningful work. Through crafting, we learn and practise skills, often the very same skills our children are learning, deepening our connection to their experience.
Secondly, we craft to build community through connection, shared moments, and the simple rhythm of working together.
Let us come together to craft in joy, for our children and our community.
Each person is warmly invited to contribute what they can. Fewer, thoughtfully made items created in joy hold more value than many made in stress. The spirit in which something is made lives on within it – may ours be filled with warmth and care.
If crafting is not possible, there are some other ways you can support. Please let your classlink know and we can find you another meaningful and manageable task towards the Fair.
May our crafting feel lighter and more meaningful as we prepare for the 2026 Michael Oak Fair.
We hope to see you this Saturday the 21st of March from 10:00 to 13:00 at our second craft day.
The Class 6 Fair Committee
By Helen O'Hagan
We were very touched to hear that the Skukuza Research Centre in Kruger wanted to name their library after my dad, Prof. William Bond, after he passed away on the 4th of December last year. He was a parent of three children who went through Michael Oak as well as being husband to my mother, Mrs. Bond, who taught here for 27 years, so I was asked to share about this event of honouring of him.
They invited us up to Kruger for a ceremonial evening on the 5th of March to remember my dad and name the library. My father was a world-renowned scientist, working on fire ecology and savannahs. He was working passionately on trying to help the world understand how important open ecosystems, grasslands and savannas are and the positive role fire and herbivores play in creating and maintaining these spaces. He was trying (successfully) to debunk the myth that planting trees is the most successful way to save the planet. He was showing how grasslands store more CO2 in their roots than trees and how much damage is currently being done by planting the wrong trees in the wrong places. This is being used as a way for companies/countries to tick their green boxes and look ‘eco-friendly’ and pay off European carbon emissions, while actually destroying African landscapes and ecosystems.
If you are interested have a look on my dad’s website, openecosystems.co.za. To view a short video my dad created a few years back to share about the importance of grasslands with people: The Untold Story of Grasses.
The event was held outside on a hot humid evening; it was the last night of the annual Savannas of the World conference that my dad had regularly been a speaker at. Initially 40 people had been invited but once the word got out that it would be a moment to remember my dad; ±140 people flew in to attend, from many different countries in the world.
As everyone was arriving a big elephant came and walked slowly along the fence, grazing right next to where we were gathering! This set the tone for a very special evening.
It was incredibly moving to hear speeches by people whom I had only known through my dad’s wonderful stories of them from his travels, and to have it sink in that that all those ‘story’ characters were very real people who knew my dad well and who treasured him. With his contacts spread out all over the world I had had very little opportunity to meet them before.
It was a gift to hear other people put into words someone who I loved so dearly, and to hear them do so with such insight, humour and love. It was also lovely to be surrounded by people with similar interests to him and who shared a deep care for the world.
We were treated as VIPS, and we were taken on many game drives by knowledgeable, lovely young scientists who are running research courses in the area. I was so inspired by the work that is happening up there, the camps and the courses that they are running, not only for university students but high school students too… I am very keen to collaborate with them.
It was special to connect with a place that my father had played quite an important role in, and a place he enjoyed being. And of course, just being in Kruger for my first time was a treat, accompanied by my two daughters Ellena and Amelie, and my mom and aunty.
Helen O’Hagan
Class 2 Teacher
This year marks the first time that Michael Oak has participated in the Mathematics Olympiad. The first round took place on 12 March, with the second round set to take place in May. We are delighted that four of our students have qualified to continue to the next stage: Juliet Winks, James McKinney, Julian Barret and Fynn Campbell. We wish them all the very best as they prepare for round two.
In preparation for the Harvest Festival, the Class 5 students made flower pictures using tissue paper. Working from a reference image, each child interpreted the flower in their own way by sticking coloured tissue onto a sheet of paper. When the finished pictures are held up to the window, the light shines through the layers, revealing new detail and bringing the colours to life.
In our last Leaflet, we detailed the steps of making a Viking bracelet. Now, we invite you to feel the rhythm of the work. This video captures the sensory experience of the classroom, the precision of the weaving, the strength required to pull the wire through the wooden board and the quiet satisfaction of a job well done. It’s a wonderful glimpse into the hands-on learning that brings Norse mythology to life.
In preparation for the Harvest Festival, the Class 5 students made flower pictures using tissue paper. Working from a reference image, each child interpreted the flower in their own way by sticking coloured tissue onto a sheet of paper. When the finished pictures are held up to the window, the light shines through the layers, revealing new detail and bringing the colours to life.
The Class 8 students have been studying the Industrial Revolution and brought it to life through charcoal drawing. They began by covering their pages in grey, working with their hands to create texture, and then used erasers to add intricate details. The final results were striking images of factories, echoing the era’s smoke and industry. Charcoal was a fitting medium, reflecting the importance of coal during this transformative period.
Democracy came to life this week as our school held its annual Student Forum elections, with students enthusiastically taking on the role of voters to choose their new representatives. The process mirrored a real national election: each student received an official ballot paper, marked their choice in private, and deposited it into a secure ballot box. To complete the authentic experience and ensure the integrity of the vote, every participant received a mark on their thumb after casting their ballot. It was a fantastic display of civic engagement, teaching students the value of their voice and the importance of the democratic process in a fun and memorable way. We look forward to announcing the newly elected forum members and seeing them represent their peers with pride.
Every great performance needs a great stage, and for almost 20 years, Chris Mathimba has been the quiet, skilled force behind them. Since 2007, he has worked tirelessly on every major play set, transforming our hall into worlds of imagination and providing the perfect foundation for countless students to shine.
Chris says his favourite set to work on was for Twelfth Night, while the most complex set he has ever worked on is for this year’s Class 12 play, Musical Comedy Murder Mystery. Once again, he has brought the story to life with his skill and dedication. From all of us, thank you, Chris, for your artistry and craftsmanship.
All Extramural Sports will proceed as scheduled, even in the event of hot or rainy weather. On these days, sessions will be moved indoors to a hall or classroom setting, where coaches will focus on the theoretical components of the sport. Parents who prefer not to have their child participate in the indoor session are welcome to collect them at the end of the regular academic school day.
We’ve just restocked our favourite stationery essentials:
✒️ Fountain pens
🎨 Stockmar coloured pencils (12 & 24 packs)
🖍️ Lyra coloured pencils (12 packs)
🌈 Crayon blocks (8 packs)
✨ Crayon sticks (12 & 16 packs)
All Stationery is available from reception.
Michael Oak Waldorf School is looking for a registered residential property valuation professional to do a valuation on one of the school properties in order to lodge an objection to the value placed on the property in the General Valuation Roll 2025. If there is one in the school community that can assist please contact Mohamed Abbas on 083 282 9743 for further information.
There are leftover materials from the construction of the high school staff room available for sale in Kenilworth, one door frame and 8 window frames with glazing beads and glass, all pine, all unused, voetstoots:
R 975.00.
Contact Wilfred – 078 006 4765
Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for what’s coming up at Michael Oak.
Upcoming Crafting Days
See poster for dates
High School Harvest Festival
16 to 27 March
Big Walk
9 May
We are constantly striving to make the Leaflet a more vibrant and meaningful way for our community to connect, share, and celebrate the life of our school. Your thoughts, stories, and contributions help us shape each edition, ensuring it reflects the creativity, warmth, and spirit of everyone involved. Whether you have feedback to share or an article to submit, your voice is an important part of making the Leaflet a true reflection of our community.
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.
