School FRIDAY FLIER Newsletter SUMMER TERM 18th June

Dear Parents and Carers,

Lots of rain this week hasn’t prevented a plethora of activities from happening. I have been showing visitors round this week and the atmosphere of peaceful busy-ness, joy, laughter, music, movement and creativity is really beautiful and palpable.

I had a lovely observation from the supply teacher who has been covering some of my psychology lessons as it was her last day this week. She said that she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was different here but she really liked the atmosphere and the students in the School. She said the most tangible example she could give was that in most other schools, it’s standard practice amongst students when a wasp comes into the room to all try and kill it whilst yelling and shouting! She noticed when a wasp came into a classroom here, the students calmly ushered it out of the room.

Wishing you all a calm weekend.

Emmeline Hawker Acting Principal and DSL

A heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to Sarah-Jane and Lyann our two wonderful parents who braved the rain this morning to open a new Pop-Up cafe. Thank you also to Ian Howard for getting up early to assist!

To subscribe to this newsletter please see www.michaelhall.co.uk/newsletter Kidbrooke Park, Priory Road, , East , RH18 5JA - Registered charity number 307006 Class 5b’s Botany Project Presentation

Class 7a Lime Kiln Class 7a Lime Kiln Congratulations to Sophie Spencer and Margita Yankova for receiving their Heart of Teacher training Diploma

Meet The Team Emma Dixon - Kindergarten Teacher I joined Michael Hall in 2016 while undertaking a Diploma in Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies - Level 5. I became a kindergarten lead teacher in 2019. My background is in the Arts, I completed a BA and MA in Fine Art at Winchester School of Art and Bath Spa University, and received grants from organisations including the UK Arts Council to undertake artist’s studies and residencies internationally. My conclusions in my artistic study and practice lead me towards an interest in education and child development and opened the doorway to Steiner .

Tom Morris - Gardening Teacher I worked for several years as an English language teacher in Montpellier, France before returning the to the UK to study Waldorf Teacher training. This included teaching at the ‘Universités’. I spent one year on the London Waldorf training while living on my barge before moving to Michael Hall to continue my studies in the School. I began part-time teaching in the garden while still studying and also class teaching. This is my third year as a part-time gardening teacher here at School and from September I will be full-time. I am keen to see outdoor education grow at Michael Hall and make use of the wonderful grounds we have. Next year I will be Involved with the Upper School food Main Lesson as well. While studying here, I took a trip to three Waldorf Schools in East Africa. I visited Mrs Spencer at the Zanzibar Steiner School and also taught at the Mbgathi School in Nairobi, which had a fully working biodynamic farm! The Great Big Michael Hall INK SPILL We are delighted to announce that East Grinstead Book Shop, our wonderful local book supplier, will be the sponsor of our writing competition. They have kindly donated prizes for each category of writing. All entries will be displayed at the Midsummer festival (Clock House Courtyard), where the winners will be announced by Harvey Hamer, our in-house published author.

We are also very moved that Nic Attwell, husband of the late, great Liz Attwell, has offered to donate a prize for The Liz Attwell Original Young Writer Award. Liz taught English at Michael Hall for fourteen years and was a dedicated and much- loved member of staff, as well as a passionate advocate for independent and original thought and creativity. https://www.eastgrinsteadbookshop.co.uk

Hi, my name’s Harvey Hamer. I published my first book, The Diamond Dimensions: Volume 1: Exploration in 2015, having got permission from Daniel Middleton, DanTDM, at Insomnia 54, a gaming convention in Britain. I wrote that at the age of twelve and now, I’m eighteen. Over the last six years I have written many more books in The Diamond Dimensions universe, based on DanTDM’s original series.

The Diamond Dimensions: Volumes 1-3 The Diamond Dimensions: Volume 7 The Cave: Volume 1 The Watchers: Chapter 3 The Diamond Dimensions Origins: The Watcher Rift Chronicles: Timelight The Diamond Dimensions: Volumes 4-5 (including The Diamond Dimensions: Volume 8 Volume 4.5, a book of short stories) The Watchers: Chapter 4 The Cave: Volume 2 The Cave: Volume 3 The Watchers: Chapter 1 The Watchers: Chapter 5 The Diamond Dimensions: Volume 6 The Diamond Dimensions: Legacies The Watchers: Chapter 2 The Diamond Dimensions: Misadventures The Cave: Volume 4

The Submissions box will remain open until Monday 21st June 12 noon! Class 12 Presents The Last Days of Judas Iscariot By Stephen Adly Giurgis

Friday 25th June at 7pm Saturday 26th June at 1.30pm and 7pm Tickets £6 Available Monday-Wednesday 3:15-4:30 in the shelter near pickup. The Diamond Dimensions: Volume 7 The Watchers: Chapter 3 And from Cafe Coco. Rift Chronicles: Timelight Recommended for age 15+ The Diamond Dimensions: Volume 8 The Watchers: Chapter 4 This is a school fundraising event. The Cave: Volume 3 Michael Hall School, Kidbrooke Park, Forest Row, , RH18 5JA The Watchers: Chapter 5 01342 822275 • www.michaelhall.co.uk • Registered Charity 30700 The Diamond Dimensions: Legacies The Diamond Dimensions: Misadventures Class 12 are hard at work on their production of ‘The Last Days of Judas Iscariot’, written by American The Cave: Volume 4 playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. The play will take place on Friday the 25th at 19:00 and at both 1:30 and 19:00 on Saturday the 26th of June in the Michael Hall Theatre with tickets costing £6 available from Monday to Wednesday at 3:15pm to 4:30pm in the shelter near the pickup point.

Please come and see the story of a court case in Purgatory debating the ultimate fate of Judas Iscariot, the infamous religious character who transgressed Jesus, and must now face the consequences. The theological storyline flashes back to pivotal moments in Judas’s childhood, explores and confronts complex morals and ethics, and questions some of humanity’s most fundamental ideologies. The comedic drama features some of society’s most iconic historical figures such as Saint Monica, Caiaphas the Elder, Mother Teresa, Sigmund Freud, and Satan, to aid the philosophical debate.

Please note the play contains strong language and religious themes. The theatre is operating at 50% capacity. Please sit in household groups of up to 6 to maintain social distancing with a seat in between. Masks to be worn unless exempt. Recommended for age 15+. Organic Tea, Cofee & Treats Cof ic Tea, ee & T gan rea idsumme Or ts r Join us on Friday Mornings after drop-off M xhibition Enjoy a hot drink & a delicious muffin E s whilst reconnecting with our School community. Please bring your own cup

Cash only, all proceeds go to the School Saturday 26th June 2021 12:00 - 17:00

Due to the ongoing restrictions we will not have the Midsummer Festival as hoped, but please bring your own refreshments to enjoy in the school grounds while visiting the exhibitions. This year we are especially thanking and celebrating the parents for their part in supporting their children throughout lockdown. Michael Hall Parents

VIRTUAL CANTEEN INVITATION

*CHANGE OF DATE * WEDNESDAY 23RD JUNE*

MHP Speaker Series RITES OF PASSAGE with Kim McCabe & Chris Packe

For our final session of the school year we are very pleased to welcome Kim McCabe and Chris Packe to share their experiences from their work with children through the years of 13 to 16. Both with children of their own through this phase, and Chris currently at the school as a parent, we are excited for an evening of discussion with them individually and together.

Join us on Wednesday evening this week (not Thursday, you can put the event in your calendar), for our last Speaker Series session of the school year!

Date: Wednesday 23rd May Time: 20:00 Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8135077703

Hosted by The Michael Hall Parents group https://michaelhall.co.uk/michael-hall-parents-group/ Online Safety

Tip for the week: Setting Boundaries Internet safety isn’t just about setting up technology in the right way. It’s just as important, if not more so, to get the ‘offline’ setup right: expectations, behaviours, discussions about use. Our advice is to set some ground rules, and ensure children understand them. Here is one area to think about. Sleep Comes First! It is advisable that phones stay out of the bedroom to avoid night time interruptions and having a period of time before bed without phone or tablet use is important too. The blue light emitted from LCD screens has been shown to disrupt sleep by interfering with our natural body rhythms, blocking our bodies from creating a sleep hormone called melatonin. Classified Adverts

Job Opportunities Job Opportunities Teacher Cleaner

Please visit our website for further Please visit our website for further details and application pack details and application pack

https://michaelhall.co.uk/job-opportunities https://michaelhall.co.uk/job-opportunities

To subscribe to this newsletter please see www.michaelhall.co.uk/newsletter Kidbrooke Park, Priory Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JA - Registered charity number 307006