Dear St Paul’s Community, 

So much has happened this half-term. We are waiting for the official results of the recent ISI inspection, but we can already say that we are pleased with the way the process went. This is a great achievement for the school and a baseline to build on. 

We are still waiting for Islington to let us know about the planning applications.

May Festival reimagined was a great success. It was wonderful to see every part of the school together on Hampstead Heath. A note for next year: we will need to work on better supervision of the youngest children. 

Class I has been working on their The Devil With the Three Golden Hairs projects and are making great strides with their reading. We are looking forward to their first class play, written by Class VI. 

Class II built on their storytelling experience with Wendy Shearer and created their own Anansi stories which they performed to an exalted audience. I could hear someone saying, ‘this is just not what you get in other schools’! 

Class III did a great performance of their Moses play with beautiful Hebrew singing. They are just finishing off their shelter projects which they will be excited to share before they go on their first residential trip to Plaw Hatch Farm. 

Class IV has just done an impressive project presentation of their Animal projects to a large audience of younger classes. They have already returned from their Clay to Pot trip with Pyrites’ Bernard Graves. 

Classes V-VII went to Michael Hall to take part in the National Eurythmy Festival and as always, they made us proud. Class V are studying Ancient Greece and will go to the Olympics at Michael Hall and compete against the different City states they will be sorted into.

Class VI will have one of the highlights of the curriculum left, Geology, and they will have a residential trip to the Jurassic coast in the next half-term.

Class VII shared their Green Knight play with the school, which was fantastic. They will travel to Snowdonia after the break for a physically challenging trip.

We are now gearing up for the Class VIII play Macbeth which will be performed for an older audience, but don’t forget to get tickets. The class will then travel to Greece.

We are sad to let go of Mr Spike Steggall, as he is taking another step in his professional football career. We wish him all the best, as we are looking for his replacement.

I hope you will all have a wonderful break and come back rested to the last half term of 2022/23.  

Warm wishes,

Ms. Anna Retsler

Head teacher

St Paul's Steiner School

The Kindergarten children have been really enjoying the Garden this month as Summer starts and the flowers and sunshine are out!

Dear Kindergarten parents,

You are warmly invited to our rescheduled Kindergarten Parents' Craft evening 

on Tuesday 13^th June

at 7.30 pm - 9:00 pm

Please let your teacher know if you are able to attend so that we can ensure we have enough materials. 

If anyone would like to bake a cake it would be much appreciated. 

Our apologies for the last-minute cancellation of the previous date and we very much look forward to sharing some summer crafts with you at this next one. 

Best Wishes,

Sevim and Sarah

on behalf of the Early Years Team

Class 3 worked incredibly hard over this half term, to put together their play about Moses, leading the Israelites from Egypt out to the desert. 

They sang beautifully, spoke clearly and were beautiful to watch! 

Mrs Miller

Class IV had a wonderful time on their trip.  They built a kiln, fired pots, climbed in a quarry, and bonded together with Mrs Steggall.  Thank you Bernard for helping them create such beautiful objects!

Class VII performed their play Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, helped by Ms Akuwudike.

Class VII and Eurythmy Club ventured to Michael Hall to perform at the annual Eurythmy festival.

With many thanks to Mr. Reeves  who accompanied our talented children to the National Youth Eurythmy Festival, and to Dr. Minou for her support and beautiful piano playing, I would like to share with you feedback from two audience members at the Eurythmy Festival, May 2023: 

"Sometimes, in these difficult times, one is given a gift unexpectedly, that changes once familiar perspective, and optimism and positive outlook are enhanced beyond measure. Such an experience was the Eurythmy festival at Michael Hall, all of whose contributors made this an unforgettable and life-enhancing event. Of particular note, amongst the outstanding contributions made by Michael Hall,  St Michael’s, and the London Steiner school, as well as performances by Camphill, The Mount, and a professional presentation by Eurythmy West Midlands, was the astonishing St Paul's Eurythmy Club. In addition to outstanding Class 7 contributions by St Paul's, the lunch club presented an astonishing presentation of Iphigenia, chosen, and largely choreographed by themselves. The artistic and social skills demonstrated were astounding, MANY congrats!"

"Greetings, dear Sigune, dear Diana, and all your wonderful Colleagues!

The Festival yesterday was remarkable, thank you all!  It is such a joy to see these children and young adults making the effort to express the grace and harmony of the human potential in rhythmic movement.  The social spectre of their engaging in this together, and under the guidance of loving and encouraging adults is heartwarming.  I felt yesterday that I was witnessing precious and powerful seeds for the future.  How wonderful it would be if all children could be given such opportunities, and indeed how brutally tragic the reality is for most children today, but it is also true that the whole world, the whole of humanity is nourished by the fact that there are some places where this truly human potential is cultivated.  The analogy of biodynamic farming seems apt: it would be wonderful if Demeter was spread across the globe, but the reality is that even in the context of agrochemicals and wilful pollution, the earth can begin to be healed homeopathically if in some places true biodynamic farming is practised."

Please continue this good work!

Thank you again.
I am looking forward to next year’s Festival.

Diana Skinner

Class VIII presented their projects this term on such diverse subjects as Horses, Circus, Fashion and Ultras to name a few.  It was really beneficial for the younger students to see how much enthusiasm the Class VIII had for their research and to see how confident they were on stage presenting to the School.  They all worked hard and immersed themselves in their projects, well done Class VIII and Mrs Steggall.

We had a lovely day on Hampstead Heath celebrating our May festival.  There was raffia crown weaving, singing, tree climbing, cakes, dancing and much merriment.

All the Classes enjoyed our Sports Day in Gospel Oak.  Class VI organised the games for the younger children and inspired good team playing and respect.  Thank you Mr Steggall for oragnising.

We had a lovely visit from the Oslo Waldorf School band who entertained the Students with their beautiful singing and musicianship.

Class II performed Anansi the Spider in the most amazing costumes.  They all worked very hard with Miss Wickramaratne to perfect their singing and poetry.

Holistic Baby and Childcare Early Years Educator Course – Birth to 5 training – Level 3 (full and relevant).

This course is particularly appropriate for anyone interested in working with children under the age of 3, it is essential training for any staff involved in groups providing for two year olds.   It is also highly relevant for childminders and parent and child group leaders.   It is a part time course over 14 months, in a blended learning format including regular teaching sessions on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, three face to face days at Rudolf Steiner House in London and 2 four day residentials at Emerson College.

https://emerson.org.uk/course/holistic-baby-and-child-care/

Contact Course Leader Dorothy Marlen: dorothy@dorothymarlen.net

or Emerson College Registrar Chiara Carones: registrar@emerson.org.uk for further information.

Free taster sessions – 3 June, 1 July, 12 August and 2 September.

London Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Course –Level 4 Early Years Educator (Full and Relevant) and Level 5 Diploma in Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies

This course is designed for anyone wishing to work in a mixed age Kindergarten with children from 3-6 years of age.   A two year fully accredited course leads to the EYE qualification (Level 4). It takes place on one Saturday a month at Steiner House, London, with four five-day residential sessions at Hawkwood College near Stroud. At the end of the two years there is an option to take a further

work-based year in a Steiner Waldorf Early Years setting (Level 5 Diploma in Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies).

https://loswec.co.uk/

Contact Suzanne Leek: suzanneleek@loswec.co.uk (Level 4/Quality Mark)

Carrie Rawle: carry.rawle@btinternet.com (Level 5)

North East Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Course – Level 4 Early Years Educator (Full and Relevant) and Level 5 Diploma in Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies

This course is designed for anyone wishing to work in a mixed age Kindergarten with children from 3-6 years of age.   A two year fully accredited course leads to the EYE qualification (Level 4).  In each of the two years students attend five long weekends in York and two five-day residentials in Stourbridge.  In addition, there are regular online sessions to consolidate learning. At the end of the two years there is an option to take a further work-based year in a Steiner Waldorf Early Years setting (Level 5 Diploma in Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies).

Free taster sessions – 7 and 8 July.

https://neswec.org.uk/

Contact Jill Taplin: jill@neswec.org.uk

PGCE with Early Years Teacher Status

This course does NOT provide an understanding of a Waldorf early childhood setting, but is supportive and understanding of the approach. It is designed for anyone wishing to work with children from birth to five, and particularly for those wishing to develop their leadership skills. The course is hybrid, with one day per week to be spent either online or in face to face attendance, and one day a month at the university. There is week-long placement experience in KS1&2, and a four-week compulsory placement in another setting.

For further information, visit: https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/teaching-and-education/pgce-early-childhood-education-and-care-05-with-early-years-teacher-status/part-time or email kath@steinerwaldorf.org