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Latest News
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5th March 2010 |
TEN GOOD REASONS WHY OUR
MEDIEVAL FAIR IS NOT TO BE
MISSED!
Saturday 13 March 11 AM - 5 PM
- Great music: One of SA’s newest hottest
and loveliest local bands HOT WATER is
performing for us. This music is a seriously
beautiful, upbeat and lyrical and is guaranteed
to get us dancing.
- The Children!! The children of Constantia
Waldorf will be parading in colourful array
led by horseback riders to the tune of a
local marimba band. The Parade starts at
11:00 AM sharp.
- Improve your own musical output! You will
have the once in lifetime opportunity to
enter a fabulous raffle draw to win a classical
guitar sponsored by Paul Bothner.
- Enjoy the beauty of slow times! The arts
and crafts on offer are truly hand crafted
works of love, beauty and passion: pottery,
wool spinning, furniture making, paper
making, embroidery, felt....shoe making,
soap making and even glass blowing.
- Improve your mood! You can get loose and
wet and cool on the dragon back water
slide....followed by very special fooffey slide
specially designed to get your spirits soaring.
- Lift your body and spirits! Larry Soffer
fabulous magician extraordinaire might just
get a mass levitation on the go.....it’s up to
us.
- Do it for the animals! Indigenous free range
chickens on sale: take these home to rid
your garden of grotty little pests. Chris’s
lovely friendly goats will be coming to enjoy
the day with us too! A small team of Alpacas
will be mingling about.
- Knights in armour! How often do we have
an opportunity to see real knights joust it
out? The Medieval Society will come to the
Fair and will show us some Medieval Combat
Duel!
- Jugglers, jester, stilt walkers, and just the
usual medieval fanfare.....please join the
fun and come dressed to the nines with
flourish and flare. We have loads of
dreamy prizes for best knock your socks off
dressers!
- Really really good fresh food cooked with
enthusiasm and served up with smile!
Other line-ups for the day:
Puppet theatre will have 2 medieval shows at the Medieval Market: St. George and
the Dragon at 1pm and 3pm.
"Vinnie from Zok" a humoristic performance
Miles Sievwright
Gabriel Dry
Opera Singer “Chris”
Marimba Band "Buyambo"
Trio "South Easter Windy"
Janneke Meyburgh "singing Edith Piav"
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5th February 2010 |
Constantia Waldorf Night Market:
A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!
On a perfect evening with a full moon shining, the inaugural Constantia Waldorf Night Market got off to a flying
start. With lanterns and firelight, the scents of mouth watering food and delicate perfumes, beautiful handmade
clothes, toys and craft, organic vegetables and entertainment for all, the market attracted over 2000 patrons, 70
stall holders and made a profit for the school of R16270.08.
Of this amount R7127.69 was spent on capital equipment e.g. lamps, tables, lights, banners etc leaving cash on hand
of R9142,39 which will be transferred to school coffers to bolster school funds. All agreed that the market was a
wonderful success for a first time effort. In addition the mandate received wonderful constructive criticism which
will be addressed by the following:
- More of our own Waldorf community and pupils involved as stall holders,
- More juices, water, teas and coffees on offer and this should be a direct
source of income for the school.
- Simpler payment system,
- Better sound system,
- Better lighting,
- Structured activities for older teenagers
- Easier flow and less congestion at the market
- Improved security
- Greater effort to address the aesthetics and Waldorf atmosphere of
the Market
The wonderful hamper (value R800) donated by parents at the school, stall
holders and various local grocers was won by Rosie De Jager of Tokai. The
draw was held at the High School Assembly last Monday.
Thank you to the following sponsors and suppliers. Without you the mandate could not have made this a success:
ABC Printing who saw to all our printing needs, City Screen who printed the t - shirts and bag labels and provided
endless advice, Anonymous past pupil who donated R1000 to set up cost, Ampaglas for donation of backing boards
for the posters and SA Plastics Magazine for making this possible, Spar Constantia, Pick and Pay Constantia,
Checkers Meadowridge, Enchatrix for hamper donation, Parents who donated hamper goodies, Christopher Emmanuel
for singing for us at no cost, Marc Maingard for stepping in a short notice and a vastly reduced rate to sing and
play at the Market, All the parents and
students that donated their time to the running
and organising of the Market, Klaus (Katja
Ratcliffe's Dad) for the stunning photos on the
night.
Our next market is on Friday 26 Feb. Details to follow
in the Grapevine or follow us on Facebook or
www.waldorfconstantia.co.za
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22nd January 2010 |
Constantia Waldorf Night Market
MARK MAINGARD LIVE!
AT CONSTANTIA WALDORF NIGHT MARKET,
FRIDAY 29 JAN 5 - 9PM
Mark is a fantastic acoustic guitarist and a harmonica player.
PM. CALLING ALL STALL HOLDERS WHO WISH TO MAKE SOME EXTRA MONEY - PLEASE PHONE LEXI AT 082 775 2200 AND BOOK YOUR STALL NOW
The Constantia Waldorf Night Market will be held every last Friday of the month during term.
The first market will be on 29 January 2010 from 5 to 9 pm. Thereafter 26 Feb, 30 April, 28 May, 30 July…. etc.
This is an opportunity for the greater community to come together and enjoy good food, art and music.
Relax in a candle lit atmosphere in the splendid setting of the Constantia valley.
Every month offers a different experience. Updates on Facebook (Constantia waldorf, Events).
A green event offering:
- Tasty ready to eat biodynamic, organic or whole foods for a Friday night treat in a stunning candle lit ambience
- Fresh produce to take home with you
- Live music to entertain everyone
- Art and craft
- Holistic workshops and courses
- A lively meeting place for the whole community
- Fun activities for all ages
Should anybody, young and old, wish to take up a stall at the market, to make some extra money,
please contact Lexi (082 775 2200).
Look us up on facebook, Constantia Waldorf Events.
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4th December 2009 |
Reflections on the Diversity Mandate in 2009
Since its establishment in 2007, the Diversity Mandate has grown in both capacity and vision. We see our role as developing a shared understanding
of diversity for our school, and by suggesting workable models in terms of practical components like marketing, enrolment, pupil turnover, teacher - learner support and parent involvement. We look forward to cultivating a nurturing environment for children and families from a multitude of backgrounds in this part of the world that destiny has delivered us to.
In this regard, the Board of Trustees has approved ‘Project Horizon’ as an initiative to translate the diversity vision into reality from 2010. The DM has been meeting with teachers and support staff to understand what they envisage as challenges to the project - essentially what personal, social and organizational resources are needed in order for Project Horizon to succeed. We feel it is imperative to maintain a close working relationship with College of Teachers and Board of Trustees and we are deeply appreciative of the dialogue that has opened up this year. The debate has been robust, reflecting the complex meaning of diversity and varying perspectives on how diversity should be promoted in our school.
We value the pedagogical initiative of teachers who have woven diversity in the form of religious festivals into the fabric of Waldorf life this year. The participation of Sheilagh Dobson has been particularly important in 2009. We have also been fortunate to have the input of Gordon Hodgetts, a highly experienced diversity facilitator. In 2010 the Mandate and Gordon will be running a diversity process for our school community and we are hopeful that many people will attend. The workshop will explore what it means to be ‘diversity literate’ so that we, as a community, can perceive and respond to the prevalent structures which impede our human freedoms. Assumptions around diversity abound and we need to enter into dialogue and work through these issues together.
The year ends on a positive note for the Diversity Mandate and we wish our school community a peaceful December and happiness in the New Year.
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19th November 2009 |
Festivals of the future?
In the past festivals were celebrated by individuals and families according to
their diversified beliefs, usually at home and in the bosom of the family. Some cultural and religious festivals were celebrated in groups and communities as
well. With the advent of the Global Village and the mixing of all races, cultures and
religions worldwide, there is a new question, how do we acknowledge the individual cultural or religious festivals celebrated in Waldorf communities and
schools worldwide?
There is so much commonality amongst festivals. For instance, at this time of
year there are many festivals celebrated, amongst them, particularly in this
country, Diwali, Chanukah, and Christmas. Their commonality is the celebration
of ‘Light’ (which is particularly noticeable in the northern hemisphere as
winter approaches). Rudolf Steiner in his lecture on the Universal Human
spoke about the Divine Light within each and every human soul, and it is that
Light which we can celebrate.
At this time of year, in Waldorf schools and kindergartens throughout the
world, the acknowledgement of this light is represented by a festival, the
Advent Garden. In the center of a spiral of greenery a candle is lit, and every
child in turn walks the spiral to light their candle from the large one in the
center, and places their lit candle (in a holder- often an apple) along the spiral
path of on the way out. When each child has taken its turn, the end result is a
magnificent, memorable ‘Garden of Light’. This demonstrates how we can
each help to make the whole world (our garden) shine if we each contribute
our own light to it.
This message applies to each and every religion today, as our task is to meet
each other as human beings and together bring light into the darkness of our
earth - and how we desperately need this in today’s world! We need to
change our thinking….instead of using Diversity, let us think of Commonality,
which we all share as a human family….remember we are each of us a
spiritual being and each worthy as an individual within this family.
All the above is merely a working thought as to what I envisage: a mutual
recognition of our common spirit and therefore tolerance, respect and, above
all, a love for our fellow travelers.
Estelle Bryer
With additions by her daughter Janni Nicol
(kindergarten representative for England)
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