| 1st August 2008 | |||||||
WALDORF MUSICThe dream of a vibrant, diverse Music Department at the school is at last in sight! Once the new classrooms are completed, the current Class 6 classroom is to be reshaped into practice rooms and an office, with funds from Acoustic Earth. We expect this to open at the beginning 2009. In the
meantime, a music co-ordinator has been appointed, and we are
delighted to welcome Reza Khota to this position. Reza, who
holds a MA in Music (with distinction) from Wits, is an
accomplished, prize-winning guitarist with considerable and
varied experience in performance and teaching. He has played
in jazz bands, African jazz bands, and as a solo classical
guitarist, and is currently a member of Babu, a collaboration
of virtuoso instrumentalists who play original compositions
based on Indian Classical Ragas and Talas. He has taught the
guitar both at schools and at the Wits Department of Music. Imagine a school orchestra, ensembles, bands, a choir, many
concerts.... Certainly there is enough skill and enthusiasm in
the school community to make this happen, and we are happy
that Reza is now here to facilitate the process.
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| 18th July 2008 | |||||||
LIFE LONG LEARNINGFound on the programme for the Whoever enters the field of education with an open heart will very soon find him or herself faced with a mighty contradiction, and will eventually be forced to acknowledge that it can only be endured, but never resolved. What is the nature of this dilemma? It is this: on the one hand, it is obvious to anyone with even a modest insight into the workings of the human heart and mind that people, and especially young people, only learn out of interest. On the other hand, a school is a place charged with the task of acquainting young people with things that are deemed 'good' for them, but that they are likely to find anything but interesting. A Waldorf school addresses this insoluble problem by matching the 'good' things needing to be taught to the stage of development at which the soul is most susceptible to them. While this ship of learning is fairly seaworthy - the nearly 2000 Waldorf Schools world-wide bear witness to this - even it is likely to run aground at times. With frantic bailing, jettisoning of cargo and altering of course, it can be kept afloat, but even then the waters remain treacherous. If the ship does not sink, it is because there are those on board who have learnt how to take interest even in the 'good' of things. They have learnt how to learn. For those who haven't, school remains a constant tussle between what they are supposed to be interested in and what they are really interested in, which might be very little. And teachers are caught between these two groups, between the 'wow' of those who know how to engage their interest, and the 'whatever' of the others. Thank goodness then for CLASS TWELVE PROJECTS . The class we have before us this year has a certain cryptic quality. They don't project themselves forcefully into the community, but have a general reticence. Interacting with them very often seems to be a strictly one-way affair, in which the play the partner who gives nothing away. But this is a false impression, much is happening beneath the surface. And their projects prove it. This year we have a batch of projects as vibrant, varied and interesting as any we have ever had. Each of this projects has had sufficient power, in their various ways, to instruct each student in what he or she had to learn, and how. Now we have the privilege of hearing and seeing the fruits of this special kind of learning. On behalf of the class, therefore, we commit this year's projects to your edification and enjoyment.
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| 20th June 2008 | |||||||
CLASS 12 PROJECT PRESENTATIONS 2008FRIDAY 18th AND SATURDAY 19th July 2008 AT 6:30pm At the end of the first week of next term (term 3) the CLASS TWELVE pupils will be presenting their varied individual projects to the community and to the interested public. These projects are the culmination of many months of planning thought and effort. They are also their final presentation and crowning achievement of some 13 or 14 years of Waldorf Education, after which they begin to prepare for the National Senior Certificate. You are warmly invited to join us on the 18th and 19th JULY in the Sports Hall In addition there will be a preview of the projects which is scheduled to take place in the drama hall on Wednesday 16th July at 7:30pm. (Refreshments will be available). Phone the number above for confirmation.
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| 30th May 2008 | |||||||
– ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY AT OUR SCHOOL –
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| 23rd May 2008 | |||||||
NEW CLASSROOMS – PROGRESS REPORT After many years of meetings, designs, consulting and hard work, the building of the new classrooms is taking shape, and rising out of the ground. We anticipate that within three to four weeks both buildings will be at roof height and ready for roof timbers. We would like to have the classrooms finished in the next three months. We are making a major effort in the next week to clear up the site and make it more ‘visitor friendly’. We are excited at the shape and design and believe these classrooms will be a wonderful contribution to the spirit of our school. |
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