To pupils, parents and carers, friends, and staff:

Another year at St Paul’s is coming to an end. We can breathe out after the past inspection and are looking stronger than ever for September. This is a testament to the level of dedication all pupils and staff have for the education and the heart filled community. We all share a deep love for St Paul’s, and we all want the children to have a strong sense of belonging in the school. We have tackled difficult questions and will continue to do so with an awareness of our different perspectives.

As we come to the end, we will say goodbye to our leaving staff and we thank them all for their hard work and wish them well on their future journeys: Mr Tsogkas, our middle School Maths and Science teacher. The class VIII photography exhibition has been an important event in the calendar the last three years and the current one is equally moving. Miss Janis, our Class I assistant has beautifully supported the transition into school and Lunch Club. We are also thanking Nicoletta and Stephanie for their work in the Kindergartens and the school over the years and are looking forward to seeing them holding the Stay and Play groups. Support in the 0-3 years is crucial for the families and often provide a pathway into the school.

We are also saying farewell to Mariela, who is retiring as our Stay and Play group leader.

Mariela has been with St Paul’s for 20 years.  She will join her husband Pablo, who was once our Woodwork teacher, in Spain where they will continue to build their home, working the land and enjoying their time together as grandparents.  Those who know Mariela will be sure that she will take on these tasks with her unique busy and creative and always positive attitude!

When she, and Pablo, moved to London from Chile, where she taught class I-VIII in an established Waldorf School, she didn’t speak any English and would smile and keep on smiling her way through the day. That smile has never faded through her two decades with us and we will all miss her warmth greatly. She saw the chaos of the young school but felt enormous happiness and enthusiasm to come to this place. She describes the school as being in its infancy. The birth of a baby with the openness of the child. Mariela began assisting the new Kindergarten teachers, first Kathrine, then Margaret, then she worked with Julia who had come back from maternity leave with Mathilda. Then Mariela moved to Apple Tree with Sarah, another new Kindergarten teacher. Sarah talks warmly about the invaluable support she was given. Mariela always wanted to pass on confidence to the teachers. She then took the reins in Apple Tree together with Rebecca, our first co-teaching pair, during Sarah’s sabbatical. Eventually, she took on the Parent and Child groups at Copper Lane which has grown so beautifully during this time.

Mariela has played an integral part in the lives of many families at St Paul’s. A great many will have had their first experience of Steiner Waldorf education with her in the Parent and Child Group.

Families will have felt supported by her gentle parenting guidance and enthusiasm for all children.  She is endlessly nurturing and the joy on the faces of older children waving hello and hugging her from their memory of Kindergarten is wonderful. She talks about the importance of our inner work, reining in our ego, being present with the children and connecting with the natural world, bringing simplicity into the growing children’s lives. This is what makes us special.

We are saying goodbye to our fantastic Class VIII, who with the support of the one and only, the enthusiastic class teacher Mrs Steggall, has completed their journey through the school. Hard working, positive and well mannered, they have been great role models for the younger classes. Their project presentations and Macbeth have set the bar high.  Lorenzo, Philippo, Elizabeth, Florence, Uma, Selah, Goni, Taya and Julian, Mrs Steggall has truly given you both roots and wings, and now it’s time to step out into the next stage and we wish you all the best.

We will welcome new staff and roles in Kindergarten next year:

Sumayah will work with Elena in Rosebush, Marleen with Sarah in Apple tree and Maria and Very are taking on new roles as Kindergarten teachers in Chestnut Tree. Julia will work with Eriko in Mulberry Bush. Mrs McCormick will be the SENCO for Kindergarten.

New staff and roles in school:

Our rising Class I will be held by Mrs Gudka, who is a returning teacher and she will work with Georgia. Our rising Class V will have Mrs Steggall. We are grateful for the partnership between Mrs Steggall and Ms Brew who, have held the class since January. Mr Henshall is stepping up to be the new SENCO in school. Together with the team he will focus on inclusion.

The building:

The School will be painted and cleaned over the holidays, thank you to all who are volunteering to help Alex. The great move is quite an operation, so your support is valued.

The second phase of the urgent work in the building will happen once everyone has left.

We expect the children will return from their holidays full of enthusiasm to start the new academic year and all the wonderful joy and challenges it incurs.

We wish you all a sunny and beautiful Summer holiday.

Anna Retsler

Head teacher

St Paul's Steiner School

Class IV had a wonderful art lesson during Pride where we created flags and discussed how there are all different kinds of families. The children named some families such as mum and dad, foster mum and dad, mum and mum, uncle and auntie, dad and dad. The children then created lovely colourful posters with hearts and the people who might make up a family. If they preferred they could write other words including "Everyone is welcome here" and "Dare to be different". These were displayed in the reception area for Pride and look beautiful.

Ms Brew

In Kindergarten the children had rainbow fruit kebabs for snack!

We celebrated Windrush on 22nd June with a Steel band, dancing, tropical fruits, and lots of delicious Caribbean Food.  Thank you to all the staff and parents who helped cook and prep and organise the most wonderful celebratory day!

Class VIII were incredible in their performance of Macbeth.  Thank you to all the teachers and staff who were involved in the set, lighting, costume, marketing, stage management, and sound cues. Mrs Steggall and Ms Akuwudike guided and supported the students through the sword fighting and encouraged them to reach their full potential.  Class VII did an excellent job of the refreshments. The audience were incredibly impressed with the work they all put in to their performances.

What a way to finish the year!  Class VII then went to Greece and had fantastic time studying history..and also swimming in the sea.

Last week, after anticipating this event for much of the year, Class V set off on their Olympic adventure at Michael Hall Steiner School in East Sussex. As the coach left St Paul’s, excitement was in the air about what to expect. At 11 years old, the children are physically able and light in the air, they do not have the heaviness or weight of the teenage years, and studying ancient Greek culture prior to setting off, the children were well prepared. 

On arrival, the Michael Hall team warmly greeted us and soon we were putting up our camp, exploring the surroundings, and meeting new friends. After a rather wet night, the children were up and dressed ready for their first day of training. At the Olympic field, Class V separated into different City States, meeting their archons and children from other Steiner Waldorf schools. It was wonderful to see so many children together from all over the British Isles and Norway and Cyprus too!

After a full morning of running, wrestling, javelin, discus, long and high jump, Class V were ready for a rest and lunch. Back on the Olympic field in the afternoon City States joined in teams to play games. The evening gave Class V the opportunity to play and socialise with friends old and new before lights out at 0930pm. The next day provided another opportunity to train in the events. It was incredible to see how resilient and skillful the children are. They managed to improve their technique very quickly and really made the most out of their time.

Saturday began with an opening ceremony. Each City State led by an archon and a child chosen especially for the special qualities they had shown during the training days, waited in silence ready to light their torch. Two runners made their way across the Olympic field holding flaming torches high, arriving and passing the flame on to each City State. The City States processed together, dress in white tunics with bare feet, in silence, the drum beating out our steps. It was a remarkable moment, anticipation, pride and belonging hung in the air. We made our way to the centre of the field where the Olympic torch stood, a flame from each City State bringing it to life. Once lit, together we said our Olympic verse: -

Many are the wonders on the earth,

And the greatest of these is mankind,

There is nothing beyond their power,

Their subtlety meeteth all chance,

All danger conquereth,

Power to them who upholdeth their country’s laws,

And the justice of heaven!

Then the games began. Each child really striving to do their best, bringing all they had learned to the Olympic field. After many events, it was time for the closing ceremony, a time for the children to relax a little with each hearing special praise from their archon for their courage and skills throughout their time at Michael Hall. Each received their Olympic medals with wide smiles and pride. As the Olympic flame slowly dimmed, it was time to break the spell and say our goodbyes. It is a truly beautiful and honorable event. Class V (and their teacher) crossed a threshold together and we will always cherish this amazing experience.

Ms Freeman

Some of you came along to the event (on Saturday 17^th June at the School) in Memory of Letitia, which had been arranged by her daughter/Una and family.

There was wonderful food and drinks, music from a small group; but also an interesting display of some photographs about Letitia's life and the kindergartens, put up by the family.

When Letitia retired from St Paul's, she was given a large 80-square quilt, each square being made by children in the kindergartens - thus, the family also displayed this very nice Quilt, together with some "historic" photos showing the farewell event when Letitia was given this quilt.

Clive Henderson

We recently hosted a talk by Allison Davies about supporting Neurodivergent people, with a focus on using music to support brain function and reduce anxiety. It was a fascinating talk and her approach fits well with our ethos. Allison has many resources online that we can access, including 'bite-size' podcasts and further information.

Here is the link if you would like to explore further: https://allisondavies.com.au

Looking for a 2 bed flat to rent from July / August for a lovely teacher and her 2 kids, feasibly close to School 

please contact mke@stpaulssteinerschool.org

We are running an amazing art, circus and mindfulness holiday camp for children in Dalston for children aged 5 - 12 years old for the Summer Holidays. It is a fun-filled week of lots of arts & crafts, games, mindfulness activities, playing with circus equipment, a party on the Friday with a treasure hunt and most importantly, lots of fun! 

The theme for the half term is Roald Dahl where the children will make everything from: Charlie and the Chocolate factory magical land of sweets, Giraffe the Pelly and Me giraffe mask, Esio Trot tortoise toy, Wonka chocolate bar box, George's Marvellous Medicine book, Matilda bookmark, The Twits beard, The Witches mouse puppet and a Fantastic Mr Fox drawing. 

We are OFSTED registered and accept childcare vouchers form Edenred and Computer share. You can find out more about our camps here - https://www.theartimaginarium.co.uk/

Leob Croft Summer Camp 2023

5th — 13th August Leob Croft, Isle of Mull, Scotland

What does it mean to be free and human today? How do we overcome our fears to find the Divine, celebrate our differences, and work harmoniously with the natural world?

Meet fellow wanderers and pilgrims from different lands and cultures; give voice to important questions and generate meaningful conversations in a safe and respectful environment; speak and listen deeply from the Heart

• Explore what it might mean to act and facilitate transformation within ourselves, each other and the larger world

• Develop a personal relationship with the land; to be with and learn from this wild, unusual and beautiful place whose fierce spirit provides a model of eco-spiritual resistance

• Engage with flexible programming and co-create social and artistic processes where we can honour and celebrate life together and express our truths without fear or shame

A Time of Transformation- Leob Croft is a place of extraordinary beauty, nestled in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides on the southwestern tip of the Isle of Mull, surrounded by sea and mountains, ancient standing stones, and Iona, the sacred seat of Celtic Christianity. Through their engagement with the land, Croft steward Jonathan Knight and his late wife Ann, inspired by the ideas of Goethe, Rudolf Steiner and others, have spent over two decades working to realise their vision of ‘a little piece of heaven’: a thriving ecosystem, garden, homestead and sanctuary for spiritual seekers, a place where everyone is welcomed and differences valued. In a time of significant personal, collective and ecological disruption, Leob is also feeling its way into its third incarnation as an intentional community.

Format -The eco-questival is a self-organized grassroots summer camp in the spirit of Open Space and Art of Hosting gatherings. The structured part of the day consists of three shared meals and an opening and closing circle in the mornings and evenings. The content itself will be created together every day among participants. All are welcome to be involved as much or as little as desired, and each is encouraged to listen to their own inner rhythm. Some proposed activities include exploring the Twelve points of view and the fundamental social law; workshops on Land Art, Social Art, Perception, the Journey of a Hero and Non-Violent Communication; Eurythmy movement and the Five-Rhythms Dance; Theatre-Improvisation. There will be an opportunity to visit the islands of Iona and Staffa and the Lochbuie stone circle (please allow an extra budget of £40 for these trips).

Accommodation and Food -The three communal meals a day include breakfast, lunch and dinner, and most of the fresh produce will be coming from our biodynamic kitchen garden. As this is a co-created event, attendees are encouraged to participate as able in meal preparation and clean-up. If you’re passionate about cooking and would like to be our main chef or lead a meal prep, please let us know. Accommodation is a mix of simple rooms or camping in your own tent. The number of rooms is limited so we encourage those who are comfortable camping to bring their gear. Leob is a large site and the scenic camping options are numerous! Toilet and washroom facilities are located centrally.

Exchange- We are asking for a contribution of £333 from those who are camping and £555 for anyone staying in a room. This is to cover accommodation and food expenses. If you’re able to contribute more, your generous gift will go toward supporting our work here on the croft, future workshops and camps, and covering transport costs for volunteers. For those seriously interested in attending but worried about covering costs, please do contact us.

How to get here and other practicalities- Truly inhabiting a Scottish summer is a challenging and rewarding experience. Be prepared for the notorious Highland midges and potentially unpredictable weather. The abundance of local and migratory birds, seals, dolphins, otters, sheep, deer and croft animals will help you survive and even thrive in this remarkable place! For those without a vehicle, reaching Mull with public transport can be tricky, but also quite interesting (and cheaper) for the adventurous and able! Oban can be reached via ScotRail and CityLink bus, followed by ferry and then a local bus or hitchhiking until Leob Croft. One of our volunteers just completed this journey and arrived tired but happy. If this is your path, we’d be more than willing to help you organise the journey. Note on Times: Opening will be on the evening of the 5th and closing after breakfast on the morning of the 13th to coincide with the bus schedule. Please plan accordingly!

Who Are We?-This year’s questival is organised by Biodynamie Sociale 21, with support from the Leob Croft team. Biodynamie is Frederic, a gardener, pollinator, social artist and pilgrim from France whose work focuses on personal/group transformation and earth healing. He is joined by Lucile, a healer, care-worker and herbal practitioner. The Leob team is croft guardian Jonathan Knight, English architect, spiritual seeker and land steward; Jan, from the Czech Republic, architect by education and now horticulturalist, head crofter/gardener, naturalist and rewilding enthusiast; and volunteer/handyperson from the States, Justin, who recently completed an MA in environmental humanities.

Volunteering- For those interested there is also an opportunity to arrive 2-3 days earlier, or stay longer, in order to help us Croft folk arrange the questival and/or to assist with cleanup once the main cohort has departed. This is a chance to deepen relationships, work alongside of each other, and experience what it might mean to enter into the ebb and flow of a working croft. Inquire for details!

How to get in touch- If you would like to join us at Leob Croft this summer, please fill a form here or contact Frederic at secretary@leobcroft.co.uk, +44(0)7462744210, Leob Croft, Isle of Mull, PA70 6HF, Scotland, leobcroft.co.uk