Dear Parents, Letter #20
I hope that you are all enjoying the sunny autumn days and the last bits of warmth before winter creeps closer. Term 2 has begun with Saint Stories and blessings on our brand new 9 year-old, Nam. The children have slipped back easily into the term and are happy to be together and quite eager to work. On Thursday we are excited to start with Eurythmy (on a month’s trial as requested by parents) and are happy to have Teacher Janine leading us through a very unique form of movement – Eurythmy is speech in movement as Form Drawing is movement in line…. The day will end at 13h30. So, the Saint stories…. In Class 2 the Animal Fables and Saint Stories are juxtaposed as they mirror different qualities in the human being. The Fables mirror the soul qualities (feelings, reactions, motivation, desires, passions, instinct, intuition…) which are present in the human being, while the stories of the Saints mirror the ego (thinking, imagination, learning, transformation, clarity and focus….) which has developed to a higher degree in the human being. Many of the stories we will do this year are the legends of people we often call saints. “The essential nature of these stories is not one of hard facts. The sources of legends are varied and the embellishments many. In some cases, it is even debatable if the personality in question ever existed. So why tell these stories to the children? If they aren't exactly "real" events, or if the events are so embellished as to clearly push the boundaries of what is real, are we telling lies or perhaps manipulating the children to some agenda? We have to ask of these stories, "What is essential?" First, we are not telling these stories for information. We tell stories to connect with the children and through this connection bring them a way to connect with higher qualities within themselves. Deeds of goodness, selfless service, compassion, and love, this is the essence of these legends and the lives of the saints.” Michael Seifert With these goals in mind, I then rewrite and adapt many of the stories for Class 2. In doing so, I try to create the context for the events which the children would otherwise not understand. I try to keep the stories close to what they can relate to or are interested in – this will bring interesting conversations and questions. The stories are not told to try to make the children conform to an idea of what is ‘good’ or right’, but rather for them to experience, through the characters/saints an inner striving towards what brings inner healing and peace. So where does truth fit in? Can I make up any story I wish? The legends of the saints represent our highest ideals. However, within them, deeds and miracles are embellished. When we begin to ask, did this really happen (and the children will too), our intellects are confronted with this dilemma – ‘Is this story true?’ In order for the story to be believable, I need to believe it. Not in its factual truth, but in the truths that it holds. I need to look not only for the pedagogical impact, but for the possibility of ‘miracles’, wonder and human challenge and the chance for transformation within me and the children. “Each of us has gone through times in our life where we go through the "eye of the needle" – and we come through it having experienced a ‘miracle’. These miracles as transformations which happen on a spiritual level and may or may not have a physical component: - The death and rebirth we experience when we go through the dark night of the soul or an inner transformation - The healing of our bodies which did not seem possible - The healing of our hearts from unimaginable hurts - The opening of doors in our life which could not have been coincidence. The legends of the saints are reflections of these miracles, or transformations. It is the spirit of the transformation which is passed down through the story.” Michael Seifert Telling the Saint stories is not about any religious understanding of God or following any denominational scripture or teachings. Rather it is about the human being, coming to a moment of inner awareness and being open to transformation. My task, as their teacher, is to find within each of the many embellished stories, the essence of the transformations. This is what speaks to our souls and feeds us and the children. Looking at it in this way, makes the dilemma of whether this really happened or not, much easier to confront. Yes, the transformations really did happen. People were healed, new insights were gained, trust and goodness were restored and evil, greed, doubt and sickness were overcome. I look forward to all of this. **** Some practical things: 1.Paired Reading time I would like to set up reading aloud sessions in class. I need parents/grandparents who are available to read with your/any child in the morning – in class – for 15 minutes, from 9h00 - 9h15. We will all be reading at that time. Please could you let me know if and when you are available. It could be on any one or more of the three days. I would like us to start from the 9th May. 2.Being on time for school I know that sometimes mornings are tough and that ‘life happens’, but I would strongly urge parents to stick to the starting times – 8h45 for 9h00 start. When children are late, it is quite disruptive for all of us and it affects the rhythm of the day. 3.Term days for 2022 I have included the register dates for 2021 & 2022 on the next page – for your interest. I think there may have been some uncertainty about the number of school days structured for this year, etc. Please note that last year we had 111 days and this year we have 117 days scheduled (6 more than last year). Even though we had a longer Easter break (especially so that I could spend time with my daughter), the term days before and after were calculated so that we could get maximum days over the whole year and also the least amount of disruption. I realise that this was possibly not clear. 4.Expectations for the year I will soon be sending my academic, artistic and social expectations and goals for this year. I think that this may have been what Vic was asking for in the last meeting? I think it will help all of us be clear about what the children should be achieving by the end of the year and what we are working towards. Enjoy the lovely clear day. Warmly. Teacher Beulah 2nd May 2022
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AuthorTeacher Beulah's 'Letter to the Parents' Archives
February 2023
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