College News – 2013

Chair of College of Teachers – Louise Tiley

It seems hardly any time at all since I last wrote for our beautiful school magazine. I had some lovely comments from many of our friends who received a copy. What a wonderful reflection of all the people who work so hard and with so much energy and dedication to make our community the special place that it is!

The year started by welcoming our new Class One children and Class teacher, Elaine Holt. As always the welcoming assembly was extremely special for the whole school. This year held even more reverence as it was the eagerly awaited task of Class Eight, Elaine’s Class, who she had been with and carried through the school, to hold the hands and guide the Class One children through the first years of their school life. The relationship between Classes One and Eight is an important one every year but for this year’s Class Eight they have really cherished the role and the new relationship with their old Class teacher, Elaine. Class Eight have been held by Guus, working hard on their main lessons, Class Eight projects and preparing for continuing their education in the Upper School. We are all proud of them.

We have said our fond fair wells to last year’s classes Ten and Eleven who are continuing their educational journeys and broadening their horizons. It has been wonderful to hear about all their exciting adventures and we wish them well every step of the way as they build their lives in the world with a foundation that is so valuable and will remain with them forever.

We also said so long to our Kindergarten teacher, Carole Broughton, who has worked with such dedication and deep understanding for Waldorf education and anthroposophy. Her Kindergarten was always a pleasure to visit and was held with such sensitivity and care. Her influences reached right through the school being a valued colleague and College member, she will always be a part of Ringwood Waldorf School Community. We wish her days to be long and restful after giving so much.

The past two years have been especially exciting for the pupils as new friendships have been formed across Europe thanks to the Comenius project. I was lucky enough to be able to visit Estonia with a group of Class Six and Class Seven students; it was an inspiring journey and we all returned knowing that we had taken part in something incredibly special in a country that is so full of spirit and tenacity. On a personal level, I was thrilled to have been able to fulfil one of my ambitions, fire breathing! The project has enriched all of our lives.

Once again, Community group have continued to do fantastic work to support the school. A request was made of Teachers’ meeting to compile a ‘wish list’ for teaching resources, HR and equipment. Over half the ‘wish list’ has been granted through generous donations and fundraising. It has had a huge impact on our teaching and the delivery of the curriculum. We would like to give our thanks and acknowledge the valuable work that is done in our Community to make Ringwood Waldorf School the best that it can be.

Over the years, we have seen Ringwood Waldorf School grow and develop with the principles of Rudolf Steiner, community and anthroposophy at its heart, and this impulse lives within each of us. It is important to remember that whatever challenges we encounter on the way, it is the unwavering principles of the school that are upheld and present in every action taken and every decision made.

This year, College has dedicated much time to the changing structure of the Sheiling Trust. It has been of paramount importance that the future of Ringwood Waldorf School is protected and that we are able to continue to effectively provide the rich curriculum that we have worked together to develop. Change is always difficult and for many years the Sheiling Trust has given us a great deal of support enabling us to grow, but as the years have gone by we have become more secure and are ready to become independent as a stand -alone charity. This new structure will offer us a new and exciting future with plans to include an extensive outdoor curriculum.

The over-riding theme this year has been a series of intensive but inspiring workshops with Jonathan Wolfe Philips. During these workshops, we have looked at leadership and self-governing communities from the basis of social and political science. These workshops have taken place in preparation for our School Ethos days where we will look at our core values and principles and vision of the future. In the past these workshops have proved to be highly effective and productive, providing us with a ten year plan as well as strengthening and enlivening the community so that we are able to work together towards a common vision.

A community, such as the one we are part of, is a living organism, needing constant nurturing and care, balance and stability, love and understanding. It is this that provides us with a healthy environment that is strong and robust, respectful and supportive, a place where, as I wrote in my last letter, we can work out of freedom and trust.

Louise Tiley