School autumn fair brings cheer to people in need

CASTING OUT THE SERPENT. Class 3 pupils acted out the story of St George and the Dragon

Pupils at a New Forest school celebrated the arrival of autumn with a Michaelmas Festival, which helped raise funds and food for people in need.

The triumph of good over evil, symbolised by the legend of St George and the Dragon, was the main theme of the festival held at Ringwood Waldorf School.

Children performed songs, poems and plays they had been preparing since the start of term in front of parents, teachers and friends in a packed school hall.

They also brought in food for a harvest feast, including homemade dragon-shaped bread baked by the families of eight and nine year-olds in Class 3.

Older pupils set up a special cafe selling cakes in aid of the campaign WOW, standing for Waldorf One World. The aim is to raise money to help Waldorf schools in disadvantaged areas and poorer countries.

School Administrator, Nigel Revill, said: “The whole school took part in the festival, which focuses on helping those in need – both at home and further away.

“Locally, the food that made up our bountiful harvest table was later donated to the Ringwood food bank, a local charity run by two of our parents.”

Michaelmas is a traditional harvest-time festival commemorating the Biblical tale of the Archangel Michael casting out a serpent from Heaven. The theme is about finding and maintaining inner strength as autumnal darkness approaches.