West Coast Steiner School is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation, taking a preventative and participatory stance on child protection issues and promoting a child safe environment. West Coast Steiner School explicitly forbids the use of any form of child abuse, corporal punishment or other degrading punishment as defined in our Child Protection Policy.
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What is the Michaelmas Festival?
The end of term three is fast approaching and with it comes our Michaelmas Festival.
This year we wish to deepen our understanding of the impulse of this festival and how we can celebrate it in the southern hemisphere.
In the northern hemisphere this is an Autumn festival where the earth is preparing for the coming of Winter. Even though we are moving into Spring we still experience the universal desire to strengthen our will forces and hold steadfast in the face of adversity. For the children this festival is an opportunity for them to unite together in teams and discover that together we can achieve great feats or in the very least have fun! The day will involve the primary children being involved in multi-age teams and having to complete a series of tasks.
Many people are familiar with an image of St. Michael and the Dragon.
Sometimes he is depicted as holding the balance or weighing scales and more often he is seen subduing the fiery red dragon. Many legends surround St. Michael. There is a legend of his wrestling the sun from the clutches of the dragon and losing a portion of the sole of his foot in the battle- the human foot subsequently having an arch! Most references to Michael characterise him with sun-like attributes; a radiant being full of light and courage. Sometimes, like St. George he holds a lance, at other times he holds a transparent sphere or an iron rod.
Another image of Michael is as the figure that holds a sword with which he can defend, not kill, only to ward off the 'dragon force'. This sword is "the sword of light" rather than a metal sword.
Michael is about transformation, balance, consciousness, courage and human striving (both individual and in community). He is the spiritual being who stands for human dignity, social responsibility and freedom.
The Michaelmas Festival is above all a festival concerned with community and cooperation; striving and initiative.
It consists of a variety of imaginative games, thoughtfully planned to foster cooperation, problem-solving and initiative; enacted by the children who work cooperatively in teams. Each team will consist of children from Class 1-6. The teams will move around a series of games stations laid out on the field. The children will walk in a procession, proudly carrying their banners aloft marching and singing. Each game lasts about ten minutes, and at the sound of a trumpet the teams will reassemble and proceed to the next game's station. Each activity/game is given an imagination of some aspect of dragon lore.
Much will go into the preparation of the Michaelmas Festival; storytelling, singing and the making and decorating of different shields.
All children will have a chance to contribute. The older children will lead and encourage the younger children, giving help where necessary. The younger children have a chance to look up to the older children and feel safe.
The Michaelmas Festival is a very appropriate one for children to participate in given the ever increasing challenges of our world.
We hope to foster community spirit at many levels. We also hope to have some fun!