Cindy opened the evening by welcoming everyone and thanking them for being there

She framed the meeting by saying she intended to run through what she is currently doing in class with the children and what her overall intentions are for the year in terms of what they will be learning.

So far they have had 2 weeks of form drawing, and also adjusting to the rhythm of the day: the bell ringing, standing to start class, learning stillness, saying the morning verse, holding their pencil correctly.

The children begin learning about letters through the introduction of straight and curved lines, since all letters are made up of one, or other, or both. They have been noticing which their names are made out of, straight, curved or both.

Form drawing continues right up to class 7, moving from form drawing to geometry in class 6.

The children started letters at the beginning of the week. The letters are introduced via archetypal images, the first one being K which is found in the image of The King striding forth holding his sword in the air. The letters are therefore found in both the image and in movement. At the same time the children are recalling details of the story of the King (who is a character in the story they have been listening to since their first assembly), therefore learning the letters also brings in memory.

They are also learning taking turns to speak, which involves listening to the others, waiting their turn etc.

The letters are currently being taught in a 3 day rhythm – they do their own image of, for e.g. the King from how he appears in their imagination on one day. The next day they arrive and Cindy’s picture of the King is on the board, and that day they copy it. Then on the third day they find the letter in the image. Since this is a lengthy process Cindy is intending to start moving it to a 2 day rhythm soon.

The letters are taught as a four-week main lesson; by the end of the first four weeks they will have learned approx. half the consonants. This will be followed by another four-week main lesson using numbers, beginning with Roman numerals.

By the end of the third term these four week lessons will have resulted in them having learned all the letters, (+) and (-) and in the 4th term Cindy will do multiplication and possibly division

During the year they will also start to link sounds together as a precursor to reading. Sentences will come out of the stories they are being told; they will start to experience word recognition. Writing comes before reading as it is a whole body activity vs. reading which is a head activity.

The parents can liaise with Cindy and Yvette regarding recommended reading lists of books and poems which Yvette is preparing for us. E.g. Grimm’s Fairy Tales; The 7 Year Wonder Book; African Folk Tales.

There was a discussion around phonetics – since English is not, it is difficult to learn, therefore the children need to learn both the phonetic sound as well as the naming sound of each of the letters. Cindy encourages the parents to do both the sounding and naming versions of the alphabet with their children.

We can also find our own images for the letters, for example there is a movement at the moment in Waldorf here to try and Africanize things, therefore we could move to the big fat baboon for B vs. the bear, for example. As long as the children can see the movement in the letter as well as the image.

In the 2nd term Xhosa will be taught by Fezile; and Cindy will be teaching Afrikaans

They will be doing recorders from next term. Cindy will investigate the prices of buying in bulk – they will be good quality plastic ones since these are much easier for beginners and cost approx R50 vs R200 each for the wooden ones

Yvette will be beginning to teach them circle dances shortly – this is about getting them to hold their form in a group, how to hold yourself in a group, learning how to be sensitive to the others (i.e. not bumping in to each other).

One of the things that is very important right now is punctuality. Cindy is working with the teacher group in terms of the punctuality which has been lacking, but the intention is that the teachers say their morning verse together at 7.50 a.m. The children are due at school at 8.00 p.m. Cindy is then giving them 10-15 minutes playing time together in the playground to shake off their journey and connect with each other and she is calling them into class by 8.15. They should, however, still be getting there at 8.00. She is noticing the children feeling tired. She encourages us to avoid them being absent whenever possible because if they miss they have a gap in the story. At the moment she is finishing by 12.30. When they start the language lessons it will definitely go to 12.30.

She is currently doing a fruit bowl with them around 11.00 a.m. which they are loving, and which she will continue for this term. Each child is encouraged to bring one piece of fruit to put into the bowl for sharing.

The expenses for the first term are on the class notice board in the classroom. This shows what Cindy has spent the levies on. Levies are R100 per term over and above school fees. She has spent R800 on crayons, which could last to class 7 if looked after, and R600 on paper which will last at least 2 terms. She does not want to skimp on materials for craft which the children will be doing twice per week. It would be great if anyone can afford to pay more than one term’s levies up front as the expenses are steep at the beginning. She can borrow from the office but would like to be self-sufficient in terms of class funds.

Cindy would like parents to come and help her in the classroom when she is doing craft. She will approach people but if anyone wants to help they don’t have to wait to be asked. Let her know if you are interested. Cindy and Caprice will connect re: preparation for craft. Julan is going to give Cindy wax for the children.

Re: Birthdays – there have been a few already. Parents to bring in something for the kids to eat. We had a discussion around making cakes that are wheat and sugar free since two children in the class have allergies. Tanya and Alexandra are working on putting together a recipe book which will help those parents who are not familiar with baking wheat/sugar free cakes, so that we can pull together as a community to prepare cakes for the kids’ birthdays that all the children can share. Alexandra and Tanya said they would appreciate us going to the effort but if for any reason we cannot manage a sugar/wheat free cake for our child’s birthday could we let them know and they will make sure that Eden and Ford have an appropriate alternative treat to bring with them on birthday days.

Please send hats. If a child has no hat they will be kept inside at break and for other outdoor activities

Cindy would like parents to lend the class books. It would work out at one book per family for the children to have a mini library of books they can look at during quiet time. Julan is taking on running this library. Please select something that is not too precious so that your child does not mind sharing it – something with beautiful-to-look-at pictures, not Disney; not superheroes.

Cindy wants to do an outing to Boulders. She will let us know the date next week once she has looked at tides and found out from Boulders about other school groups that may be going. Alexandra and Tanya are available to offer lists. Trisha will aim to be available if given enough notice to book off work. There is a request that parents offering lifts should be able to secure children in their cars behind seat belts. This is compulsory.

Cindy would like to organise a Class One work party, to work on painting the inside roof and beams, the outside play structures, clearing play space behind the class room, getting safe rope swings up (Tanya offered rope) – or Rope World in Tokai has sponsored rope historically (for the kindergarten?). The jungle gym needs sorting out. The children have already built a base which is their pride and joy. Cindy would like to create a sandpit. She is looking for ideas and man/woman power. We are held by the angels at our school in that we have had no major accidents, but we need to give the angels help in making the place as safe as possible! We talked about having the work party be an week-day evening from 4.00pm to 7.30pm, including bringing picnic baskets – Mum’s and kids can come earlier, Dad’s to join after work, etc. A Thursday evening about 3 weeks from now was mooted as a possible date, Cindy will confirm.

There are a number of forms outstanding. The forms, including your financial contract with the school and indemnifying the school are a legal requirement. If you have not completed your forms and handed them in to Jenny in the office please do so ASAP

R4,0000 of fees are outstanding as at the end of the first month of school for this class. PLEASE PAY YOUR FEES. If you have problems please be in communication with Jenny in the office to make arrangements.

Cindy would like to do a home visit. You can invite her for supper; tea; lunch. She eats everything (but not little children!). In terms of her own life, lunch would be best – she is available 1-2.30 Mon, Wed and Thurs. Cindy will approach parents to set this up or you can approach her when you are ready.

We had a discussion about what Class One would like to do for their annual fundraiser. We have asked Shirley Dunn to approach the Jungle Theatre to find out if we could use them for a fundraising event and to find out their logistical requirements and what their financial arrangements are. Cindy will take our intention to use the Jungle Theatre to a teachers meeting as Julan thought that Joy might have had a similar thought. Cindy will negotiate with the teachers on our behalf as the Kindergarten will be having the Zip Zap Circus again this year. Cindy will also look with the teachers at a class year fundraiser events calendar so that we are not all doing events at the same time or too close together. Parent involvement in this event will stretch from selling tickets, organising the event, finding the venue, running catering on the day, etc. Alexandra and Shirley have offered to team up with Trisha as the initial team to get this going.

Heather has offered to chat further to Trisha about what she can do for the school as a potential fundraising event using her contacts/work in the entertainment industry.