The Waldorf School

✨ Alumni Echo: Waldorf Reflections ✨

"From a childhood filled with curiosity… to a life shaped by kindness and connection."

🌿 Alumni: Taboka Rakgoale

Years at Max Stibbe / The Waldorf School: 1998–2009

What stayed with you most from your Waldorf years?
A strong sense of empathy, communication, and unity. From kindergarten, we were encouraged to support one another and genuinely wanted to see each other thrive.

Favourite memories?
Camping trips, drawing, and learning about the Renaissance era. There are simply too many fond memories to count.

🌍 Today, Taboka is based in Pretoria, South Africa, working in Financial Services.

✨ Looking back, Taboka is grateful for a childhood that allowed space to discover who he was without the world deciding who he should be. The ability to communicate with empathy, think positively, and focus on solutions continues to guide him today.

"Don’t add fuel to the fire, look for the solution. And if there’s no water to extinguish the flames, use the sand beneath your feet."

Were you a student at Max Stibbe or The Waldorf School?
We’d love to hear your story for a future Alumni Echo!

From Tree to Table 🍋🌿

Hands-on learning was in full swing when as Class 1, 2 and 3 harvested lemons from the tree outside the Class 1 classroom.

Together, the children learnt how to make fresh homemade lemonade, exploring measuring, mixing, sequencing and teamwork along the way. There was great excitement in squeezing the lemons and tasting the lemonade they had made themselves!

The learning continued back in the classroom, where Class 2 and 3 wrote out the lemonade recipe, bringing together practical experience, literacy and memory work in a meaningful way ✍️

At Waldorf, learning is not separated from real life. Children learn deeply when they can touch, taste, create and experience the world around them. ✨

🚶 THE BIG WALK – ROSEMARY HILL FARM 🚶

The Big Walk is back!

We are once again coming together to celebrate a shared passion for Waldorf Education in South Africa while enjoying a day on the beautiful trails of Rosemary Hill Farm. The event brings together the wider Gauteng Waldorf community, including The Village Waldorf School , Michael Mount Waldorf School, Lesedi Waldorf School and Inkanyezi Waldorf School.

Join us for a great day out in the countryside for the whole family. Choose between a 5km or 11km walk (or cycle) along well-marked trails, starting at 08:30.

After your walk, enjoy a variety of delicious treats, stalls and live music.

Bring the grandparents, the dogs, your bicycles, a hat and a picnic blanket, and enjoy a day on the farm.

📅 23 May 2026
📍 Rosemary Hill Farm
⏰ Starts at 08:30

💰 Adults: R100
💰 Children (4–17): R60
💰 Under 4: Free

Book here: https://rosemaryhill.co.za/the-big-walk/

The Kindergarten The Waldorf School

✨ Alumni Echo: Waldorf Reflections ✨

"From hands-on learning… to building a life in the heart of Namibia."

🌿 Alumni: William Blair
Years at Max Stibbe / The Waldorf School: 2008–2010 (Grade 6–8)

What do you remember most about your teachers?
They saw me as more than just a learner. The focus was not on my dyslexia, but on who I was becoming. Values such as integrity, honesty, loyalty, and kindness were just as important as anything else.

A favourite memory from school?
In Grade 7, I struggled to stay focused in class. Huibert recognised I needed a different approach and gave me the opportunity to step out of lessons and help lay a stone pathway. It was hard, physical work, but exactly what I needed. I felt free, heard, seen, and cared for. Something shifted in me, and I returned to class with a completely different mindset.

🌍 Today, William is based in Katima Mulilo, Namibia, where he is a lodge owner.

"When I later faced more formal schooling and university, the principles and deep lessons from my teachers at Max Stibbe stood me in good stead. I developed much more holistically as a person."

Were you a student at Max Stibbe or The Waldorf School?
We’d love to hear your story for a future Alumni Echo!

Earth Day at The Waldorf School 🌍🌿

Our children are fortunate to call Rosemary Hill Farm their home away from home, a place nurtured over time, where more than 150,000 trees have been planted over the past 47 years. This living landscape is not just a backdrop to school life; it is part of the education itself.

For Earth Day, we began with a thoughtful conversation around recycling, as children brought items from home and explored what it means to care for the resources we use. This was followed by a nature walk, where they observed the environment around them and collected natural materials.

Using what they found, they worked together to create a nature mandala. They explored patterns, balance and collaboration using only what the land provided.

Experiences like these help children understand environmental responsibility in a tangible way, not just as a concept, but through direct engagement.

🍎 Teacher Spotlight: Meet Susan le Roux, our dedicated and enthusiastic Class 3 Teacher who brings both heart and connection into the classroom!

📚 Susan is already a familiar face within our school community. Her journey has come full circle, as she herself attended The Kindergarten at Rosemary Hill 17 years ago, when the school was still known as Max Stibbe.

📝 Susan brings a strong academic foundation alongside her genuine passion for working with children. She has already built warm relationships with her students and is deeply invested in the life of her class.

💛 Reflecting on a recent highlight, Susan says her favourite moment was seeing her Grade 3 learners walk into class at the start of the term—their excitement and anticipation setting the tone for the journey ahead.

🐾 Outside of the classroom, Susan enjoys the simple yet meaningful moments in life—watching sunrises and sunsets, spending time outdoors, playing netball, and sitting around a campfire with friends and family. A fun fact: Susan has a twin brother born just three minutes before her, and they share the memorable birthday 03/03/03!

🌿 Susan’s story beautifully reflects the continuity and spirit of Waldorf education—where relationships, rhythm, and a deep understanding of the child are at the centre of learning. Her warmth, dedication, and enthusiasm make her a wonderful guide for her students, and we are grateful to have her as part of our community. 🌟

✨ Alumni Echo: Waldorf Reflections ✨

"From our Waldorf farm school… to the skies above Australia."

Each month we share the story of a past student whose journey began here.

🌿 PAST
Alumni: Iefan Blake
Years at Max Stibbe / The Waldorf School: 1981–1990 (Grade 1–8)

What do you remember most about your teachers?
My teachers understood that children learn at different speeds and in different ways. I never felt bad for taking longer to understand something. They were patient, encouraging, and gave me the time I needed. That helped me feel accepted for who I was, without needing to be the same as everyone else.

🌍 PRESENT
Today, Iefan is based in Karratha, Western Australia, working as a Commercial Helicopter Pilot specialising in offshore operations. He currently operates the Airbus H135 (EC135), supporting the energy and resources sector.

✨ LEGACY
What stayed with him most was a strong sense of confidence and self-worth, something he only fully appreciated later in life.

The pressure-free environment helped him build a healthy relationship with learning — understanding that growth takes time, and that this is not a weakness, but a strength.

"The qualities I rely on most are patience, creativity, self-acceptance, and trust in my own pace. Those early years helped me approach life with more confidence and less fear of not measuring up."

Were you a student at Max Stibbe or The Waldorf School?
We’d love to hear your story for a future Alumni Echo!