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Independent Schools Pretoria

Location

Max Stibbe Waldorf School is an independent private school. The school is located on organic farm land in the Mooiplaats area, about 20 minutes east of central Pretoria. Map

Our history

Dr MaxStibbe, a Dutch educationalist, founded the Fountain School in 1972, together with a group of young South Africans. The school was renamed in his honour, after his death. From the early 1920’s until his death in 1973, Dr Max Stibbe played an important pioneering and development role for Waldorf education in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Waldorf independent schools

Max Stibbe Waldorf School is an independent, private school, and is a member of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA), and the Federation of Waldorf Schools in Southern Africa. Waldorf schools adhere to the principles of equal opportunity and stress cooperation of learners with different abilities and talents, as well as standards set by other private, independent schools.

Please refer to the sections entitled “About Waldorf education” and
“Frequently asked questions about Waldorf education” for more detailed information.

Small school, big results

Max Stibbe has fewer than 200 learners. The school is kept small and intimate, giving each child the individual attention they need. Our country school provides the perfect setting for a stress-free learning experience. Choosing one of the private, independent schools is the most important thing you can do for your child. Max Stibbe will not only give your child education on par with the best schools in the country but also an experience they will never forget.

From Nursery School to Class 9

The nursery school accepts children from age 3 onwards. The junior high school includes the completion of Class 9, at the end of which learners obtain the Gauteng General Education & Training Certificate (GETC).

A learner, who has completed Class 9 at Max Stibbe Waldorf school, may transfer to any other school or Waldorf school, to complete the Further Education & Training Certificate (FETC). The FETC incorporates Classes 10 through to 12. Therefore a move later in life will not affect your child’s education.

Integrated student body

The school boasts a truly integrated student body, representing some 20 different language and cultural groups from a wide spectrum of socio-economic backgrounds, from South Africa, Africa and Europe.

The fact that the Max Stibbe Waldorf school’s learner population represents an integrated group based on diverse backgrounds is a meaningful facilitator for education towards knowledge, skills and cooperation. This is a testament to the power of independent schools. Children are brought into contact with a diverse group of people they would otherwise never have come to know and understand. This provides the opportunity to learn about people from different backgrounds and cultures.

School tours - a walk through the Classes.

Prospective learners and their parents are welcome to visit the school, for a guided tour of the campus and facilities.

Please contact us to make arrangements to experience our country school.

Festivals

All Waldorf schools celebrate certain festivals, as a means to connect humanity with the rhythms of nature and of the cosmos.

Although festivals originated in ancient cultures, they have been adapted over time. Celebrating the seasonal mood by joining the festivities benefits the soul. The art of celebrating includes the anticipation, the preparation, the ceremony and the memories.

Through these festivals, a deep sense of joy, awe and wonder is cultivated in the learners. By questioning and considering the meaning of symbols and traditions, learners discover their own spirituality as they grow into adults. The four seasonal festivals are Michaelmas (Spring), Christmas (Summer), Easter (Autumn) and St. John’s Day (Winter).

Supportive parent body

The Max Stibbe Waldorf School parent body comprises socially responsible parents who wish to ensure that their children receive a Holistic Education. They tend to be idealists who want to educate their children to create a better world. That’s why they choose our independent schools.

Languages

Instruction takes place in English. We also offer second languages, for example Afrikaans and Sepedi.

Extra-mural activities

We offer aftercare, karate, capoeira, soccer, basketball, cricket and drum-majorettes. As specialist external service providers, Juni-sports offers a variety of developmental coaching to children, such as ball skills, gymnastics and swimming. Parents may make their own arrangements for horse-riding lessons, at various stables close to the school.

Aftercare

We offer supervised aftercare from Monday to Friday, from 14h00 to 17h00. Special arrangements can be made for children who need to remain in care after 17h00.

Aftercare in our country school includes a wholesome, cooked lunch, study time and free play time in our school’s wide open spaces.

Tuition fees

School fees are reasonable in relation to those of other independent schools. Please visit the “Enrolment Information” section for detailed information.

Entry requirements

The admission process commences with an interview where the parents are informed about the school and the child is assessed. We request that the child’s most recent reports be submitted on application.

Please contact the office on weekdays, between 08h00 and 16h00 to arrange for an interview.

Boarding facilities

The Max Stibbe Hostel offers weekly and full boarding facilities for 75 children, from Class 3 to Class 9.

School buses

The Max Stibbe School buses travel daily to and from the eastern suburbs of Pretoria as well as to and from Centurion. Bus routes are adapted as the need is identified.

Please visit the Enrolment Information section for further details regarding bus fees, schedules and routes.

Parent & Teacher workshops and seminars

Every year, we present a series of Parent and Teacher workshops and seminars, in which the principles and methods of Waldorf education are explored and shared.

Sister organisations

The Max Stibbe Waldorf School and the boarding school are situated on the Fountain Foundation farm. The Fountain Foundation farm comprises approximately 150 hectares, where livestock is raised (cattle, sheep, pigs, etc), and crops are cultivated. These include fruit and nut orchards, vineyards, pasture and field crops and herb fields (culinary and medicinal). There is also a fully-equipped oil extraction facility, for extracting essential oils from own-grown and other herbs. An organic garden, partially cultivated by the learners, provides seasonal vegetables.

The Ubuntu Day Clinic and Rosemaryhill - a venue for catering, events, high tea and team-building - are also situated on the farm, adjacent to our country school campus.

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