Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools

CHRISTMAS has come and gone and the New Year awaits us with all the surprises it has in store. Last term, like so many others, a number of our pupils were touched by the many tragedies that had occurred during 2005 and wanted in some way to give something to those less well off than themselves. One pupil went on a sponsored silence for 3 hours and raised more than £200 while another group raised substantially more at a cafe and sale.

During the past 6 months we have become involved with `Adventure Scotland' a group specialising in outward-bound type activities with the result that quite a number of our pupils have been experiencing the locality in a new `exhilarating' way; e.g. mountain biking on local hills and canoeing down the Dee.

In November and Christmas we were treated to some beautiful concerts with a highlight being the performance of Handel's Messiah in the Music Hall which several of our co-workers participated in. This kind of activity, together with our continued partnership with Aberdeen University around the BA in Curative Education, results in many new inspiring relationships

At the tail end of 2005 we heard that the Bypass would not pass between our Murtle Estate and our colleagues in Newton Dee but that it would be routed instead within the Milltimber Brae corridor, possibly within a few hundred yards of pupil accommodation on Camphill Estate. Work continues as we try to find the right way forward.

Meanwhile life goes on and we look ahead to the spring term and a Spring Fayre towards the end of March when similarly to last year we will try to prepare for Easter with you, our neighbours. Please look out for details nearer the time.

Finally our colourful Annual Report 2004/ 5 is now available and can be found at local libraries or from our Central Office.

Laurence Alfred