Harvest Week

Dear Parents and Students

This week our theme was harvest, autumn and world food week. The music playing is Vivaldi’s Autumn concerto for violin from his Four Seasons. As the temperature cools down even in Cyprus we welcome the season of autumn. In many Northern European countries this is the season of harvest. Harvesting is the act of collecting crops, such as grains, fruits, and vegetables, after they have grown and traditionally communities give thanks for this harvest as it means there is food and sustenance available for the winter season. Last week the Jewish community celebrated Sukkot, a harvest festival and this is also part of the Christian calendar at this time of year. In the Waldorf philosophy of education children learn about seasonal rhythms and also the connection between planting seeds and then harvesting a crop later and using this crop to provide meals. We have a garden/ farm on our school site and all Waldorf classes visit here regularly, learn about gardening and husbandry from our specialist gardening teacher and plant seeds and other crops in order to understand how things grow and how to take care of them. This gives the children a very special relationship with nature and an understanding of the human place within it and our responsibilities for stewardship. Montessori pedagogy also encourages and emphasizes hands-on learning, independence, and practical life skills and children learn about the natural world.

In the IB programmes there is a focus on the UN’s sustainable development goals. Goal 2 is entitled Zero Hunger and states the target to ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’. In many countries in the world people still go hungry including children. Famines remain even in 21st century societies as the distribution of food is unequal and in some countries there is starvation due to climate crisis, poverty or wars and conflicts. In units of inquiry in PYP and subjects such as Geography and Economics, MYP and DP students learn about these real world problems and explore mechanisms to solve world hunger.

This week in primary we have begun our Pumpkin festival. All classes have a pumpkin and will create a pumpkin sculpture which will be displayed next week on their pumpkin tables. We will encourage children to use their artistic skills and use natural materials such as leaves, branches and sticks to create a great display around the theme of their Pumpkin. Children are also going to be writing stories about the Pumpkin or the importance of Harvest.

In Primary, Ms Vaiva led a lively and engaging assembly about fruits and vegetables from around the world. Teachers joined in the fun by taking part in a human fruit machine, much to the students’ delight!

In Secondary, students explored different harvest festivals celebrated across the globe, including the unique tradition of cow surfing in Indonesia. Alongside learning about these diverse customs, the assembly focused on reflection, gratitude, and the virtue of giving.

Many students contributed a tin of food to build a “food mountain,” which will be donated to Agapi, a local charity supporting the poor and vulnerable across Cyprus. There is still time to donate a tin of food through to the end of the half term for those who forgot. This initiative beautifully reflects Sustainable Development Goal 2, the IB mission, the Waldorf charitable ethos, and our school values. It is a powerful reminder that even a small act - costing less than a cup of coffee - can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This week we hosted a successful Coffee Morning for our primary school parents, focused on strengthening home-school collaboration and sharing updates for the 2025–2026 academic year. Around 40 parents attended the event and we are grateful for your engagement and investment in your children's education and school community.

Also this week we held our first Parent/ Teacher/Student conferences across all programmes and age groups. These meetings are intended for teachers to discuss with you the progress students are making and how they have settled into the new academic year. You are also able to raise any concerns or issues and ask any questions about the curriculum and daily life in school. We hope you found them productive and helpful.

Wishing you a fruitful, warm and autumnal weekend

Best Regards
Deborah Economou
Head of School