Though it may seem on the surface that we simply take an artistic approach to learning, prioritise drama, singing or learning to play beautiful instruments, it is so much more. Underlying all of it is the inner world of the child, growing and finding their own methods of expression and connection. To listen deeply to others, to respond to our world, to revel in our imagination, to create beautiful things, to wrestle with challenging instruments, all are formative experiences. These experiences enable children and teenagers to know who they are, to develop an awareness of who they want to be in the world, and what they can contribute to society. Quite simply, Waldorf education provides each individual with a pathway to self-knowledge, to empathy, and to active participation in the world around them. Of course, none of this would be possible without practitioners who take the task of the teacher incredibly seriously. Our responsibility as kaiako is to work with the developing individuality of each student and with each class as a whole. We simply cannot take on this task alone. Dear whānau, you are also essential to the well-being of each class community and the school as a whole.