School Newsletter Term 2 Week 8

Kaya WCSS Community

Dear Community,

As the winter solstice nears we celebrate the miracle of light and remember how much our lives depend on it. We hope that you all have a chance to walk the indoor spiral today or will do so in your own way over the coming days. The spiral is a universal form written into the script of nature: from the shell of the humble snail in the garden or the seashell by the beach, all the way to the vast trail left by mighty galaxies moving through immeasurable space, the spiral is an image of a path to the centre.

The spiral is a circle seeking its centre, and each of us is on a journey to our centre. When we find the inner light at our centre, our essence, we also find our future, and the spiral brings us out again to meet the world, where we follow our destiny path and join our lives to those with whom we are united.

Another vital part of our winter celebrations is the fire dance by our Class 6 senators. This is a rite of passage for WCSS graduating students as they are given a firestick and must not only access their inner courage, but be fully present in the moment. We hope that many of our Primary families can join us, with lanterns lit, to hold the reverence and sacredness of the mood as our Class 6 perform their fire dance and light the bonfire on Wednesday evening commencing at 5.30pm. 

Parent-Teacher Interviews 

A reminder to book your interview session with your teacher for Friday, June 27, to touch base around your child’s progress for this semester. Friday, June 27^, is a pupil-free day.

I am absent for the final days of term, so I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our families the very best for the Winter break. Keep warm and look forward to seeing you all on our return for Term 3 which commences on Monday July 21.

With warmth,

Jacqui Hollingworth

School Administrator/Principal

Elder Cliff Humphries Reconciliation Book Launch

Elder Cliff Humphries Reconciliation Book Launch: ‘Aalidja Balyet Koolang Baranginy – The Balyet Gets a Boy’

In honour of Reconciliation Week, we were delighted to host our second book launch for the Elder Cliff Humphries Reconciliation Book Project. Students from WCSS joined with the Class 7 students of Perth Waldorf School to experience a traditional smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country led by the Elder’s grandson and great-grandson, a marvellous re-enactment of the book delivered entirely in Noongar by the Class 7s, a Q&A session with the student illustrators, a moving presentation by the Elder’s surviving daughters, and a beautiful rendering of traditional Steiner songs in Noongar performed by students from Classes 4 and 7. The event concluded with a delicious traditional bush tucker tea.

This event marked the culmination of a powerful reconciliation project undertaken by last year’s WCSS graduates in collaboration with the family of the late Noongar Elder, Cliff Humphries (1910–1998), one of the last fluent Noongar speakers. A senior Ballardong Elder who carried within him a vast repository of ancient Noongar knowledge, Elder Cliff recorded hundreds of Dreamtime stories and songs prior to his passing, entrusting his family with the responsibility of sharing these stories with the Noongar and wider communities in an effort to preserve the Noongar language and culture. For decades, his invaluable recordings remained in restricted-access archives at the Battye Library, with the exception of their use as critical evidence in the 2006 Bennell vs The State of WA High Court trial that secured Native Title for the Noongar nation.

In 2020, two of our teachers, Elaine Meyer and Patricia Crook, invited members of the Elder’s family to begin the publishing process. Together, they developed a series of workshops with Steiner students to illustrate some of the Elder’s favourite Dreamtime stories. The project has since grown into a remarkable initiative, with five books now produced across various schools under the guidance of the Elder’s family. Thousands of copies are now in circulation across Noongar boodja. Each book serves as a teaching resource for Noongar language, song and culture, and contains unique QR codes linking readers to previously unheard archival material—allowing the community to ‘meet’ the late Elder and hear, in his own voice, the traditional pronunciation of Noongar words.

On National Reconciliation Week, we are honoured to share with our school, the local community and the wider Noongar nation the fruits of our students’ beautiful and meaningful reconciliation work. Congratulations to the family, staff and students for their vision and commitment to this inspiring work.

Books are available for purchase at Reception.

The Peace Run 2025

We were honoured to host the Peace Run on Monday June 9. The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run is a global torch relay that offers everyone in the world a chance to express their longing for peace.

Since its founding in 1987, the Run has visited almost every country on earth – over 150 nations and territories – and touched the lives of millions of people. The Peace Run does not seek to raise money or highlight any political cause but aims to create a feeling of goodwill among peoples of all nations.

The Australian leg of the Peace Run is a 15,000km journey circumnavigating the entire continent running clockwise through all the major cities. It started in Canberra on 24 April and will end there on August 13 with millions of footsteps through forests, across deserts, along beaches, highways and byways, visiting hundreds of schools, community groups, civic leaders and events along the way.

Our primary school students waited with anticipation as an international team of runners visited the campus, answered questions from our Class 6 leaders, shared songs and ideas of peace, and passed the torch to all in attendance.

It was a heart-warming and very special experience for all in our community and we wish the team well as they continue the run!

Administration Matters

School Council

Shining a Light On...

In order to ensure our policies and procedures are highly visible to parents/carers, we highlight a policy or important procedure in each newsletter. If you are interested in a specific policy check the Key Info Tab on the school website or email Reception to receive a copy. 

All WCSS policies are reviewed periodically and updated and/or amended guided by compliance and best practice and ratified by the School Council. In this edition we highlight the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum.

Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) 
The KS:CPC is a respectful relationships and child safety curriculum for children and young people from age 3 to Year 12. It teaches children to:

• recognise abuse and tell a trusted adult about it
• understand what is appropriate and inappropriate touching
• understand ways of keeping themselves safe.

The KS:CPC is mandated in all public preschools and schools and is taught every year by teachers who have completed a full day KS:CPC training course. It is a world-class, evidence-based child safety program that is used by a range of other Australian and international schools. If you would like to know more, please have a look at the document below, or at the resources on the website. You can also speak with your child's teacher about how they work with the KS:CPC in their classroom.

Family Commitment Opportunities

Steiner Spotlight

Steiner X: Building a School, Building a Garden, Building Community

What’s it like being a founding student in a new school being built classroom by classroom? Do you have memories of deficit or an absence of facilities? Well, no! Inger Boerema was one of the founding children at the Willunga Waldorf School south of Adelaide, and her memories are all of a rich childhood filled with imagination, play and a joyful community. Inger is a parent and Board member at Sophia Mundi Steiner School and is happy seeing her own children enjoy their education as much as she did, while she continues her life work in building community. Listen to the latest podcast from Steiner Education Australia via the link below.

Early Childhood News

Gumnut Kindergarten

Term 2 saw our little Gumnuts commence their bread baking on Thursday mornings. We do enjoy it, and we love sharing it all together for our morning tea.

"The baker is baking his bread,

The baker is baking her bread

With a push and a pull, a push and a pull, the bakers are baking their bread"

More recently we made our Winter Lanterns and on Monday night we received them at a little ceremony before we walked with our families the trail to the bonfire to gather together and sing and listen to a story. 

Janet Happe
Gumnut Kindergarten Teacher

Tuesday afternoon Playgroup sessions are returning at the start of Term 3!

Sessions will run from 12:45pm-2:45pm every Tuesday of term and are aimed at 3.5-5 year olds not yet attending Kindy. If you would like to apply, or know someone who would, pop an application in today by emailing enrolments@wcss.wa.edu.au. We look forward to seeing your friendly faces soon!

Primary News

Class 1 Keyen

Class 1 had the wonderful opportunity to engage with the Peace Runners during their recent visit. The inspiring message from the runners resonated deeply, highlighting that the future of a harmonious world begins with our actions today. The children expressed their thoughts and feelings about what peace means to them and we discussed practical ways to foster peace in our daily lives, both in our classroom and on the playground, emphasising the importance of kindness, calmness, and helpfulness. Together, we celebrated these meaningful ideas by creating drawings that reflect our commitment to promoting peace in our community.

Mel Lenzi
Class 1 Keyen Teacher

Class 3 Dambart

Last week, Class 3 joined Class 5 for a joy-filled day at Landsdale Farm. The soft winter weather held beautifully, allowing the children to move freely among the animals and gardens. There was a deep sense of wonder as the children wandered through the paddocks and sheds, feeding goats, observing the ponies and cows, and delighting in the cuteness of the guinea pigs and bunnies. The roosters were also a firm favourite, proudly crowing and strutting about with their usual flair. Throughout the day, the children had the chance to get close to the animals, to listen, to notice, and to care. It was also lovely to share the day with Class 5 and our wonderful parent helpers. We returned with wind-kissed cheeks, happy hearts, and a renewed appreciation for the many creatures, great and small.

With warmth,

Kasia Rymarczyk
Class 3 Dambart Teacher

Class 4 Koodjal Koodjal

As the days have grown shorter and a chill has descended over the world outside, our classroom has been kept warm by a hive of activity as we, the Vikings of Class 4, have been building our own longboat lanterns.

In honour of the upcoming Plastic Free July, we chose to build our ships almost entirely out of biopacks. Our mastheads are carved from beeswax, our masts are wooden, and our sails are paper - painted with plant-based paints and oiled to create a soft translucence, so they will glow with the light of our beeswax candles.

Our sustainability focus has also flowed into our History of Writing Main Lesson, where we explored earth-conscious materials used throughout history to create inks and pigments, writing surfaces, and implements. Now that we have perfected our running writing, we have each received a peacock feather and a touch of gold leaf to practice calligraphy and create illuminated manuscripts. This gentle preparation has helped us to enter into a mindset of reverence and care as we receive our pen licenses this week, along with our very own wooden fountain pens.

Through each of these rich experiences, we are learning that sustainability is not only a practice, but a way of being - one rooted in beauty, thoughtfulness, and deep respect for the world around us.

Elaine Meyer

Class 4 Koodjal Koodjal Teacher

Class 5 Maar

This week Class 5 students performed Into the Labyrinth. Everyone had a role to play, setting the mood with music, working the lights or behind the scenes. It was great to see how every small part added up to a big production and it was a good reminder that success isn’t just about perfection but perseverance and working as a team.

Of course, there were challenges. Lines were forgotten, props went missing, and nerves kicked in. But through it all, we supported each other, laughed off the mistakes, and kept going.

We learned to speak confidently, solve problems creatively, and trust each other. And most importantly, we learned that when we come together, we can create something truly special.

Donna Shaw

Class 5 Maar Teacher

Class 6 Maar Keyen

The Makuru Winter Festival is a sacred time in our school year - a festival of quiet, of inward reflection, and of reverence. As the days shorten and the nights grow longer, we gather to remind ourselves - and each other - of our innate ability to bring warmth and light into the darker times.

Following our tradition at West Coast Steiner School, children will once again walk the spiral of greenery in silence and grace during the day with their teachers, carrying candles as symbols of inner light. 

This year, our Class 6 students hold a special place in the celebration, which will occur on Wednesday evening. With maturity and excitement, they will take on the responsibility of performing the Fire Dance - a rite of passage that marks their growing leadership in our school community. Moving in formation to the steady rhythm of the drum, their fire sticks will dance and flicker in the darkness, lighting the way for others and symbolising the strength of their inner light.

Class 6 have also been joyfully expanding their musical abilities. Many were gifted ukuleles throughout the year or last Christmas, and it’s been delightful to witness their rapid progress. Having begun their musical journey in Class 1 with the lyre and recorder, then taking up string instruments in Class 3, they are now embracing the lively and expressive sounds of the ukulele. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and their talents will be quietly shared during a special performance at the festival.

As we approach this sacred time of the year, we invite everyone in our school community to hold the space with reverence and awe. Let us come together in silence and song, honouring the light within each of us and the journey we take together.

Aimee Waller

Class 6 Maar Keyen Teacher

Music

Class 3 have had a particularly exciting music lesson recently. They got to try out the violin, viola and cello to decide which one they would like to play starting next term.  A number of Class 6 students came along to help them discover and explore the instruments. First the Class 6 students introduced their instruments. They said what they liked about their instruments and why they chose this instrument. Then they performed a short piece for Class 3. Finally they showed the highest and lowest string of their instrument so Class 3 could get an idea of what kind of a sound they would be making on each instrument.

After this demonstration the class was split into three groups. Each group took it in turns to have a go at plucking the violin, viola and cello, assisted by the Class 6 students. The Class 3 students enjoyed getting to try out the instruments and some even changed their mind about which instrument they would like to play.

Cristina Filgueira

Strings Specialist and Choir Teacher

Soft Handwork

Woodwork

Class 6 completed woodwork projects.

Alumni Focus

Perth Waldorf School Class 12 Projects

At 18 years old, Rudolf Steiner said that a young person is not only ready to be concerned with the questions of the world but also to question who we are as human beings;

“.. to be able to ask who I am as a human being and crucially what I can create that uniquely expresses this deeper understanding of myself.”

The Class 12 Project is a key part of our students' final year, helping them explore big questions about themselves and their place in the world. They run alongside coursework and are a culmination of students' Steiner education. Students choose a topic and ask a question that they immerse themselves in uncovering possible answers to over the year.

~ Orlando Saikip-Ricciardo ~

WCSS Class of 2019

Hi, my name is Orlando Saikip-Ricciardo, and I am a current year 12 student at Perth Waldorf School. At the age of just 13, I grew an obsession with muscular and lean physiques and wanted to obtain one myself. My journey began by just following along with home workouts on YouTube, in which I was able to make progress that I was quite happy with. After seeing signs of improvement, I became hooked on fitness and eventually joined a gym to begin routine weight training. As most gym goers around me, I was exposed to fitness related social media online which often displayed very impressive physiques, and some which could only be achieved through the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Over time, I found that exposure to these body images was skewing my perception of an impressive physique, and I often found myself wondering what it would be like to use PEDs myself, and I felt that the goal I set to achieve was not naturally attainable. This got me thinking as to how other people who go to the gym like me are affected by this increase of steroid use and acceptance. As the gym is a big part of my life, I knew I had to relate it to my year 12 Project so that I would be speaking with passion. This led me to my topic question:

“What is behind the increased acceptance and availability of Performance Enhancing Drugs in bodybuilding, and how has this impacted men interested in building strength and muscle naturally?”

While scouting research into the topic, I have learnt that increased muscular male body images within society can induce Muscle Dysmorphia on those interested in recreational bodybuilding. Muscle Dysmorphia is a body dysmorphic disorder that can create feelings of dissatisfaction within one's physique and can lead to depression and eating disorders. This can also play as a factor that leads to steroid use; however, Muscle Dysmorphia may not subside after steroid use and is actually higher in PED users than compared to non-users.

Delving into this topic also led me into researching about how steroids are purchased and acquired through online markets. I found that Australia almost solely relies on internet purchases for steroid imports and I was shocked to learn how unreliable and unsafe these markets are, and that it is probable that the product is a fake or has been swapped for something completely unspecified. Many of these black markets also actively promote the benefits of steroids and downplay or rarely include information about side effects, which only increases the risks associated with them.

As for my practical component, I’m looking to put myself through the diet and routine of a natural bodybuilder before competition. The more research I put into it, the harder it seems to achieve but this only fuels my determination and willingness to get it done. Being competition ready means having very low body fat and a considerably muscular physique. As of writing this, I have been dieting for some months now and have already lost 12 kilos which has vastly improved my self-confidence and helped me in getting a taste of the dedication needed for natural bodybuilding.

I hope that my Project brings light to the hidden epidemic of societal steroid acceptance and highlights reasons that could lead to PED use, while also sharing what it’s like to be a natural bodybuilder preparing for competition.

WCSS Community Association

Parent Business Directory

Welcome to the section where we share information on WCSS family owned businesses. If you are an enrolled WCSS family, run a business and would like to promote this to our school community please send your details (a few sentences describing your business, contact details and a logo or image) to marketing@wcss.wa.edu.au

Cheesebuddy is an Australian made Brazilian cheese bread which is gluten free, versatile, delicious... and owned and operated by a WCSS family! Cheesebuddy products are available at Woolworths, Costco, IGA, Farmer Jack’s and others. Chat with Yuri - M:0402730490

BREATHWORK: What is it? And how it can help?

Breathwork is a practice that relaxes your nervous system with the power of your own breath. 

Breathwork will bring you out of the fight and flight state your body and mind are constantly in,  allowing you to find joy, peace and bliss in your life. 

The benefits of breathwork are endless, including helping you work on your chronic pain as well as helping with PTSD and trauma. To learn more about breathwork contact kindergarten parent, Giulia on 0451 119 102.

Rhema Group is a WCSS family owned  building and carpentry company specialising on all structural carpentry projects, from house framing to decks and patios. Contact them via the details below or visit their website to  learn more. 

Yol Creative

Run by our very own Woodwork Specialist, Yolanda Millar, Yol Creative provides creative workshops for anyone who would like to explore their artistic side. Workshops are great for team building activities, get togethers, birthdays or just if you would like to learn some skills and have some fun! Explore the Facebook Page for more info.

Author - Nicole Watts

WCSS parent and author, Nicole Watts has a Bachelor of Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts. She has been on both sides of the mental health divide, having worked in the mental health sector and having a history of depression and anxiety. Nicole's book, Little Bundle of Sorrow, is a collection of womens' stories of postnatal depression. Find out more at her website. Copies of the book can be ordered from Amazon or publisher, Austin McCauley.

Community News

This course is a 6 week beginner's introduction to meditation, based on Culadasa'a book "The Mind Illuminated". I am a TMI Certified Teacher, having completed the 2 year TMI Teacher Training course offered by Li Anne Tang and Eric L, Culadasa's students, in 2024. I am also mother of two children here at West Coast Steiner. As we will be meditating together during the sessions this course is not suitable to attend with young children or babies. However, if there are mums/dads with young children interested in learning to meditate in an environment with young children present, please feel free to contact me for further recommendations.
Thank you. Sarah Walsh | 0468 765 036

❄️✨ Winter Warmer Day Retreat ✨❄️

A soulful, hands-on journey into creativity, connection, and winter wellbeing.

As the days grow colder and darker, take time to nurture yourself from the inside out. This Winter Warmer Day Retreat is a heart-crafted collaboration by a group of passionate women—each bringing their gifts to create a day of learning, making, relaxing, and sharing.

Join us for a full-day immersive retreat filled with natural beauty, gentle practices, and inspiring hands-on sessions that will leave you feeling nourished, grounded, and deeply connected.
 
For bookings and more information, click the link below:
https://events.humanitix.com/winter-warmer-day-retreat

Retreats4Wellbeing is a heart-led collaboration between a remedial massage therapist, naturopath, and a collective of artists, united by a shared passion for holistic health and creative healing as well as nurturing the body, mind & soul. This 3-day retreat in October 2025 is designed to reset the nervous system! ✨🌿 

Join us for a truly special retreat featuring: 

🪵 Yolanda guiding you in crafting your own wooden meditation pebble 

🌸 Sandy leading a beautiful botanical dyeing session with bark pre-dyed silk scarves 

🌿 Conny is sharing naturopathic tips plus a hands-on session 

💆‍♀ Jill offering massages and reflexology to help you unwind completely

Spaces are limited so you would like to join us please click on the link below: https://events.humanitix.com/nervous-system-reset-retreats4wellbeing

Support your child’s emotional wellbeing (and improve yours, too!)

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program^® has been developed here in Australia and is now the world’s most widely researched parenting program with hundreds of clinical trials and real-world studies to back it up. From confidently handling a toddler meltdown, to learning how to control your emotions and deal with anger management, Triple P empowers you with a toolbox of strategies, skills, and knowledge. It can help you create a closer bond with your child as you support their learning, development, life skills and emotional wellbeing. Triple P can work for you too — and it’s online and it's free!

Coming Events

June

Friday 20: Early Finish 12.30pm

Monday 23: Class 4 Parent Interviews

Tuesday 24: School Council AGM 3.15pm the Performance Room

Wednesday 25: Soup Day; Class 6 Fire Dance and Bonfire 5.30pm

Thursday 26: End of Term 2

Friday 27: Parent/Teacher Interviews

SAVE THE DATES

For further Term Dates check the school website calendar

WEEKLY

Soup Day: Wednesdays 12.50pm

Market Day: Tuesdays 3.05pm

Craft Group: Thursdays 12.45pm at The Hub

Parent Study Group: Thursdays 9.00am at The Hub or Library

Yarning Circle: Wednesdays 8.40am at The Hub

Weeding Wednesday: Wednesday 1.45pm - 2.45pm

WA Anthroposophical Study Group: Mondays 7.30pm in the Staff Room

Golden Threads
Monday-Friday 8.00am-10.30am
Mon, Weds, Fri 2.30pm-3.30pm
Thursday 1.30pm - 3.00pm