School Newsletter Term 3 Week 6
- Coming Events
- Kaya WCSS Community
- Book Week
- Administration Matters
- Shining a Light on...
- Steiner Spotlight - Steiner Voices XYZ
- Family Commitment Opportunities
- WCSS Community Association
- Parent Education
- Early Childhood News
- Primary News
- Soft Handwork
- Sustainability
- Parent Business Directory
- Community News
- Weekly Events
Coming Events
August
Friday 29: Class 6 Play 6.00pm
September
Thursday 4: Choir Assembly 8.45am, Class 3 Parent Meeting
Friday 5: Kite Festival 8.45am
Monday 8: School Photos
Sunday 14: ABODA Junior Orchestra Festival Churchlands SHS 11.15am
Monday 15: Class 4 Play 8.35am
Wednesday 17: Class 4 Play 8.35am; WCSSCA Spring Flower Workshop 8.45am
Thursday 18: Class 4 Play 8.35am; School Tour 9.15am
Friday 19: Class 5 Greek Olympics at PWS, Class 3 Sleep Over
Wednesday 24: Kindergarten Djilba Festival 8.35am - 11am
Thursday 25: Michaelmas Festival; End of Term 3
Visit our website for the full school calendar
Kaya WCSS Community
Dear Community,
Book Week was a truly joyful celebration of the magic that stories bring into our lives. A heartfelt thank you to all our families for your enthusiastic support—your creativity and care in crafting costumes helped make this one of our most memorable Book Week celebrations yet.
With warmth,
Jacqui Hollingworth
School Administrator/Principal
The silent strength of starlight's gleam
Is filling my soul with new heavenly might.
In darkness of winter, I woke from a dream
Like a child from sleep in the middle of night.
Now new hope is dawning - strong and supreme,
And declaring, "Go forth out of darkness to light!"
In the Light of a Child, Michael Hedley Burton
Book Week
Administration Matters
SELF ASSESSED DISCOUNT AND CREDITS FORM 2026
Fee discounts or credits for 2026, (such as a sibling discount) can be claimed by completing and returning the form below (hard copies available at Reception) by date Friday 19 September to Reception or finance@wcss.wa.edu.au.
Withdrawal Procedure
A reminder that formal notice is required when withdrawing a student from any class at WCSS. As a general rule 6 weeks from the start of a new term is required in writing for Baby Group and Playgroup whilst K4 - C6 requires one full terms' notice. To learn more view the full Enrolment Policy on our website.
World Teachers Day
World Teacher's Day is a day dedicated to honouring and appreciating the contributions of educators worldwide. The day provides an opportunity to recognise the crucial role that all teachers play. The event was established in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the status of teachers and to help the world gain a better understanding of teachers and the impact they have on the development of students within society.
In Australia we mark World Teachers' Day on October 31 and the theme for this year is "The Teachers for the Education We Want" which resonates deeply with us as a Steiner school. We encourage families and students to reflect on the contribution of their teachers and simple ways to show appreciation on October 31 perhaps a handmade card, homemade gift, baked treat or flowers from your garden.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School Photos are on Monday September 8. Your child will bring more information home on Monday September 1 (including their unique shootkey).
Please see below further information.
Family/Sibling Photographs
Family and sibling photos will be taken on Monday, September 8, from 8:30am to 9:30am in the Performance Room.
To ensure your family photos run as smoothly as possible, please follow these steps:
- Collect your Family/Sibling envelope from Reception. The last day to collect envelopes is Friday, 5 September, by 3:00pm.
- Book your photo session at Reception. Please note sessions will take place in alphabetical order by surname.
- Complete your order by following the instructions on the Family/Sibling envelope.
- Hand the completed envelope to the photographer to have your family photo taken.
Shining a Light on...
In order to ensure our policies and procedures are highly visible to parents/carers, we highlight a policy or 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 changes to our Dress Code.
Thank you to all our families for your efforts in supporting our school’s dress code. It has been heartening to see our students arriving in warm, natural tones that reflect the calm, nurturing, and supportive atmosphere we strive to create at West Coast Steiner School.
We especially appreciate the parent who raised concerns about the clarity of our previous dress code. In response, our Class 6 students and staff have thoughtfully revised the guidelines to more clearly reflect the Steiner philosophy of simplicity, warmth, and harmony.
In Steiner education, colour is more than aesthetic—it’s part of the child’s emotional and spiritual environment. Warm, gentle tones help foster a sense of safety, imagination, and connection. These colours support the child’s inner development and reflect the seasonal rhythms and natural world that are central to our curriculum.
As part of this update, we kindly inform families that black-coloured clothing is not part of our student dress code. This decision supports our commitment to maintaining a gentle and welcoming environment in our classrooms and playgrounds, and to protecting the playful and imaginative nature of childhood.
Black is reserved for the high school years, when students are developmentally ready to engage with deeper symbolic meanings—such as introspection, contrast, and individuality—through subjects requiring abstract reasoning such as philosophy and literature.
To assist families, the school has freshly laundered, dress-code-appropriate items available—shorts, shirts, jumpers, and track pants. These items will be loaned to children for the day when needed, ensuring all students can participate comfortably and respectfully in our shared learning environment.
The updated dress code is included on P8 of the Student Code of Conduct below. Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work together to nurture a space where children can grow with joy, creativity, and reverence.
Steiner Spotlight - Steiner Voices XYZ
Birds, Beasts and Nature: Inspiring Science in a Steiner School Z: Teachers
Dr Stanley Tang has come a long way from his birthplace in a remote village on the Tibetan Plateau in western China. Stanley tells his story of how his lifelong fascination with birds, beasts and the natural world got him through his homeland’s highly competitive schooling system, and brought him to Australia where he obtained a PhD in Ornithology from James Cook University in Qld. Today he teaches Science and Maths at Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School in Sydney. To learn more click the link below.
Family Commitment Opportunities
WCSSCA Our Community Association (WCSSCA) is always on the look out for members. Joining WCSSCA means you will be in the loop to hear about happenings at WCSS and ways to help. You can also help out without joining WCSSCA - see their section below for current opportunities.
KISS AND DRIVE Volunteers are always needed to ensure Kiss 'n' Drive runs safely. Slots are available Monday-Friday 8.15am-8.45am and 2.55pm-3.25pm (Thursdays 2.05pm-2.35pm due to early finish). See Reception for more information.
GARDENING AND WEEDING WEDNESDAYS If you would like to help with gardening let our School Gardener, Chris know - we always have tidying, weeding etc that can be done during school hours. WCSSCA also have Weeding Wednesdays at the Hub from 8.45am-9.45am.
KAMBARANG FAIR CRAFT KITS Help make items for the school fair! Take home sew kits are available, please see Sarah at Playgroup to collect your pack.
WCSS Community Association
The West Coast Steiner School Community Association sends warm wishes over the last winter weekend.
Soup Day What a fabulous season of creating yummy soup for our children this year. It could not have happened without the continued support from you, our parent and carers community, thank you. We hope the children enjoyed the delicious soup!
Kambarang Fair Preparations are in full swing for this wonderful celebration of our school - our biggest event and fundraiser of the year. We need everyone to help make this day a beautiful and enjoyable one for all by each family donating just a few hours of their time. Very soon you will receive information about ways that you can help out on your class stall and various other jobs. Please sign up to the rosters and help where ever you can.
What can you do now to help?
- Pot up cuttings and plants for the plant stall, especially vegetable seedlings;
- Put your skills and energy towards raffle prizes, BBQs and other yummy food, art or craft, setting up and packing down, baking cakes…there is something for everyone.
- And of course, spread the word! Tell your friends and family to come along, there will be student performances, talks, activities and open classrooms.
If you or someone you know would be interested in having a stall please contact Rachael at rachaelmcilduff@hotmail.com for more information. Spaces are limited and stalls must support the school's values and ethos.
Please reach out to wcssca@wcss.wa.edu.au or via your class carer with any questions, suggestions or offerings.
Parent Craft Opportunity WCSSCA Parent Craft Group have begun sewing craft for the Kambarang Fair! Take home sew kits are available, please see Sarah at Playgroup to collect your pack – a lovely way to claim Family Commitment Hours. If you prefer to sew in a group setting, Craft Group is held each Thursday at 12:30pm at the Hub.
Flowers for Spring Workshop Thinking ahead to spring our lovely Sarah is holding a craft workshop on Wednesday September 17 after drop-off. Come along and learn how to make delightful paper and felt flowers for only a gold coin donation. All materials are included.
With kindness in community,
WCSSCA
Term 3 Market Day Roster
September 2: Class 1
September 9: Ramneek
September 16: Class 3
September 23: Staff
GOLDEN THREADS
School Recorders are available to purchase for $110 with lay-by welcome for Class 1, 2026 families. Please support our school by purchasing via the shop - it relies on your patronage to continue it's operations.
We also have a vast array of new stock from Dolls4Tibet which aims to support and empower women by training them with new skills and creating fair, flexible and enjoyable work opportunities. These dolls make very special and treasured birthday gifts!
Parent Education
We highly recommend the last two courses for Term 3 that the Steiner Parent Education Initiative has on offer.
See below and remember to register for free and you can claim family commitment hours.
Early Childhood News
The Steiner curriculum's love affair with story, narrative and books starts even in Playgroup!
Primary News
This week, Class 1 Keyen have been diving into the world of division through a delightful story featuring gnomes arriving at the king's castle for an exciting archery tournament!
In their quest to ensure that every competitor has the right number of arrows, the gnomes discovered a clever method of counting that emphasises teamwork and problem-solving. To make this learning experience even more engaging, our children have been crafting their own arrows and role-playing the puzzle of distributing them equally among the competitors.
It’s been a wonderful blend of creativity and math, helping our students grasp the concept of division while having fun!
Mel Lenzi
Class 1 Keyen Teacher
Class 3 Dambart was very excited this week when our chicken coop finally arrived! On Wednesday, we transferred our eight happy chickens to their new home, and the children were delighted to watch them settle in.
We would like to give a wholehearted thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers, Pat, Marco, and Aaron, who worked tirelessly on Saturday to install the coop and complete the paving. Your hard work and generosity of time have made this possible for our students. We are also very grateful to the City of Stirling for providing the funding, and to Kennels n Coops for designing such a secure, inventive, and top-quality coop.
This project has brought a wealth of rich learning to the classroom. Since hatching the eggs earlier this term, the children have been inspired in many ways, writing stories and poems about the chickens, drawing and painting them in art, carefully naming each one, and observing the scientific wonder of new life first-hand. Now that our chickens are settled into their new home, the children are also learning about responsibility, and the daily rhythms of caring for living creatures.
We look forward to many more discoveries and shared experiences as our coop becomes part of our school environment. Thank you all for supporting this joyful journey.
Warmly,
Kasia Rymarczyk
Class 3 Dambart Teacher
Class 4 Koodjal Koodjal came to school on Thursday, disguised as our favourite literary characters for Book Week. Our classroom came alive with Norse gods, Valkyries, dragons, knights, and many heroic protagonists from our most beloved stories. It was a joy to see the care poured into so many hand-crafted costumes.
The next time you see us in costume, we’ll be up on stage for our class play:
Dreaming of Birds: A Play in Noongar
Written for Class 4 by Elaine Meyer and Patricia Crook.
This play was created especially for our class, with the support of our Elder-in-Residence, Grandma Freda Ogilvie, and our Kaart, Koort Maara artists who helped create dances, set and costumes. Blending Noongar with English translation, the performance is accessible to all ages and offers a wonderful opportunity for our community to experience local language and culture.
We look forward to welcoming you to our morning performances on Monday 15th, Wednesday 17th, and Thursday 18th September.
Elaine Meyer
Class 4 Koodjal Koodjal Teacher
Class 5 Maar have been running with the wind at their heels and the spirit of the ancients in their hearts, as they train for the Greek Olympics to be held at Perth Waldorf School in just three weeks. They are swift and strong, their javelins soaring further with each throw and their determination shining brightly.
Our classroom has been humming with the life of Ancient Greece with stories of gods and heroes, training for the Greek Olympics, and the joy of moving as athletes once did long ago.
The Main Lesson books are becoming treasures in their own right, filled with stories of gods and goddesses, battles and wisdom.
Woodwork classes began this term and another kind of magic is unfolding as Class 5 learn the art of shaping a mallet from rough lumps of wood.
In our craft lessons, we are learning the art of knitting with four needles in hand, transforming soft wool that we dyed earlier into warm socks and cosy beanies.
As the term unfolds, Class 5 continue to meet new challenges with courage, creativity, and joy. Whether through story, song, movement, or craft, they are discovering the strength and beauty that live within themselves and our community.
Donna Shaw
Class 5 Maar Teacher
Play week is finally here, and Class 6 Maar Keyen is buzzing with excitement (and just a few nerves)! After weeks of rehearsals, singing, dancing, and getting into character, the time has come to share our magical musical with you.
We’re diving headfirst into the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland – a colourful, curious tale full of unforgettable characters, catchy songs, and imaginative scenes. From mad tea parties to talking cats, our version brings the classic story to life in a fun and lyrical way.
Our cast and crew have worked incredibly hard. There have been hours spent learning lines, practising choreography, designing costumes, and building props. It’s been a true team effort, and we’ve learned so much along the way!
A very special thank you to Jane Shanahan, our amazing pianist; Ian Burthem and Chris Wilkinson, who helped create magical backdrops; Claire Garside and Kylei Howell, who work tirelessly behind the scenes with just about everything; and Shannon and Jason From, who made our incredible mushroom props and provided lots of extra bits and bobs. And, of course, to the talented students of Class 6 — you are all truly wonderful!
Yes, we're a little nervous – but mostly, we're excited. We've loved every minute of preparing, and we can't wait to share all the laughter, music, and magic with you. We have already performed for some peers, teachers and parents and have had a wonderful time.
Don’t miss your chance to see the last performance in the Performance Room tonight at 6pm sharp. We hope you’ll follow the White Rabbit and fall down the rabbit hole with us — it's going to be a performance to remember!
Aimee Waller
Class 6 Maar Keyen Teacher
Soft Handwork
Class 1: warm scarves for this cold weather and recorder bags that students will use to protect their recorders.
Class 2: radiant rainbow balls and darling dolls.
Class 3: crochet projects.
Class 4 have been learning how to cross stitch and have completed their practice piece.
Sustainability
Terracycle Update
We are excited to share with you our updated Terracycle Poster. A reminder that both the Skin Care and Oral Care FREE programs have closed.
Don’t let this stop your recycling efforts! The majority of skin and oral care packaging have now switched and to a HDPE which is accepted via kerbside recycling services, while the plastic lids can go at our Recycling Hub.
Plastic Free Term Three
Have you noticed that independent supermarkets have a growing number of loose items for purchase? My latest finds are loose strawberries, cherry tomatoes and even biscuits. Opting for a sustainable home compostable plastic-free bag is so satisfying!
If you have any ideas or suggestions we’d love to hear them, keep in touch at sustainability.circle@hotmail.com.
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 and contact details) 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 on 0402 730 490
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 WCSS kindergarten parent Sam on 0434 618 735/admin@rhemabuilding.com or visit their website to learn more.
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, allowing you to find joy, peace and bliss. To learn more about breathwork contact WCSS kindergarten parent, Giulia on 0451 119 102.
Run by WCSS Woodwork Specialist, Yolanda Millar, Yol Creative provides workshops for anyone wanting to explore their artistic side. 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.
WCSS parent and author, Nicole Watts has a Bachelor of Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts. Nicole's book, Little Bundle of Sorrow, is a collection of women's stories of postnatal depression. Find out more at her website.
Community News
A house in the Pinakarri Community is for sale for the first time in 25 years!
We are looking for community-loving buyers to join our wonderful Community in Hamilton Hill, close to the beach. https://www.pinakarri.org.au/
Click here to view the listing online and find out more!
Weekly Events
Market Day: Tuesdays 3.05pm
Craft Group: Thursdays 12.45pm at The Hub
Yarning Circle: Wednesdays 8.40am at The Hub
Weeding Wednesday: Wednesday 8.45am - 9.45am
Golden Threads
Monday-Friday 8.00am - 10.30am
Mon, Weds, Fri 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Thursday 1.30pm - 3.00pm