School Newsletter Term 3 Week 2

Kaya WCSS Community

Our new term has begun happily with the children very busy and involved with their learning as you will see in this newsletter. Despite the wintry cold, it is always warm and friendly here. Much gratitude to our Soup Day parent helpers for providing such warm and nourishing food and to our Hub staff and helpers for their sustaining hot drinks.

Understanding and supporting what we do at school is a really important aspect of education and taking time to do this will be very beneficial for your child. I encourage you to come along to our Curriculum Journey on Wednesday 13 September from 6.30pm to deepen your understanding of Steiner education. As well as being a lot of fun, this gives you the opportunity to really experience our unique Steiner curriculum in action and to ask questions of our very knowledgeable and dedicated staff.

As usual, my door is almost always open to you if there is anything you wish to chat about or feel welcome to come and join Vanessa and I with a cuppa at a Yarning Circle in The Hub on Wednesdays at 8.45am, held every week of term.

May your week be lived with warmth of heart,

With warmth

Jenny Dougan

SA/Principal

From Administration

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 procedure regarding the Non-Government School Census which is taken twice per year, in February and August.

 The census collects data about all students from age 3 to Year 12 and provides the community and the Australian Government with information about schools and students in Australia. The annual Census collects information about:  

• the numbers of students and staff
• students on a visa
• students with disability
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Census informs the My School website, helping parents and the community to learn more about Australian schools. The data collected highlights some of the needs of each school’s students. The Australian Government also uses this Census data to calculate funding and to create informed and tailored policies for Australian Schools.

Given the Census informs funding, and therefore school budgeting, it is important to notify your school in advance of a prolonged absence such as an extended trip overseas.

Click the link below to read the full privacy statement.

Family Commitment Hours Opportunities

This newsletter section includes special Family Commitment Hours projects but there are many other ways to help out and claim hours including joining the WCSSCA Committee, gardening, volunteering at Golden Threads or the Library, monitoring Kiss 'n' Drive, baking for various events and attending talks on Steiner education. Voluntering at school provides many benefits beyond FCH.

PAINTING PROJECT

We are looking for someone to paint the back exterior wall facing the oval in our school palette. All materials are provided. If this is the job for you please contact Audrey - 9440 1771 / financeofficer@wcss.wa.edu.au

Rose Kindy Gazebo Refurbishment

This gazebo was made as a gift by a previous Class 6 and is overdue for some special attention. We are looking for a volunteer/s to sand, oil, paint and repair where necessary. Please email finance@wcss.wa.edu.au if you would like to do one or all of the above! 

Blackboard Beauty

Early Childhood

Finger Knitting in Early Childhood

By Vanessa Fountain

Every year in the kindergarten we offer the opportunity to learn how to finger knit.  We begin the process by introducing finger knitting through verse and an imaginative picture of a bird finding a worm.  Once the basic finger knitting is mastered, we teach the children to “join” the wool – a process where fine motor skills separate the filaments of each end of the wool, the two are intertwined and then with the aid of water and soap are felted to form a single strand…… no need for knots or joins. The children then continue to “knit”, joining new colours as they go. The colour palettes and choices give us yet another tool/indication towards understanding and unravelling the wonderous mystery of the human being before us. We delight in meeting aspects of the child through their work.

The children who are four turning five may dip in and out of it throughout the year. Some of the children will be content to immerse themselves in other forms of play, others will pick it up and put it down multiple times before mastering their sweet fingers and others will pick it up immediately as if it were second nature.  At this age there is no time frame other than that which is right for the child. We save each precious piece of finger knitting and it may be made into a necklace with a bead or a bell. It may become ties for a cubby or perhaps a shell for a little turtle. This year there has been an explosion in the turtle population with friends knitting with friends, little ones sitting with older children, it has been delightful to see. Now in second semester those who would like to are finger knitting pony reins for outside play. There is plenty of time, it is not a race or a competition. Like everything in our education, it is about the process and the depth and beauty of that process.

In the following year, the children who are five turning six continue their finger knitting journey by developing their ease, consistency, and speed. This practice culminates in enough finger knitted yarn to make their very own beanie.  This is a semester long process that requires eye-hand coordination, concentration, and perseverance. It builds dexterity and strength in the many small muscles of the hand, fingers, and thumb – skills that are essential for later handwriting.

For the six-year-olds, having completed their beanies, they are now extending their dexterity by learning to weave fabric with sticks and wool. But more of that in the coming weeks.

Craft time is a wonderfully social time, a time for sharing and laughter but in an atmosphere of industry. Small wiggling bodies become still and focused as the concentration on the fine muscles of the hands allow the gross muscles of the body to step into the background and give way to a deep, settled stillness. Previously learned skills of pom pom making for chicks and hares at Easter can now be revisited to create a pom pom to adorn the beanie if desired.

As the last stitches are put in place by loving teachers and EAs, we look forward to sending turtles (for the little ones who chose to do this) and beanies (for the six-year-olds) home. More necklaces, ties and turtles will follow as their little makers discover the wonder and delight of their clever fingers - fingers that will one day create, heal, discover, and tenderly hold all that these dear souls have as seeds within them. These seeds, we as parents and teachers now protect, make time for, nurture and cherish.

Do you have friends or family with little ones aged 0-18 months? We have spaces available in our Bina Baby Group for Term 4. Trial sessions are offered by pre-arrangement.  enrolments@wcss.wa.edu.au

Primary News

Class 1 has been passionately exploring Ancient World Tales during the initial weeks of Term 3. Through this journey, we have gained valuable insight into the daily lives of people on farms or in villages, as well as learning about ancient crafts and trades from different parts of the world. By engaging in hands-on activities, we have been able to bring each story to life.

Last week the children heard a traditional European moral story “Stone Soup”. It has been passed down through generations to teach that sharing and caring for those around us is a normal aspect of life. When we take care of each other, we are able to lead a more fulfilling life, just like the villagers had a fulfilling meal because they decided to share their provisions. In continuation of the story, the children in class prepared a nutritious soup. They washed, peeled, chopped and added vegetables to a large silver pot set out in the middle of our classroom. The soup was enjoyed afterwards at lunch with crispy bread.

Main Lesson Books are filled with carefully written words and illustrations as the children create their own readers.

Lunchtimes have been very colourful lately, with Class 1 enjoying outdoor chalk drawings. Using up all the many smaller pieces of chalk left from the Teacher's work, they create the most beautiful images and grind the fine-coloured powder with the remaining pieces.

One of our students shared an inspiring story about finding a letter from a fairy in their mailbox all the way from Ireland. This inspired the children to build their very own fairy house in our garden. They decorated it with fresh flowers, painted rocks, and a large handwritten sign, making it look very welcoming.

Wishing everyone a productive and enjoyable Term 3!

Warm Regards,

Kasia Rymarczyk

Class 1/Keyen Teacher

Class 3

We are excited to share with you the latest adventure in our learning journey –the fascinating world of measurement and it's not just about inches and centimetres; we're travelling back in time to ancient civilizations and their intriguing measurement units.

We began with the 'cubit.' A cubit was the length of a forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and was widely used in ancient times for various construction projects, including Noah’s ark and the pyramids.  We looked at the hand span, the inch which was the width of a man’s thumb, and the yard the distance from the nose to the outstretched fingers.

Class 3 listened to a story about a king who wanted to make a bed for his dear wife the queen.  He carefully measured and informed the carpenter that the bed should be six feet long and three feet wide.  Unfortunately, the carpenter gave the job to the apprentice who was a little man with very small feet.  The dilemma of using one’s own body to measure became very apparent and Class 3 were very interested to learn how these personal units of measurement evolved into the standard units we use today, illustrating the practical nature of mathematics and its intricate relationship with history and culture.

We learnt how measurements varied across cultures and periods, leading us to the era of King Henry I of England. The famous 'King’s Ruler' or 'King's Foot,' as it was known, is believed to have been derived from the length of King Henry I's arms and feet.  We have made our own rulers, carefully sanded and marked them and have measured just about everything that we can think of.

Donna Shaw

Dambart/Class 3 Teacher

Class 5

We are off to a lovely start for Term 3, enjoying the continuation of our Botany Main Lesson, which has included a tasty immersion in the magical world of mycelium (fungi) and algae. Students enjoyed sampling ten varietals of fruiting body (mushrooms) and the sustainable food of the future, wakame seaweed. We have learned how to do scientific research and worked in pairs to share summaries of our findings with the class about marvellous mosses, likeable lichen and spectacular spermatophytes (conifers). We have created Fibonacci ferns, wax models of pine cones, and created handmade paper which we will sew into botanical observation watercolour booklets. Today we began our study of phenomenal flowers with the story of how Goethe and Schiller solved their differences over a mutual love of the flower.

In literacy, we are working on the Roots project, an autobiographical research project about our family tree, family origins, global migration histories, autobiographies and self-portraits. In numeracy, we have learned how to find averages and create pie charts and graphs, and are using these new skills to track our progress as we undertake our training for the Greek Olympics. As you can tell, we are keeping very busy. After all, we are Olympians in the making! 

Elaine Meyer

Maar/Class 5 Teacher

Class 6  

SAVE THE DATE - Book Week is coming! 

Each year, across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating Children's Book Week. Australian children’s literature enriches our nation and reaches children across the world. It is a special time when we acknowledge the huge role books - both fiction and nonfiction - play in our lives. This year the theme is ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’.
On Thursday August 24 we will conduct a parade (9am) and assembly (9.30am) to showcase our favourite book characters. Students are encouraged to design, construct and wear a costume to school. We encourage the students to take ownership of this process, although they may require some assistance with the construction!
The chosen character should support our school values: there is beauty and goodness in the world, and we all play a role is preserving this.
The school-appropriate book must be brought in with your child to share with the class.
Please avoid movie characters, or those which may scare younger students. There is a fun parade in the morning, and we wish to be conscious of all members of our community.
Making costumes together is more fun and sustainable than buying one, so now is a great time to get creative as a family!
Family members are welcome to join us in dressing up.
Some guidelines:
All Primary students are encouraged to participate.
Characters from books with screen adaptations are permitted, however we encourage students to use their imagination when creating a costume to bring these characters to life.
Keep it simple. Re-purposing of existing materials is preferred.
A copy of the book or a recreation of the front cover must be included.

WCSS is committed to fostering a nourishing environment for all students and we appreciate your support in this fun endeavour during Book Week 2023!

Music

We started Term 3 with a bang! On Thursday of Week 1 we had a Strings' Assembly, where Class 4, 5 and 6 performed individual class pieces and all together as an orchestra. It was the first string performance as a class in front of a big audience for Class 4, so they were a little bit nervous but they did a wonderful job. Class 5 sounded fantastic in their last rehearsal on Monday, but unfortunately were missing some cellists on the morning of the performance so their piece did not have the same effect, but all the students persevered and did their best to pull the performance together. Class 6 played their piece 'Legionary' with a lot of energy and excitement! ‘Nullarbor’ performed by the whole orchestra sounded beautiful and ‘King Bruce’s Spider’ was a favourite for many of the younger children in the audience who loved the fast pace and foot stomps in the piece. The String Orchestra is now working toward their next performance at the ABODA Junior Orchestra Festival in September.

Class 3 had an exciting start to the term. After trying out the violin, viola and cello at the end of Term 2 they got to choose which instrument they most wanted to play. Students from Class 6 generously donated their time to demonstrate how their instruments sound when they are played, and to let the students try out their instruments. I was able to give each student in Class 3 their first or second preference.

In Week 1 of Term 3 all students had their first violin, viola or cello lesson and also their first session of Class Ensemble rehearsal. Students came to their lessons eager to learn a new instrument and all did a wonderful job following instructions and plucking the strings. The bow will get introduced in a few weeks when all the students are confident in their knowledge of the strings. All the students practised after their lessons and the class sounded fantastic during their Class Ensemble rehearsal on Monday of Week 2. They are lucky to have a Teacher in Donna who absolutely loves to play the violin.

The Choir had two wonderful performances in the last week of Term 2, singing beautifully at the Makuru Winter Festival and again the very next day at a Choir Assembly. I was proud of how well they sang together. Their performance of ‘Percy’, a song about Percy Button whose statue stands in the city was especially moving. The Choir is now working on new songs in preparation for the next Choir Assembly which will take place in Week 9 of this term.

Cristina Filgueira

Strings Specialist

Indonesian

Dear  Families,

Indonesia is celebrating its 78^th Independence Day on August 17 and we will be holding a cake stall on Tuesday, August 15 to raise funds for our Sister School in Bali.

Class 5 will be running the cake stall at Market Day and would appreciate any donations of healthy homebaked goods. 1 hour of FCH can be claimed for baking.

The Indonesian flag is red and white.  If possible, cakes or muffins could have those colours using natural ingredients only (berry juices, strawberries, cream, yoghurt button), but this is not essential.

Thank you for your support for our Languages programme.

Viola Sacher

Indonesian Teacher

Handwork

Class 3 are working on their beautiful and very functional pencil cases using the double crochet stitch. The next step is to learn the treble stitch and then the learning swatch is  put to good use as a pocket for the student's pencil case.  These creative students can choose where to place and attach the pocket. 

Class 5 worked together to knit a shawl as a farewell gift for Holly.  We used the wool that Holly dyed in Term 1.

Woodwork

WCSS Community Association

Dear Community,

Soup Day

There is only one delicious Soup Day left to enjoy this year,  next Wednesday August 2. Please remember to pack a cup and spoon for your child.

Volunteers are still needed to keep this lovely service alive. Many hands make light work so if you can help with preparation or serving, please sign up on the roster located on the noticeboard near the staff room or contact Claire on 0422544945.

All food handlers need to complete a City of Stirling approved course such as I’m Alert. Course certificates then need to be submitted to the office. One Family Commitment Hour can be claimed for completing the course, as well as any additional hours volunteering for soup day. Please bring in any unwanted #300ml jars to the office for leftover soup.

Weeding Wednesdays

Welcome Weeding Wednesdays at the Hub! Every Wednesday after drop off everyone, young and old and inbetween, are encouraged to help keep our special Hub space and garden beautiful. Even if you only have 10 minutes to pull a few weeds or gather some fallen sticks every little bit helps, you can do as much or as little as you like.

 If you can’t make it on Wednesdays then once a month on Saturdays, starting Saturday August 5 from 9am you can come along to our Hub Garden busy bees. All garden volunteering is claimable for Family Commitment Hours.

Kambarang Fair & Open Day

Planning has started for our annual Kambarang Fair & Open Day! Class carers will be in touch soon about how you can get involved. Craft kits are now available from Sarah at Playgroup for you to complete at home. Family Commitment Hours claimable.

Golden Threads Stall

Volunteers are needed to help with setting up, serving during the day, and packing down for the Golden Threads Stall at the Perth Waldorf Open Day, from 8am to 4pm on Saturday 26^th August. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Please contact Ayla at the Hub. Family Commitment Hours claimable.

With kindness and community,

Rachael

(Class 1 Parent)

Sustainability

The Recycling Hub is all set up again so remember to bring your items to school to recycle. Unfortunately, we can no longer accept batteries but there are plenty of places where these can be dropped off. Click here for a battery recycling location finder. 

We have iPaper Saver notebooks for sale at Reception for just $25.00. Reduce waste and reuse paper - made with premium vegan leather, write your notes and ideas on upcycled used paper.

Also remember our clothing bin with diverts 100% of clothing and accessories received from landfill and also raises money for the school. Donations can be left at Reception.

Would you like to contribute to the sustainbility of our school and community? Come along to our next meeting!

Alumni Focus

How was the transition to high school?

I thought that the transition from a Steiner school would be more difficult due to the fact that I did not use computers at WCSS. I thought that I would struggle with school related technology at high school and that I might be behind in some of the main subjects like maths, English and science. However I've learnt very quickly how to use computers as it was very easy and I'm actually doing very well in all my subjects. 

What are the main things that are different?

The most noticeable difference is the requirement to wear a uniform every day and a set class timetable for each week that repeats for the whole semester. My new school is also around 10 times bigger than WCSS as it has over 2000 students! 

What do you think you learnt/helped from WCSS?

I think WCSS developed my abilities to make lasting friendships, to absorb knowledge and pay attention in class as well as to extend my memorising skills. My primary school developed my imagination and creativity which gave me a good base from which to draw on now when I am asked to prepare presentations and write essays. 

What did you enjoy about your time at WCSS?

I absolutely loved my teacher Renee who taught me for the whole 6 years which allowed me to create a deep bond with her. I appreciated Renee's teaching style which linked the theory with practical ways of learning, for example when we were learning about the Solar system we blew up balloons, connected them with a string to the "Sun" and imitated the movements of the planets on the oval.     

All the festivals and possibilities to hold your own stall is also something I really enjoyed at WCSS. I still come back to participate in them!

What do you enjoy about High School?

I like my new timetable, frequent tests and assignments which keep me motivated and academically challenged. I enjoy using my laptop for the opportunities it gives to create presentations and compete with classmates in online math games. I also like the variety of classrooms dedicated to different subjects like cooking, science and physical education. 

Jasmine Olejnik

WCSS Class of 2022

Community News

Class 1 2023 Lyre Fundraising – Sockable

To help raise funds for our Lyre project, Class 1 has signed up to Sockable. Sockable is a small Australian owned business with a mighty mission to make a social impact. Follow the below link to the order page to view all the funky socks available. At checkout all you need to do is select the fundraiser from the drop down as West Coast Steiner School. Here’s to cosy cute tootsies!

https://sockable.com.au/socks

Are you interested in how art evolved in the Western world? How the journey of humanity is revealed in Ancient art? Join Anthony Macleod, artist and teacher, for 6 x 2-hour sessions to explore ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece in art, sculpture and architecture. Bring some basic art materials to sketch or paint your response to this fascinating subject.

Each session is just $10 held at the Hub 6163, Hamilton Hill. Starting Wednesday 2nd August 7 - 9 pm.

For more info, call Anthony on  0403759306 or book at:

https://www.trybooking.com/CJRRS

Coming Events

JULY

Monday 31: Sunflower Parent Meeting 6.00pm

AUGUST

Tuesday 01: Sustainability Group Meeting 8.45am in  The Hub

Wednesday 02: Soup Day, Rose Kindy Parent Meeting 3.15pm

Thursday 03: Rainbow Kindy Parent Meeting 1.30pm

Monday 07: Class 4 Excursion

Wednesday 09: WCSSCA Meeting 1.30pm

Thursday 10: Class 4 Play

Friday 11: Class 2 Lyre Ceremony 9.00am

SAVE THE DATE: Book Week Parade - Thursday August 24, 9.00am

For further Term Dates check the school website calendar.

WEEKLY

Market Day: Tuesdays 3.05pm

Craft Group: Thursdays 12.30pm at The Hub

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

Yarning Circle: Wednesdays 8.40am at The Hub

Parent and Staff Singing Circle: Wednesdays 3.15pm at the Picnic Tree

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

Golden Threads
Monday-Friday 8.00am-10.30am
Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri 2.00pm-3.30pm
Thursday 1.30pm - 3.00pm