School Newsletter Welcome to Term 4

Kaya WCSS Community

Kaya WCSS Community

I hope you have been enjoying some lovely family holidays. The Kambarang weather is delighting us with mostly warm sunny days, interspersed with a few cooler Wintry conditions. We are enjoying this changing season with its signs of birth and renewal all around us and our school gardens are bursting with beauty and colour to welcome you all back on Tuesday for a joyful and busy Term 4.

Planning is well underway for our Kambarang Fair and Open Day on Saturday October 28. We hope you will all be involved in making this a special day. Please see sign-up sheets or contact your Class Carer to find out how you can help. We really need everyone to be involved and it’s a wonderful opportunity to use some of your Family Commitment Hours.

This term we have camps for Classes 4-6, which will be very exciting, several excursions, more Class Plays and another five-week Eurythmy Intensive with Nicole. Parent Study Group is held every Friday at 9am in The Hub, Staff/Parent Singing Circle is offered again after school on Wednesdays, Market Day continues each Tuesday afternoon, Yarning Circle is held every Wednesday morning in The Hub and Parent Craft sessions are held with Sarah on Thursday afternoons in The Hub. There are so many opportunities to become involved in the life of our school and to make some new friends in the process.

We were so excited to find out in the holidays that we had been successful in receiving quite a large community arts grant from the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries (DLGSC). This will enable us to form a partnership in November with Rivergods, an Indonesian Arts Organisation which will bring the Indonesian art forms of Gamelan and Wayang (shadow puppets) to our children and community in the form of workshops and performances. More about that in the next few weeks.

We conclude the term with Class 6 Graduation and the Kindy 6 Crowning Ceremony on Monday 11 December and the Christmas Markets on the final day, Tuesday 12 December. What a lot of lovely things there are to celebrate!

I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter to find out some of the wonderful things which took place at the end of Term 3. I am very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday and remind you that I am always happy to meet with you to discuss ideas or concerns or to answer any questions.

May your week be lived with warmth of heart and gratefulness,

Jenny Dougan

Principal

From Administration

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.

Early Childhood

Our Daily Tasks

It has sometimes been the observation or the comment from parents that their child will pack away at Kindy but not do the same at home. Or getting ready to go to school or another event often becomes a mini drama, as the children want to keep ‘playing’ rather than get ready. This is a recurrent theme or point of discord in most families.

In our Kindergarten program daily chores are seen as part of our curriculum. We pack away together, we will sing a song as we do so, and it is done with care and satisfaction for a job well done. In the beginning not all children know what to do or may find the task overwhelming. For these children a smaller job is given, or they do the task with an adult. The important element is that it is done everyday, and time is scheduled to allow this to happen, so it is not rushed but a planned and important part of the day.

Other tasks the children contribute to daily are setting the table for morning tea, clearing their bowl and glass, wiping the table and putting their scrapes into the compost bucket. Throughout the week different activities may require additional ‘helpers’ such as wiping the paint marks off the painting boards (see attached photo). Or drying the paint jars, sorting the coloured crayons, sharpening the pencils, folding the tea towels, sweeping the floor. The children enjoy contributing and being seen as capable members of the class.

In a family it is no different, they need to also be seen as capable contributors at home. Often our need to get things done and on time, stop us from letting or inviting our children join us in our daily tasks. Life is busy these days, but it will become busier if we don’t allow or expect our children to help in the day-to-day tasks at home. The imitative forces that drive child development don’t just stop at 2 years old they continue through to the ages 6 –7 years. Children, however, not only notice what we do, but how we do it and the attitude we bring to these tasks.

“It is not moral preaching and not reasoned instruction that work on children in the right way: that which works is what the adults in their surroundings do visibly before their eyes.”  Rudolf Steiner

Our daily tasks sustain us – food preparation, personal and domestic hygiene, care of our homes and of each other, it is a large part of our lives. These activities are best shared and done each in accordance to our abilities, but shared nonetheless.

These days much is said about ‘quality’ time we have with our children, mistaking it for ‘special’ time eg., going to special places and investing in other activities. Quality time really is measured by how truly present one is with our children while supporting their developmental needs. Connection occurs when we immerse ourselves in life activities – activities that nurture and sustain life.

So maybe instead of saying what am I going to do with the kids today? We could say – what needs to be done and include our capable helpers!

Karen Weeramanthri

Gungarra Kindergarten

Primary News

Sharing the Journey

Last term the school ran its annual Curriculum Journey. This is an experiential evening where our community can participate and gain insight into the children’s classrooms and the curriculum that informs it.  This year I have been consciously taking the beginners mind, revisiting the foundations of Waldorf education, questioning assumptions, and challenging habitual ways of seeing and being. Having participated in so many curriculum evenings over the decades I decided to go undercover so to speak, to look through new eyes, to experience what a parent might experience and to see the teachers not as colleagues and friends but to really look anew. The undercover bit did not go so well, my colleagues are far too inclusive for that, but what I did see reaffirmed so many of the tenets that have made Steiner education my life work.

The first picture that formed was just how important this evening is to the teachers. So much preparation, all wanting to do justice to a curriculum that they know heals, inspires, and transforms. Everyone prepared themselves differently. One teacher rehearsed and rehearsed try to pull a lifetime of work into their allotted timeslot. Two talked and laughed trying to distract themselves, another sat in quiet – centring themselves and their nerves. Others checked and rechecked they had everything they needed after a full, stormy spring day with the children. I watched all approach their task differently, but all held the importance of the task. They present to the children everyday bringing new content with grounded artistry, inspiration, and flair and yet they were nervous. I remembered the trust that a teacher builds with their class. The safe place where teacher and students can put down the armour of the world and allow the content of the curriculum to speak from heart to heart. It is a safe place to make mistakes and grow together. But I could see that this was a vulnerable place for a teacher to be, to bear their heart and passion for the children and Waldorf education with only 15 minutes each to bring a year of the curriculum to life and inspire the community – and all after a full day of teaching.

One never knows just how many people will attend the evening but with gale force winds forecast I wasn’t hopeful of a large turnout.  Thankfully we had a lovely group of beautiful souls who braved the weather to attend.

There were six main themes that stood out for me from the evening. Goodness, Beauty, Truth, The Natural world, Music and the consistent, heartfelt plea from the teachers to protect the children from the damaging and counter curricula impact of screen time and media. This message was repeated in every presentation as a call for support, a rallying to enable our curriculum and teachers to connect deeply with the children for their highest good and the good of the world.

We saw how goodness, truth and beauty inform and transform the curriculum as the child moved up from early childhood and into the primary school. The teachers spoke to the developmental phases and the ways in which the curriculum meets these phases and stages. They spoke of the changing role of the teachers and parents in the child’s journey to maturity and how the class teacher reinvents themselves every year to meet these needs.  They gave insight into how the parent who understands these phases can predict and pre-empt them, staying grounded and in relationship. All the teachers spoke of the importance of the curriculum in establishing a strong and healthy relationship to the natural world for the well being of all.

I realised that as long-time educators we can take so much for granted and even become blase to what is so magical and a major point of difference in our educational approach. The classrooms, although different were all beautiful and inspiring and every classroom and presentation offered music in one form or another. A verse for craft and knitting, a dance and even an amazing song written by the students to show the difference between dicotyledon and monocotyledon – teachers and parents alike were so impressed by the richness and the depth of the education our children are receiving from passionate colleagues/teachers. The parents were greeted by guitar playing and to close, the teachers sang for the parents, just as music and joy weave their way through the children’s school day.

As a long-time teacher one of the great joys when teaching is the beautiful, open, wonder filled and free faces of the children as they are immersed in and guided through the curriculum. What I saw in each teacher who presented was the same glowing, awe filled, open look. It occurred to me that we are all just mirrors for each other, and our task is to be worthy. Truly our teachers are worthy. I feel great love and appreciation for the goodness, the beauty and the truth that lives in all our teachers. It was a profound insight into the experience of the child, the wisdom of the curriculum and the quality of our teachers.

So, who is the curriculum journey for?

• It is for new and prospective parents of the mother and baby group, the kindergarten, and the primary school to come and find out more about Waldorf/Steiner education.
• It is for existing parents, to deepen their understanding of the curriculum and the year their child is immersed in. Every teacher brings a unique perspective and experience of the curriculum to the children and the community.
• It is for our community to celebrate the wonderful, committed and extremely talented educators we are blessed to have in our school.
• It is to celebrate a curriculum that has the potential to heal our world and provide a new way of being for future generations.

MAKE A NOTE IN YOUR DIARY

You are warmly invited to our next Curriculum journey which will be in Term 1 of 2024.

Come and join us in the celebration.

Warmly,

Vanessa Fountain

Rose Kindergarten

Class 1

In the past few weeks, our class has been exploring the natural environment through stories and observations of the flora and fauna around us. We have been immersing ourselves in nature every day, gardening, planting, and interacting with small creatures. We even had a special excursion to Kings Park where we learned about the Marri tree growth cycle. During a practice lesson, we built creative nests using clay, twigs, and leaves. We also made flower presses to preserve delicate petals. Our class has been observing and learning from the birds in the garden. We see the brown honeyeaters working in small family groups, the crafty ravens solving complicated problems, the wattlebirds becoming aggressive and bullying smaller birds, and the red-tailed cockatoos expressing themselves loudly. The birds' behaviour reflects human traits and adds to the richness of our social world, influencing our own behaviour choices in the classroom and on the playground. This term has been an amazing opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of our local environment, and we look forward to continuing our journey of learning.

Kasia Rymarczyk

Class 1/Keyen Teacher

Class 2 Play

Class 2 & Class 3 Excursion to Lesmurdie Falls

Class 4

Night Safari

Class 4 went on an exciting trip to the zoo! But it was not an ordinary zoo trip. We entered the Perth Zoo after hours, nobody else was around! Using a night light, we walked through the African Safari enclosures investigating the night activity of these fascinating creatures. To our absolute amazement (and terror) the lion padded right up to the glass so that we were only centimetres away from his face and let out a fierce roar! He then proceeded to move to his high up pride rock where he could survey his territory and protect his pride letting out another ferocious roar! It was absolutely a thrilling highlight to our zoo experience! We ventured to the zoo for this Night Safari tour as part of our Animal Main Lesson were we learn all about the fascinating world of the Animal Kingdom!

Aimee Waller

Class 4/Koodjal Koodjal Teacher

Class 5

Class 5 concluded their West Australian History and Geography lesson by designing a geometric form incorporating Aboriginal Iconography typically used on message sticks, artworks and petroglyphs. We then painted these using 5 different ochres (natural earth pigments) from Mowanjum in the Kimberleys.

Using our compasses, the design evenly divided our circles into curved convex-concave wedges. We added 3 smaller internal circles at even intervals. Our central circle contains our fire symbol. In the next circle are the symbols for adults and children seated around the fire. In the circle behind them, each child has a coolamon or boomerang. Men have a club or a spear and woomera. Women have a wanna stick. In the outer circle are the symbols for the animals, insects or bush tucker that they bring to the kaarl (fire). In the corners are symbols representing weather or topography.

This is our first time working with ochre, which has been used for tens of thousands of years by First Nations People here, and we were honoured by this opportunity. We were amazed by how strong the colours were from just a tiny amount of powder. We have been taking botanical watercolour lessons with Jayne, and we now feel confident to include ochre in our artworks as well when we begin to paint the next Elder Cliff Humphries Noongar Dreamtime story. More on that later! 

Elaine Meyer

Maar/Class 5 Teacher

Class 6

Why do we find seashells on the mountain tops?  

 A question that generated a lot of interest and debate in the times past has come alive yet again in our classroom. In the last Main Lesson of the term, The Seashell on the Mountain Tops, we focused on the geology of the planet. 

Through this mineralogy block, students learned about the physical structure of the earth, the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, and some of the common minerals and crystalline structures. As always, Waldorf education provides deep learning through hands-on discovery and experience. Student work included drawings of various geological formations, written summaries,  identifying rock samples, oral presentations and lots of wonderful discussions!

Ramneek Kaur

Maar Keyen/Class 6 Teacher

Class 6 Assembly Leaders

Indonesian

With have received a lovely thank you from our Sister School for the recent fundraising (see video below). Students are thrilled with the books purchased with the funds. Thank you to all who baked for the Market Day Fundraiser.

Music

Term 3 has been a fantastic one for music at WCSS. Class 3 started to learn how to play string instruments and made such good progress that they had already learned how to use their first finger by the end of the term! They play well together as a class and create a beautiful big sound.

Class 4, 5, and 6 had a big performance in Week 8, heading to the ABODA Junior Orchestra Festival at Churchlands Senior High School. The students in the WCSS Orchestra worked diligently to learn their parts and their dedication paid off. The Orchestra played beautifully and got wonderful feedback from the adjudicators. At the conclusion of their performance they were able to have a brief on-stage workshop with one of the adjudicators, Anne Sweeney. Anne worked with the Orchestra to give them some ideas on how they could make their performance of the pieces even better! We had a wonderful experience and got two great orchestra photos taken, one serious one, and one more silly one.

In Week 9 the students in Classes 4, 5 and 6 performed again, this time as part of the Choir. Choir assembly is always a pleasure for me, as the students create a beautiful wash of sound when their voices are joined together. As always, the Choir performed a varied program of three pieces. Up first was the song “Mexican Woodpecker” which was paired with a challenging rhythmic ostinato, made more difficult by being in a different time signature than the melody of the song. This was followed by the beautiful partner song that we know by the name “Irish Blessing”. This song is a firm favourite for the whole school and it’s not difficult to see why. The performance concluded with the song “Lifeline” which tells the story of C. Y. O’Connor and the water pipeline to Kalgoorlie. The Choir was accompanied by Elaine on the piano and I was impressed with the sound they created. If you missed their performance of “Lifeline” you can see it again at the Open Day in Term 4.

Cristina Filgueira

Strings Specialist

Woodwork

Handwork

Sustainability

Sustainability Tips

In a recent sustainability meeting, we were sharing how we do recycling in our homes.  I have a compost bin on the kitchen bench for all food scraps, pencil sharpening, egg cartons, cardboard bread tags, etc.  This is emptied into one of three compost bins (Tumbleweed from Bunnings $55 - $62) dotted around the garden. Once one is full we move onto the next one, giving it time for the worms to come in and do their bit.  In my appliance cupboard is a recycled yoghurt container and anything that needs to come to school for recycling goes in there.  I do need to monitor the rubbish and the regular recycling.  Teenage boys seem remarkably resistant to constant badgering about apple cores in the compost bin and rinsing milk bottles and removing lids,  but on the whole it works well.

Kind regards

Vanessa Beesley

WCSS Community Association

Dear Community,

Springtime is here, and with it comes our annual school Kambarang Fair and Open Day! The Fair kicks off at 10:00am on Saturday, 28th October, and finishes at 3:00pm. It is the largest event of the school year, so we need all hands and hearts involved, starting now! The Fair is a compulsory school day, with Monday, 30th October, being a pupil fee day.

Our vision for the fair is to create a warm, welcoming, dynamic, educational, and engaging event for our school and the wider community. There will be our unique storytelling, lessons, natural activities, school tours, crafts, stalls, food, and music for all to take part in and enjoy.

Each year group from Kindy to Class 6 has a parent lead activity around the school. You will be given your class allocated tasks this week, and there will be both an online roster and a hard copy roster on your classroom noticeboard. So please find a role that inspires you and add your name!

There are beautiful Kambarang Fair posters and flyers available at the office now. Stop by and help spread the word by pinning them up and around at your place of work, local shopping centre, sports centre… and hand them out to your family, friends, and neighbours!

For our craft stall we need more hands to make our adorable felt and knitted animals. You can collect a craft kit or two to take home from Sarah at playgroup or join her at craft group on Thursdays at 12:30pm in the Hub.

As nature blossoms all around us so can we as a community. The Kambarang Fair and Open Day is the perfect opportunity to connect and embrace our wonderful school by working together with hearts and hands.

With kindness in community,

Rachael

(Class 1 Parent)

Posters are available now at Reception (and you can share the PDF below and Facebook Event) - please take a couple to pin up in your area or share through your networks and help spread the word.This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and a great way to show off our school.

Community News

Information for Parents/Carers/the wider school community

Dear Parents/Carers/community member

Steiner Education Australia (SEA) is supporting all Steiner schools in Australia with the development of parent education resources that you, and our school can use to enhance our shared understanding of Steiner education and aspects of your child’s journey through school.

To ensure that any resources developed meet the needs of the Steiner community, SEA has created a short survey. The survey is anonymous, and your feedback will be used by SEA to develop parent education programs and resources.

We would very much appreciate your input. There are only 4 questions, and the survey should only take a few moments of your time.

You can access the survey via this link, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YQ9DF9Q

If you have any questions about the survey, you can contact the SEA office at sea@steinereducation.edu.au or 02 9411 2579.

https://gofund.me/2768e67e

Coming Events

OCTOBER

Saturday 7: Busy Bee 8.00am

Tuesday 10: Term 4 starts

Tuesday 17: School Tour 9.15am

Save the Date: Saturday October 28 -Kambarang Fair and Open Day

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 2.30pm-3.30pm
Thursday 1.30pm - 3.00pm