School Newsletter Term 1 Week 8
Kaya WCSS Community
Kaya WCSS Community
Here we are at the end of our first term and what a wonderful term it has been! In this newsletter, you will find just a taste of some of the vibrant, creative, and complex activities and learning that occur in a Steiner school. Thank you to everyone involved in making this term such a happy and enriching time for all. Both teachers and students are greatly enjoying their learning experiences in these final weeks.
Our Celtic Dance was an especially memorable event. Class 2 performed with much joy and grace and our thanks goes to Class 2 parents for creating and holding this special festival for us. I hope you enjoy looking at the lovely photos in this newsletter.
This newsletter coincides with Harmony Week which celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and the richness and benefits this brings to all of us. We acknowledge that our school is very diverse and includes children from about 40 different cultural backgrounds and we love the unique flavour this gives to our community. We all enjoyed celebrating Harmony Day today with many children and staff dressing in clothes that reflect their cultural backgrounds and joining the morning parade. Class 5 enjoyed sharing their Bollywood dancing with parents and several classes enjoyed cooking and sharing food. Class 1 opened their room and excitedly shared their learning with parents and family members.
Huge thanks to WCSSCA and the parents who worked with such love on the renovation of the Hub. It was a real community effort, and the results are beautiful as you will see in this newsletter or better still, come along and see for yourself!
To our families undertaking Ramadan this month, Ramadan Kareem, blessings to you! To our families celebrating Easter soon, Happy Easter, and blessings to you all! May we all enjoy the opportunity to reflect on new life and renewal and may the holidays be filled with happiness and joy with much time for restoration and reconnection.
We look forward to seeing children and families back at school for Term 2 on Monday 15 April.
With warmth and gratitude to all our community for a great term’s work!
Jenny Dougan
School Administrator/Principal
Though much is changing, I stand strong
And in the darkness, shine.
For sleep, the plants and creatures long
But I have work divine.
For sun-seeds golden I'll be sowing,
Warmly from my heart's depth's glowing,
Into winter's icy flowing.
In the Light of a Child, Michael Hedley Burton
From Administration
Last weekend the WA State Government announced payments to parents and carers for children from Kindergarten to Class 12. Payments can be claimed via the ServiceWA App from April 15 using your child's WASN (WA Student Number). The student number can be found on NAPLAN results and smartriders or you can email reception@wcss.wa.edu.au.
Thank You
A huge thank you to our Class 2 community, teacher, students and families, for a joyful Celtic Dance last Friday night. Our festivals are carefully crafted to foster a sense of community and deepen the curriculum and experience for students. Whilst our Class 2 students practised diligently and performed bravely and proudly in front of a large audience, their families worked tirelesly with open hearts to offer our community a rich and enjoyable evening. Make sure to check out the beautiful photos from the evening in the Primary News section of this newsletter.
Congratulations Kasia!
Congratulations to our Class 2 Teacher, Kasia who completed the Port to Pub swim last Saturday - the morning after the Celtic Dance no less! The Port to Pub Marathon Swim is a 19.7km or 25km ultramarathon channel swim from North Fremantle to Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), and a massive achievement. We are so proud of your determination and dedication Kasia.
PARENT MIXER - COMMUNITY EVENT - SAVE THE DATE
As part of our Strategic Plan, and focus on community belonging and connection, we are delighted to annouce our 2024 Parent and Staff Mixer will be held at the Rose and Crown, Guildford on June 14 from 7.00pm.
Please save the date and note that RSVP is required due to limited spaces and catering.
The Rose and Crown
105 Swan Street
Guildford WA 6055
14 June 2024
7pm till late
Light nibbles provided, buy your own drinks.
Parent only event. RSVP below.
Early Childhood
Term 1 in Gumnut Kindergarten
It’s nearly holiday time and the little Gumnut children have been preparing for Easter by practising the ancient art of egg decoration! You may see us on our last day of this term, carefully carrying our artistic endeavours homewards, on a little stick we have collected during our first outing together to Nollamara Primary School Oval.
We have been watercolour painting too, the rich golden yolk of an egg, the endless cobalt blue sky above us, the green grass below, the radiant sun that shines down upon us all, and a ruby red magic ball that filled our page and then bounced off our paper. The Noongar season of Djeran will be with us soon bringing cooler nights and morning dew and the blossoming of the red flowering gumtree (Corymbia ficifolia). Next time we paint with red, perhaps we shall have a story about these beautiful flowers.
Wet-on-wet painting is introduced to children in kindergarten so that they can fully experience colour in a dreamy, fluid, almost formless way. The focus is on imitation, imagination and sensory experience with the intent of giving the young child an experience of colour filling the page. In Gumnut Kindy we paint using a single colour for a few weeks, before introducing the seemingly magical process of using two colours later on in the year. The children then delight, in discovering for themselves experientially, how red and yellow make orange etc.
We hope you enjoy these few photos showing us at work and play both inside, and outside in our garden, during our first term of kindergarten.
Wishing all families a safe and happy holiday time,
Love from all of us in Gumnut
Janet Happe
Gumnut Kindergarten Teacher
Well, the Easter hare can come in all shapes and sizes and for several years it has been Andy from Marchetti Fruits at the Stirling Farmers' Markets!
Over the years he has kindly supplied (without payment) our Kindergarten children with fresh crunchy red apples for our annual Easter hunt at the end of term. I thought it was long overdue to acknowledge this generosity and put a name (and a face!) to it.
So, on behalf of all the Kindergarten children and teachers at West Coast Steiner School we would like to say a big THANK YOU. The children love hunting for the apples which they later polish before taking home (if they get that far).
So, if you ever find yourself at the Stirling Farmers' Markets, Sunday morning 7.30am – 11.00am, go to Andy Marchetti Fruits (opposite the plant seller) and get yourself some delicious crunchy apples or pears. You won’t be disappointed.
HAPPY EASTER everyone!
Karen Weeramanthri
Former Gungarra Kindergarten Teacher
Virtues Project in Rainbow Kindy
Each week, the Rainbow children have been focusing on one virtue. We explore this virtue through stories in the library and conversations, integrating it into our daily activities. As their teachers, we keep the virtue of the week in our minds and hearts, seeking opportunities to embody it and model its essence. Last week, the chosen virtue was trust.
In the library, Liz shared a book that beautifully depicted trust. In class, the children discussed what trust feels like, acknowledging it as an inner sense that assures them everything will be okay. They expressed trust in their friends' kindness and inclusivity during play. Teachers reciprocated this trust in the children, fostering mutual respect and understanding. We likened trust to a crystal ball; when nurtured and maintained, it gleams as a precious treasure. However, if shattered, it requires time, effort, and patience to mend. While we encountered instances of broken trust, we also emphasised the importance of rebuilding it.
At this stage of their development, children are expanding their moral compass, making the exploration of virtues essential. By immersing them in positive virtues, we empower them to embody these qualities in their interactions. The language of virtues is specific, clear, and easily internalised, providing a framework for self-reflection and growth. “Naming a specific virtue is a call to the child’s character that resonates with their deepest self. The use of the virtue word “Purposefulness” is much more powerful than “Good girl. You are reading longer.” The child can then say, “I AM purposeful. I can be that way. I have it in me.” It’s in every one of us to be wise, to be purposeful, to be kind, to be self-disciplined, and verbal acknowledgement is one of the ways to bring it to our awareness” (Linda K. Popov).
We've been practising and observing the impact of acting with kindness, gentleness, joyfulness, and care. Each week, we witness countless examples of these virtues in action. I encourage our Rainbow families to continue exploring the virtue of the week at home. Simply noticing and acknowledging virtuous behaviour during the day, or incorporating discussions and activities around virtues into your routines, can deepen understanding and reinforce positive values in our children's lives.
Julia Noronha
Rainbow Kindergarten Teacher
Primary News
Class 2 Koodjal ~ The Celtic Dance 2024
Class 3 Dambart
Class 4 Koodjal Koodjal
The spirit of the Norse stories runs deep and continues to inspire Class 4 in many ways. Last week the children had a taste of working in the woodwork room, cutting round shields from square pieces of wood, and using rasps to round the edges. We sanded until the wood was silky smooth, requiring great will power when the designing and painting were beckoning and looking so inviting. Once the design was decided upon, we made sure it was centred, drew it on and finally painted. I was impressed with the balance of the children's designs and seeing them in all their glory was a treat for everyone. Next we will work on a sword - a necessity if you have a shield!
Donna Shaw
Class 4 Koodjal Koodjal Teacher
Class 5 Maar
Sculptures by the Sea
On March 5 the budding artists of Class 5 travelled by public transport on an intrepid adventure to Cottesloe for a great day full of sand, sun, and sculptures at the annual ‘Sculptures by the Sea’ exhibition. 71 artists from 14 countries put their masterpieces on display at the beautiful beach location. What a fun and exciting day in the sun, shoes off, chasing the gentle lapping waves at the shore, as the spectacular Indian Ocean meets the golden sands of the beach and being inspired by contemporary international artworks. Class 5 students closely examined the sculptures noting things like country of origin, materials used, artistic inspiration, techniques and sharing their opinions with each other. We were also lucky to participate in a workshop with Aboriginal artist Sharyn Egan after viewing her ‘Balga Boola -Bigsmob Balga’ sculpture. Sharyn led weaving workshops which the students were thoroughly engrossed in, and being Steiner students excelled at, learning contemporary weaving techniques to create the sprouting woven fronds of the Balga tree.
Aimee Waller
Class 5 Maar Teacher
Class 6 Maar Keyen
After a 6-week immersion in Ancient Rome, exploring how the foibles and follies of its leaders brought the world’s largest empire to its knees, we have now turned our curious minds towards the stars.
We kicked off our study of Astronomy with star-inspired art by Vincent Van Gough and poetry by Robert Frost. We then examined the origins of Astronomy through the symbols and creation stories of Australian Aboriginals.
From Old Man Juma’s image depicting the separation of Earth and Sky Camps embedding symbols of The Seven Sisters, to Noel Nannup’s retelling of Creation, to our study of the world’s oldest observatories at Wurdi Youang and at a secret location on Badimiya Country, we developed an appreciation of the longevity of First Nations’ scientific study of the cosmos. We now hold a deep understanding of First Nations' Cosmology as filled with lessons on how to live in a universe characterised by balance and harmony.
We are especially enjoying drawing on dark card, and are amazed by how vivid our colours are against a navy background. We hope you enjoy viewing our early efforts as much as we are enjoying creating them!
Elaine Meyer
Class 6 Maar Keyen Teacher
Handwork
Class 1 students are stitching lovely rainbows on their handwork bags. Once the embroidery is finished, the students finger knit the straps. Students will use this bag for all their handwork projects from Class 1 to Class 6.
Class 2 have been very busy and there are lots of finished projects to share!
A radiant recorder bag knitted on a loom.
A Class 5 student has completed the first pink bird to warm up her knitting skills.
Class 6 - the first project for the year is the pincushion. Hand stitched and then stuffed firmly with wool to be able to hold the pins securely. This really tests the students stitching and as they are holding together well, you can see they have done a great job! While making the pincushion the students are developing the skills needed to make their Waldorf inspired doll.
Woodwork
Class 6 students have been using the coping saw to make precision cuts, the shaving horse to debark stool legs with the drawknife and the Shinto rasp to create a convex curve on a spoon.
The safe use of hand tools allows students to improve their dexterity and supports the development of their will.
Yolanda Millar
Woodwork Teacher
A beautifully detailed and finished Class 6 bush stool.
WCSS Community Association
Dear School Community,
The magical time of Easter is just around the corner. To celebrate this special time WCSSCA (pronounced “whiska”) is organising a morning of Easter craft. It will be held on Wednesday March 27 after drop-off in the Hub. Come along and learn how to make beautiful wet felted easter eggs and basket weaving for a gold coin donation.
With kindness in community,
Rachael (Class 2 parent)
Dear Community,
We are thrilled to announce that the renovation of the Hub is now complete! This incredible achievement wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support and dedication of our amazing parent community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who contributed to this project in various capacities. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment have truly made a difference.
We would also like to give special thanks to the following individuals for their exceptional efforts and contributions:
- Ayla Cummings: Hub Manager, being present and committed during every day of the refit, and one very long weekend well outside her working hours.
- Tim Newton : Class 1 parent and owner of Gravity Plumbing, Plumbing legend.
- Jack Smyth: Class 2 Parent and owner of Visual Effects, painter and decorator spent an entire Sunday giving the Hub a fresh coat of paint.
- Paul Lulic: Handy Man extraordinaire, spending an entire Saturday afternoon pulling everything together.
- Aaron: Also spending most of his Saturday contributing in many ways.
- Carl Erasmus: The muscle that spent an entire day uninstalling the kitchen to bring it to its new home.
- Hope: Hub Captain, who lifted, carried, shopped, and build the beautiful tee pee tent all while having a sick baby on her hip.
Your support has not only transformed the Hub but has also enriched the entire school community. We are immensely grateful for your invaluable contributions.
Thank you all once again for your continued support and dedication. Together, we have created a space that will benefit our community for years to come.
In other exciting news, we are thrilled to announce that from the beginning of Term 2, the Hub will be offering healthy and affordable breakfast and afternoon tea options for our students and staff. We understand the hustle and bustle of busy mornings and the afternoon hunger pangs all too well, and we're here to make those moments a little easier and a lot tastier!
To kick things off, we'll be starting small as we find our feet. Our initial menu will feature delicious cheese toasties with a vegan option available, along with yoghurt jars, chia pudding and fruit toast. These offerings are designed to provide nourishing options that keep our students fuelled and ready to tackle the day ahead.
Not only will these new food options satisfy hunger cravings, but they will also create opportunities for our school community to come together. We all know the feeling of being a little "hangry" after a long day of learning and activities, and the Hub will be the perfect place to unwind and refuel.
It's important to note that all profits made from the Hub go right back into our school, supporting various initiatives and programs that benefit our students. So, every bite you take contributes to the betterment of our School community!
We're incredibly excited about this new chapter for the Hub and look forward to serving you delicious food with a side of warmth and community spirit.
See you at the Hub!
Maria Katsikandarakis
WCSSCA Chair
Employment Opportunities
Principal/School Administrator Position
Community News
Simple Preparations for Easter by Meagan Rose Wilson
"Easter like Christmas can be a challenging holiday to celebrate for those who want to create meaningful family traditions, but who are also not strictly or philosophically connected to the Christian religion in any way. What is most important for our children is not so much whether we follow a specific religion or not, but that if we choose to celebrate a holiday, that we authentically honour the festival by drawing on its values consciously". Click here for suggestions on how to celebrate the values of Easter.
RENTAL PROPERTY REQUEST
Returning from a year abroad and looking for a rental property or granny flat north of the river for 2 people: my 16-year old (PWS student) daughter and me, from early April. Any leads, please contact me by Whatsapp only on +61 478 600 450; or by email: sharonogle2011@gmail.com I'll also be looking for an economical and reliable 2nd-hand car. Kind thanks, Sharon
For more information on the above workshops contact:
Kate Andrews
Founder | Lead Facilitator | Creative Mentor
Nature bonded wellbeing
@wildcreative.aus
www.wildcreativeaustralia.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, contact details and a logo or image) to marketing@wcss.wa.edu.au
I discovered craniosacral therapy after the birth of my second child. After a difficult entrance into the world, my son and I were in need of a safe and calm space for our nervous systems to balance. BCST is a soft therapy with no pressure, manipulation or force. Craniosacral gave us that space so our bodies could realign and heal. I just fell in love with this gentle therapy and decided to become a practitioner. I am passionate in assisting women and children on their journey toward a wholesome life.
With Love
Virginie Barker - WCSS Parent
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
Karrinyup Wellness Center
168 Karrinyup Rd
6018 Karrinyup WA
08 93413020
vi.craniosacraltherapy@gmail.com
To learn more visit www.vicraniosacraltherapy.com.au
Cheesebuddy is an Australian made Brazilian cheese bread which is gluten free, versatile, delicious... and owned and operated by a WCSS family! Cheesebuddy’s products are available at Woolworths, Costco, IGA, Farmer Jack’s and others. Or chat with Yuri - M:0402730490
Coming Events
MARCH
Wednesday 27: WCSSCA Easter Craft Workshop 8.45am The Hub / Marionettes Incursion C2 - 6
Thursday 28: Primary Easter Festival / Last day of Term 1
APRIL
Saturday 13: School Busy Bee 8am - 1pm
Monday 15: First Day of Term 2
Save the Date: Parent Mixer - June 14, 7.00pm at The Rose and Crown
For further Term Dates check the school website calendar
WEEKLY
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
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