School Newsletter Term 2 Week 8
Kaya WCSS Community
Geographe Bay by Class 6 student, Olesya.
Kaya WCSS Community
Here we are almost at the end of term and enjoying the changing winter weather. Class 6 have returned from their wonderful camp in Busselton. You can see and read more about their adventures below. Class 4 delighted us with their performances in their very funny Norse play this week. Reports have been written and will be sent home in a sealed envelope with your children before parent interviews. You can book parent interviews online and there is more information about how to do that in this newsletter. Everyone enjoyed our first Soup Day – big thanks to our team of parent helpers.
Next week we invite all parents with children in Classes 4-6 to come along and listen to the children perform at our special Strings Assembly in the Performance Room at 8.45am on Thursday 13 June.
Currently preparations are underway for our beloved Winter Festivals to be held in the final week of term for Kindergarten and the Primary School.
King Winter now is in this land,
he reigns with cold and freezing hand,
he makes Jack Frost touch nose and toe,
And brings us winds that wail and blow.
Each year as the Winter Solstice approaches, we hold our quiet and reverent Winter Festival with the lantern walk around the spiral and the oval. This tradition has been happening in Waldorf Schools all around the world for the past 100 years. The spiral is ancient and symbolises the inward turning we tend to experience as the nights grow longer, the cold drives us indoors and life slows down. It mirrors what is happening in nature with the changing seasons. We are reminded of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of nurturing our inner light.
Originally inspired by folk tradition the beautiful and sacred spiral walk can be experienced in many ways—the meaning is unique for each person who walks its winding path. It is a time of introspection and contemplation and allows us to centre ourselves as it helps us to pause for a moment in the rush of our busy lives. The Winter Festival is a festival of reflection on the past year and preparation for the next. As we gather to walk the spiral, a symbol of the journey inward, we begin at the outer edge of the spiral and slowly make our way towards the centre. As we move inward, we shed the layers of the past year and release any energy that no longer serves us. Once we reach the centre of the spiral, we pause to reflect and rekindle our inner light, drawing strength and inspiration from the flames of the candles that surround us.
What to expect for Primary Winter Festival Wednesday 18 June. This is an overview. More details will be sent next week.
5.45pm Arrival. Please enter very quietly through the front gate (please note it will be quite dark; the way will be paved with tea lights and musicians will be playing softly). You will be directed to your child’s classroom or to the outdoor spiral, depending on your child’s year level. Class Teachers will light the lanterns for Class 1-3 in classrooms and you will wait until you are called to walk the indoor spiral and then walk with your lanterns around the back oval. Classes 4-6 should come with their lanterns that the children have made in readiness for the festival already lit. Parents please carry matches or a lighter and spare tealights in your pockets in case lanterns needs relighting over the night. Class 4- 6 will walk an outdoor spiral with their parents and teachers on arrival and then proceed to a lantern walk around the back oval.
After spirals and the oval have been walked, we will gather quietly in the front quadrangle on the verandas as the choir sings with perhaps some other guest performers for a Fire Blessing and Fire Dance performed by Class 6 students. At the conclusion of this, Class 6 will light the bonfire and the whole school will sing Winter Festival songs. Your child has already made a lantern in class and is learning the festival songs.
7:30pm Festival ends and everyone departs quietly for home. Please do leave quietly straight after the festival to deepen the experience for your child and our community.
Important housekeeping for safety and smooth running of the event.
Safety and Warmth: This is a Winter Festival with candles and fire.
Please dress warmly in layers. Tie all long hair back for fire safety and please do not wear long floaty scarves. It is important that you please keep your child safe around the bonfire and the candles along the pathway and spiral. Please wear raincoats and bring umbrellas if wet. Although staff will be present, please support us to keep everyone safe by supervising your children and being respectful of this time of inwardness and reverence.
Photography and Electronics: To create a reverent atmosphere, we ask that you do not use your phone or a camera to take pictures. Please do not engage in phone conversations or any other phone use and put your phones on silent. We encourage quiet inwardness around the Winter Festival from when you enter the school gate until you leave for home.
Weather: This is a Winter Festival so it will run unless it is very stormy and there is lightning. We are watching the weather forecast and if an electrical storm prevents our planned celebration, we will advise you of the changes during the day via text and email.
We look forward to sharing this beautiful evening with you.
May your week be lived with warmth of heart.
Jenny Dougan
School Administrator/Principal
Unto myself I must be true
And when my tasks I rightly do,
Then God, from my own will, the world with light is filling.
Though sometimes I feel weak and small,
I’m linked with love unto the All.
And I grow stronger when to do God’s work I’m willing.
In the Light of a Child, Michael Hedley Burton
From Administration
AGM REMINDER
The West Coast Steiner School Incorporated Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday June 11, 2024 at 3.15pm, in the Performance Room.
All parents and staff are welcome. There will be staff members on duty in the front playground to supervise children so that parents can attend the meeting.
Please make a special effort to come along and find out more about our school. All parents are encouraged to attend and are very welcome.
Parent Teacher Interviews – Friday, 21 June 2024
Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held on Friday June 21. Each interview will run for exactly 15 minutes with a 5 minute break for interview transitions. Click here and follow the prompts to book your preferred slot. Contact Reception with any queries.
The Booking System will close Monday, 17 June 12:00AM.
SUPPORT FOR VIOLA
If any families would like to cook a meal for Viola’s family of five, there are no specific dietary requirements, just healthy, nourishing food. Meals should be freshly prepared and then frozen. They can be delivered to Reception with an ingredients list, and we can pass them on to Viola. Containers will be returned to you if you label them.
KISS 'N' DRIVE
Please be aware that the City of Stirling parking ranger was patrolling Mayfair St Kiss n Drive zones this week and issuing warnings to those parked incorrectly or using the area dangerously. He will be returning and next time will be issuing fines to those who are doing the wrong thing. Please be calm and responsible to keep our children safe and traffic in this busy area moving gently.
SCHOOL TOURS AND APPLICATIONS FOR 2025
We are currently organising our 2025 intake so if you have been considering applying now is the time to attend a tour and/or submit your application. Please be aware that although we do give siblings preference many of our classe are already at capacity with waitlists. It is never too early to apply for future years! Our final School Tour for Term 2 is on Thursday June 13 at 9.15am. You can reserve a place here. If you have any questions reagrding the application process contact our Enrolments Officer.
WINTER FESTIVAL PREPARATION
As the Winter solstice approaches and we prepare for our Winter Festivals, we strive to strengthen our forces of inner and outer quiet and reflect on the light within us. Please join us on Tuesday, June 18 from 2.30pm-3.00pm in the Performance Room for a short meditation before pick up.
Parent Education
SHARING THE JOURNEY
"My father gave my build to me,
Toward life my solemn bearing,
From mother, comes my gaiety,
My joy in story-telling."
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Each newsletter we will be sharing a chapter from "Adventures in Parenting: a support guide for parents." We will read the chapter and provide thoughts, ideas, reflections and questions. We invite you to come on this journey with us - read the chapter and if you wish send through your own reflections or ponder them youself, discuss with friends - whatever works for you.
Read Chapter 1 on Parenting Styles via the link below.“Parenting style” refers to the quality and gesture of how a person parents.
Some questions to consider:
What is my temperament?
What about my child/rens?
Knowing my child's temperament, how can I assist them to become balanced? What are their challenges?
What does a balanced parent look like? Do I know any?
What are we striving to become as a parent?
Family Commitment 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.
PLAY EQUIPMENT
We are looking for a volunteer to sand and repaint various outdoor play equipment in the Kindergarten and Class 1. Timing is flexible. Please contact our Business Manager if you can help. 9440 1771/ finance@wcss.wa.edu.au
RECYCLING CONTAINERS
The Sustainability Group are looking for someone to help refresh the recycling station. Duties involve cleaning the white containers currently at the Sustainability Hub near Rose Kindergarten. Contact Vanessa if you would like to contribute to this project.
SOUP DAY
WCSSCA are looking for volunteers for Soup Day. Soup Days run on Wednesdays each week. Volunteers are needed each Wednesday for food preparation, serving and cleaning up. This is a wonderful way to support the nourishment of our precious children and Family Commitment Hours are claimable. Please contact Maria on 0423 678 254 if you can help on any of the days.
SOUP DAY HELPERS
All Soup Day volunteers must complete the free food safety training course 24 hours before Soup Day. The City of Stirling is providing free food safety training courses. Both training packages provide food handlers with the required skills and knowledge to ensure that food is handled in a safe and hygienic manner. Once finished, food handlers can print their Certificate of Completion.
To find out more information or to access the course, please visit the I’m Alert website.
KISS AND DRIVE
Volunteers are always needed to ensure Kiss 'n' Drive runs smoothly. Slots are available Monday-Friday 8.15am-8.45am and 2.55-3.25pm (Thursdays 2.05pm-2.35pm due to early finish). See Reception for more information.
PARENT EDUCATION
There is one final opportunity this term to fulfil commitment hours through Parent Education. The Steiner Parent Education Initative's "Screens" Talk is on June 13. For more information or to reserve a place view the Community News section below.
Primary News
World of Maths Incursion
Classes 2-6 participated in an interactive and educational incursion by the World of Maths this week.
The incursion involved multiple stations around the room with puzzles to solve and the approach was to making sure learning was fun through real-life examples, understanding the instructions and applying problem-solving skills. The hands-on activities not only reinforced maths concepts but encouraged participation and creative thinking, and boosted confidence. Students worked collaboratively and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
Class 3 Dambart
Class 3 are learning about volume, capacity and measurement. This week they made their own pancake waffles. A perfectly measured recipe makes for a delicious treat!
The drawings below capture a family carrying water back from a fresh lake. The children have been learning about ancient ways to hold water further deepening their understanding of volume and capacity.
Mel Lenzi
Class 3 Dambart Wednesday Teacher
Class 5 Maar
Class 5 have moved into studying Ancient Egypt! We began with studying the land, focusing on the great gift of the Nile and all it's treasures. We created maps, investigated hieroglyphics and other signs and symbols, learnt about the structure of society and the many important jobs that kept Ancient Egypt thriving. We heard stories of the ancient gods starting with the creation story and the story of Osiris and Isis. The students are excited to complete a mini project on a chosen god or goddess and in groups the students will make a shaduf which is a hand operated device used to lift water from the Nile. The students are also looking forward to working on many artworks focused on this ancient epoch. Ancient Egypt has always been a fascinating culture for many people. After learning and imagining what it would have been like living over 5000 years ago in this ancient civilisation, Class 5 completed a historical point of view writing piece titled ‘A Day in Egypt’. Have a read of the wonderful creative writing talent of Class 5 students below.
Aimee Waller
Class 5 Maar Teacher
Class 6 Maar Keyen
Class 6 had a thrilling week down in Yallingup, Margaret River and Busselton staying on the beautiful Geographe Bay. Please enjoy our video which captures just some of the many magic moments.
We began our journey with lunch at Australind, by the very sandhills where Fenian JB O’Reilly hid before rowing across the Bay to the American whaling ship that rescued him. After settling into our dormitories by the sea, we hiked deep down into Ngilgi Cave, learning all about the geology and local history of these incredibly gorgeous formations. In the evening, David held a wonderful board game session, and we enjoyed the first of many singalongs and toasted marshmallows by the campfire.
The next morning, despite predictions of storms, we braved the canoes and headed out for a Bush Tucker tour along one of the world’s cleanest rivers, Margaret River. We had an absolute ball, singing the Fenian songs as we raced each other up the river. We were blown away by the dynamic presentation style and local knowledge of Marty the guide. The bush tucker meal was abundant and filled with local delicacies including crocodile, emu, bush tomato, native spinach, quandong, finger lime, wattle and beautiful native pesto loaded onto bush tomato bread. Stomachs full, we were ready for the big race back, where the heavens opened and we got a small taster of what the Fenians endured as they rowed their overloaded canoe through storms towards the Catalpa! We departed proud and wet, but none of us were too cold to turn down a delectable ice cream at Simmos!
After all that hard work, we slept like logs through the hailstorm, waking 11 hours later to rainbows, pancakes, and a fun morning of team-building challenges and mind-bending puzzles at The Maze. Returning to Ngilgi Cave, we were treated with a cultural enrichment experience by Wardandi Noongar Josh (Koomal) Whiteland, who gave us a glimpse into his deep well of knowledge about living on Country and the Dreaming of the caves area. Students agreed that Josh’s ability to play didgeridoo and drum simultaneously made him the most talented DJ in town. The day ended with hilarious skits and a humorous but poignant poem for every child, written by Elaine and David.
Heading home, we were treated again to multiple rainbows as we strolled the length of the Busselton Jetty. We enjoyed a relaxing drive back in the plush coach, expertly driven by our camp coordinators and cooks, Bev and Len Hunter of All Aboard Coach Tours. We are so grateful to Bev and Len, as well as our games and leadership Teacher, David Hammond, for going that extra mile to make our Class 6 camp so very special. And thank you to my students for your many moments of leadership, fellowship, maturity, kindness and good humour, which made our camp memorable and fun for everyone there.
Elaine Meyer
Class 6 Maar Keyen Teacher
Sustainability
Welcome to Sustainability at WCSS! At the moment we are working towards re-establishing our recycling hub near Rose Kindergarten. We are looking for a volunteer to clean up this area and freshen up the white containers. Family Commitment Hours are claimable so do let us know if you can help out! Each week we will also be featuring a TerraCycle recycling program that is available at school. So take note and remember to bring your recycling in.
The next Sustainability meeting is on July 30 at 8:45am in the Hub and all are welcome to attend.
Alumni Focus
Practicum Student ~ Olivia Lazarus
WCSS Class of 2014
WCSS are thrilled to have alumnus Olivia Lazarus back on campus to do her teaching practicum. Olivia is standing in Class 6 in front of her first chalkboard drawing, which she completed today with some coaching from one of our teaching staff. Welcome back and well done Olivia!
WCSS Community Association
Dear School Community,
There will be a lantern-making workshop in preparation for the Winter Festival. The lantern workshop will be on Wednesday, June 12, after drop-off at the Hub. Join us to make beautiful star wax paper lanterns.
Craft Group is held each Thursday at 12:35pm at the Hub. This term, we are making adorable, weighted cats. Come along and spend a relaxing afternoon of craft guided by the lovely Sarah.
WCSSCA needs volunteers for Soup Day. Soup Days run on Wednesdays each week during the winter months and you can volunteer for just one session or commit to several -whatever works for you! This is a wonderful way to support the nourishment of our precious children during the cold winter months and Family Commitment Hours are claimable. If you can help, please contact Maria at 0423 678 254. WCSSCA is committed to fostering a supportive and collaborative environment for all volunteers.
With kindness in community,
WCSSCA
MARKET DAY ROSTER
June 11: Class 5
Community News
News items listed in our Community Noticeboard are not school endorsed but are included here for the information and benefit of our wider community. We welcome submissions to appear in this section of our newsletter and inclusion is at the discretion of WCSS.
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
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) is a soft therapy with no pressure, manipulation or force. Virginie will use light touch while bringing a safe space to calm your nervous system which will bring the whole system into a state of balance. In that state, healing and change will take place in your body. BCST is like a big hug to the nervous system. It can help with releasing emotional or physical restrictions throughout the body, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, aches and pain, improve sleep, energy, wellbeing and so much more.
With love
Virginie Barker - WCSS Parent
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
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
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. These workshops are great for team building activities, get togethers, birthdays or just if you owuld like to learn some skills and have creative 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 on projects in the mental health sector and having a history of depression and anxiety herself. She spent fifteen years in the public service in a statistical role, writing around her work commitments. Nicole has published a book called Little Bundle of Sorrow, a collection of womens' stories of postnatal depression. You can find out more at her website https://nicolewatts.ampbk.com/ . Copies of the book can be ordered from Amazon or from the publisher, Austin McCauley.
Coming Events
June
Sunday 9: Class 6 Fundraiser Bunnings Balcatta
Tuesday 11: Class 2 & 3 AQWA Excursion, Council AGM after school 3.15pm
Thursday 13: Strings Assembly 8.45am, School Tour 9.15am
Friday 14: Parent & Staff Mixer 7.00pm
Monday 17: Gumnut Winter Festival
Tuesday 18: Winter Festival Meditation 2.30pm-3.00pm, Early Childhood Winter Festival
Wednesday 19: Primary Winter Festival
Thursday 20: Pajama Day Fundraiser, Last Day of Term 2
Friday 21: Parent/Teacher Interviews
For further Term Dates check the school website calendar
WEEKLY
Winter Festival Song Practice: Mondays after drop off at The Hub
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
