West Coast Steiner School eNewsletter

Wandju - Welcome to Term 3

Kaya WCSS Community

It has been a lovely first week at school, meeting and getting to know staff and familiarising myself with school. I am so looking forward to moving to the next stage and meeting and getting to know you - the children and families of West Coast Steiner School.

We begin the term in Makuru, with the coldest and wettest of the seasons well upon us. In the season of Makuru the winds turn west and south, bringing cold weather, rains and in the Great Southern, occasionally snow in the Yonga Mia (Stirlings) and the Porongurup Ranges. Waterways and catchments fill and an influx of animals and birds, such as warding (crows) and maali (black swan) pair up in readiness for Djilba’s breeding season.

Dominant flowers are blues and purples of the blueberry lily (Dianella revoluta) and the purple flags (Patersonia occidentalis). Towards the end of the season, white flowers of the weeping peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) arrive.

A reminder that we will begin on Saturday with a Busy Bee from 8am – 1pm to prepare our school for the term ahead. There are various jobs to be completed around the school and we welcome one and all to come along and enjoy reconnecting with friends, ticking off some parent participation hours and contributing to the enhancing our premises for the term ahead. Any time that you are able to commit between 8 and 1 will be greatly appreciated.

Teachers will be communicating their Parent Meeting times with families shortly. I encourage at least one member from each family to attend these valuable opportunities in order to connect with your child’s class teacher and learn more about Steiner education.

I look forward to meeting you all in the coming week.

With warmth

Jacqui Hollingworth

Principal/School Administrator

The power of my heart's bright flame

Is striving to stream out through cold and dark.

God gives me power to fulfill my aim,

That fires of love be kindled from each golden spark.

A heart of love that in the dark is brightly burning

Will mean that often to do deeds of love my hands are turning.

In the Light of a Child – Michael Hedley Burton

Administration Matters

ELECTRONIC DEVICES ON CAMPUS

A reminder as we start a new school term that as a Steiner school we strive to cherish childhood. One way we do this is by bringing to the children only natural, healthy and real experiences, and by being present to the moment and modelling behaviours. Please refrain wherever possible from using mobile phones, laptops or other devices when on campus.

STAY IN TOUCH WITH US!

THE SCHOOLZINE APP

SZapp is the easiest way to stay in touch with what is happening at school. With the APP you can receive newsletters, check the calendar and complete excursion permissions, absence notifications and RSVPs direct from your phone.

An online guide on how to install SZapp is available via the link below. Use the code 1995 when prompted.

Click here to view the Installation Instructions

WITHDRAWAL NOTICE

Families not returning to WCSS in Term 4 are reminded that they are required to give a full terms' notice for students from Kindergarten 4 - Class 6 and six weeks' notice for Baby Group and Playgroup students. In lieu of the required notice a full terms' fees are payable. If you have any queries please contact our Enrolments Officer.

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 our Attendance Policy.

Routine and rhythm are an essential part of the school day at WCSS and Steiner Teachers structure and craft lessons with continuity from day to day and from week to week. Regular attendance and participation at school is important for all children enrolled at WCSS, including those who are not of compulsory school age, because it assists in a sense of belonging and security, strengthens the development of intellectual and social emotional skills and contributes significantly to educational outcomes.

West Coast Steiner School (WCSS) expects all enrolled, compulsory school-aged children to attend school daily except in case of illness or special circumstances with the prior approval of the School Principal. Additionally, students will be asked to participate in school activities out of usual school time, such as festivals and other whole school events. On the few occasions when this is required, students and parents will be given adequate notice and will only be asked out of educational necessity. These occasions are considered compulsory and students will be expected to attend as if a normal school day.

WCSS acknowledges that a strong, consistent level of school attendance is essential for learning and, as such, the School sets high expectations in relation to student attendance and works to develop strong partnerships with parents in which the importance of attendance and punctuality is a shared goal. The purpose of this policy and associated procedures is to make clear to students, staff and parents:
• the legal requirement for children of compulsory school age to attend school every day the School is open for instruction;
• the key practices and procedures WCSS has in place to support and maintain student attendance and record, monitor and follow up student absences and to report on attendance data to authorities as required;
• where attendance issues are identified for a student, appropriate measures to restore regular attendance will be implemented to ensure the student is able to access and fully benefit from educational programs provided by the School.

To read further click the link below.

Attendance Policy.pdf

Early Childhood

Dear Early Childhood Parents, Family and Friends,

The Early Childhood Faculty would love to see you all this Saturday from 8.30 – 10.30am. It is a wonderful opportunity to come together and quell any nerves or wobbles our littles ones may have about coming back to school after a three-week break. I know for myself as a bit of a hermit parent it also made it easier for me to come back into the social sphere as well.

We have made the timing short and sweet, enough time to get everything we need done, for the children to have a short, happy reconnect with their friends and then home in time for lunch. With all families represented it makes it easier for everyone.

Please bring some morning tea for your child but do not share food due to severe allergies within the groups. Please bring your gloves and garden equipment well labeled so that they find their way home again. Bring something to kneel on if the ground is wet.

There are no major jobs for this Busy Bee, just a general mulch, weed, sweep and tidy up.

We look forward to seeing you at 8.30am and then all heading home at 10.30am.

Much love,

Vanessa Fountain

for The Early Childhood Faculty

Parent Education

In order to support our parents and caregivers on their Steiner journey we are delighted to have partnered with ‘The Steiner Parent Education Initiative’. Our school and Steiner schools across Australia are paying for their communities to be able to join and learn from these leading practitioners in Steiner Education. And you can join from the comfort of your home, and at a time that suits you as our guest!

Although these windows into Steiner education are live on a certain date and time, this doesn’t always work out with the time difference for us here in WA so we have arranged, that if you book for the courses, you will receive the recording to listen to at time that suits you, BUT you must book before the day of the course.

There are four complementary evenings we would like to offer to our community this term.

August 1 with Ebba Bodame brings focus for families towards Creating a Family Storytelling Culture from preschool through early childhood to at least Class 3.

August 15 Part 3 of Anthony McLeod’s Human Journey Reflected in Art, covering the Italian & German Renaissance, (Awakening of Individual Genius).

August 22 introduces Sophia Montefiore, who will bring us the Steiner / Waldorf Geometry Journey, with insights into what lives in it, & what stands behind it.

August 29 is the final part of Anthony McLeod’s art series with Turner, Monet and Van Gogh (Personal visions, Impressionism and Expressionism).

So, as you can see, it is another rich and fabulous term we have planned for you. To book go to the link at the bottom of each poster and follow the prompts. When your booking is complete choose the calendar option of your choice at the top of your booking confirmation. Here you can change the time from AEST to AWST and set your reminder. You can then choose to watch live or receive the recording link.

I urge you to book your tickets, join a group of friends or just set aside time when it is quiet, make a cuppa, pop on your pyjamas, and come on a journey; a journey through the Steiner curriculum and much more. We look forward to bringing you more wonderful speakers every term – please join us. Family Commitment Hours are claimable for attendance at these talks.

WCSS Parent Education Team

RSVP Here

WCSS Community Association

The West Coast Steiner School Community Association is a wonderful way for parents and caregivers to contribute to our school, their child's educational experience and demonstrate the value of volunteering. Not to mention the warm fuzzies you feel from helping out and working alongside others!

WCSSCA is an incorporated body comprised of parents and friends of West Coast Steiner School. The aim of the Community Association is to promote and support the development of West Coast Steiner School and its community.

Membership

Membership of the Community Association is open to all parents and guardians of children attending the school as well as other interested members of the community. Membership Forms are available at Reception and the Welcome Morning Tea (see details below). There is no membership fee.

Welcome Morning Tea

Parents and caregivers are invited to attend our Term 3 Welcome Morning Tea on July 26, 8.45am- 10.00am at The Community Hub. Soak in the community atmosphere, enjoy a complimentary cuppa and meet new people. This event each term is our welcome to WCSS parents.

We look forward to seeing you in the Hub.

WSCCA Committee

wcssca@wcss.wa.edu.au