In misty, moisty autumn air,

Summer lingers still through mellow days,

And light which glimmers gold and fair

Is dimmed and dulled by gentle veils of haze.

I myself can clearly see

How autumn, soft and slow, is creeping.

Summer gave herself to me

And now departs for winter-sleeping.

Dear GHSS Families,

What a wonderfully productive and joyous few weeks it has been here at GHSS. It has been a pleasure to wander around the school lately and have a sneak peek into what the children have been up to. Last week was rather quiet on the grounds, with our Class 6s away at camp in Yallingup and the Class 5s making the most of the extra verandah space in their absence! After four days of surfing, caving and high ropes adventures, the Class 6s returned to GHSS looking a little weary and sun-kissed, but VERY happy. Huge thanks to class teacher Bree and the adults involved for making it all happen. Class 5 and 6 PE students have also been participating in a series of volleyball incursions/ excursions this term, making the most of the sunshine while it is still around.

Sandy in Karri Kindergarten and Laura in Playgroup have both had the pleasure of welcoming several new families into the fold. In the lower primary space, our Class 1/2s have been enjoying their twice weekly Eurythmy sessions and working hard at their writing. Class 4s had a special visit from Simon Cherriman of the Black Cockatoo Project, helping build and install a cockatoo box on the GHSS grounds. This tied in nicely with their Human and Animal main lesson, and it has been a pleasure to watching their various animal studies come to life. Other wonderful artwork has been produced by Class 5s experimenting with their new watercolour pencils to produce beautiful maps, as well as Class 3’s watercolour paintings from the Old Testament stories they have been learning.

Last week, our bursar Oona and I had the pleasure of being invited to the Class 7/8 ‘new school bell’ presentation. Each group of students researched materials, costs and design of a new school bell and support structure, presenting their findings and models to the panel. Considering that public speaking can provoke paralysing anxiety in many of us, I was struck by the calm confidence with which the Class 7/8 children spoke, as well as the way in which they fielded some tough questions from the panel. The level of research into costs, measurements, and design factors was equally impressive, and speaks volumes about the benefits of the in-depth, holistic education that Steiner schools offer.

Our Autumn festival is fast approaching- keep an eye out for class communications detailing our run sheet for the day, as well as various roles and responsibilities. The festival will be held on the last day of term (Thursday 28^th March). It should be a wonderfully fun-filled day for all and a great way to see the term out. Hope to see you there!

Eliza Allan

Principal

Many families will be aware that in 2022, Golden Hill Steiner School became one of the first schools in the Great Southern to offer an alternative high school education alongside its primary school grades. The school began by offering Class 7 in 2023, followed by our first Class 8 this year. GHSS has worked hard to secure government approval and successful registration to run Class 7-10 initially, using the ACARA-recognised Steiner curriculum.

Plans for our high school development continue, and there has been much legwork done behind the scenes to ensure that our new buildings will be ready for our Class 7-9 students in 2025. A timeline involving each phase of design, development approval, land purchase, tendering and construction is already underway, and we will endeavour to keep families informed as we progress from each phase onto the next. The next step in the planning and development process is to have the proposed high school land (currently the paddock next to the GHSS car park) rezoned for school use.

We would like to thank those families who have already submitted letters of support to the shire for this. These can be emailed to enquiries@denmark.wa.gov.au.

Each newsletter we will be sharing a virtue from the Virtues Project. These virtue cards are often referred to and discussed in classes at GHSS. 

What is Helpfulness? Helpfulness is being of service.  It is doing useful things for people, such as things they cannot do for themselves, something they do not have time to do, or just little things that make life easier.  It is important to be helpful to ourselves too, by taking care of our bodies.  There are times when we need help from others.  That is a good time to ask for help.

Why Practice it? We all need help sometimes.  We need people to teach us, and people to give us their strength or ideas.  Sometimes we just need a friend to talk to.  If there were no helpfulness, there would be no cooperation.  When we practice helpfulness we get more done.  We make each other's lives easier.

How do you practice it? When you are helpful, you care about others.  You don't wait to be asked.  You notice what needs to be done and just do it.  If you cannot figure out what someone needs, ask them "How can I help?" or "What do you need?"  Remember to help yourself by eating healthy foods, exercising and getting plenty of rest.  And remember to ask for help when you need it.

Signs of Success Congratulations!  You are practicing Helpfulness when you...

• Notice when someone needs help.
• Do a service without being asked.
• Give people what they need, not always what they want.
• Listen to someone who needs to talk.
• Care for your own needs.
• Ask for help when you need it.

"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."  Anonymous

Mac 'n' Cheese Zucchini Slice

Ingredients

Class 3, known as the Djer Djers, have been working their way through the Creation myth of the Old Testament.  Anyone who attended the assembly in Week 3 would know that we had a lot of fun role playing each day of Creation.  I was very proud of all the djer djer children for getting up in front of the whole school, so early in the year, and creating such a memorable performance!  Our main lesson books are full of paintings, as we painted our way through the events of creation.  We have now moved on to new main lesson, entited The Measure of Things, in which we will follow the story of human kind’s relationship with measurement, starting with the need to measure using the only tools available (our bodies) through to the standard metric measurements we all now take for granted.

Class 4, known as the Djidi Djidis, have finished their Human and Animal main lesson and boy!  What a wonderful way to start the year.  We met so many beautiful animals, and the children have created so many beautiful works of art depicting their understanding and appreciation for our animal friends.  We have now begun work on Norse Mythology, which is the major narrative arc for Class 4.  We have met Odin and Thor, Loki and Baldur.  The children are very enthusiastic with their recitations of the Volospa, and we are working in some wonderful Bothmer movement as well.  This is the time for djidi djidis to embrace their inner warrior, their inner strength and persevere in the face of any adversity that comes before them.

Special mention must be made of our wonderful wood work teacher, Gill, and her work with various classes, as well as Class 8 student Ilya, to produce a mathematical puzzle for us to work with.  In 1883, French mathematician Edouard Lucas invented a math puzzle called Tower of Hanoi.  As you can see, Gill and her team of assistants created a brilliant model that we can all enjoy.  Grateful thanks, Gill!

It has been a colourful start to Class 5 with our ancient Indian Mythology main lesson.  Some highlights included the stories and antics of the myriad of characters in the Ramayana and learning some Sanskrit letters and words.  Learning an Indian dance and music was lots of fun. But of course planning and preparing for our Indian feast stands out as a favourite for many of us.  Cooking garden produce we had planted and harvested in gardening classes with Neal led to an amazing curry and dahl. Thanks Neal!  Also thank you to Pamela who guided us through making traditional Indian sweets called Coconut Ladoo and Badam Halwa.  Dressing up in saris, dhoti, and wearing a bindi, as well as drawing henna style mandala decorations on our hands also added to the occasion.

Since leaving Ancient India we have been immersing ourselves in our Decimal Fractions main lesson!  We began by learning the types of numerals used in ancient Babylonian and Egyptian cultures.  We found out how ancient Indian and Chinese cultures viewed Zero. It is the magic number in our Arabic number system which increases numbers tenfold - as we saw when we revised place value.  Amazingly we are learning how the Zero can make numbers ten times smaller on the other side of the decimal point as we wrap our minds around ten thousandths, hundred thousandths and millionths!

Many class 5’s have been enjoying music lessons and ensemble with Marie as well as our group instrumental lessons and choir sessions each week.  Friday afternoons are an artistic immersion for us as in between our violin lessons we explore watercolour painting, sketching and drawing activities as well as our old favourite - beeswax modelling.

It is hard to believe we are already over half way through the term - we will be off to explore the world view of the ancient Persian, Babylonian and Mesopotamian peoples next.

We are also keeping our eye on the changing seasons and plant life in our environment.  We will have an introduction to our Botany main lesson when the season moves from Bunuru – Meertilluc and into Djeran - Pourner, but that’s another story!

Last week marked an unforgettable journey for our remarkable Class 6 children!  Buckle up as we recount the whirlwind of excitement and camaraderie that filled our days.

Our adventure commenced with a spirited bus ride, expertly piloted by the one and only David Stockdale. First stop: the Manjimup Heritage Park, where laughter echoed over lunch and echoes reverberated as they conquered the towering staircases before swooshing down the colossal slide.

But the thrills didn't stop there! Our next destination was Forest Adventures South West, where I witnessed the awe-inspiring determination of our children as they fearlessly scaled the heights of treetops. Ziplines soared at dizzying heights of 19 meters and stretched 500 meters long! Their cheers and encouragement formed a symphony of support, a testament to their incredible spirit.

Nestled at the Christian Brethren Camp, our home overlooked the serene beach, offering endless delights of swimming, crabbing, and moonlit adventures. We even got in a game of foxholes. Cooking together, sharing chores, they exemplified teamwork and camaraderie.

Tuesday dawned with surf lessons at Bunker Bay, followed by a picturesque lunch at Shelley Beach. Then, off to Ngilgi Cave for a journey through ancient lands. We learned about the cultural connections to the land, flora & fauna, the formation of the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge and the pristine caves beneath it. The children were awestruck as they descended into the heart of the cave. In wonder, they explored the mystical formations of stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites, a captivating extension of their geology studies. The afternoon was topped off with a delicious ice cream from Simmos.

Wednesday morning greeted us with the thrill of surfing Yallingup Lagoon, where many conquered their first reef break with triumphant cheers. A beachside BBQ at Meelup Beach preceded an evening stroll along the Busselton Jetty, indulging in the quintessential fish and chips. And oh, the boys' adventurous spirit led them to slumber beneath the stars, waking with beaming smiles.

As Thursday beckoned, we packed our memories and cherished experiences, brimming with pride for the bond forged among us all. What an incredible group of children, whose spirit and unity illuminated our journey. As we bid farewell to our adventure, I eagerly anticipate the wonders the rest of the year holds for us all. I would like to extend my gratitude to Holly and David, without their help camp would not have been the same.

Here's to the indomitable spirit of Class 6 – may our adventures continue to inspire and delight!

Bree

With our growing school and moving classrooms it hasn’t always been easy to hear the bell signalling the start and finish of our times of the day. An initial idea was sewn from Jewels which was passed onto our Woodwork teacher Gill about the building of a bell tower to a more central location. Our current Class 8 students certainly ran with the idea under Gill's instruction. Plans were drawn, resources questioned, and costs were factored.

The students built models of their group's bell tower design and along with Gill’s support mounted proposals for our judgement panel - Principal Eliza and Bursar Oona. Eliza and Oona were most impressed with each groups proposal and presentation, which was pitched to our leadership team along with the Class 7 students. All students spoke with great confidence, knowledge and answered many questions regarding their bell tower design.

It was wonderful to watch the students hold the space and the thoughtful questions posed by our Class 7 and 8 students. Thank you Gill for enabling the high school students to present their proposals.

Watch this space.

Robyn

Class 7 and 8 students have been putting their woodworking skills into action and have created fabulous pencil boxes. Woodwork requires a dedication to observing the results of your efforts. Using this basic principle, woodwork class builds physical and mental strength through overcoming challenges with design, effort, and persistence.

Well done Class 7 and 8!

Our very talented staff member Matthew has recently released a new album called 'Belonging' by Echo Omen.

'Echo Omen is all about rhythm - in both music and life. The alias of Great Southern Western Australian-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and vocalist Matthew Bracknell, Echo Omen crafts soulful, atmospheric sounds from acoustic folk to downtempo indietronica and abstract hip-hop, drawing from the stories of the land where he lives and belongs.'

The album is available on Bandcamp https://echoomen.bandcamp.com/album/belonging or via all music streaming platforms.

His music videos are on YouTube @echo.omen.creations.

Congratulations Matthew!

Class 3 /4 had a special visit from Simon Cherriman from the Black Cockatoo project last week.  The project works to prevent the decline in the numbers of cockatoos by supplementing their nesting sites — natural hollows in trees – that are being increasingly lost in the natural environment due to urbanisation and land clearing. 

After hearing a presentation from well-known wildlife expert Simon, GHSS Class 3 /4 students rolled up their sleeves and constructed a number of cockatoo nesting boxes.  Then we all got to watch Simon scale a giant karri tree on the edge of our forest to install a nesting box.  We’ll be keeping a close eye on it in the months to come!

Dear parents and carers,

Our school busy bee will be held on Saturday 23rd March from 9am - 12pm. Please come along and join in on this social occasion and bring along some morning tea to share. This is a good opportunity to meet new families and get to know one another. The time spent at the busy bee will contribute to your parent participation hours. Parent participation hours are 10 hours per parent, per year. 

This year we have 3 main tasks to tackle. There is a sign-up sheet outside the office, on the noticeboard. If you are able, please sign-up to one of the group tasks. Otherwise please email office@goldenhill.wa.edu.au with your chosen task.

We require volunteers to help with the following;

• Playgroup, Peppermint Cottage - Shovelling mulch and sand, moving logs and general tidy-up. Contact Laura Egan for any questions laura@goldenhill.wa.edu.au
• Land care project - weeding and general gardening tasks - please contact Neal Collins for any questions nealc@goldenhill.wa.edu.au
• Oiling new flyscreen doors on classrooms - please contact the office for any questions.

If you have them, please bring shovels and gloves to use.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The following saying is one that is oft-quoted on Steiner websites, largely due to the fact that it is perhaps an apt summary of our core business as a Steiner school:

“Our highest endeavour is to produce young men and women who out of themselves are able to impart meaning and direction to their own lives.” Rudolf/ Marie Steiner

How exactly does a Steiner education help young people growing up in a post covid world to find meaning and direction? Andrew Hill, CEO of Steiner Education Australia, recently penned his thoughts on this matter.  Here are his seven reasons why. 

1. The Human Story:

The Steiner curriculum provides a glimpse into the global and historical story of humanity, the long journey of the human mind. Through story and text, our students pursue the huge story that charts the rise and fall of epochs across the globe, preparing them to take their place as global citizens ready to play their part in the next chapter of the grand narrative that is human life. They also experience the Australian story within the world story, locating them as citizens of this country on First Nations land.

2. Creating beauty: 

Our students learn the creative arts, to draw, paint, sing, sculpt and act. We are not art schools, we simply teach our students the arts so they learn to think in multiple perspectives, to enrich their feeling lives, and to be able to create beautiful moments that can provide them with fulfillment throughout life.

3. Designing and making useful things: 

Our students learn to make things, both useful and beautiful, designed by themselves. From sewing in Kindergarten to blacksmithing in high school, they build skills of the entrepreneur which enables them to create products and artefacts able to be communicated to an audience.

4. Learning to collaborate rather than compete:

The most successful world leaders through covid time have brought diverse people together and built community. Our non selective, non ranking classrooms prepare future leaders to work collaboratively in building communities of individuals who can work together. Every day in every class we work on fostering each student’s unique gifts, and learn to build community out of diversity.

5. Living in Nature:

As a T shirt I saw recently says, Nature can help us heal. We immerse children in the natural world, helping them see with wonder the wisdom in the world around them. Our outdoor education experiences challenge students to go beyond their physical and personal limitations to reach a level of resilience and strength that can surprise their parents. When some adults are paying good money for “Soil to Soul” wellness retreats, our schools offer regular doses of the healing power of Nature.

6. Play: 

We are most human when we play, said Schiller. We value play as a form of learning in the early years and as a creative expression of our humanity. From self-directed play in early childhood, to intense sport and games in high school, our students bring a sense of the playful to all that they do.

7. Transcendence: 

A sense of the sublime, the “phosphorescence” of life, weaves through our classrooms, our schools and our community life. Morning and afternoon verses bring mindful moments to the classroom each day, while festivals give shape and colour to the turning year.  Our lessons draw out the meaningful connections between the inner world of humanity and the outer world of nature.  We are inspired by the sublime moments of all cultures, founded on Australia’s First Nations roots in The Dreaming. 

We humans are fundamentally beings of meaning. Our Steiner schools seek to realise the image of the whole human being in all that we do. What could be more meaningful than that?

Source: Andrew Hill, Steiner Education Australia

Our school calendar can be found here - 

GHSS Calendar

Please check the calendar regularly as new events may be added or sometimes events need to be changed.  

The calendar also includes term dates and holidays for planning purposes. 

Warm Regards