Spring has well and truly sprung at Golden Hill, and our amazing P&F have been all a flurry, squirreling away behind the scenes to ensure that next weekend’s spring fair is one to remember.

If you haven’t already done so, head over to Spring Fair - Annual Staycation Raffle - Golden Hill Steiner School to grab your raffle tickets for the incredible stay-cation prize that is on offer.

The Spring Fair is an annual event at most Steiner schools, providing a huge fundraising and community-building opportunity. Steiner spring fairs rely on lots of parent assistance and input to be successful, so if you haven’t already done so, please choose a time slot and sign up to help out via the following link: https://signup.zone/iyAM5yE6aNnS2rfBb/edit.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on the day!

Eliza Allan

Principal

Plans for the 2025 school year are in full swing, with 2025 GHSS teaching staff as follows:

Class 8/9: Jiffy, Renee & TBC

Class 7: Sam Vinton-Boot

Class 6: Lisa Dowden-Parker

Class 5: Ric Kostera

Class 4: Blake Skinner

Class 3: Robyn Miller

Class 2: Lyndall Watson

Class 1: Bree De Koning

Kindergarten: Sandy Price

Playgroup: Laura Egan

Educational Assistants: Marnie Armstrong, Clare Jones, Sophia Sharpe, Georgia Maclaren, Pamela Grimes, Rebecca Durrant

Specialist teachers:

Gardening: Neal Collins

Indonesian: Ashley Schipp

Bush School: Bruce Anthony

Handwork: Jewels Auburn

Woodwork: Gill Irvine

Learning Support: Cate Moreton

At the end of the year, we say goodbye to our wonderful Class 1/2 teacher, Sarah Moriarty, who is leaving GHSS to move overseas. GHSS has been very blessed to have Sarah in our fold for the last few years. Sarah has been a highly-regarded staff member and much-loved class teacher during her time at GHSS. We wish her all the best for her forthcoming endeavours and her overseas adventures.

We are also farewelling Marie Limondin, who is ‘hanging up her bow’ as GHSS violin teacher in order to pursue other musical projects. We thank her for her contributions to Golden Hill and wish her much success with her forthcoming projects.

The position of GHSS violin teacher be advertised in the forthcoming weeks - if you happen to know of a talented strings teacher, please let them know!

A LITTLE HINT...

You've already found two!

CHANGES TO FEE PAYMENT METHOD IN 2025

In 2025, we will be moving away from Edstart and towards a direct debit system through our banking institution. All families currently paying through Edstart will receive correspondence from them in the next few days.

Each family is required to complete a Family Payment Contract whereby they indicate their method of payment for the 2025 school year.

The options are:

1. BANK TRANSFER: Full Payment of annual fees with a 10% discount on tuition to: Golden Hill Steiner School Inc. BSB - 086 595 A/C - 174989795

To be received in school bank account by no later than 31^st January for discount to be applicable.

2. DIRECT DEBIT: Pay annual fees in instalments by authorising Golden Hill to direct debit your account.

Authorisation to be provided via completion of the Direct Debit Request form on the reverse side of the Family Payment Contract or online.

You can opt to have the direct debit processed weekly, fortnightly, monthly or termly.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE IN YOUR ACCOUNT ON PAYMENT DUE DATES.

There is a direct debit dishonour fee of $20 for each unsuccessful payment.

IMPORTANT FEE DATES in 2025

22 Jan – Invoices for 2025 Fees will be issued by this date.

31 Jan – Due date for upfront payment of fees to be received by the school in order to receive the discount.

4 Feb – Family Payment Contract due to be returned (a link will be provided for online completion).

13 Feb – First payment due for all families paying by direct debt.

Should you have any questions please contact Oona via the office or send an email to bursar@goldenhill.wa.edu.au

It may seem as though she’s been part of our community for a long time but in fact she’s only been with us since April! That’s how seamlessly Sarah has fit in to our school. Most of you will have seen her smiling face or been on the end of her kind words via the telephone when you’ve visited or called the school office. Here’s your chance to find out more about this lovely lady who brings so much heart to her role.

Having grown up on the East Coast of Australia in Geelong (Victoria), her earliest memories are of living in the seaside town of Portarlington. That being said, Sarah recalls moving lots as a child, picturing that her family were like the gypsies she had read about in one of Roald Dahl’s books. One of these moves led them to a town called Koroit. Originally populated by Irish migrants, the town was known for potatoes, a volcanic crater and its annual Irish Festival. Her family owned and lived in a pub there. It was full of music, from cover bands to karaoke nights. It was hard work for her parents, but Sarah recalls the magic of dancing down the hallway to the music that came through the walls on those busy nights. One of these nights, the band consisted of three local farmers who lip-synced to KISS songs. They had their own makeup artist, banners, cardboard guitars, lights and pyrotechnics! However, the humble Commercial Hotel was not equipped for this level of staging; as they got into their second song – the whole town watching on – the power blew. After some time, the issue was resolved. Though by then, it was too late - the band had broken up. They’d had a fight while the power was out and it was announced the show would not go on!

On leaving school, Sarah has dabbled with studies and work, trying to find where her passions lie. Over east, she kept busy working multiple jobs in different areas of interest. She spent a long time working as a qualified Education Assistant before branching out into Disability Support. She worked in admin roles and in hospitality, from the beautiful biodynamic café and social enterprise, 'The Common Ground Project', to an A La Carte restaurant, to managing Union Street Wine Bar in the city centre of Geelong, where she fostered her love and knowledge of wine. Her passions are working creatively, helping others, and talking wine.

Her interest in wine developed during her younger years growing up in a wine region. She credits her Aunty and Father with introducing her to good wine and good food. “Dad owned delis in his 20s and 30s in markets of Sydney and Melbourne – he’s always had a really lovely reverence for good food and eventually introduced me to good wine.” Alongside her years spent working in the hospitality industry her interest has continued to grow. It was while working at Union Street Bar in Geelong that she met her partner Cal, a travelling Denmark local. Cal comes from a wine industry family and together they have embarked on travels, including to the wine regions of France and Italy. Their travels have enabled them to bring home much knowldege to their own family wine label – Fervor Wines.

When not working at the school Sarah spends time helping with the business, especially the marketing, promotion and social media side of things – an area in which her creativity is able to blossom!

You may well have noticed Sarah’s creativity in the beautiful flyers, marketing and social media posts of late coming from the school. She is enjoying her role at GHSS and says she loves being part of “a special place and making connections with special people”. When asked to describe her role at the school Sarah admits the role is dynamic and no two days look the same! Some days are chaotic and reactive, whilst on other days she is able to create and get into a flow state. She is excited for the upcoming Spring Fair and for the coming year, during which she hopes to create flow and consistency in the school marketing area.

When asked about something her colleagues may not know about her, she describes her years of playing lacrosse, and the fact that she comes from a family full of lacrosse players. Her Dad even competed at the Commonwealth games, and her Mum also represented Australia in touring teams – not to mention the accolades of her extended family.

Outside of school hours Sarah loves helping in the vineyard that she and Cal’s family are leasing, reading, visiting the beach, growing flowers and spending time with her beloved puppy Roy, an energetic border collie. Her plans for the future outside of the school include using her creativity to do really cool things in the Denmark community, getting to know more people and working on sharing her wine knowledge with others. Watch this space, there is no doubt she will achieve great things!

We’re happy to have her as part of our team at GHSS, so if you haven’t met Sarah yet pop into the school office and say hi!

Excitement is in the air for our wonderful Class 3 crochet students. Our granny square cushions are nearly all completed, and a few crochet book bags are busily being made. I am super proud of them all. The crochet year can be challenging, but they all have pushed through many obstacles, and as you can see in the photo how proud they are.

Jewels (Handwork Teacher)

We began Term 4 with a Local Geography / History main lesson, which included our first experience of creating maps from a bird’s eye view. We mapped our classroom, school, Berridge Park, Wilson Inlet area and even our desks! Each map included a different component of mapping, such as a legend, scale and compass rose and we even had fun with some salt dough, creating 3D maps of the Denmark area. We visited Denmark Historical Museum, and amongst all the interesting bits and pieces on display, the children were most interested in the old prison cell. “Lock us in!”, they bellowed.

In Week 4 we headed off for two nights at Camp Quaranup. After a fun visit to the Museum of the Great Southern in Albany, we settled into camp mode. We were blessed with perfect weather, which made just being there pretty special. The children had a wonderful time doing various activities including archery, rogaining, raft building, swimming, beach walking, playing table tennis, playing practical tricks on each other, and basically hanging out 24/7. We even had a magic show.

I am very grateful to the parent helpers who made it all possible: Theresa, Shanon, Mieke and Brooke, as well as all the parents who contributed food for the camp. It was great to see the children overcome their apprehension and anxiety and embrace the camp experience. All of the children did so well and it was a perfect opportunity for the whole class to bond and enjoy a different experience together. We’re looking forward to camp next year!

Term 4 in Class 5 began with our Australian History and Geography main lesson. This has built on from previous main lessons in Classes 1-4 and demonstrates the meaningful way the Steiner curriculum builds understandings through recurring topics with new perspectives and themes. Last year we loved the Spirituality of Dreaming main lesson and also completed the Local Area Mapping main lesson, investigating the settlement of our area by European people.

This term's main lesson brought those understandings together and deepened our perspective by comparing and contrasting the different peoples who have cared for and impacted our land.

We mapped the state and country using gridding and coordinates, sang, learnt poetry and heard historical accounts. We practised notetaking using dot points, heard about famous people in history, and wrote thoughtful accounts from different points of view.

We went on an excursion with Menang custodian Larry Blight who showed us around the Oyster Harbour fish traps area.

We experienced plants for various uses such as insect repellent, soap and antiseptic. This fit in really well with our ongoing Botany studies. We tasted bush tucker, held ancient artifacts, saw an osprey nest, listened to a Dreaming story and heard about the way of life in the area when the fish traps were in use.

Then it was on to the Old Convict Goal which gave an eye opening experience of what life was like for convicts and settlers in Albany in the early days. The cells were a highlight and our great guide had many stories of the men and women of the time which brought the buildings to life. The children heard many interesting facts and many were keen to ask their parents to take them back for a visit.

Back in class we learnt the song We Are Australian and found that just looking at the birthplaces of children and parents in our class we could relate to the chorus:

We are one, but we are many, and from all the lands on earth we come!

We thought about how we might get homesick for the land we were born in, and the song My Island Home was a wonderful way to consider the deep connection to country that First nations people have.

At the same time, the poem My Country by Dorothea Mackellar is a beautiful piece written by a 19-year-old girl from England who became deeply connected to the land of Australia, and we learnt the stanza beginning I love a sunburnt country with feeling.

In art we have been moved by the paintings of Albert Namatjira and worked on perspective and colour in our own landscape paintings and drawings.

Our Botany studies of flowering plants have led us to consider the interrelationships between insects and plants and we used mixed media to bring this together in our art.

Artistic skills will be further nurtured as we delve into our Geometry main lesson starting this week - with the wonder of form and angles, line and symmetry, brought together with our compasses and protractors. Part of the curriculum content for the Class 5 Geometry main lesson is that we are inspired by the beauty of the creative forms which underlie the world and the cosmos. What a wonderful way to learn!

The celebration of festivals is a key element of our schooling. It offers an opportunity to anticipate, connect and appreciate the natural cycles of the year. It offers a moment to ponder or reflect on ones own inner journey. It offers a space and time to gather and share in community.

This year, the staff of GHSS have made a concerted effort to rejuvenate the Djeran/Autumn and Birak/Christmas festivals. The latter to be celebrated in just three short weeks. Through questioning and speaking, we have tried to encapsulate the many faces and feelings associated with the time of Birak and Christmas. We have tried to bring this celebration in relation to this place and its people. As a consequence, we have chosen to make changes to the format celebrated in recent years.

This year, our Birak/Christmas festival will be celebrated from 5-7pm on Friday, 6^th of December. We ask that families gather on picnic rugs and camp chairs looking onto the Class 5/6 verandah which will form the stage for the evening. This festival will celebrate a gathering around the Moodjar tree and the central theme of light: the light of our expansive skies and the joy and activity that this brings, and the light of peace that the story of Christmas brings. The sharing on the night will follow a specific sequence so that we can live into this theme and carry it with us long after the last song is sung.

We acknowledge that this time of year is full and intense, with many commitments happening all at once. With this in mind, our intention is for the festival to be a relaxed setting for one and all. Once the school sharing has come to an end, music will continue in the background as you socialise, share and enjoy your own picnic. At this time of the festival, the P&F will also offer drinks and desserts.

It is important to note, that we ask that children are seated with and supervised by their parents and or guardians before and after their class sharing. We ask that families sit with and around their class group or chosen class group in the case of families with more than one child at the school. It is important to emphasise that parents will have duty of care for their children for the duration of the festival.

We look forward to creating something new together and to celebrate alongside you.

Bruce & Sarah

Fried Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup long grain rice
olive or canola oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 onion, diced
1 red or green capsicum, seeded and diced
1 large carrot, diced
2 cups cabbage, shredded
1 cup green peas, fresh, canned or frozen
1 cup sweet corn kernels, fresh, canned or frozen
1 cup bean shoots (optional)
2 spring onions, chopped
1 tsp sesame oil
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce

Method:

Step 1
Cook rice following packet directions, drain and cool completely.

Tip: you can cool the rice faster by spreading rice on a baking tray and placing in the fridge or freezer.

Step 2
Lightly grease a heated non-stick pan with oil and pour in eggs to make a thin omelette.

Cook over gentle heat until set. Transfer to a plate and slice thinly. Set aside.

Step 3
Lightly grease the same pan with oil and cook onion until golden. Add capsicum, carrot,

cabbage, peas, corn, bean shoots (if using) and spring onions. Toss well for several minutes.

Step 4
Add rice, sesame oil and sauces. Stir until sauces have mixed through.

Step 5
Fold in sliced omelette.

Serving suggestion: add some leftover cooked chicken.

Food safety tip: if you are packing leftovers for lunch, cooked rice needs to be

kept cold so pack an ice brick.

recipe from: https://healthymadetasty.com.au/recipes/fried-rice/

In each Golden Quill, we feature one of our wonderful former GHSS students. What are they up to now? What did they love about their time at Golden Hill? Watch this space to find out! This week we meet Violet Anthony.

Violet graduated from Golden Hill as a Class 7 student around 2009, moving on to the Denmark Senior High School for her secondary schooling years. Upon high school graduation, Violet took a gap year, working at the Rivermouth Caravan Park as well as a few wineries around Denmark. Once she had saved up enough money, Violet soon made the break from Denmark, moving to Perth to study primary school teaching at university.

Violet’s class teacher was Rebecca Pampling, who Violet states was hugely influential in her young life. Rebecca happened to be the source of inspiration in Violet becoming a teacher.

After finishing her teaching degree, Violet picked up work as a relief teacher and taught for a few terms at a school near Geraldton. However, Violet soon realised that education within a classroom setting was not for her at that time in her life. Instead, she began to be drawn towards outdoor education.

Violet started volunteering at Outward Bound to get a taste for whether or not outdoor education might be the pathway forward in her teaching career. Sure enough, she loved it and soon picked up casual work for schools and outdoor education companies.

Violet then made the move to the Blue Mountains (east of Sydney) in order to study outdoor leadership. She has been working in the industry ever since, and loving it. Violet guides treks around the Alice Springs and Larapinta trail areas during the winter, and is also working for Outward Bound on an ongoing basis. Although she is currently based at the Outward Bound headquarters just outside of Canberra, Violet’s work takes her all around the country.

“When I got to high school, I remember reflecting on my primary school years at Golden Hill. Lots of people would ask what going to the Steiner school was like. I remember a big difference between Steiner and the high school was feeling seen and valued as an individual. Also the fact that being yourself, figuring out who you are and what your values are, as well as developing independent thinking, were really emphasised at the Steiner school.”

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.

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✨ Calling all Denmark Community! ✨

Get ready to transform Berridge Park into a Christmas hub of creativity and fun! We’re on the lookout for emerging artists, makers, designers, and young entrepreneurs to showcase their talents at our Christmas Festival!

What’s Happening?

Unique stalls (marquee or suitcase size) with handmade or upcycled treasures and one-of-a-kind goodies from local youth and anyone else really!

A chance to be our Youth MC (yes, it's paid! + mentoring provided)

Volunteer for the day – you'll get a meal AND hands-on experience with event management!

Why Join?

It's FREE for youth stallholders!

An opportunity to learn, connect, and shine in your community.

Support and mentoring all day long!

Ready to jump in

Get in touch via the link https://forms.gle/qETXHGw1B5qzR9Qx6

or email simone@downsouthcreative.com.au for more info!

Suitcase Rummage Call Out

✨ Calling All Small Market Creatives! ✨

Exciting news! We’ve added a Suitcase Rummage option to the Denmark Christmas Markets on 14 December!

Here’s your chance to join in the festive fun and showcase your creations in a unique, compact way. Bring up to two suitcases filled with your best handmade items or quality secondhand treasures! Load up with vintage clothing, records, accessories, bric-a-brac, books, antiques—anything unique, clean, and ready to find a new home.

Event Details:? Date: 14 December ? Location: Berridge Park, Denmark Registration Fee: Just $10! (youth are free)

Spaces are limited, so snag your suitcase spot now! To register, follow the link here. https://forms.gle/qETXHGw1B5qzR9Qx6

Waltz for a Sky Queen, a dual cycle musical story suite, featuring the premiere of Driftwood and Feather, as well as a repeat performance of When Birds Take Flight will be performed on December 1 at the Denmark Civic Centre, with tickets available through TryBooking from Monday 14 October.

Rendered in unique blends of contemporary, jazz and classical harmonies, Waltz for a Sky Queen, will be brought to life by Woven Women’s Vocal Ensemble and Swing Into Sing children. They will be accompanied by Louise on piano and an invited contemporary instrumental line-up, including Grant Moulden, double bass, Sam Reeves, classical guitar, Nola Formentin, trombone and percussion, Mark Gretton, drums and Amanda Reynolds, cello. Of special note is the involvement of artist Jenny Wilson in our set design, featuring work from her recent Great Southern Art Trail Exhibition at the Denmark Visitor Centre. David Nile and John Dodd’s expertise offer exciting lighting and sound dimensions to the whole experience.

The whole production has been two years in the making. Denmark Festival of Voice 2023 saw us performing four songs from the early development phase of When Birds Take Flight, an original story and song cycle, honouring migratory shorebirds on their perilous flight from Denmark’s Djerrt Mia to Siberia and back. Composed by Louise, with poetic contributions by Jen, these original songs evolved into an eleven-piece suite performed to a full capacity audience in February 2024 at Golden Hill Denmark. Currently in rehearsal Driftwood and Feather, another multi-piece creation portraying the unique journeys of diverse birds across the world, draws on the culturally rich musical traditions of the lands they traverse and call home.

Woven Women’s Vocal Ensemble originally came together for our first music project, Wild Flower, Wild Woman. Composed by Louise, interpreting a poem written by Jen, this piece was performed at the launch of the Leech-Partington Botanical Art Prize in 2021, honouring the life of Penny Leech, a gifted botanical and natural history artist.

Our growing vocal repertoire, includes solo and ensemble arrangements and a range of creative performance and style opportunities. Partnered with a collaborative and nurturing rehearsal schedule, ongoing projects provide growth and skill opportunities for a wonderful community of local women singers of varying ages, backgrounds and performance experience, as well as newly emerging child performers. We also create employment opportunities for artists, professional musicians and sound and lighting specialists.

Drawing on the power of music and art to open our hearts and minds to our deep relationship with and responsibility to the natural world, our recent works give voice to the migratory birds who are increasingly at risk of extinction from human development, environmental devastation and loss of habitat.

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Cat Laws and Wildlife Survival (CLaWS) are hosting an open Art Exhibition entitled "Threatened Species and the Impact of Cats - What would our landscape look like without feral and roaming cats?" at the Albany Club Function Room (23 Aberdeen Street, Albany) between the 27^th and 29^th of November.

We are inviting students and general artists of the Great Southern region to complete artworks with this theme to be displayed at the Exhibition. There are 3 award categories, Ages 5-11, Ages 12-17 and People's Choice.

The link to the registration page is the QR code on the flyer or can be found on the Oyster Harbour Catchment Group events webpage. This exhibition is a prelude to the Threatened Species Forum (31st Nov to 1^st Dec) hosted by the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group and represents an opportunity to combine art and conservation.

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