As our high school grows, we plan to continue creating new traditions and offering our students new opportunities. Many of our high school students have taken up the after-school rock band sessions with gusto, under Rusty’s expert tutelage. This term, high school rock band kicks off from this Thursday. In other exciting after-school offerings, Blake and Jiffy are about to begin a new after-school running club initiative. This runs on Monday afternoons from 11^th August, and is open to all students from Class 5-9, as well as any staff members or Cl. 5-9 parents who would also like to join. Runners of all abilities and fitness levels are welcome, and Blake even has visions of snazzy GHSS running club shirts down the track!

Last term at Golden Hill ended with our winter festival, held during the time of our shortest day and longest night. This year, our festival was bigger than ever, with our wonderful high school students stepping up to create the new tradition of winter festival fire-twirling at GHSS.

While farewelling the term at the winter festival, none of us could have anticipated the tragic events and unexpected challenges that have since befallen our community. Despite everyone’s collective grief, the way our community rallies around in times of need is indeed a ray of light in times of darkness. Those experiencing loss or hardship have been given practical support in the form of meal trains, financial donations, childcare etc. But perhaps even more heartening is the way that our community holds space to see and hear each other in times of need.   

Although mid-winter has since passed, I’ll close off with one of Steiner’s winter verses from ‘The Calendar of the Soul’, a collection of 52 verses from Steiner. These are designed to be read and contemplated or used as affirmations throughout the year.

When winter wraps a mantle dark and drear

     Around the world beyond my own warm hearth,

Then am I called to rise and conquer fear

     And bravely meet this darkness in my path.

My light each day in brightness is increasing.

     Its glow of warmth reveals the stir of life.

The light-stream of my heart is never-ceasing.

     And so I’m strong, come grief or pain or strife. 

Rudolf Steiner

Photo: Nic Duncan Photography

Deep in the season of Makuru, we came back from holidays to find our fire pits had turned into small lakes! The children’s management of the blackberry has been significant, and we can weave our way through magical tunnels to explore the beautiful forest of melaleuca.

Our Koolanga (children) have been busy whittling, weaving and tending fires to roast baby potatoes. We’ve loved our circle singing and gathering around to hear Bruce’s stories. It will still be gumboot weather for a while longer, so we hope to keep those little toes warm and dry with a pair of gumboots and a change of clothes packed on Wednesdays!

Our children play with such enthusiasm, and we manage to find all the mud and puddles, even on these lovely sunny winter days! Thank you to the folk back home who have to work their magic on the soggy clothes that come home! It’s such a joy to be a part of the discovery that is the Earth Station!

Valda Wieland

Bush School Teacher

As the Class 4 Vikings embark on their third and final instalment of Norse Myth Main Lessons, there awaits an eager anticipation of the great Play reveal! Many Class 4 Vikings have guessed the Norse Myth story that will be the theme of our Play, to be performed at the end of this term, but none have been able to solve the mystery! Many have asked to be the popular character, ‘Loki’, but there can only be one! Until such-a-time, we have been making our way through the final Norse Myth Stories with great excitement – with many hints and clues dropped along the way… some of which are hidden in the new songs permeating through the Class 4 walls…

Please enjoy the range of Class 4 Norse Myths themed pictures above. These include (i) student examples of Norse Myth Main Lessons, (ii) student Norse Myth paintings (iii), Blake’s chalk drawings of Ragnarok (Norse Myth Story) and The Nine Norse Worlds (with characters added after each story is told), (iv) Our primary Norse Myth story/picture book with accompanied Norse Runes, (v) Class 4 students ‘role playing’ a Norse Myth story on the oval, and (vi) Class 4’s In-House Norse Goddess/EA, Laura, singing a traditional Viking song with the class!

Until next time, we wish you well!

Blake

Class 4 Teacher

Semester 2 is here and well underway already! Much is continually happening behind the scenes.

At times, we need to investigate the reasons for a student achieving or behaving in an unexpected way, so additional expertise is sought. Golden Hill SS operates under the umbrella of AISWA, the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia. This year, we have sought and received guidance, assistance and assessment for some teachers, parents and students both in person and via online meetings. Information gained from these consultations is invaluable and assists us and the parents to understand and meet the needs of individual students using best practise.

If your child has a Documented Plan, you should be receiving the reviewed and updated plan soon. Please contact me or the teacher if this has not occurred by the end of Week 4, Term 3.

Term 3 is data-collecting term. Depending on their year level, students will be assessed in spelling, reading and mathematics using standardised tests. The results of these assessments are recorded, analysed and used to make decisions about teaching practises, learning programs and so on.

In my role, I get to know a little or a lot about every student, which is very fulfilling. I am so fortunate to be working at such a lovely school!

Cate Moreton, Learning Support Coordinator

Class 7 have enthusiastically begun Term 3 with their first Chemistry main lesson. This block begins by exploring the chemistry of combustion, before moving into chemical reactions and concluding with the properties of acids and bases. Chemistry is one of my favourite lessons to teach, as it provides students with a dynamic and engaging process through which they can deepen their observation skills and scientific inquiry.

Over the first two weeks, students have carefully observed daily demonstrations involving different aspects of combustion, then recorded detailed descriptions and diagrams of their observations. After ‘sleeping on’ these experiences, students return the next day to discuss the "why" and "how" behind what they observed. This process allows them to experience the phenomena first-hand, encouraging them to develop their own understanding of key chemistry concepts.

One of the highlights of Week 1 was our combustion investigation. After developing a method and completing a risk assessment, students worked in groups to observe and record how different animal, plant, and mineral substances burn. It’s not every day your teacher asks you to purposefully light things on fire!

Class 7 and 8 students have also been fortunate to begin a three-week archery course. During our first session, students focused on developing correct technique and improving their aim from close range. It was wonderful to see such high levels of concentration, engagement, and encouragement within the group.

Sam

Class 7 Teacher

After months of rigorous trials and training sessions, Class 6 student Maya Brandao-Woodruff has been selected to represent WA in the 2025 Football (Soccer) 12's team. Travelling all the way to Ballarat, VIC, she will be competing alongside a team of 13 students from all over WA. 

Congratulations on your selection, Maya! We will be cheering you on from Golden Hill!