In spring's sunlit hour

My heart like a flower

Unfolds with great power.

And out into the joyful world

My feeling-forces are unfurled.

All things I love - fire, water, air,

The stones, the stars, the mighty sun,

Plants, creatures, people everywhere

For God is in them, every one.

Dear GHSS Families,

We have endured an unexpectedly sad start to Term 4 and have drawn together as a whole in our collective grieving for the loss of a child from our community.  We offer our loving prayers and support to the family at this time and want them to know they are always in our thoughts.  When the time is right, we will be here to continue to comfort and support them in which ever way that they need. 

Thank you to the parents, past and present, and the Golden Hill staff, who have been incredible during this time, in holding the space with sensitivty and grace.  At the start of Friday's assembly we will hold a minute of silence at the end of the school song before being seated and proceeding with our assembly as per usual.

Parents will be emailed a letter from the board and school in relation to the information we have to date in relation to mandatory vaccoination of staff.  There are still some finer details to be worked out by the Education Department in relation to what this will mean for schools.  We expect these directions to be released in mid-November. 

Please find a link to the letter being emailed to parents below -

For those interested in an Anthroposphical view on vaccinations, I have also attached a link from the Goetheanum School of Spiritual Science.  On April 15, 2019 the Medical Section and the International Association of Anthroposophical Medical Societies responded to mulitiple requests from anthroposophic physicians and published a statement on the question of vaccination.  The link takes you to an article where Georg Soldner, deputy head of the Medical section gives a breakdown explaining the circumstances of the statement. 

Goetheanum | What is our global attitude to vaccinating?

Jacqui Hollingworth

Principal

Each newsletter we will be sharing a virtue that will be the focus in our school over the following three weeks.  

What is Kindness? Kindness is showing you care, doing some good to make life better for others.  It is being thoughtful about people's needs.  Kindness is showing love and compassion to someone who is sad or needs your help.  Kindness is treating yourself and others gently.  It is caring about the earth and all living things.

Why Practice it? Without kindness, no one would listen when people or animals need help.  Everyone would be looking out for himself.  The world is lonely without kindness.  When someone reaches out to another in an act of kindness, it helps them both.  People's lack of kindness to the earth damages the air, water and the land.  This causes people and animals to suffer, too.  Being kind allows us to feel connected to everything and everyone.

How do you practice it? You practice kindness by noticing when someone or something needs care.  Become sensitive to the world around you.  Use your imagination to think of things that give others happiness.  Find out what habits harm the earth and choose kinder ways to live.  When you are tempted to be cruel, to criticize or tease, decide not to do it.  Speak kindly instead.  Greet people kindly.  Take good care of your pets.

Signs of Success Congratulations!  Your are practicing kindness when you...

• Give tender attention to someone who is sad or needs help.
• Do things to give others happiness.
• Practice habits that help the environment (reduce, re-use, recycle).
• Resist the temptation to be cruel.
• Accept people who are different.

"... If someone listens or stretches out a hand, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or attempts to understand a lonely person, extraordinary things begin to happen."  Loretta Girzatlis

Today we celebrate our lovely Evie's 21st birthday!

Term 3 was a very busy time for all the bush craft and wood workers.  Class 4/5 and 6 added to their busy schedule by making props for Book Week.

Class 1 made decorated snakes, wax boards and had great fun making all sorts of things from the wood in the scrap box!

Class 2 showed terrific persistence and commitment in whittling their model pigs with most children making pens or drinking troughs or name signs.  The project involved using our new child friendly battery drills to drill holes for the legs, ears and tails.  Thanks to Carl Dusenberg for helping with these lessons.

Class 3 were engaged with making toys.  Some kids made several toys while others concentrated on one big ambitious project.  Lots of skills were learnt in the process and there were some terrific results.  Thanks to David Stockdale for helping with these lessons.

Class 4/5 all finished their beautifully hand-crafted wooden spoons.  They were then able to do a project of their choosing.  Pendants were popular but the more ambitious students fashioned simple daggers.

Class 5 (and Mitch) also made spoons and then went on to make Greek themed daggers which meant using the bandsaw (some for the first time) and a couple of fast workers got to fashion dagger ends on their first use of the lathe.  The finishing sanding on all the daggers was of a very high standard.

Class 6 took on the ambitious project of making their own plywood tool box; ripping their own components on the band saw, doing lots of tricky measuring and executing precision hammering.  The branch handles have added a nice rustic feel.  We’ve spent the last two weeks finishing these off so they’ll be going home next week when I get a photo of them all!

In Karri Kindergarten this week we've been hearing a story to help with our understanding of the death of dear Sol.  Our loving thoughts are with all of those who are missing him.  Here it is;

The Butterfly

With tired wings an old butterfly once fluttered over a field.  It made it's way towards a green bush and laid a tiny egg under a leaf and crawled away.

The egg was left in the care of Mother Earth.  During the day the sun warmed it from above; at night the earth warmed it from below.  The leaf protected it from the rain, and so it was well cared for.  The glow of life of the old butterfly had gone out, but in it's egg lived a spark.

Already after only a few days there was a gentle movement under the delicate skin.  A sunbeam played around the green leaf of the plant, calling, "Come out, come out."  There was a pulling and stretching in the egg, the skin tore, and out came a tiny yellow caterpillar, covered with little dots and with skin as smooth as silk.

The little creature crawled towards a green leaf, which then became it's garden, house and food.  The edge of the leaf was especially good to eat and the tiny caterpillar began to gnaw out little corners.  After a few days almost all this leaf was gone, and the sunbeam said, "it's time to find your way into the wide, green world."

So the caterpillar began it's journey, crawling from bush to bush, from leaf to leaf.  As it crawled it munched, and as it munched it grew.  Soon the tiny caterpillar had grown into a very large caterpillar.

By this time summer was coming to an end and the autumn winds were blowing across the fields and through the bushes.  The sunlight seemed to say, "Find a quiet place to rest."

The caterpillar crawled down between some rocks into a dark and quiet space.  Mother Earth  wrapped it in her warm arms, and the caterpillar fell into a deep sleep.  While it slept, through the long winter, delicate elves wove a special gown for it.  With their mysterious fingers they wove the sparkle of the stars and the glow of the rainbow into the cloak.

Spring came, and brought some sunny days.  The warmth of the sun reached deep into the earth.  While flowers were opening to the light above ground, a butterfly was waking up below the ground.  The caterpillar had died, but in it's place a butterfly was climbing up through a crack in the rocks, climbing up towards the light.  It could hear the flower song and it could feel the warmth of the spring sunbeams.

It opened its beautiful new wings and flew up high.

From "Therapeutic Storytelling-101 Healing Stories for Children" by Susan Perrow.

Warm wishes,

Denise

During the last week of Term 3, Class 1 children were very excited to watch the Spring chicks hatch out of the incubator.  It was a magical experience.  Thirteen chicks hatched in total, with our "eggspert" Via assisting one weak little one to hatch, who has pushed through her wobbly start and is now thriving.  Lots of families helped to care for the chicks during the holidays and the children were surprised to see how quickly they had grown last week when we all came back to school for the start of Term 4.

Our first main lesson block this term is exploring the maths processes - addition, subtraction, divide and multiply.  The Number Gnomes have helped to set up a cafe in Class 1 and we have been using stories and concepts about the cafe to use and reinforce mathematical concepts and language.  The children have named it Blossom Cafe and are enjoying time to play in this space.  The children have also been engaging in some concrete experiences for the cafe - such as making lemonade.

I've just returned from the Bush School camp at Nowanup.  It was wonderful to connect with Uncle Eugene, Aunty Eliza and Aunty Annette and all of the Karri Kindy, Class 1 and Class 2 families.  We enjoyed lots of stories and singing around the fire, woodcraft, digging for bush potatoes and lots of playing around the camp.

In Class 2 we have been supporting each other with lots of love and kindness.  We have had the opportunity to listen to each other’s worries and questions and share our own feelings.

We are learning that people can express their emotions differently. 

We are learning that in our community we are surrounded by many supportive loving people and that we can do kind and helpful things too.

We are drawing, writing, painting, sharing and listening to stories as we go through this new experience together.  Here is one of the songs we have been singing together;

I walk with beauty, I walk with beauty before me, I walk with beauty behind me, I walk with beauty beside me

May all my thoughts be beautiful thoughts, may all my words be beautiful words, may all my deeds be beautiful deeds, I walk with beauty.

We are also doing our work.  Our Main Lesson The World Around Us is a geography and science topic where we learn about the landscape to the North, South, East and West of Denmark.

Djiraly-ak, (From the north)

Koongal-ak, (From the south)

Boyal-ak, (From the east)

Marawar-ak, (From the west)

Our imaginative story follows the adventures of Pippa the ring tail Possum as she searches for her friend Wallace the Brush Tailed Wallaby to return his map of the land.

We learn about the habitats of all kinds of animals native to our region including mammals, sea creatures, birds and reptiles.

A highlight of the main lesson is learning many Noongar names for places, and creatures in our local environment.

Kwillana Dolphin         Kwilla Shark            Baamba Stingray           Maamang Whale

Booladaalaang Pelican Maali Swan              Yoorn Bobtail                Koomool Possum

Yongka Kangaroo        Quenda Bandicoot    Nyingarn Echidna          Wedj Emu     

“The gentle Earth is my true home, the Sun my hearth does warm.  They give me all I need to build a shelter from the storm.  The strength of stone for refuge, the gift of wood from trees, the will to work with heart and hands to make a sanctuary.”

Though the winds of the world have been fierce in their fury, Class 3 has taken refuge in our Poetry and Building main lessons.  It has been healing and grounding work that the children have thrown themselves into with enthusiasm.

In our ‘Shelters’ main lesson with Ashley the class have been building upon what they learned about Neolithic dwellings earlier in the year with Renee, and exploring the different aspects of construction on a human scale.  We have made models of geodesic domes, built a Noongar Mia-Mia, created a Native American tee-pee as well as constructing cubbies in small groups.  In the weeks ahead we will be looking at Leonardo Da Vinci’s self supporting bridge as well as making mud bricks.  Many students are keen to put their shelters to the ultimate test during our sleep-over later this term.

Huge and heartfelt thanks to Mark and Cheeto for donating all the bamboo for our building projects.  It has been such an invaluable resource.

During our poetry main lesson, the students have been looking at the work of Australian and international poets on themes close to home, such as animals in nature as well as our pets, the moon, bike riding and family.  We have explored both traditional and modern forms and had a go at writing poems focusing on observing with all five senses.  We discussed the way modern poems build on all of the spoken and written words that have come before through our poetry verse:

The lines that form on the page

and those that live on our tongue

are never the author’s alone, they sing

the world from which they have come

They weave together the thoughts

spoken by those who have come before

are the seed from the very first word

through which the world was born.

We have both been so impressed with resilience, depth and sincerity that the children have shown at this profoundly sad time and the way they have supported each other.  We feel this is a wonderful reflection of the way they are being loved and held at home and we are grateful to be a part of such a special community.

Warmly,

Ashley and Renee

Class 4/5 concluded their ‘Spirituality of the Dreaming’ ML by performing their own dreamtime stories.  It was a joyful day and the result of a wonderful learning and imaginative process. 

Kate

In Class 4 the children were busy in the September holidays making their animal dioramas.  The making of their chosen animal and its habitat was one of the tasks from their human and animal main lesson.  The students chose an animal to research and then make their diorama.  It was wonderful to begin the term to view their outstanding work but also to hear their very informative oral presentations, which, were enjoyed by their Class 4 and 5 peers.  Congratulations Class 4.

This week Class 4 will complete their third and final fractions main lesson.  The children have spent the last two weeks reviewing the addition and subtraction of fractions, and reciprocal, improper and equivalent fractions.  At present we are concentrating on the multiplication and division of fractions.

Why so many fractions in Class 4?

Fractions do make up three quarters of the mathematics curriculum in Class 4.  Fractions exist in our everyday life.  We share by giving half of something to a friend; we use fractions in measuring whilst cooking, and the fractions of time in music notation.  By Class 4 the children have developed an initial sense for fractions, but now we begin to understand their meaning.

Fractions are arguably one of the most complex mathematical concepts that are brought to primary aged children.  This is why we work with many different kinds of manipulatives with lots of variation as well as repetition.  Class 4 is a time when children naturally begin to differentiate.  Differentiation is important to the development of the Class 4 and 5 student as they begin to understand the world around them.  They note the differences and likeness of their surroundings, community and even themselves.  We are all part of a whole – their whole family, class, school community, team and world with each child bringing their own individualism.

Class 5 have continued on with their Greek Mythology main lesson after successfully competing at the Greek Olympics in Week 9 of last term.  A Greek feast and a visit to the Greek Exhibit at the Perth museum made for a wonderful camp.

During class the children have been introduced to the wonderful Gods of Olympia and the many myths and stories that entertain them.  This week we will venture into Troy and learn about the Trojan War.

Last term the children in Class 4/5 spent time learning about different poetry writing techniques.  View their published poems here on the Red Room Poetry Website.  Just search for Golden Hill Steiner School and you will be able to read our classes ’Nature Poems’.

Thank you so much for submitting your students’ or childrens’ poems to the POEM FOREST Prize!  Their entries have helped to plant a native tree in the POEM FOREST at The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and are now published on the Red Room Poetry website - just search for your school name!

Robyn

Fridays 9-11

Silver Birch Playgroup

Do you have a creative urge that needs tickling?  Come join us on Friday mornings in the Silver Birch Playgroup where you can either bring along your own project or learn something new.  Your little ones are very much welcome too so do all come along.  We’ll natter and share, make beautiful things and drink warm, good tea… I may even bring cake..

Give a holler if you need or I look forward to seeing you then.

Kat

M: 0439 519 386

Wednesdays 9-11

Meet at the office (with your gloves and wet weather gear!) to sign in..

Oh myyy it has been gloriously WET hasn’t it?!  There are some parts of my patch that are more trampoline than path, more like a pond than a veg bed..

 Here at our beloved school we have made inroads to our ongoing drainage works.  Things are starting to look prettier and promising... hooRAY!  Next on the agenda is a revegetation project.  With the help of Bill Hollingworth, a whole school plan to plant out natives for groundcover, foraging and habitat has been made. Class 4/5 children with Robyn and Neal will be seed planting in preparation for planting out next season and we may even get some seedlings from the Ag school to go into the earth this year (thanks Lynn Willson!). 

With fingers crossed I'm hoping for drier and more inviting weather to be around the corner and so, if you cross your fingers too, we may re-commence Garden Group this month.  Little people are very welcome as we will always choose something that is family friendly to do.

If Wednesdays don’t suit you but you would like to help in the garden to make up your Family Participation Scheme hours, do let me know and we could dig-n-do another day.

Yours in dirt,

Kat

M: 0439 519 386

Please know that as a school we are always open to feedback should you wish to provide it.  We are constantly striving to refine our processes and make improvements where necessary.

Feel free to contact us via phone (9848 1811), email - office@goldenhill.wa.edu.au or principal@goldenhill.wa.edu.au) or come in and make an appointment to speak with someone.

Positive feedback especially welcome!

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine.  It can be detected by a simple examination of the back.

The normal spine has three curves – one in the neck, one in the upper back and one in the lower back.  These curves can be seen from the side, but when you look from behind the spine should appear straight.  If the spine has a sideways curve, this is scoliosis.

An information leaflet about Scoliosis will be distributed to all year 6 students.  Please read through the information provided and check your child for scoliosis as described in the leaflet.

If you have any concerns, please contact your General Practitioner or Community Health Nurses, Paula Stretton or Rochelle Klose on 9848 0123.

Colour Blindness

Colour blindness means that a person cannot distinguish some colours or sees the colours differently to other people.  Very few people who are colour blind are ‘blind’ to all colours.  Commonly, the colours seen differently are greens, yellows, oranges and reds.

An information leaflet on colour blindness will be distributed to all Pre-primary students this term.  Please take the time to read the pamphlet.

For more information, see the Colour Blind Awareness and Support Group on http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~doverton/.

If you have any concerns, colour vision testing can be performed by some general practitioners, eye specialists or optometrists.  You can also contact your local Community Health Nurses, Paula Stretton or Rochelle Klose, on  9848 0123.

The Garage Sale Trail encourages community members to sell, shop and learn about the circular economy, promoting the premise of reduce, reuse and recycle as an important step in the fight against climate change. 

Registrations are now open for Australia’s largest sustainability and community festival – the Garage Sale Trail. To register please visit: https://www.garagesaletrail.com.au/register

Key dates:

• 10 September: Registrations open
• 6-7 November: Weekend of Trail Tutorial online workshops
• 13-14 & 20-21 November: Two big weekends of garage sales

The Garage Sale Trail is aligned with the Shire of Denmark’s Sustainability key objective outlined in the Shire’s Sustainability Strategy 2021-2031 2.2 Support the community to promote a circular economy and buy local philosophy.

For related events please visit the Shire of Denmark MyCommunity Diary website at: https://www.mycommunitydiary.com.au/Western_Australia/Denmark

and the Shire of Denmark Sustainability Zero Waste webpage at: https://www.denmark.wa.gov.au/residents/sustainability-and-biodiversity/zero-waste.aspx

Thank you

Primary school

Enrolments are now open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays.  VacSwim offers fun lessons at beach or pool locations.  They are a great school holiday activity and they teach valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.

Enrol at education.wa.edu.au/vacswim

Secondary school

If your child is over 13 years old, you can enrol them in VacSwim so they can get their Bronze Medallion during the summer school holidays.  They’ll learn advanced survival, rescue and resuscitation skills to help keep them and others safe in the water.

Enrol now at education.wa.edu.au/vacswim