O Nature, you are as a mother to me,

Giving me strength and nourishing me.

I feel you near me and nearer still.

You fill me with fire - how strong is my will!

To be doing what's good is what I desire,

And I shall, for I'm filled with God's heavenly fire.

Dear GHSS Families,

Djeran-Autumn Festival is tomorrow!  We look forward to welcoming our Golden Hill community to the school from 10.30am tomorrow.  We will gather in the hall to celebrate the change of season with story, verse and song.  Families are reminded to bring their contribution for the Harvest table - produce from the garden or wholesome stores from the pantry.  Your kind donations will be gifted to the Denmark Community Collective to be distributed to families in need throughout our local community. 

Children will then progress in mixed age teams through a series of courage challenges.  The theme of courage, challenge and teamwork is designed to awaken the "will" in our children.  The activities are planned and enacted to encourage imagination, initiative and teamwork - qualities that provide us the hope and inspiration to overcome our limitations.

We will end the day with our Class 4 -7 students walking the rope bridge down by the creek.  I look forward to seeing you all in your Autumn colours tomorrow!

Steiner Education Rebranding Survey Steiner Education Australia is working on rebranding Steiner Education and they need the help of parents who have chosen this wonderful education to share their thoughts on what drew you to Steiner.  Please take the time to complete their survey.  There is a link further in the newsletter.  Please don't delay in giving your valuable feedback as the survey closes this Friday, March 31st. 

Last Day of Term Thursday April 6th is the last day of Term 1 in time for Easter, with Good Friday on April 7th.  Students return on Monday April 24th (followed by ANZAC Public Holiday on April 25th) and back on the 26th.  We wish all our families a relaxing family time together and look forward to welcoming you back in Term 2!

Jacqui Hollingworth

Principal

All the students in Class 5/6 wore colourful socks or odd socks to celebrate World Down Syndrome day on the 21st of March.

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

What is Self-Discipline? Self-discipline means self control.  It is getting yourself to do what you really want to do, rather than being tossed around by your feelings like a leaf in the wind.  You don't lose control of yourself when you feel hurt or angry, but decide how you are going to talk and what you are going to do.  With self-discipline, you take charge of yourself.

Why Practice it? When you practice self-discipline, you are controlling your own behaviour so others don't have to.  Self-discipline brings you freedom.  You get things done efficiently and have order in your life.  Without self-discipline, we procrastinate.  We eat things we shouldn't.  We lose control of our emotions.  Then people feel hurt.  With self-discipline, life is more peaceful.

How do you practice it? Observe your feelings and thoughts, then decide how you are going to behave.  If you feel angry, instead of yelling or hitting, you can acknowledge your anger, then use a calm voice to tell someone you are angry and why.  It is your choice.  Create routines that bring order and peace to your day, such as when to wash, exercise, work and play.  Set limits for yourself, like time on the phone, how much TV you watch, the number of sweets you eat - enough, but not too much.

Signs of Success Congratulations!  You are practicing Self-Discipline when you...

• Use detachment so your emotions won't control you.
• Speak and act calmly when you are hurt or angry.
• Get things done in an orderly, efficient way.
• Create routines for yourself.
• Do what is expected without people having to watch over you.
• Do things on time.

"What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do'."  Aristotle

I recently made the trip to Queensland to attend the Steiner Education Australia (SEA) Delegates's Meeting.  Whilst exhausting, my trip was extremely informative, affirming and engaging.  One project I would like to share is the Rebranding of SEA.  Their desire is to raise the profile of Steiner education and to make it an education chosen by families as their first-choice.  They are conducting a survey to gather information from staff, parents and alumni about your views on Steiner education and what motivates you to work in a Steiner setting/choose a Steiner education for your child.

Please take the time to complete this survey so Steiner Education and the marketing company they have engaged have rich data to work with.  

Here is the survey link for your reference: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6YB5R5J  

The survey will close at midnight on Friday 31 March 2023.

Thanks,

Jacqui

It’s been a busy term in woodwork and some projects are still a work in progress.

Class One students have learnt all about sanding by firstly making their decorative sticks (almost finished!) and most importantly getting their knitting needles ready for handcraft.

Class Two have made fairy doors and are currently making animal figures and tools.

Class Three have been both completing projects that were started last year and making scale models of the chook house to be built later this year. 

Class Four have finished their decorative panels for the bike shelter (the frame for which the Class Sevens are making).  Can’t show you photos of the panels – they will be unveiled when put up as the bike shelter’s southern wall.  Class Four have also made Viking Lucets which were used to make cord.

Class Five and Six and have made a range of boxes for recycling all sorts of things as part of the school’s move to be officially a waste wise school.  They have now moved on to making mallets and picture frames.

Class Seven have been put to work all term on projects to benefit both the woodwork shed and the bike shelter.  Sawing aids have been made and repaired.  The sports box has been repaired.  Timber for the bracing of the bike shelter has been harvested (thanks Carl for the chain sawing).  This timber has been prepared for fixing, and with Wade’s help, will be put up by the end of the term.  Also, as I mentioned earlier, the frame for the decorative panels that this year’s Class Fours started last year is also being made.

Class 1 and 2

The focus for movement and games in Class One and Two this term has been around developing rhythm in our lessons and playing a range of cooperative movement games.  We have been starting each lesson in the classroom with a movement verse followed by a range of coordination and gross motor exercises.  This is then followed by a series of games outside.  The class have been concentrating on their movement including changing direction, speed and balance.  It has been great to see the children’s eagerness to participate and willingness to work together.  We will be finishing the term with some more imaginative games in the forest. 

Class 3

This term Class Three have been enjoying learning the foundations of their first Bothmer gym roundelay and playing a range of cooperative games.  Roundelays are a series of movements completed in circular formation, with students working closely together to coordinate their movements as a class.  Our cooperative locomotor games have centred on changing direction and spatial awareness.  The class have also really loved playing games with the parachute to foster their teamwork.  It has been great to see their enthusiasm to participate and work together.

Classes 4, 5 and 6

It has been a fantastic start of the year in sport for Class Four, Five and Six.  Our first focus for the year has been on body management and we have just concluded a lesson sequence on T-Ball.  Students have been developing their skills in balance, rotation, striking and hand eye coordination.  It has been great to see the enthusiasm and encouragement students have been bringing to lessons.  This has enabled each class to grow and improve each week with some great games to end the program.

We have now turned our attention to Ultimate Frisbee to finish the term.  This is a fantastic team game that will encourage children’s hand eye coordination, spatial awareness and teamwork.

I am also excited to be running our surf excursion with Class 5 and 6 next Monday.  This will be a fantastic day out on the water with students learning the basics of surfing and developing confidence in the water. 

Class 7

Class Seven have had an adventurous start to their physical education program this year.  Each Wednesday we have enjoyed a bike ride down to the Denmark river mouth to participate in an introduction to sailing program through the Denmark Yacht Club.  Sailing has been great fun with students quickly picking up the basics and getting out on Wilsons Inlet.  There have also been some exciting days with capsize training and navigation row-boat races.  I have been really proud of how the class have participated and pushed themselves outside their comfort zone. 

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to the wonderful staff, children and families for welcoming me into the school as the new Class 3 teacher.  I feel truly blessed.

We commenced the term with the ‘Literature of Creation and Tradition’ main lesson, where opportunities to consider the great themes of humanity took place.  Stories of creation, tradition and authority, and the impacts they had on individuals, were shared and explored.  In ancient human civilisations these themes have been expressed in some of the great narratives that speak directly to the growing child’s imagination, particularly in relation to questions that arise at this age.  It was a wonderful opportunity to continue developing language and literacy skills as well as explore different belief systems and stories from throughout the world.  The stories of the ancient Hebrew people were used as a basis for awakening learning.  Through the integration of song, dance, story and deep tradition, the children came alive.

After this we delved into a ‘Time’ main lesson.  Throughout this block, the Class 3 children have developed their capacity to further understand their world, and the natural rhythms that divide the days, weeks and seasons.  One of the things that we found the most fascinating came out of an exploration of how the kingdoms of nature relate with time.  We also looked at different methods of measuring time throughout the years, and explored the sundial, candle clocks, water clocks and even the use of rope clocks.  They learnt about the three hands of a clock through a story where they are referred to as ‘the three brothers’.  This began with the hour hand.  In addition to learning about every number equaling 5 minutes for the minute hand, we talked about “quarter past” or “quarter to” and “half past,” so we understand the clock as two halves and also as four quarters.

We have welcomed the change into Djeran with lots of practice of our Autumn festival songs and verses.  We have used our five senses to observe the seasonal changes during our Wednesday afternoons in the bush.  Each Wednesday the children add an entry into their bush journals.  Some highlights have been: autumn leaf rubbings, shadow drawings and their Djeran acrostic poems.  I have shared some below for you to enjoy.

Djeran is the best time of year

Jumping kangaroos far and near

Every bird is in town

Red blossoms are falling down

Ants are crawling all around

New bracken from the ground

MALA

Djeran is here

Jumping kangaroos

Every leaf falls

Red bottlebrush

And banksia bloom

Next up Winter 

KEVIN

Dew is on the leaves in the morning

Jumping kangaroos are hopping around

Every tree is losing its leaves

Rain is coming and cold weather

Apples are turning red

Noorn is going to sleep for winter

IMOGEN

Next week the Class 3 children will begin their Farming main lesson, and we are all very excited.

A little quote to reflect on…

“At many times throughout their lives,

children will feel the world has turned topsy-turvey.

It’s not the ever-present smile that will help them feel secure,

it’s knowing that love can hold many feelings, including sadness,

and that they count on the people they love to be with them until the world turns right-side up again”.

Fred Rogers

Many thanks,

Bree

This term Class 4 set off on an Adventure Camp at Quaranup.  Our camp fit in with many of the themes for the Class 4 child, such as a growing sense of independence and meeting challenges.  The aim of Class 4 is first and foremost to channel the powerful energy which ten year old’s bring to the classroom.  Pupils need to be challenged and stretched in every possible aspect of their work.  ‘Work, work and lots of it” is the motto for Class 4.

We began the year with the adventures of the gods from the Norse Mythology main lesson, and set out with a sense of openness and exploration that the gods would have been proud of.  Quaranup is a beautiful natural environment with lots of fun activities on offer.  The children were fantastic and adapted well to the different activities and instructors.  They were very independent - taking care of their gear and getting organised, and worked together to support each other in a new situation. 

On arrival, Noongar guide Lindsay Dean welcomed us to Country, told us some dreamtime stories and shared his knowledge of the area.  He took us for a walk along the beach, showing us how to greet the water.  Finding pippi’s, skimming stones and exploring in the seaweed were favourite activities on the walk.

The children were super excited on the first night and that, combined with the midnight thunder, lightning and rain made for little sleep but a big sense of adventure!   A steamy post-thunderstorm morning, a lesson in map reading, and then off into the bush was our introduction to Rogaining.

Swimming, raft building, archery, hiking, sensory team games and bush activities kept us on the go.

We couldn’t have done the camp if not for the hours of help and organisation from parent helpers.

Deepest gratitude to Kirsten, who spent many days and weeks planning and organising quantities and shopping to ensure that we had everything we needed for every meal, even individual trail mix portions for bushwalking!

Our wonderful dads, Glenn and Will, were available the whole camp and calmly supervised the boys dorm (the early risers, last to sleep, and night wakers), as well as kitchen duties and lots more, including Spotlight in the bush, administering frequent minor first aid of all kinds, night-time spider spotting and also the Ship Game - guiding blindfolded ‘ships’ to safe harbour.

Much appreciation to Tamala and Alexandra who spent a night each in the girls dorm, put together meals and ensured the smooth running of the kitchen, amongst supporting and caring for the children, and me! 

Back in the classroom we have been working on all kinds of follow up activities from camp, including thank you letters, social and emotional learning, protective behaviours topics, narrative writing, and mapping skills.  All this in amongst our maths main lesson on Long Multiplication and Long Division!  Our final main lesson for the term is Mapping, which follows on from our hands on learning on camp and involves lots of teamwork and collaboration.  Well done Class 4!

Some beautiful brisk nights/mornings are creeping in, and as such we would love to share with you a warming soup recipe from the book - The Waldorf School Book of Soups.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 minced garlic clove

3 and 1/2 cups chopped broccoli

1 tsp lemon juice

1 cup light cream or half and half milk

salt and pepper

Melt butter in a large saucepan.

Saute onions and garlic until onion is tender; add broccoli, lemon juice and 1 cup of water.

Cover and simmer until broccoli is tender.

Puree in blender, food processor or via vigorous stirring.

Stir in cream and/or enough milk to bring soup to your desired consistency.

Season with salt and pepper and gently re-heat.

Serves 4

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!