Now may I belong to myself And shining spread inner light Into darkness of time and space. The natural world tends toward sleep; Soul depths shall awake And awaking bear solar embers Into the cold winter flowing.
- Issue 4 • Week 8 • Term 1
- 19th March 2024
Upcoming Events Term 1
Monday 18th March
Tuesday 19th March
- Fire Drill 9:10am
Wednesday 20th March
- Autumn Equinox: Primary School Celebration.
- Ice Cream Roster: Serena L & Caitlin T
Thursday 21st March
Friday 22nd March
Monday 25th March
- Easter Celebration: Foot Washing at 9:20am in the hall
Tuesday 26th March
Wednesday 27th March
- Ice Cream Roster: Rosette T & Maree B
- Class 3 Parent Meeting 3:30pm in the Hall.
Thursday 28th March
- Last day of Term 1 – Full day.
Term 1 Week 8: Michaelmas and Transformative Power
The Equinox and Saint Michael
In Steiner Schools worldwide, many festivals are observed throughout the course of the year and celebrated creatively with our students. The Summer turning brings opportunity for inner growth.
In a lecture that Rudolf Steiner gave on the 8th of April 1923, he discusses the relationships between the cycles of nature and the experience of the human being and draws attention to teachings from ancient times. Specifically regarding the Autumn Equinox, we are reminded of an old motto;
“Look around Thee”
This contemplation formed part of a year-round series of instructions for spiritual contemplation and development.
A focus toward the wisdom of nature is never outdated and in our region, it is a magical time of the year.
It is intriguing to contemplate Steiner’s perspective relating to the characteristics of Autumn, as our landscape is so vastly different to the European autumnal environment. For us leaves will start to appear rather than disappear, waters will begin to flow and rainbows appear.
The ever-present virtue of contemplation, regardless of the seasonal markers in the present time, is that the festival arising is one of giving.
By engaging in the process of identifying what it is that helps us toward a greater understanding of our place in the world, we uplift both ourselves and our community.
This, Steiner points out, takes courage!
Hence, the imagery of Michael and the dragon and all the stories that have evolved from the original still have a validity and place amongst us.
Michaelic tradition heralds the Archangel Michael.
Compare the figure of Michael confronting the dragon to the image of humankind fighting its way free from endless desires and reaching for higher nature.
The virtue of kindness can clearly be associated with the valiant fight. For true kindness, as Steiner outlined, is born from transformed anger. Equally as potent and intrinsically linked to kindness is the practice of restraint and the pursuit of balance in one’s life.
When we place our annoyances and gripes into the steadiness of our inner gaze and restrict the reactive tendency, we have the forging of our own Michaelic sword. It can be smelted from the cosmic iron in our own bloodstream.
The Michaelic eye then turns outward, the sword a ray of love and light that can serve others.
This restraint will be the message contained in the story I will tell for the children tomorrow morning.
“Anger that is overcome and purified will be transformed into the love that is its counterpart. A loving hand is seldom one that has never been clenched in response to injustice or folly. Anger and love are complementary.”
Rudolf Steiner.
Dragon scales and wings of flight to all,
Jacqui
Easter Celebration:Foot Washing
On Monday next week we will conduct our Easter foot washing ceremony.
The ceremony will commence at 9.20 am and parents are warmly invited to attend.
You will be invited to massage your children’s feet following the ceremonial washing offered by the teachers to their students in honour of the upcoming Maundy Thursday.
Anna will be playing piano for the children as our Easter gift, so we ask that the hall is kept quiet throughout.
Students will return to their teachers following the ceremony this year.
We have a special assembly planned for them at the conclusion of the day.
Autumn Equinox
Tomorrow primary students will observe the Autumn Equinox with their teachers and peers.
We will begin the day with a storytelling session and follow up with an activity to promote good deeds. We are planning to do some preparatory sanding of wooden features around the school.
The P&F will generously provide the busy workers with a warm lunch and some ice cream and we will conclude the day with a series of physical games that that focus on balance, in mindful observance of this day of equal day and night.
A Note from the School Health Nurse
Hello, my name is Jill Rogers, and I am your School Health Nurse this year. I will be working within a team alongside School Health Nurses Jillian Ryan and Maddison Hunter. School Health Nurses work with schools to promote healthy development, including physical and emotional wellbeing.
We are a good contact point for children and their families, providing information, assessments, health counselling, parenting support, and referrals as needed. The service is both free and confidential.
I am part of the Healthy Country Kids Child Development Team based at the Busselton Health Campus. I work alongside other School Health Nurses and Allied Health Professionals such as; Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Social Workers, and an Enuresis Nurse.
If you have any questions or concerns concerning your child’s physical or mental health, growth, or development, please contact me on 08 9753 6480 or email
WACHS-SW.NaturalistePrimarySchoolNurses@health.wa.gov.au
Our new website has launched, which has information on, Immunisations, Parenting program calendar, child development,
Primary and Secondary School resources. Scan the below QR
code or visit: http://www.childhealth.health.wa.gov.au
Carbunup River Playgroup
We have had a lovely start to the year, with many families continuing on from last year, as well as some new families with their littlies.
Once again, we have five full groups, with myself looking after the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday groups, and the lovely Mindy Meares looking after the Wednesday group.
This year we welcome another YSS alumnus in our midst, Eliza Laschon (see photo), with her mum Lisa and her little one Robby. Eliza is married to another YSS alumnus, Hamish Firth. It’s so wonderful to see our ex-pupils come in with the new generation.
We began the term with some dolly clothes washing, paired with the story of Mrs Kookaburra’s washing, an interactive tale where all the children help to hold the washing on the line with their little baby Kookaburra claws.
Wet felting is another popular Bunuru activity (see photos), with young and old alike. There’s nothing nicer on a hot summer’s day to have your hands in some cool water; on that note, we have also had plenty of cooling water play for the children (see photos).
Love from Victoria and Mindy!
Handwork with Victoria
CLASS ONE
I started this term by reviewing the children’s sewing skills before embarking on some serious needle work, and I am very impressed with this group’s dexterity! Their fine motor skills are excellent, and they are steady and enthusiastic needle workers.
They made twisties for their craft bags, which is always a favourite activity, and then sewed their names onto a felt piece, also for their craft bags(see photo). Last week, with the aid of their Class 6 buddies, they started making their knitting needles, in readiness for the new adventure of learning to knit. I trust that we have a great time ahead on this journey, as I love being with our new Class 1 children!
CLASS THREE
We finally got all the children’s new pencil cases sewn together- thanks so much to the Oberg Team of Tracey and Kaylee! Now the children have finished sewing their names onto their roll (see photos), with long felted rope onto a felted piece… a lot of wet felting at the end of last year! They have started on their rainbow ball knitting project, after which we will move onto knitting a doll – or gnome, as it is known within the school. The children are so keen to begin this project, and I am looking forward to doing this handwork activity with them. I really enjoy being with these gorgeous children, as they are a very cohesive, loving group of human beings!
CLASS SIX
Our Crafts term has had a bit of a hit-and-miss start this year, what with swimming lessons and then me getting ill for several weeks. But we are straight back into action, with an extra little Handwork session on Mondays, as well as our usual Friday afternoons. I have also been very grateful for Erin helping out in Class One with her children on Thursday afternoons. It’s really nice for the younger children to have some capable Crafts Buddies by their side as they work.
The Class six boys are finishing off their cross stitch and embroidery project (see photos), and are embarking on some gift making. All to be revealed! After that we will do some doll making, which is an excellent Class six activity. Tieing in with their Roman Main Lesson, we will focus on armoured legionnaires and toga’d senators. Our last half hour on a Friday is set aside for some well-deserved board game time, as well as a bit of outside time. Note the Harry Potter glasses, which apparently help them to do their work better, and also function as ‘Lucky glasses’ when they do board games…! It’s great to see the journey out to its end with this remarkable group of children, and I’m looking forward to a great year xxxxxxxx
Class 3: Creation
‘Here is the land.
Here is the sky.
Here are my friends and here am I.
We thank the Wadandi people for the land in which we play and learn.
Hands up, hands down, we are on Wadandi ground’
Last Thursday, Class Three had the honour of listening to Juliette Ramshaw recount a Maori story of creation through gesture, song and storytelling. It was a deeply moving experience to listen to Juliette. It was also wonderful to be gifted of a perspective that enriches learning of the creation stories inside The Book of Genesis.
Some Class Three members have taken creation to a new level with the forming of two class bands. Using either instruments they create, find or bring in from home the children have been freestyling in the playground with a fusion of varying influences including Japanese, progressive rock and country and western.
Thank you to Victoria, Kaylee and Tracey Oberg for the amazing work created with the children’s pencil rolls. They look beautiful.
Class 6 Sailing Camp
The Class Six Sailing Camp was a special experience for the Class Six students that met the needs of the 12 year old child for confidence, strength and independence. As they prepare to venture into the world beyond our little school, the Sailing course provided a challenging rite of passage for our oldest class.
The camp provided two days of Sailing with Adventure Sailing, where the children worked together to launch, crew and sail a keel boat in groups of four. The third day of camp was a morning giving back to Country by cleaning the beach where we were staying, followed by an afternoon and evening of swimming, fishing and joyfully experiencing our local surroundings in Geographe Bay.
We came back to the day for a final day of sailing this week, where the children successfully navigated their boats from Port Geographe Marina all the way down to the Busselton Jetty to snorkel the underwater sculpture trail!!
Thanks to our wonderful helpers, Craig, Dylan and Molly!
P&F Bulb Fundraiser
Fruit Ice Cream Roster
The ice cream roster commences on Wednesday 7th Feb and goes for 8 weeks.
Please arrive at school by 12.15pm to allow time to set-up the table, ice-cream machine, cones & fruit, before eager children arrive at 12:45 pm
As well as giving our children a healthy treat made with 100% fruit, this is a fantastic fundraiser for our school, so I thank you all in advance for your time & effort in making this successful.
P&F request all families to fill out the form and return it to the office by the start of term.
The cost of an Ice-cream is $2.50 for primary school students & $2 for Kindy 5/6 students. (K4 students are not charged.)
The ice cream/soup payment form is available on SchoolStream.
Please contact Shanai Williams 0410 498 377 should you not be able to make your commitment to this roster.
Community Notices
(Please note – the events and views in these Community Notices are not sponsored by YSS and do not necessarily reflect the views of the School.)
This upcoming puppet show is organised by the grandmother of one of our students from Class 2. Not only did she, together with others, craft the puppets, but is also organising/performing in the show as part of the Busselton Fringe Festival. Please find the link below.
Foundation Course in Anthroposophic Nursing
Taruna College warmly invites you to the “Foundation Course in Anthroposophic Nursing”
Taruna College with endorsement from the Anthroposophic Nurse Association in NZ (ANANZ) is very excited to offer this course again in 2024. This part-time education process over eighteen months has accreditation from the International Forum Anthroposophic Nursing (IFAN) and will prepare nurses to work with external treatments including working with the parts of the Rhythmical Einreibung (Rhythmical Body Oiling).
The structure will involve four seminars at Taruna College in Havelock North in 2024 and 2025.
For more information follow our link:
https://www.taruna.ac.nz/courses-and-workshops/anthroposophic-nursing/
SHARK EYES -Thermal Vests
Shark Eyes are offering 10% off to Steiner families!
Thermal Rashvests for groms and youth flew out the door this swimming lesson season. This local thermal rashie means flick the wetsuits hassle and take the edge off the cold water and wind leaving kids happy to stay in the water for longer.
So much more than a cold and wet rashy:
- these are warm and fluffy inside, polyfleece thermal stretch fabric
- splash resist as the water beads off it without penetrating
- wind and UV resistant.
- child, youth, men and woman’s range
If you would like to get your hands on one contact Heather or Shanan Worrall from Shark Eyes on 0439446476
Or visit the website www.sharkeyesglobal.com.au
Use discount code STEINER10 for store wide discount
*Heather can deliver to your child at school.
