Term 1 Week 4 - Samford Valley Steiner School

19 February 2016 | Samford Valley Steiner School | 07 3430 9600
Term 1 Week 4
“The Healthy social life is found
when in the mirror of each human soul
the whole community finds its reflection
and when in the community the virtue of each one is living.”
Rudolf Steiner
I would like to offer a warm thanks to all of those parents who have
stepped up to be Class Contacts this year. The role of the Class
Contact is to provide a communication bridge between the Class
Teacher and the parent body and to be a point of liaison for the Class
Community. The Class Contact [CC] has an invaluable contribution to
make towards the well-being of the school, aiding in the maintenance
and nurturing of the community spirit.
During the year you may receive many email communications from your Class Contact and requests
for support and help; please take the time to read them as they will contain important information
about happenings in the class and the community. Your Class Contact will be giving a significant
amount of voluntary time to their role during the year; please support them with good will and
helping hands as much as you are able.
Our school is nurtured and strengthened by parent participation and effort and to maintain a
healthy, lively cultural life we need ongoing interest and participation from our parent
community. At SVSS we hope that parents will recognise that the education of their children is not
the school’s job alone. You, as a parent have a unique opportunity to form a dynamic partnership
with teachers, children and the other families in the school community. When you choose to actively
participate in this relationship, you give your children a much greater opportunity to experience the
life-enhancing value of co-operative effort and personal and social responsibility.
In the early days of a school’s biography it is easy to garner volunteer support, as a pioneering mood
and a feeling of being “all in it together” pervades. As the school matures it can become harder to
keep parent activity alive as it can seem that everything is in place and those earlier levels of
voluntary effort appear to be no longer required. However, the school does not have the human
resources to organise unaided all of the wonderful cultural happenings that occur in the school
year. The Bush Dance, Music Under the Stars, Craft Group, Cuppa Time, festiValley, Friday Foodies,
Family Camps and BBQS etc. are all parent initiatives that greatly enhance and bring life to the
school year. All of these activities have grown out of the work of previous PAFA groups. At present
we do not have an active PAFA (Parents and Friends Association) and many of these rich community
activities are in danger of falling away without ongoing organisational support.
Last week the Class Contact group came together to discuss thoughts and ideas for re-establishing
an active Parents and Friends group. The three key thoughts that emerged during this meeting were
that PAFA efforts and activities would be enhanced by:



more guidance from the school administration
more support from school administration and the broader parent community
further community awareness and recognition of the important work that is done by this
group.
I see the active involvement of the parent community as an essential aspect of the healthy
functioning of our school and am very willing to engage with a group of parents around the
aforementioned thoughts to find a way for the school and parent community to offer each other
mutual support. I would very much like to hear from any parent/s willing to work towards the reestablishment of our PAFA. All contributions, small or large, to our community building efforts are
valued and appreciated. Working together to support the school, and in turn the children, can be
wonderfully fun and richly rewarding.
Warmly
Pep Wright
“One of the Golden Words that must govern social life in the future is Love; love of that which we
have to do. In the future, good deeds will be done simply out of a love for humanity.”
Rudolf Steiner
Dates to Remember
Tuesday 23 February
Community Forum, 7pm
Thursday 25 February
Kindergarten Parent Night 7pm
Saturday 27 February
Working Bee & Open Day
Friday 4 – Sunday 6 March
Learning Support Conference
Thursday 17 March
RSEGB AGM, 7pm at the Hall
SVSS LIVE THEATRE PROGRAM
The High School and I went to London on Saturday.....
Each year in the HS I organise our Live Theatre Program offering our
students opportunities to experience and engage with live
performances. Through this they experience classics, newly devised
and modern tales. They hear, see and are moved by so many stories
including indigenous stories and issues that are brought to life in 3-D
with living actors!
On Saturday the Year 9-12 students went to the National Theatre
in London via Palace Centro cinema. Together we went back to 1847
and met Charlotte Bronte's bold fighter for human rights - Jane Eyre.
This classic story from 1847 was re-told dynamically by an ensemble
who devised the work before this live performance was broadcast
around the world. The play had a live band performing and supporting
their re-imagining, and using minimal props, their own movements
and gestures they built Jane's outer and inner journey.
Thanks to the teachers and teacher aides who came and helped me!
Molly Brumm
POWER OF THE WORD
Each year the Class 8s and I explore the power of our English language to communicate, entertain, convince
and sound delightfully. The culmination of our ML was each student presenting a persuasive speech to Jacek,
myself and their classmates. We heard strong arguments why Australia's flag needs to be changed to represent
our indigenous traditional owners, why gay marriage should be legalised and recognised, why gardening is
crucial to our health and many more. The students wrote well organised and thoughtful speeches, coped with
their butterflies and spoke clearly and on occasion passionately. It was a wonderful start to 2016 - so welcome
Class 8!
Molly Brumm
Page | 2
WHOLE SCHOOL FACULTY ARTISTIC ACTIVITY
COMING SOON: WORKING BEE – SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY
The first Working Bee for 2016 is on the last Saturday of this month from 8am – 1pm.
This is a wonderful time to connect with other community members while doing ‘good deeds’ around the
school - so please leave a space in your diary.
All families welcome – and encouraged!
Many hands make light work and your help is greatly appreciated.
ANY WELDERS OUT THERE?
I am keen to find someone who could help with
building 2 soccer goals. We have metal posts
(fencing posts) which could be used for this
project and reduce, if not avoid, any costs. We
also have all welding equipment in the shed,
however I am not an expert in this field. If
someone is interested and keen to help me with
this, we could go and have a look at it. I have
attached a picture of the goal we could build but
we could negotiate if there is better idea. Please
contact the High school office if you can help.
Thank you.
Jacek Sicinski
Page | 3
A PASSIONATE SCHOOLING – 15
We continue with Steiner’s ideas about the threefold nature of the human being body soul and
spirit.
In education as in medicine, therapy and all activities which involve human beings, Steiner
emphasised that we need to consider our threefold nature. In the first chapter of Theosophy Steiner
introduces the basic trinity of the human being as comprising body, soul and spirit. He describes
these and the three sides of human nature they reflect, as follows:
The human body is the objective physical material reality of what is human. Through the body’s
senses we perceive the world about us, thereby revealing our environment. The objects revealed to
us by our senses are ordinarily accepted as objective facts.
The soul is the subjective reality of the human being: Steiner uses the word soul to mean all that
people carry within themselves as their own private interior world such as their thoughts, feelings
and intentions which are inaccessible to normal bodily senses. Through these we develop personal
impressions of the world which may not necessarily represent an objective reality and with these
impressions the world takes on meaning. Pleasure and displeasure, desire and aversion, and other
emotions are experienced in the soul, sometimes in ways that move us towards feeling and
sometimes in ways that move us towards intention and action.
In contemporary times the ‘mind’ or ‘psyche’ are more widely used in referring to this aspect of the
human being, although both terms tend to suggest a closer relationship to the brain than Steiner’s
broader concept of ‘soul’. Steiner believed that the personal interior world was spiritual in origin but
has its psychological reflection not only in the brain (thinking) but also in the heart/lung/circulation
of the blood (feeling) and in the limbs/metabolism (will/intentions).
The spirit, for Steiner is the objective non sense perceptible (invisible) reality of the human being (as
distinct from the subjective world of soul.)
Next time more on ‘the spirit’.
Compiled by Tricia Scott from “A Passionate Schooling” by Dr. Alduino Mazzone (Available from The
Treehouse bookshop)
Class 6 - Roman marching
Page | 4
CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS:
NOMINATIONS DUE THURSDAY 3 MARCH
AGM THURSDAY 17TH MARCH, 7PM AT THE HALL
Please note: Last week there was a typo in Board communications re the date of
the AGM: Thursday 17th March is the correct date.
The Board is calling for nominations from members of the School community who
have a passion for the School and its long-term development, particularly with
skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:






Audit and Compliance
Board Governance
Capital development and property management
Financial Management
Law
Marketing and Communications
The Board of the Rudolf Steiner Education Group Brisbane (RSEGB) is the governing body of SVSS,
which formally delegates the operational responsibility of managing the School to the Director. The
line between governance matters and operational matters remains very clear.
You must be a member of the RSEGB to nominate for a role on the Board.
The Board consists of nine roles, shown below. There are six vacancies for this coming AGM:


Two executive roles of Vice-President and Secretary;
Four non-Executive Director roles, one of which is the Anthroposophical representative
(nominated by College of Teachers).
Role
Board Member
Status for AGM
President
Karen Dunshea
Remaining in role until 2017 AGM
Vice-President
Fiona Garnes
Retiring from role; vacant for 2016
Secretary
Michael Ryan
Re-nominating for 2016
Treasurer
Rob Hewitt
Remaining in role until 2017 AGM
Non-executive
Amanda Bradley
Retiring from role; vacant for 2016
Non-executive
Olga Bruvel
Remaining in role until 2017 AGM
Non-executive
(Anthroposophy)
Alan Drysdale
Re-nominating for 2016
Non-executive
Vacant
Vacant
Non-executive
Vacant
Vacant
If you are interested in nominating for a Board position, please consider the following information:

The role is one of governance and Board members do not become involved in operational
matters.
Page | 5



There is a focus on ethics and professionalism in undertaking our governance duties,
including evaluation of our own performance.
Our workload is consistent, with substantial increases in time commitment required at
different times throughout the year.
Professional development as a Board member is expected.
Nomination forms are available here: http://www.samfordsteiner.qld.edu.au/wpcontent/uploads/2016/02/RSEGBBoardNominationForm2016.pdf
They must be received by the office no later than 4pm Thursday 3rd March 2016.
The Board focuses strategically on four areas and our tasks in these areas are guided by our Annual
Work Plan. The four areas are:




Compliance (legislation, policies, corporate requirements)
Financial sustainability
Performance management and
Stakeholder relationship management
The benefits you will receive as a Board member are many: an opportunity to influence and
contribute to the success of SVSS, professional development, valuable governance experience, and
the enjoyment of working with an excellent team of committed and skilled professionals.
Membership is for a 2-year term, however it is beneficial to have people who have a long-term
commitment to the School’s development and may be interested in taking on executive roles in the
future.
Prior to nominating it would be useful for you to have a discussion with me in order to get a picture
of what is required and expected of Board members.
[M: 0408 876 531 or e: karen@davinciconsulting.com.au].
If you are not interested in a 2016 Board Member position but may be interested in future roles and
would like to be updated please send your details to board_secretary@samfordsteiner.qld.edu.au
Warm regards
Karen Dunshea
President (on behalf of the Board of the RSEGB)
CUPPA TIME
A huge thank you to Pep for taking the time out of her very busy schedule
to come and talk to us about the three specific soul gestures that children
need to experience to promote healthy development. It was lovely to see
so many faces join around the table on a Friday morning again.
Next week Friday 26th, we will have Peter Kearney coming to give us an
introduction to Biodynamic Gardening. Listen to Peter Kearney, our, local
biodynamic gardening expert, introduce you to some of the concepts of this fascinating and highly
effective method of farming and gardening initially developed by Steiner.
Cuppa Time is held every Friday morning from 9am-11am at the Hub. All are welcome to come and
learn more about the different facets of Anthroposophy and Steiner Education. These talks are given
by very knowledgeable staff members, teachers and sometimes by visiting experts from other
Steiner schools or other Steiner Communities. Keep an eye on the newsletter and PAFA Facebook
page for announcements for upcoming talks. Any contributions to morning will be greatly
appreciated.
Page | 6
SVSS CALENDAR 2016
Remember to pick up a copy of our very own SVSS calendar for 2016, if you haven't yet. It was
lovingly put together by our very own Dave Gilbert. And the photos were taken by our talented
professional photographer parents Catherine Lowe, James Harvey and Danielle O'Brian.
The calendars are $15 each and all funds raised goes towards the school.
You can purchase them via the Primary school office or the Tree House.
And next week we will also be offering car park sales every afternoon at pick up in the Primary
School car park from Tuesday 23rd-Friday 26th.
CRAFT NEWS
A fantastic day at craft this week with our silk painting, the silk was then made into gorgeous silk
pillows, thank you to everyone for coming along.
Next week we begin our Autumn craft, let’s
hope this brings on some cooler weather!
This is our Autumn Story set, Alice has written
a beautiful story about the adventures of
Herbst the gnome and how he came to meet
Schnecke the snail, come along and make this
kit and read the story to your children.
Schnecke is needle felted and glued into a
large snail shell and Herbst is a hand stitched
felt gnome. For his hat you will have a choice
of autumn toned hand dyed felt (thank you
Avril) or you can needle felt autumn tones
onto the felt hat.
The cost for this kit will be $12 and this
includes the story which is an Alice original. If
you wish to make one for yourself and donate
another towards our festiValley stash your kit
will be half price.
This set also makes a lovely nature table display when not being used to tell a story, Herbst and
Schnecke are sturdy enough to be played with by children as well.
Hope to see you next week at the Hub.
Warmly,
The Craft Team
ASSOCIATED INITIATIVES
These Steiner/Anthroposophically related activities and services, whilst not directly related the
school, can be seen to be in sympathy with and supportive of the impulse of Steiner education.
Biodynamic gardening workshop
This Camp Mountain 2 day workshop on 19-20 Mar at the beautiful gardens of the workshop
presenter, Peter Kearney, will introduce you to biodynamic gardening methods, first developed by
Steiner. Workshop information is here http://cityfoodgrowers.com.au/calendar.php or call
on 0401156532. Register early for this informative, inspirational and nurturing weekend.
Page | 7
The Brisbane Branch of the Anthroposophical Society
The Brisbane Branch warmly Welcomes Everyone to join us for the 2016 AGM and Monthly Meeting
held this Saturday 20th February, this will take place in the meeting room opposite the Library, the
day will be as follows:
10am Start AGM
11am AGM Finish
11.20am Rob Birse will be speaking on 'The farm as a Living Organism', Rob has worked at the
Steiner School for 16 years and many of you would know him and value his extensive knowledge
with Anthroposophy.
1pm Lunch, Bring a plate to share
2pm Lorraine Birse will guide us through how to care for ourselves and the importance of this to
bring about balance and harmony to our four-fold and three-fold bodies. Many would know
Lorraine through her healing work with adults and children in Etheric Massage, she too has a wealth
of knowledge to share.
3.30pm We finish.
Contribution of $10 would be greatly appreciated. Shared lunch
If you would like more information about the AGM or the Speakers or to RSVP please contact me
Monique Davies anthroposqld@gmail.com. 0414 291 491
Public workshops
Jonathan Anstock, (MEd Steiner, BA, Teach Cert) author of Teach the
Children Well - Our spiritual investment, will be presenting four public
workshops at the school this term, 9.30am - 3.00pm. During his 40
years in education he has been a teacher advisor, teacher mentor, coprincipal, senior teacher, teacher assessor for NSW Institute of
Teachers, Steiner teacher and Steiner school pastoral carer. He is
passionate about the creative and health-giving aspects of the Steiner
curriculum. He is currently principal of Queensland Teacher
Professional Development.
$150 school funded *** $100 self-funded/QTPD
Follower *** $50 student/unwaged concession
Samford Valley Steiner School, Wights Mountain, (25km NW Brisbane
CBD)
Monday 7th March 9.30AM-3.00pm (5hrs CPD) Click on workshop
title for further details or BOOK NOW
MOVEMENT AND SENSORY LEARNING IN THE EARLY YEARS
The twelve senses and ways to support the development of
movement, touch, balance and
joie de vivre in the early years and primary school. This workshop is
aimed at directors, principals, PE/movement/dance teachers, learning
support personnel, class teachers, parents etc.
Tuesday 8th March 9.30AM-3.00pm (5hrs CPD) Click on workshop
title for further details or BOOK NOW
GUIDELINES FOR PURPOSEFUL EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Getting the most from child readiness, teacher personalities and
children’s characters (temperaments) in the early and primary years.
This workshop is aimed at class teachers, specialist teachers and
support staff who work with groups of children.
Monday 21st March 9.30AM-3.00pm (5hrs CPD) Click on workshop
title for further details or BOOK NOW
Page | 8
School Contact
Information
Phone:
3430 9600
Fax:
3430 9630
Email:
info@samfordsteiner.qld.edu.au
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/SamfordValley-Steiner-School106275046117815/?ref=hl
Website:
www.samfordsteiner.qld.edu.au
Address:
5 Narrawa Drive
Wights Mountain QLD 4520
CRICOS Registration:
RSEGB T/A Samford Valley
Steiner School
CRICOS 03326J
SUPPORTING THE CHILD’S SOUL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE EARLY AND PRIMARY YEARS
In consideration of Rudolf Steiner’s indications and the UNESCO* statement that, “The human
individual as an independent spiritual entity should be the starting point for all efforts aiming at the
renewal of our society”. * United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century, 1994.
This workshop is aimed at directors, principals, religious/spiritual educators, carers, teachers and
parents.
Tuesday 22nd March 9.30AM-3.00pm (5hrs CPD) Click on workshop title for further details or BOOK
NOW
EDUCATIONAL SERVANT LEADERSHIP
Educational leadership in the early years and primary schools from a servant leadership*
perspective. *The great leader (should be) servant first. ... because that is what he/she is deep down
inside”. The Servant as Leader, Robert K Greenleaf
This workshop is aimed at directors, principals and anyone interested in educational servant
leadership.
Study Group
A study group at Narrawa Drive in Samford Valley, next to the school, meets on the last Sunday of
each month. Its next meeting is 28 February, when the group will commence a study of Georg
Kuhlewind’s book: “From Normal to Healthy – Paths to the Liberation of Consciousness”. Those
interested in joining are welcome to contact John Ayre 3511 0346 or Monique Davies 0414 291 491
for further information.” This book is a practical guide to the self-healing of consciousness -it is both
a spiritual psychology and a contemporary manual of the inner life - it begins by laying out very
clearly the unhealthy, unfree nature of today's consciousness. Copies of the book are available to
purchase. All welcome.
Art as Healing- Veil Painting and Charcoal Workshop with Therese Allen
(Dip in Painting Therapy and Artistic Painting) and Wakako Motoike (Post graduate diploma in Art
Therapy, Adv Dip in Holistic Counselling AThR). This is a one day workshop with charcoal and veil
painting based on the laws of light, darkness and colour, suitable for adults and teenagers. No prior
artistic expertise is required.
Wakako and Therese will be working with exercises in charcoal and veil painting which are based on
a method developed by Liane Collot d’Herbois. Her work was inspired by the colour theories of
Wolfgang von Goethe and Rudolf Steiner.
Sunday, 6th March...9.30am - 3.30pm at Sunspace Cafe, Cnr Beddington/Noosa-Eumundi Roads,
Doonan. Cost: $75
All materials and a wholesome organic morning tea from Sunspace Cafe are provided...For bookings
and questions contact Wakako at...sunspaceinfo@gmail.com
CLASSIFIEDS
Please note: All Classified Advertisements are submitted by individuals for the community benefit.
They do not in any way express the views, opinions, endorsement or policy of the school and should
not be relied upon as such. There is a flat $5 charge for each advertisement and payment is
required prior to inclusion.
Interested in making a Waldorf Limb Doll or
Snuggly Doll?
Birgit Dowit is running a new class on doll
making starting next Tuesday 23rd February
during school hours at her house (next to
Page | 9
preschool). Birgit is making snuggly dolls for an
orphanage for Tibetan children.
If you are prepared to make two snuggly dolls
for the Tibetan orphanage (you make at no cost
to yourself) then you can make your own doll
and just pay for the kit plus wool for hair but
not tuition. ($50 - limb doll kit plus wool for
hair or $20 -cuddly doll kit plus wool for hair).
If you want to make a doll for yourself and you
don’t have time to make the dolls for the
orphanage you pay for the kit and hair as
above and then $10 per 2 ½ hrs of tuition.
Do You Have A House You Want to Rent?
In the Samford area, but will consider as far as
Dayboro. This house needs to have at least 2
bedrooms for my 10 year old daughter and I to
live in. I would also like to run a Rainbow Bridge
Family Day Care service 3 days a week. Rainbow
Bridge Family Day Care is a community and
Steiner based Family Day Care and I would
generally be caring for up to 4 under school
aged children per day. Landlords require special
insurance for Family Day Care but I am willing
to pay any excess. There would also be the
need to put safety film on some of the windows
and I would cover this cost. I would have my
own Public Liability Insurance. Long term lease
preferred.
If you wish to discuss or make an offer please
contact Emma Forsberg on 0400 826 991.
Kate Sharp Creative Arts Therapy &
Counselling
MA (creative arts therapy) Grad Dip Art Therapy
& Couns MIECAT, Member ACA
Using the Arts, Sandplay and Story:
to support and move through times of difficulty
and change;
to bring soul nourishment, an opportunity to
regain inner equilibrium.
Individual sessions suitable for either adults or
children at Highvale near Samford.
sharpcatherine1@gmail.com
www.katesharpartstherapy.com
ph: 32897227 mb: 0402884205
Sacred Cacao Ceremony - Camp Mountain
Date: Saturday March 12
Time: 4 – 9.30pm
Working with the highest quality plant medicine
sourced from Guatemala, we engage in a
deeply transformative earth & heart-based
practise designed to clear old programs, cells
and belief systems that are ready to go.
Page | 10
Gathering on the land, under the stars in Sacred
Ceremony with Cacao, we use meditative
practises and body-based release techniques &
the witness of the bonfire to re-align and
emerge standing powerfully in our authentic
self. Intention setting practises from Peru close
the Ceremony. Beautiful experience for couples
due to the active components in the Cacao that
open the heart.
Cost: $55.00
For complete event description & more info
contact Petra Lane 0401 107 187;
globalpilgrimtravel@gmail.com
Organic Meat Co-op – All Welcome to Join
Monthly delivery of quality free-range organic,
gluten-free and preservative-free meat
products at discounted prices. Other dairy and
supermarket lines available including goat and
bath milks. Order is via email then meat is
delivered to school in a refrigerated truck from
The Meat-ting Place on designated Friday
afternoons during school term. Minimum spend
$50 per month. If happy with products,
commitment to monthly orders requested.
Next order due Mon 7 March for delivery Fri
11. For a product list and further info on how
and who to order through, please contact:
Camille Jeboult (mum from class 5) at
yoga_asana@yahoo.com.au or 0421 106 441
SpiritEducation.com.au is providing a FREE
seminar: Transform your life through
mindfulness. March 13 @ Samford Community
Centre 2pm-4pm. For booking call Radana on
0422 095 514 or email:
Radana@spiriteducation.com.au
Massage for Children 0 - 7yo
Home Healthcare Workshop - March 9th
For parents who wish to learn about and use
anthroposophic healthcare as preventative
healthcare and support their family through
every day illness to build strong immunity and
overall wellbeing.
There is a large practical component to this
workshop complemented by a deep
understanding of the role of a caregiver to
support a child’s development from 0 - 7yo. You
will experience how to apply “sphagni rose”
with the rhythm used by anthroposophical
practitioners to help develop a sense of self as
well as provide a buffer that protects the forces
needed for growth.
The Rose Blossom Children, Camp Mountain
9 - 10:30am $25 (limited free childcare)
Phone Louise 0439 896 025 or Lorraine 0403
760 680
Vegetable Growing Workshop
Through popular demand, Millen Farm is
presenting a two-day vegetable growing
workshop on 6 and 20 March.
This comprehensive workshop is aimed at
vegetable gardening in the cooler months
offering you relevant learnings that you can
apply at home immediately. There is an
enormous array of vegetables you can grow in
autumn through winter. And in our sub-tropical
environment, there are plenty of veggies you
can grow that aren’t considered crops for this
time of the year in books written with
temperate environments in mind.
This workshop will cover everything from
testing and building healthy soil and
composting, raising seeds and seedlings, pests
and disease and companion planting through to
those vegies that will grow locally at this time of
the year.
If you are starting out in vegetable gardening
and would like a complete guide to doing so in
two days, this workshop is for you. Equally for
experienced growers, this workshop will
provide an opportunity to ask questions based
on your own experience and take your growing
to the next level. Or maybe you could make a
keen gardener very happy by buying a ticket as
a birthday gift or mother’s day gift.
Register through our website at
www.millenfarm.org and select 'Learn' followed
by ‘Workshops'. Numbers are limited so don’t
delay in securing your ticket ($200 per person).
Page | 11