12.12.12

 is the last day of school for Kindergarten to Year 12 students.

It will also be the last day at Shearwater for a number of students, and we wish them and their families all the best.

We also look forward to welcoming the many new students and their families who will be joining Shearwater in 2013.

Dates for preschool - 

Friday 14th December 2012 - Finish Term 4

Monday 17th - Friday 21st December 2012 - Holiday Care this week

Friday 21st December 2012 - Finish and close for 2012

Monday 14th January 2013 - Re-open for Holiday Care for 2 weeks

Tuesday 29th January 2013 - Begin Term 1

Year 10 has recently returned from a trip to Vanuatu, diving and undertaking the next step in a building programme negotiated with the planning committee on Pele Island. Pele is seven kilometres off the north coast of Vanuatu’s main Island, Efate, and has no running water and no electricity other than the small petrol generators which powered some of our tools. 

Last year’s class built a kindergarten at the school which serves four of the local villages, but this year we followed in the footsteps of the class of 2007, who built a bungalow to support low impact ecotourism. Our bungalow was built to the specifications of Australian building standards and Josh Scott-Jouir led a team of local villagers and many keen builders from the Year 10 class, who continued to work under often challenging conditions.

For all of us it was a trip back in time to when life was simple and uncomplicated: we walked everywhere, but mostly between the two villages where the class was billeted; kerosine lamps appeared at dusk; and the sun and the moon marked the passing of days. We discovered island time and learnt to occupy the waiting time between jobs on the building site, learning to weave, mosaic-ing the bungalow with shells and coral, eating food prepared for us by our host family, snorkeling, swimming, tree-planting, teaching circus tricks to the local kids, or hunting crown of thorns starfish which eat the coral. There were many opportunities for everyone to contribute something to village life.

This camp is a unique opportunity for a class of 15/16 year olds to experience life not as they know it - but as it is in its most essential form in a timeless paradise -  without all those things we take for granted and consider vital for the quality of our lives. Much wisdom has been gained from this encounter, which brings with it a recognition and new appreciation for our privileged lives.

If you would like to support the ongoing development of this programme, please consider purchasing a voucher as a Christmas gift for friends and family. They are available from Kristy at the front desk and range from $25 - $100.


Gillian, Deirdre and Josh

Year 9 Tasmanian field trip

A great time was had by all on our Tassie & Beyond class camp. In Melbourne we visited the bustling Queen Victoria markets, strolled through graffiti filled lanes, visited museums and galleries and hitched a ride on one of the city’s iconic trams. From there we boarded the Spirit of Tasmania 1 to sail through the night in our cosy cabins, across the moonlit Bass Strait bound for Van Diemen’s Land.

Seven action packed days followed exploring Tasmania’s World heritage wilderness, historic ruins and stunning ancient landscapes. From the glaciated terrain of Cradle Mountain to the cool deep dolomite caves of Hasting River, Tasmania never ceased to amaze us all. Our final day on top of Mount Wellington in a snowstorm was a perfect ending to our adventure of a lifetime.

Year 9 would especially like to thank Shelly Anfield, Greg Savage and Kay and Bruce Long for all their help making our time away such a great success.

Gabe, Tony and Class 9.

click the arrows for more pics

Welcome to our new Board member, Cristina Rubsamen

who has kindly written the following to introduce herself to us all. 

My name is Cristina Rubsamen and I am the parent of a class 12 student at Shearwater. I would like to offer a service to Shearwater School and have joined the school’s board.

In 1996 I was part of the initiative of founding Rainbow Ridge School for Steiner Education now located at Lillian Rock near Nimbin. I was on the school board for 10 years and held the position of the treasurer. I have been employed by the school for the last 13 years and have been managing the office. During this time I have undertaken studies of Anthroposophic philosophy specifically in relation to education and therapeutic work. I grew up in Germany and trained in nursing and midwifery before I came to Australia 29 years ago. Here I studied homoeopathy and worked in private practice for some time.

For the past 12 years I have been actively involved in the Steiner / Waldorf school movement in Australia and my professional development has included studies of Extra Lesson, Bothmer Gymnastics and, to a large degree, elements of ‘School Health Consultancy’.

Through my involvement at a Steiner school from the pioneering stage into a more consolidated and professional phase I have learned much and gained a lot of experiences. I have great enthusiasm and a strong commitment to participate and offer my contribution to the ongoing development of Steiner Education and the schools. I always endeavour to keep the intention of the work and my services child / student focused and in relation to the pedagogical and philosophical indications given by Rudolf Steiner.     

Cristina brings a wealth of experience and insight into the running of a Steiner School which will be of great benefit to Shearwater and our membership of the wider Steiner School movement in Australia.

Appeal for return of library books

Calling on all parents, staff and students to make an effort to return all library books this week. The Primary Library will be moving into the main library over the holidays and it will make the job a lot easier if everything is returned before then. All books can be returned through the After Hours Returns shute.

And we especially require any TEXTBOOKS returned. This is important to ensure the classes find the resources they need at the start of the new school year.

Thanking everyone in advance,

Sophia

And not to forget a warm thanks to all who wanted to support their children’s classes through the act of ‘Gifting a Book’ at our recent Open Day.

People find many ways to show their support in ways that they personally feel appropriate. 

We appreciate ALL the many manifestations of your support and generosity.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.   Sheryl Harper, for Primary Learning Support Team.


Shearwater in the community…

Year 8 students sing out with local Coolum residents…in our new hall we made a new sound that has not been heard before, a beautiful sound of voices from generations apart ….70 years apart in fact…a world away but in our hall all sounded as one…we hope to make this a more regular experience and wish to thank the Coolum residents for their lovely generous visit.  Students joined them in a sing-a-long of many old favourites as well as a few more contemporary tunes.

Margaret and Ross 

Organic local mulch bales for sale at school

Organic, not certified, bales of garden mulch (weed free) are available for sale at Shearwater School for $6 each. 540 bales were cut from the school’s farm at the end of Term 3 and have been kept dry under a tarp since. Half of the mulch will be used in the school gardens, orchard and vegetable plot, the other half is for sale to fund the cutting and bailing of the straw and further development of the school farm. More infrastructure such as a hot house, seed raising equipment, fencing and compost heaps are planned.

The farm was purchased 6 years ago and has being managed with biodynamic preparations and organic farming practices. The bales of mulch will be available for picking up every Tuesday at the school market at 3pm. Please place your order and pay at the school office.

For large orders other arrangements can be made by phoning 6684 2332.

ANTHROPOSOPHICAL COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

AURORA  AUSTRALIS

ANTHROPOSOPHICAL COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

A unique College in Melbourne ( located in Kew) offers a One Year Certificate Course, and a Four Year Diploma Course in Eurythmy.

ENROLMENTS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN

Contact Birgith Lugosi, Artistic Director

Mail to: 2 Union Street, Kew, Victoria 3101

Phone: (+61-3) 9852-8751

Email:   birgith.lugosi@gmail.com