Golden Hill Steiner School eNewsletter

Welcome back for Term 2!

We are heading towards the tail-end of Djeran and into Makuru as the chilly air and frosty ground greets us each morning. Our forthcoming three-week winter school holiday means that this is a shorter term, but a busy one. Semester 1 reports come out during the last week, closely followed by parent -teacher interviews. Please note that parent-teacher report interviews will not be available during Term 3, so book in while you can.

In other happenings this term, we have a few plays to look forward to (Class 7, 5 & 3), a camp (Class 8/9), Reconciliation week in Week 5, and a few musical happenings (the Denmark Festival of Voice and Albany Eisteddfod). The best way to keep abreast of school goings on is by reading the weekly emails (landing in your inbox Sunday evening in preparation for the week ahead), as well as via the online school calendar.

In addition to my role as principal at GHSS, I also have the pleasure of teaching our lovely cohort of Class 8s practice maths classes a few times a week. I love mathematics and was particularly excited when it was time to bring in the topic of octal numbers (a base-8 numeral system that uses digits from 0 to 7), as well as other number bases. As could be expected, one student called out, “But why are we learning this? We’ll never use it in our jobs when we are adults.” And rightly so- they likely won’t. It got me pondering just how many things we bring to the children in a Steiner school that could be classed as economically & practically ‘useless’ or ‘irrelevant’.

Take knitting and crocheting, bush school, beeswax modelling, wet-on-wet painting, or learning how to divide and multiply complicated fractions, for example. Acquiring any of these skills is unlikely to result in direct career paths (although I have heard there is money to be made in knitting pattern sales!), but the gains and growth that children experience through engaging in these activities often goes beyond the purely practical. Through knitting and handwork, children learn respect for the process of making something from scratch, and gain resilience and confidence in their ability to complete a task. All sorts of other invisible things, such as hand, eye and brain coordination and sensory integration, are also taking place.

Likewise, the end game of manipulating fractions or understanding octal numbers is not necessarily to become a maths whizz or to apply these processes ‘when they grow up’. Instead, these kinds of lessons ‘stretch’ thinking, encouraging the children to look at the mysterious language of numbers through a new lens, developing greater mathematical thinking and new neural pathways. So many elements of the Steiner curriculum are tools for transformation, rather than ends in themselves, with the end goal being to educate the ‘whole’ child so they may eventually unfold into their highest potential. Now I just need to convince the Class 8 students to persevere with those ‘brain-frying’ octal numbers!

Have a wonderful Term 2 everybody- looking forward to seeing you out and about around the school.

Eliza Allan

Principal

School Calendar Link

While the yarning circle is not the place for grievances of a more serious or weighty nature, it is a chance for parents and school leadership to come together and be heard without people feeling the need to book in for a more formal meeting in the principal’s office.

As with all student-staff-parent communication, we do ask that everyone follows our regular code of conduct in these sessions, treating each other with courtesy, respect and consideration.

With frames going up, our high school buildings are beginning to take shape.

As you watch the progress of the first phase of our build, this is what you will see come to fruition: a Manual Arts hub, two high-school classrooms, and amenitites block.

Manual Arts building

High School Classrooms

High School Classrooms

Family Participation Hours Form

Link to Parent Education Zoom

Class 4 were extremely lucky to have GHSS grandparent, art-specialist and former Steiner teacher, Fran Rosenthal, visit for a painting incursion. Fran first gave the children an opportunity to explore how each colour made them feel, and how it linked with various human experiences. Then, given that Class 4’s are mid-way through their Humans & Animals Main Lesson, Fran guided the children through a horse observational drawing piece. The children were so immersed that you could hear a pin drop!

Fran finally modelled a horse-themed wet-on-wet painting, where the children attempted their first animal painting, embodying what they had been learning in their previous Main Lessons. Blake even gave it a go! Although his horse looked more like a dog, much to Class 4's amusement!

All are welcome to visit Class 4 to have a look!

Fran will be visiting us again in a few weeks for a second workshop! We are so lucky to have her in our Golden Hill community.

Thank you, Fran!

From Blake & The Class 4 Vikings

Greetings from Class 5!

Our immersion into ancient cultures has been wonderful. This term we have arrived in Egypt and become aquainted with Ra, Osiris, Isis, Anubis and Thoth. We have marvelled at the remarkable achievements that have come down to us through the ages.

Late last term, after exercising long patience, the children received their much-anticipated fountain pens, but not before sharpening up a quill or two on our journey through the history of writing.

It has been incredible to witness the evolution of the work produced by the children in their main lesson books, and in other expressions. Through steady application and practice, fundamental skills become consolidated, where they blossom in the child and offer up beauty to share with humanity. This is the gift that we endow to our children through our striving to embrace Steiner education.

Preparations have begun on our class play, Gilgamesh, to be performed in Week 6.

We are very excited to get into production mode!

This term, Year 8/9’s have started Main Lesson on the topic of Platonic Solids.

These are unique shapes discovered in antiquity that were then thought to be the building blocks of life and the universe, defining all manner of things, including planetary orbits. These days, our understanding has deepened through molecules, atoms, and sub-particles, laws of gravity, orbits, and quantum theory. Students are investigating the historical context and mathematical properties of these shapes. Minds are stretched by drawing accurate models using just a compass and ruler, old and new techniques. They can also indulge their creative and childlike selves, building and colouring models, attempting to be as precise as possible. This topic provides a great opportunity to introduce more complex geometry and touch on the basics of trigonometry. Year 9 math practice lesson ties in neatly as they are learning to understand 3D manipulations, drawing projections of these same objects whilst continuing algebraic exercises. It’s been lovely to be in the classroom as a new teacher, I hope to bring them learning in interesting and practical ways.

A quiz for you: what errors are in my hand-drawn blackboard image attached (your child knows)?

John Davey

With summer easing its way into autumn, the school gardens reflect the change with tall summer crops ending and winter crops starting.

Class 5 will be planting a large crop of garlic whilst other classes prepare to grow brassicas – cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower – and root crops such as carrots and beetroot.

Class 6 have begun a seedling stall following a survey to the school community. Many thanks to those that completed it! Stay tuned for sales on a Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning in front of the office.

Class 4 are the custodians of five beautiful hens in the orchard and are beginning to collect eggs on a daily basis.

Class 7 discovered a massive beetroot under the foliage and have made a kvass; a Ukrainian health tonic drink.

Such a beautiful time of year in the school gardens with apples ripening on the trees and soil still warm but damp.

Happy gardening!

During April, the Golden Hill Steiner School Environment Committee gathered for our inaugural meeting. We devised our purpose and core objectives, as well as reviewing what the school has achieved so far. We then considered what we would like to bring to fruition going forward, while eating cake and being gently rained on by blossoms from the beautiful red flowering gum over our heads!

As a committee, we aim to facilitate the caring of Boodja through the engagement and education of students, teachers and the wider community. Our core objectives are:

- Practical care of the school grounds e.g. weeding, creek beds

- Maintaining biodynamic status of the school

- Education of students to facilitate knowledge of, and spiritual connection to, Country/ Boodja

- Education and engagement of school community e.g. busy bees

Some of the wonderful things we have achieved so far as a school are netting the orchard, weeding the creek line, collaborating with South Coast Bushland Carers Association to manage invasive weeds, embedding composting as part of classroom routines and so much more! We are also really grateful for the beautiful sense of garden design Matthew has brought to our school, building on the passionate work previously done by Katja.

Going forward, some of the things we would like to achieve are to continue weed maintenance involving classes using grids and the Bradley Method, to link the Noongar story of the ‘Carers of Everything’ with areas of care, promote ‘Hands in the Earth Day’, slow the flow of the creek, plant a food forest and establish fire retardant species near school buildings.

Committee members, Ashley, Renee, Bruce, Neal, Pamela, Kristi and Matt would like to extend an invitation to any community members who would like to be a part of the committee to come along to our next meeting on the 18th of June by the four square court, or email Reneé at renee@goldenhill.wa.edu.au . We hope to see you there!

Reneé Schipp

Environment Committee Coordinator

We love hearing about the incredible achievements of our students outside of school. Some of you may know Solomon Dusenberg, in Class 6.

Solly has recently raised over $800 for suicide prevention in the fundraiser, Mullets for Mental Health.

Across Australia, Mullets for Mental Health has raised over $1.5 million to help support people with mental illness.

Thanks to those in Class 6 who generously donated to this cause that is close to the Dusenbergs' hearts.

To follow up one achievement with another, over the holidays, Solomon and his Mum Lucy went on a hike from Northcliffe to Pemberton on the Bibbulmun Track. They may have gotten lost on the first day and had to camp on the roadside between Northcliffe and Walpole! But they were steadfast and did not quit; luckily, they were helped by a Good Samaritan, who gave them water and a lift to the right part of the track, so all was well!

Once they reached their destination in Pemberton, Solly celebrated with a spot of fishing. He caught a trout but set it free.

Thank you to Lucy Dusenberg for letting us know about Solly's recent adventures and achievements.

Whenever we get the opportunity, we feature one of our wonderful former GHSS students in our newsletter. This time we met with Toby Boaden.

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Golden Hill alumni, Toby Boaden and his partner, Lauren, back to the school grounds for a nostalgic tour and catch-up while he was visiting family in our region at the end of Term 1.

Toby attended GHSS from kindergarten through graduation in primary school in Eliza’s class in 2014, and he was excited to share with us how his experiences of Steiner Education have shaped him into who he is today. He was the kind of kid who was always found creating something in the woodshed at recess and lunch. Eliza remembers his great sense of humour and passion for practical jokes.

Toby's love for the outdoors is expressed in his hobbies: hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. He has traversed a lot of the world on his mountain bike – within Australia alone, he has ridden trails throughout Tasmania, Derby, WA, and throughout Victoria too; “basically all of Australia except NT/Qld”. He has even conquered our own Munda Biddi trail a couple of times, both as a child and later with his mate Ike, who also attended Golden Hill.

These days, Toby is based out of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria as a freelance Outdoor Educator – his partner, Lauren, does this too! Toby works mainly with high school students, while Lauren works with primary school students, overlapping every so often in the programmes they create. How romantic is it that Toby and Lauren met at university when they were studying outdoor education at LaTrobe together in Bendigo? He recalled connecting with many other Steiner alumni in his uni days and appreciating the value of the style of our education and how it has developed their passion for the outdoor activities they were called to continue sharing in their vocation. You could see that Toby was chuffed to show Lauren around the Golden Hill schoolgrounds and introduce her to Eliza and some of the other teachers he recognised. The most exciting spot he wanted to visit while he was here was the woodwork hut!

As part of his role as a freelance Outdoor Educator, Toby reaches out to schools and companies to run programmes for them. Most recently, this brought him home to the Great Southern region to lead a group of Year 8s hiking on the Bibbulmun and canoeing on the Frankland River. He said there was a strong sense of coming "full circle" as he cooked on an outdoor stove just like they did at camp when he was in Class 5. To become an Outdoor Ed facilitator, Toby spent three years at LaTrobe University in Bendigo, Victoria, to achieve a Bachelor of Outdoor and Sustainability Education. He studied ATAR subjects at Denmark Senior High School before a gap year working at the Peaceful Bay Caravan Park, and after the big move to Victoria for uni and meeting Lauren, he lived in East Melbourne for a while before settling where he lives now.

His favourite memories of his time here were certainly related to the camps and connecting with the outdoors. When we were chatting, he fondly recalled riding to school from where he grew up near Greens Pool. Toby recalled meeting friends in town and adventuring along the way, arriving at school muddy. Starting the school day with a quick wash off with Neal’s garden hose.

Toby said he practically lived in the woodwork hut whenever he was able to be there and was always creating something. His woodwork teacher, Justin, would give him free rein where he could explore and create, and if he wasn’t in the shed here, he would be in the shed at home! He would be making boomerangs, bow and arrows, carving spoons, whittling and making tables and stools. No doubt, a passion he carries with him today.

Thank you so much for popping in, Toby! We loved hearing about your memories and experiences, and we are stoked that you are sharing your passion with the world.

DELISH MINI VEGGIE PANCAKES

gf, plant-based & easy

Makes: Approx. 25 mini pancakes

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes for the raw grated veggie option, 40 minutes for cooked veggies

Difficulty: Easy

Equipment: Non-stick frypan, large bowl & whisk

1 brown onion, finely diced

2 cups finely chopped or thickly grated veggies (e.g. zucchini, carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato)

3/4 cup chickpea/besan flour

1/2 cup brown rice flour or buckwheat flour

1/3 cup nutritional yeast

1/2 teaspoon good quality veggie stock powder (adjust depending on salt content)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup plant milk

1 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh herbs (I used parsley)

Optional:

Coconut oil for frying.

Step One:

Heat a non-tox, non-stick frypan on low heat. Add a tablespoon of coconut oil, then add the chopped onion and veggies.

Cook, stirring until the onion is translucent and all of the veggies are soft.

Step Two:

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add milk and whisk again, adding more liquid if needed. Add cooked or grated fresh veggies and chopped herbs and mix well.

Step Three:

Heat coconut oil in a non-tox, non-stick frypan on low heat. Spoon a tablespoon of the mixture onto the pan for each pancake allowing a little space between them. When you see a few holes appear in the middle of the pancakes, flip them over and cook for a further minute or so before removing them from the pan.

As with most things these are best enjoyed freshly cooked, however, they also freeze really well.

recipe from: https://naturalharry.com.au/
delish-mini-veggie-pancakes-gf-plant-based-easy/?v=b870c45f9584