Keep up-to-date with your child’s learning with these short weekly updates from their teachers. Click on the buttons below to go straight to your child’s class, or find out what others are up to!
Kindergarten/Boronia Room
This week the children have been enjoying exploring Christmas themes and making Christmas crafts. I have attached some photos of the children’s beautiful, expressive work.
We have spent a wonderful year together playing, making, and sharing stories. The Kindergarten children have become so strong and capable. When I watch the children play together in the flow form, I am amazed and delighted by their abilities to interact, negotiate, and socialise with each other. I love to witness the joy and enthusiasm they so freely express for life.
Thank you to the Kindergarten families for all your support and care throughout the year. It has been a pleasure working with your children – they are so curious, beautiful, and fun loving. Thank you so very much.
Wishing everyone a relaxing Summer break and a joyous Christmas.
Francine, Zenith, and Alannah
Class 1/2
Wow! As we have whirled through the last full week of school, the children have immersed themselves in stories, craft, and free play. On Wednesday, the children all made a “La Befana”, an Italian Christmas Crone who visits the children through the chimney and leaves them gifts covered in coal. They have also been busily working on their class crafts to finish before the year is out.
The children have also heard many stories during our new Main Lesson “Inspirational People”. They have heard about historical and modern people including St Jerome, Malala Yousafzai, Helen Keller, and Saint Nicholas – who have all overcome obstacles to do good for others and in the world. The children have listened with reverence and wonder to these incredible biographies.
As we near the end of the term, and the year, we would like to thank all of our wonderful parent community for all your support and help during the year. It has been a wonderful, exciting year and we cannot believe the end is almost here!
If you are able to help with any washing, cleaning, or drying of classroom things during the last week of school (next week), please send us an email.
We wish you and your families all a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday – Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, happy holidays, season’s greetings, and happy new year to you all!
Warmth and light,
Soumya and Amy
Class 3/4
Well, we are nearing the end of a very fine year in Class 3/4. It has been a busy, varied, and constructive time. When I think back over the year, it is palpable to observe that the children have developed in so many ways. I wrote a bit of an overview of the year in the reports. After I wrote it, I realised that I missed so many other aspects of what we have done throughout 2023.
The main thing to know is that your children love to be busy, they love feeling like they are learning and achieving more skills. They are good-hearted and generous people. They care about their family and friends. They care about animals, plants, fungi, and minerals. They care so much about the stuff that makes life rich and soulful. They are curious and interested; from the minute details of an insect to the space in the big, huge sky.
Please send in a bag for your child’s work books and other items to take home.
Please return all school readers. We are a bit low on some levels, can you please see if they are hiding in your bookshelves et cetera.
Meredith and I have loved being with your children. We have learnt so much, and I hope that they have learnt a bit too!
May you have a safe and happy summer holiday.
With warmth and gratitude,
Julie and Meredith
Class 5/6
The final news sheet – this term has simply flown! It seems too soon to be farewelling Class 6 as they prepare for their next schooling journey, however they are quite ready.
We look forward to the fabulous Class 5 students and families hosting the celebration of Class 6’s achievements on Saturday night as we watch their individual performances and speeches, share pizza, and see them dance the night away.
They had a great day at Raging Waters last Friday, and the gift to the school which they are creating with Paul is really taking shape – more on that at the Summer Assembly!
We are also farewelling Oslo and Jaraya, and wishing bon voyage to Eric and his family as they move south: best of luck in your new schools – your classmates hope you stay in touch! As I hope all the Class 6 students do – be sure to come back for festivals and say hi!
Lastly, I am saying farewell as I go on sabbatical for 2024 after 14 years of teaching at our beautiful school (at which my own children began their journey in Francine’s preschool in 2004!). Part of my heart will stay here where I have grown and felt so lucky to work with Rudolf Steiner’s curriculum for children and our amazing school community. I have no doubt Class 5/6 will be in good hands in my absence.
What a wonderful performance the 5/6 students gave for their class play production, The Fall of Troy this week! There was so much camaraderie amongst the class as groups took on the direction of different scenes and everyone contributed to building the play during rehearsals. A special thankyou to Lee for overseeing the creation of various props, especially the marvellous Trojan horse! And also, to Arya’s grandparents Arnaldo and Tricia for providing the beautiful Grecian columns and basket of fruit for the gods. These all beautifully complimented the work and love that has gone into this play, and we are so glad that everyone enjoyed it!
I could not sign off for the year without thanking Lee for yet another fabulous year of co-teaching. We are so very fortunate to have Lee’s continual above-and-beyond care for our class endeavours and the school in so many ways, as well as her years of teaching experience from which many of our students have so obviously benefitted in their learning achievements. Thank you, Lee!
Below are some dates for your diary:
- Friday December 8th Class 5/6 Water Fight (lunchtime).
- Friday December 8th 3pm set-up by Class 5 families for the Farewell (organised by Stephanie Smith)
- Saturday December 9th from 5pm (earlier for Class 5 students and parents/carers please)
- Wednesday 13th December 11.45am. Class 6 Farewell and Summer Assembly.
Wishing all Class 5/6 families a safe and restful holiday break.
Steph