​Students from Years 9 and 10, as well as Year 11 Drama students, enjoyed an interactive performance about bullying by Byron Youth Theatre last week. Developed by actor and activist Augusto Boal in the 70s, Forum Theatre is a kind of theatrical game in which the audience become spect-actors. After the first performance, audience members are invited onto the stage to take on a character, in order to change the outcome in a way that can be empowering for both bystanders and victims of oppression, but which is still realistic or possible.

Our students responded enthusiastically to the performance, putting forward ideas of other possible outcomes and sometimes getting up and taking on a character role. The performances were humorous, empowering and thought provoking. Here is what our students had to say about the experience: It was great how they involved the audience; Really interesting; Very engaging because it allowed the audience to become involved and therefore it became more personal; The acting was great; I really liked it because those situations really do happen and it's good to be shown in a safe way; It was very entertaining and the acting was very good.
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It was also wonderful to see many of our students participating in Byron Youth Theatre. Director Lisa Apostolides is doing a wonderful job of creating important theatre. 

April Galetti 
Drama Teacher

​With all the welcome rain, at Playgroup this term, we have been trying to grow Salvias from cuttings - potting up some Cats' Whiskers which have developed a strong, healthy root system; placing the cuttings ever so carefully in little pots and tucking them skillfully into their cozy beds. We are growing some purple Salvias in mind of attracting some native bees, like the beautiful Teddy Bear Bee and Blue Banded Bee (pictured above). We are hoping to create some bee hotels which I am sure will bring many new stories to our Playgroup.

This term, we have had a few indoor days, leading to some interesting and creative play. The children enjoyed setting up the train track and discussing what needed to be built next in order for the train to roll on. At one stage, I think just about every toy had been taken off the shelves and used to create a new imaginative story.

Packing up our play and putting all the toys back in their rightful places often takes more time and encouragement! Our packing away song ‘The Little Dusty Gnome’ is very helpful as the children already know what is coming. With the adults modelling the careful return of all our toys to their homes, the children learn through imitation how to help put our Playgroup back in order. Shells, seeds and rocks all have their own special places. Sorting these items into the appropriate baskets is an early step towards mathematics.

During one wet outdoor play, some of the children were fascinated to find that catching raindrops in different sized pots made different sounds. What a wonderful wet-weather discovery! Steeped in wonder, these precious early years of learning will carry these children through their lives. 

Carina Halliday
Playgroup Coordinator

The children climbed to the top of the Mighty Mountain just as the colours of the sunrise filled the sky. They knew it was their task to help find the Little Letters. From the top of the mountain, they could see the ocean stretched out to the horizon. In the heat of the summer sun, the children went to greet the ocean. First, they had to follow a stream that joined a river. In following the river, they would reach the ocean and, it was told, the letters had been blown across the ocean. What wonder! There in the stream was a "feather-finned fish, able to do whatever you wish". In following him, the children found the Little Letters and the Singing Star Sounds (the vowels). Thus began their next adventure in uncovering words.

Following on from this, Class 2 have been visiting the Circus of the Sun. Here, the Ringmaster and Storyteller has many incredible performers who help him sort out everything, as well as bringing wonder-filled acts and tricks. Adding-up, sharing, giving and grouping makes for a circus loved by everyone. There are tight-rope walkers, high swings, cartwheels, back flips and clowns (everything Class 2 love to perform at play time). Writing numbers, counting, writing sums and number patterns have all been a part of our happy journey.

In addition to this, we have been putting a big effort into our knitting, which most children have completed, ready to transform into an owl. Apart from out love of hand craft, is our love of Japanese with Katsuko, Indonesian with Emily, Eurythmy with Kira and Gardening with Nadia.

The children enjoy each others' company. They love morning tea and lunch time play and going home at the end of each day. We are indeed fortunate friends.

Jenny Lott
​Class 2 Teacher

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We have had a wonderful start to the year here at Birdsong Kindy. We have met many of the beautiful birds that give our Kindy it's name. Wrenny Blue, Merrily Magpie, Kooralie Kookaburra, Gala Galah and her family, and the Butcher Bird Brothers have all been to visit and welcome us with their songs.

We have also been singing about little Peaceful Poinciana, who is very happy in his garden because he has everything a little tree needs. Mother Earth wraps his roots in her warm, rich blanket so he feels safe. Father Blue Sky wraps his robe around him as he reaches his branches up, dancing and waving free. Sunny Sun watches over by day shining warmth and love, and Sister Moon wraps Peaceful in her silver cloak of moonbeams and starlight by night. The rain dancers visit as do the birds and animals and, of course, the Kindy children use their care when they play too. He is a very happy and healthy little tree.

Our hands have been busy with our craft, drawing, painting, baking and playing. There is lots of doing, lots of helping hands, and plenty of fun here in Kindy. It is a delight to be here.

Kat Barwick
Kindergarten Teacher

In Year 9 English this term, we started off exploring the importance of language choice in the expression of stories. We investigated the ways in which language shapes our understanding of ourselves and our world and how it is the primary means by which we relate to others. We experienced the way that expanding our vocabulary helped us to express ourselves more fluently and precisely.

We began our Short Story Unit with 6 word stories. These are the shortest of stories where the author is able to impact the emotions. The movement is based on Hemmingway’s famous six-word story:
For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.

Our students examined a range of different genres and the conventions for some of the main groups we identified. We read short stories that offered us models and examined how these models could offer us insights into writing great short stories. We chose our genres, created our characters and experimented with how to build tension in our stories. We wrote our stories and shared them, had our peers offer constructive feedback and rewrote them until the movie of our story was running in the reader’s mind as they read it. Here are a few we would like to share with you…

In Year 10 our students study the chemistry of the transformation of plant sugars. In a very practical way, this is started with the age-old process of wine making.

The students use their body weight to break the cellular structure of the grapes and to extract as much of the juice as possible. The volume of juice relative to the weight of the grapes crushed is measured, and the sugar content of the juice is also measured. Once the juice has fermented the students will extract ethanol from the wine, compare it to the initial sugar content, and use it in further chemical processes such as the production of esters.

Ethanol’s versatility as a solvent will be used to help develop a healing hand cream made from local beeswax, essential oils extracted by the students, a good oil and a calendula tincture. 

Gerard Braithwaite
Science KLA Coordinator

​We have had a lovely start to the year as the children settle into our Preschool rhythm. We welcome our new families and welcome back those who are returning to Little Shearwater!

New friendships are developing and established friendships are being strengthened, with very harmonious play both inside and outside. The children have been enjoying sand play and sailing on our boat, the Friendship, caring for the dollies, constructing train tracks and puzzles, playing dress-ups, floor play with blocks and story props, as well as drawing, looking at books, and caring for our Preschool environment by helping with jobs and packing away.

During our circle time we have been hearing stories and singing songs about the Rainbow Horses and all their friends, who live on Farmer Ben’s Farm, as well as Dipple and Dopple the little raindrops. The children are enthusiastically joining in with the songs and gestures, and absorbed in the stories. It is such a delight to see their joyful engagement and to see how the stories and songs flow on into their play.

We have been very fortunate to have some new indoor furniture made over the holidays. Also, you will notice in our outdoor space that we have new shade over our fort, a mud kitchen, new shade sails and some additions to our boat. We also replenished the sand in both sandpits. Our gardens continue to grow and provide a beautiful natural space for the children's play.

Our Preschool team and other staff across the School have contributed to all of these improvements. A big thank you to Alex and his team from Bare Hands Carpentry, for dealing with the sweltering heat to accomplish some of the large construction work. 

Our group leaders for this year are Gabe, Susan, Suze and Karen. Our assistants include Antoinette, Maria, Jess and Eryn. Other support staff are Elendel, Julie and Danni. Maria is our new Preschool team member who will be assisting Gabe at the start of the week.

Our aim is to walk alongside families on this journey. On behalf of the whole staff team, we are looking forward to sharing a wonderful year together.

Craig d'Arcy
Preschool Coordinator

​There is quite a contrast between the grace and beauty of a Class 5 student and the sudden physical and emotional changes in the 12-year-old child. The transition from Greece to Rome (logos to logic) is such an apt example of Rudolf Steiner's insight into child development, and the parallel between the developing consciousness of the human being and the evolution of society and culture throughout history, which is reflected in our curriculum.

Whereas the Greeks epitomised balance and beauty, the Romans succeeded through incredible forces of will, co-operation and strict adherence to rules (which were literally etched in stone).

We started the year with Roman history and, to engage their will, students beat copper into coins with etched profiles and made desk and bag-hook name plates out of beaten copper or aluminum. Marching together as a class demands precision in rhythms and togetherness. Hand drumming is another strong rhythmic will and co-operation activity practiced regularly.
 
As part of the Rome Main Lesson, we began a study of Latin. Mother of the Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian), Latin is also a key influence in the development of English. The students have been delighted to recognise this. As one student exclaimed, "This is amazing! I can actually (understand) this!". Anyone who speaks more than one language knows that each language has its own genius, or feel, allowing the speaker to think differently in different languages. What better way to understand the Romans than to speak, read, recite and sing in their language, with the side benefit of understanding our own language better, and increasing our vocabulary by doing so!

Class 6 also began black and white drawing this term, such a great metaphor for their pre-adolescent mindset.

Our next Main Lesson is a study of Minerology/Geology which we will combine with Platonic Solids. Such riches to be fossicked!

William Keyte
Class 6 Teacher