​What an excellent time of year in our curriculum as Class 3 explores farming with Nadia. About two weeks ago, with the new moon, we planted wheat grain for the year’s harvest at the end of September. Then we prayed for rain and lo – it rained for days. The following week, Nadia took us over to have a look and to our delight our (not so) straight lines of wheat were well under way, popping up and blowing in the wind already. You can imagine the delighted children. It truly is fantastic to put the energy in and see nature working with us. What a wonder-filled gift for the children to remember and carry through life.
 
At home, the children have made a diverse range of stunning dwellings that have just been presented in class over the past week. Yes, we’re busy! Not to stop there, our room is full of letter boxes as the children write and post notes to each other, excited to share their developing communication skills. It’s a beehive of joyful energy.

Our days end, if we’ve listened and worked productively together, with the children’s favourite game, Wave. I’m always the seeker and the children hide. If I see them and call their name, they follow me until someone waves to them and they run off to hide again. The shrieks when I turn a corner quietly and catch them unawares! I must admit, this is such fun for us all.
 
Warm wishes went to our dear assistant Djuaan on his 27th birthday. We celebrated with a birthday circle in class and, of course, his letter box was full that morning!
 
Linda Mayer
Class 3 Teacher

This year has certainly presented challenges and this is very much felt by the ten-year-old child. This is a time when the child feels the harmony and comfort of childhood slip away, and the realities of the broader world around them begin to fill their minds. This can be a lonely and difficult period for some children. Even for those not exposed to the news cycle, the events of 2020 have permeated their thoughts and dreams – the summer of fire and then a global pandemic that has thrown the lives of all those around them into chaos.
 
For Class 4D, the year began with a range of artistic and reflective activities based around the summer fires. The classroom became a place to consider what comes from fire – regrowth and renewal – and fire as a tool that when harnessed and respected is an integral part of the cycle of life. To help with the fear and concern many children carried, we made artworks to lift the spirits of those scarred by the harshest of summers.
 
The animal and human main lesson provided the children a wonderful respite, with an opportunity to delve into the diversity and wonder of life on earth. It was during this period that COVID-19 put a stop to face-to-face schooling, and again swept many of the children up in feelings of confusion and fear. Schooling went into the home and the children (and families) felt their way into how this new situation would work. Indeed it was a learning curve for all involved, but we as a class community did our best to ensure the children felt connected and that some normality remained in their shrinking world.
 
Class 4D enjoyed a shared autumn lunch (via Zoom) to create a feeling of seasonal festivity and shared experience. The Main Lesson moved into ancient Egypt where we were introduced to kings, pharaohs, new landscapes and animals, new crops and ways of writing, as well as monuments and tombs dating back 5000 years. We continued to explore the fascinating culture of ancient Egypt when we returned to our classroom last week.
 
The children returned with vigour, energy and engagement. Friendships were rekindled and stories shared. It was an absolute delight to see the enthusiasm and joy brought back to the classroom. We spent the first few days building shelters down at Grandfather Coolamon to really bring us back to our place.
 
The children of Class 4 passed on some of the wheat grain from last year's harvest to the Class 3 students last week, in a traditional handing over of the tasks of the ‘farmer’. This was a very poignant moment in a very unusual year, really bringing the children home to the embrace of our School community. It has been so important to model and share with the children that, although recent life may have been interrupted and difficult to understand, we can still share in the beauty and wonder of life that is all around us.
   
Dallas Hewett
Class 4 Teacher 

​'The best classroom and richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky.'
(Margaret McMillan)

Once upon a time, there was a poor, humble man who, having fallen upon hard times, could no longer bring an offering to the temple. So he got on his knees, bowed down and offered the only thing he had left to give... himself. Waiting quietly for a response and expecting the worst, he was surprised when the gods, acknowledging his good nature, honesty and humbleness, gave him a magic listening cap so that he might hear as he’d never heard before.

“But I can hear quite well!” he said. “What new sounds are there in this world that I have not yet heard?” The gods smiled gently, “Have you ever really heard what the birds say as they fly amongst the trees? Have you ever really understood what the trees whisper to one another when their leaves rustle in the wind? Have you ever really heard the language of a flame as it springs in and out of a wood fire; the cry of the ocean as it beats upon the rocks; the singing of the sparkling stars or the silence of a tumbled stone?”.

The old man shook his head. He understood. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I will treasure my magic listening cap forever.” He rose and went about his daily tasks where, through deep listening, he was able to bring peace and harmony into the world in service to others.

Class 1 often put on their ‘magic listening caps’ at school, for we have not only been learning how to read and write our letters, but to read and listen to nature’s script as well. Whilst at home, the children (and their families) have been encouraged to play and learn outdoors, feeling the warmth of the sun, the increasing coolness of the autumnal night air, the magnitude of the night sky and the wonder of the rising/setting sun.  They have been asked to listen to the sounds of the oceans, rivers and waterfalls whilst foraging in the bush or on the beach, experiencing the healing forces of Mother Nature. They have drawn from her cloak of many colours, creating mandala, natural paints and land art from her bountiful gifts.

With the help of their families, the children have been asked to capture some of the sights, sounds, tastes, textures and smells of nature in metaphor and verse, describing what is special about this place we call home, whilst building a deeper relationship to the four elements of earth, water, fire and air.  In this way, awe, wonder and love for the manifestations of Nature permeated by Spirit are gently being fostered.

Children are deeply connected with the world of nature.  When their natural enthusiasm and inborn feeling of reverence are fostered in childhood, an inner strength and harmony develops in them, leading later to an inner freedom of thought and action in adulthood.  (Sally Schweizer)

This enthusiasm and reverence is also fostered in Class 1 through the telling of wonder tales which, rather than speaking of growth forces, or forces of gravity or levity, present imaginative pictures of the Little People - the gnomes, fairies and elves, generally brought under one concept: the elementals.

As adults, we can also connect with the earth and its servitors through our sense organs, especially when we can call forth from our inner life a constancy, a stillness, that enables us to become one with nature and the elemental world.  As perceiving, discerning beings we can also develop a conscious connection and relationship with the worlds that lay beyond our physical senses. These worlds are where creative, spirit beings, which have borne many different names over the course of time, live. Connecting with nature and spirit, human beings can become mediators, freeing the elementals from enchantment and becoming co-creators in the evolutionary tasks of our time through living deeds of love.
 
May we all strive to wear our ‘magical listening caps’ and perceive the spirit so we may respond to the challenges of our times with new hope for beauty, truth and goodness.
 
Heather Peri
Class 1 Teacher

 
Together, we have all had an unusual start to 2020. For Class 7, this is an especially important time as it is the beginning of the end of our seven-year cycle. The theme of growth, regeneration and connection seems especially poignant. 
 
7S started our year with great excitement, looking forward to meeting the High School teachers and enjoying more opportunities to mix with the other Class 7.
 
Our English biographies lesson provided us a chance to share, remember and write about the fun of early childhood, the wonderful camps experienced in the Primary School years and also to dream towards the future, through exploring the lives of those that inspire us.
 
Both Class 7s worked hard to contribute to positive climate action during our Bush Regeneration lesson, planting 1800 native trees in the wetland area, west of the Kindergarten and Preschool.  

The 2020 Shearwater tree planting project, organised and facilitated by our wonderful gardener, Nadia de Souza Pietramale, extended the wildlife corridor planted by previous Class 7s to almost 1.5 kilometres. The project was made possible with incredible community support including the following donations: 1000 trees from Reforest Now (who also came in with four augers and dug all the holes for the project!); 230 plants from Burringbar Rainforest Nursery; six trucks of mulch from Rainforest 4 Foundation, and a grant from the NSW Government’s Biodiversity Conservation Trust that bought another 250 trees and fertiliser; with additional support from the Mullumbimby Rural Cooperative. 
 
When it became clear that our learning experience would take a distinctly different delivery style, we set about creating packs of material with educational content as well as our unique Shearwater hands-on practical work. Hence a Grow your own seedlings project was born (see student images above, at bottom).
 
I would like to finish on our afternoon verse, as we do each day in Class 7, as it also seems particularly apt at this time.

Steadfast I stand in the world
With certainty, I tread the path of light
Love I cherish in the core of my being
Hope I carry into every deed
Confidence I impress upon my thinking
These five lead me to my goals
These five give me life

Sonia Davidian
Class 7 Teacher

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

Term 1 started with some challenging weather for our physical activities at Shearwater - hot and wet! That didn't deter our competitors at the High School Swimming carnival, which saw some record-breaking swims. Twenty students will be attending the North Coast Independent Schools (NCIS) swimming regional competition on  March 5, at Alstonville, where we are hoping to see some qualifiers for the state event later this term.

Outside of the pool, most classes are working on their teamwork skills, with a variety of games in PE lessons, such as volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, futsal, basketball and dodgeball. This has included discussion about the history, rules, technique, importance, social aspect, aims, similarities and differences of these games.

In the Primary School, we are looking forward to a year of cooperation, activity and movement in our PDHPE program. Students will be participating in the NCIS regional events for cross country and athletics, along with  Bothmer Gymnastics and Spaghetti Circus for upper Primary students.

The aim in the Primary School is to provide whole class activities that are developmentally appropriate and inclusive of all levels and abilities. The focus will be enjoyment, fitness, spatial awareness, balance and improving physical ability.

PDHPE Teacher Magnum Brotto and Primary School Coordinator Cathy Jones

The first day of the year for our Primary School is always busy and bustling with expectations and excitement. After each student reunites with their teacher and classmates, the whole Primary School gather together to welcome Class 1. This year, the strings teachers played while the Class 1 children crossed the bridge with their teachers Maria and Heather and their assistants Emma and Karin. Each Class 1 child was greeted by a Year 12 student who presented them with a rose and accompanied them to their classroom, where they were welcomed with songs by the rest of the Primary School. 

Shearwater's Crossing the Bridge ceremony brings the youngest and oldest students of our K-12 school together at the beginning of each year. The growth that takes place between these stages of development is remarkable to see. Many of the older students (as well as parents and teachers) remember back to their first day of school - the crossing of a threshold, and are able to reflect on how much they have grown and learned in the intervening years. 

We welcome all our Class 1 children and their parents to the Shearwater Primary School and we wish them well as they begin the next phase of the journey through their child's school life.

Catherine Jones
Primary School Coordinator