Dance has existed as a vital part of every known culture throughout time. It is a distinct form of nonverbal communication that uses the body as an instrument of expression, articulating the culture and society from which it emerges. In Year 9's recent Dance unit, we focused on Latin American Salsa and contemporary Hip Hop. We studied the different cultures these dances developed out of and linked the two through a growing  understanding of the need for dance in oppressed societies, specifically Cuba and the Bronx in New York.

Learning to dance and learning through dance allows students to apply their own experiences through a different language. Students learn to express ideas creatively as they choreograph, perform, and analyse dance as works of art.

At Shearwater, we focus on three main strands through our schooling: beauty, truth, and goodness. Between  the ages of 14 to 21 the focus of our education is truth. At this stage of development, we see in our young people a righteous indignation for the wrongs in the world, specifically when faced with injustice, unfairness, and hardships that they themselves may not have previously understood. Through the study of oppression in Cuba and African-American communities in the US over the  the past 100 years, Year 9 have come to understand the power of dance and the freedom that it brings.
 
Siobhan Hungerford-Gerth
High School PDHPE

It has been an active term for our students, beginning with the annual cross country carnival for Classes 4 to 6. Their enthusiasm and sportsmanship were contagious, as was their determination, with even the fastest running more than 12 minutes without pause, and house captains coming up with some creative chants and cheerleading routines in support. 

​Students from Classes 7 to 10 were busy practising their volleyball skills in preparation for the carnival with Cape Byron Steiner school on May 21 and 28 - a great mix of competition and social interaction, which the students really enjoyed. This is something we would like to continue with other local schools and sports.

Sport elective Year 9 and 10 students have been surfing this block lesson - a magical time to be out in the surf. Students had some experienced staff sharing their skills and knowledge and were amazed at how much detail is involved in having a safe and enjoyable surfing session. Watch this space for more news on the High School surfing program.

Students from Class 3 to 6 are currently enjoying gymnastics and circus classes with Spaghetti Circus as part of the Australian Sporting Schools program.

Thank you to the supporting staff from all areas of the school that contribute to these fabulous and fun events for our students.

Magnum Brotto
PE Teacher

What a sublime day it was last Friday. A feeling of pride was tangible as our wonderful new sports oval was officially opened, followed by a Junior High School soccer game with Byron High, Round 2 of the Bill Turner Cup.

It was wonderful to see such engagement from High School staff and students, who came to watch the opening and the match. The sports field will be widely used for daily PE lessons, internal school carnivals and inter-school games and sports days. 
 
The Shearwater team played with enthusiasm and skill. But final goals in the last 15 minutes saw Byron take the lead. We wish them all the best for their next game against Xavier College.
 
On another note, Cape Byron is coming to Shearwater this Friday to play in a volleyball gala day for Years 7 and 8, followed by the Year 9 and 10 comp at Cape Byron next week. A great opportunity for some fun and friendly competition.
 
Magnum Brotto
PDHPE Teacher

​Class 5D have been loving their Wednesdays at the Pass where, under the expert guidance of Beau, they have been learning the basics of surfing, and how to identify and appreciate the surfing vibe - often referred to as stoke. I am happy to report that everyone has been thoroughly stoked and the Pass has treated us to some wonderful waves to practice our new skills.
 
In the classroom, the children have been studying significant early explorers of Australia. These European explorers opened up parts of the continent thought previously inaccessible, and allowed the spread of livestock, the finding of new land for crop growth and the expansion of early settlements. It was they who documented many of the early interactions with the indigenous peoples who already had ancient and well-established systems of settlements, languages and nations.

We have considered what the exploration of Australia by the Europeans meant for the First Australians. The children have thoughtfully discussed the terms we often hear when we speak of early Australia, such as discovery, exploration, invasion and dispossession. Finally, we looked at reconciliation and how we can each play a part in creating an inclusive modern nation for all Australians, capable of delving into the truth of our history with empathy and compassion.      
 
The gift of the 11-year-old is an enthusiastic interest in the world and a wide-ranging sociability. Through a deepening observation of the natural world, the Class 5 child is able to engage this enthusiasm. The children have been collecting leaves to use for rubbings, as well as seed pods, bark and other natural wonders for illustration and observational writing. The awakening of the thinking realm for the 11-year-child is met with an increase in the rigour of numeracy work and the mental strategies of problem solving; daily reflective journal writing and our first group project and book review.
 
Our weekly specialist lessons see us sharing eurythmy, ensemble, choir, music, plaster carving, painting, sport and Indonesian culture – never a dull moment for the 11-year-old who, while glancing back to childhood for reassurance, looks forward with vigour and curiosity to early adolescence.      
 
Dallas Hewett
Class 5 Teacher

​The Primary School swimming carnival on Monday was a great success, with plenty of games for the younger children in the morning, followed by the upper Primary races in the afternoon. Class 1 to 3 students enjoyed the Crystal Dive, the Kick Board Dash, the Dragon Noodle Boat Cruise and the Hoop Obstacle Swim, as well as lane swimming for the capable swimmers in Class 2 and 3.

There were some tired faces by the end of the morning, as Class 1 to 3 headed back to school and the upper Primary students took their place in the pool.

The continuous relay was a fabulous demonstration of participation and enthusisam as every student hit their pace in the pool, followed by the 50m freestyle and breaststroke races. The enthusiasm was contagious with almost every student entering a race. The grand finale was the teachers' race. Class 5 teacher Nick Vuorinen was awarded the blue ribbon, with just enough time for some games before we wrapped up the carnival and headed back to school. 

Thank to all the staff and students for another fabulous fun-filled sports event.

Cathy Jones
Primary School Coordinator

Shearwater's Primary basketball teams headed down to the NCIS regional carnival in Coffs Harbour, where around 120 students from independent schools across the region (Tweed Heads to Coffs Harbour) enjoyed the perfect conditions and the friendly competition.
 
It was a big day, with an early start and a long drive at either end. The students played four matches each but their enthusiasm never flagged - losing or winning, they were having lots of fun! They were a joy to watch, with a great improvement on last year, almost making it through to the finals.

We thank all the staff, parents and students for their support, especially Anthony Hack for his decicated training of the girls' team throughout the year.

Our participation in NCIS events has finished for this year. Well done to all the participants for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship.

Magnum Brotto
PDHPE Teacher

Term 4 has seen a return to our sporting adventures as COVID restrictions began to ease.

In the Primary School, it has been nice to see all classes experiencing camps this term, utilising their Outdoor Education skills, a hallmark of a Shearwater education.

Classes 5 and 6 have been thrilled to get back in the ocean with Beau, picking up their COVID-disrupted surfing where they left it in Term 1, and Classes 1 to 3 have a full week of swimming lessons at Mullumbimby Pool, funded by the federal government's Sporting Schools program. 

In the High School, it has been a gift to see our WAVE performers busting out their moves, honed through the High School dancing program. Many thanks to those who worked on these performances, especially Class 7 teacher Cherie Kendall and parent volunteer Vicki Lawrence.

In the pool, Class 7 finished their swimming and survival course last week and, this week, Year 9 will begin their Bronze Medallion, while the Year 10s continue with their diving.

We also had  a series of basketball sessions delivered to Years 7 and 9 during their WAVE block, by Nash Campbell, coach from Byron Beez and funded by Sporting Schools.

Finally, there are a number of regional competitions on this term, in which Shearwater is participating, including the tennis (pictured above) where our players showed determination and sportsmanship in a full day of games at Grafton. A rewarding experience. 

Next week, we are travelling to Coffs Harbour with our Primary basketball teams and, later this term, our Senior High School volleyball teams will play some friendly games with Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School.

Magnum Brotto
PDHPE Teacher

​Spaghetti Circus has been at the School this term for some fun skills-building workshops with our Primary classes. We also had Nash Campbell, from Byron Beez, providing basketball sessions which inspired lots of lunch-time ball play.

These additional sports experiences were funded by the federal government's Sporting Schools grant, which will be spent on swimming lessons in Term 4.

The Athletics Carnival results have now been finalised and I am pleased to announce that more than 30 records were broken from classes 4 to 11. Well done Shearwaters! Thanks also to the cheerleading group for their energetic opening of the event and to Year 12 student Bodhi Hallas, for gracefully sharing her experience and enthusiam with the Class 6 student cheerleaders.

In Term 4, Shearwater will participate in two regional sports activities, with tennis in Grafton in October and basketball in Coffs Harbour at the start of November.

Watch this space for more exciting news on the inaugural Shearwater Olympics 2021!

Wishing all our students, families and staff a happy and active school holidays.

Magnum Brotto
PDHPE 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

Our Primary School boys and girls basketball teams headed down to the NCIS regional carnival in Coffs Harbour recently, where 80 students from independent schools across the region (Tweed Heads to Coffs Harbour) enjoyed the perfect conditions and the friendly competition. 

It was a big day, with an early start and a long drive either end. The students played 4 matches each but their enthusiasm never flagged - losing or winning, they were having lots of fun! They were a joy to watch with a great improvement on last year’s event. Both teams have the finals within their sights for next year.

Thank you to all the staff, parents and students who supported these teams this year, especially Anthony Hack, Monica Brandolini and Taj Gough.

Our annual calendar of NCIS carnivals has now finished for the year. Well done to everyone who participated. Next year, we start early with the swimming regionals in Astonville, following the Shearwater carnival at the beginning of Term 1.

In other sports news, students from upper Primary to High School have been enjoying the extra movement activities this term, funded by the Federal Government's Sporting Schools grant, including gymnastics with Spaghetti Circus, basketball and capoeira.

Finally, the mapping of the School campus by Orienteering NSW has now been completed, ready for next year's inaugural orienteering events!

Magnum Brotto
Sports Coordinator

Shearwater's tennis team headed down to the AIS regional carnival in Grafton this week, where 120 students from independent schools across the region (Tweed Heads to Coffs Harbour) enjoyed the perfect conditions and the friendly competition. 

It was a big day, with an early start and a long drive either end. The students played an average of five short matches each but their enthusiasm never flagged - losing or winning, they were having lots of fun! They were a joy to watch.

Congratulations to the whole team and a special mention to Dylan, who came in 3rd in the Open Boys, and Class 6 student Oliver Fernley, 2nd in the Primary Boys. 

Our next regional sporting event will be the Primary Basketball in Coffs Harbour at the start of November. Our basketball team is putting in lots of time on the court and we wish them luck.

Magnum Brotto
​PDHPE Teacher

If you have practiced hard for Olympia
And if you have not been lazy or done
Anything dishonourable, then
Go forward with confidence.
We will judge before the gods
with truth and honour
All those who compete before us.
Judges' verse
​

Last Friday, athletes from the mighty city-states of ancient Greece (Shearwater, Cape Byron, Aetaomah, Casuarina, Chrysalis, Tallowood and Rainbow Ridge Steiner schools) came together, in the shadow of Olympus, to prove their strength, grace and agility before the gods. Irascible Zeus opened the proceedings, imploring the athletes to lift their efforts into the realm of truth, beauty and goodness. With gifts of song, strings, verse and gymnastics, let the games begin!
 
Mixed-school groups went around the pentathlon stations where rigorous standards of sportsmanship were apparent in each and every encounter. New friends encouraged each other to greater and more graceful efforts. 

Discus events aimed at 'floating' the discus aerodynamically; Running was approached as 'graceful technique.;
the Standing Long Jump employed 'coordination and weight shift', Wrestling worked on 'balance, strength and poise.; Javelin, demonstrated by Zeus with lightning bolts, required parabolic arcing and point-perfect landings.

Throughout the day, the athlete's inner qualities of determination, effort and sportsmanship were as highly valued as strength and skill.

After suitable midday repasts, Zeus called all athletes to relive the exploits of Pheidippides, the first Marathon runner. Mighty praise was showered on all athletes and medals presented. Athletes returned in glory to their city-states fulfilled and honoured.

Accurate Historic Account rendered by
Rheumatoid Pseudo Zeus the Imposter (aka Michael Lester)
Class 5 Teacher

​Congratulations to Year 10's rising soccer stars Daisy Scriven and Jade Kerry, who were recently selected to represent Football Gold Coast in their under 16 girls' team who traveled to Cairns to compete in the Queensland State Community Cup tournament.  The girls' team came second out of all regions in Queensland! 

Both girls started playing soccer at the age of seven and fell in love with the game, for its fun, freedom and fitness, and now train three to four times a week.  Daisy plays in the Brisbane Women's Premier League with her Gold Coast club, Broadbeach United, and Jade with her Lismore club, Liverpool.  Daisy, whose whole family have played for the Mullumbimby Football Club was also selected for trials for the professional pathway training program with the Queensland Academy of Sport.

Well done Daisy and Jade!

Magnum Brotto
PDHPE Teacher

The 11-year-old child learns fast, developing graceful agility in all endeavours, thus ushering in a ‘golden year’ of childhood. With a subtle balance in heart rate and breathing achieved, new neural pathways emerge.

This year, we have begun to deepen our learning into many of the subjects introduced in previous years. We have expanded fractions into decimals, dollars and percentages and approached science through the observation of natural phenomena. 

The thematic thread in 2019 has been the wisdom of the ancient Greeks. Whether through myth, history, mathematical knowledge or artistic pursuits, the quest for beauty and perfection has broadened the children’s scope and attitude towards learning, with artistic work embracing more individuality. We traced the influence of Ancient Greek on the English language and began to recite passages from the works of Homer. This was complimented in Eurythmy with Greek poetry and the representation of the Ancient Greek alphabet. 
 
After our sports carnival early this term, we began training for the Greek Olympics, which will include several other Steiner schools from our region. While some of the events will be similar to those of the athletics carnival, many of the techniques will be different, with an added emphasis on grace and beauty, in addition to speed and strength. Long jump will be done from a standing start and javelin introduced, along with discus. The students will also compete in wrestling, for which training has begun, with much enthusiasm (pictured above)! Our regular classes in Bothmer Gymnastics have also been building the students' strength, agility and coordination.

Our first main Lesson of Term 3 is a study of the Antarctic. Along with the fascinating animal forms and dramatic geography, the students were enthralled by the incredibly heroic journeys of Shackleton, Amundsen, Scott and Mawson. We have also done numerous experiments involving ice, salt and water, one of which involved measuring the temperature of ice in fresh water, compared to ice in salty water. While the fresh water was measured at two degrees celsius, the salty water plunged well below zero. We will conclude this fascinating main lesson with a project and an ice skating excursion.

The students are currently weaving , knitting and learning leather craft, and soon will begin to build and fire a Greek urn, a classic Class 5 project. We have also begun to learn the alto recorder and some fun pieces on our violins, violas, cellos and basses for a concert at the end of term.

William Keyte
Class 5 Teacher 

There was sunshine, rain and some fast feet flying around Lennox Head recently, as Shearwater students raced in the NCIS Regional Cross Country Carnival. 

It was the first year at a new venue with new event coordinators and the results indicate that Shearwater students approve of the sandy bush track. With over 40 students qualifying and 35 attending the day it was our highest level of participation on record. We had nine students qualify for the state championships, with three podium finishes! Isabella Devitt from Class 5 crossed the finish line 1st in the Girls 11 Year Old 3km race. Not too far behind her was Lani Goodwin in 3rd place. Charlie Heath smashed the Boys 13 Year Old 3km course coming 1st well in front of his competitors.

The Year 10 students and parents coordinated a catering tent for the day, raising money for their Vanuatu building project. A great effort for a great cause. Big thanks to Magnum for his enthusiasm and energy training the students before the day, and for some cool and calm coordinating on the day. Thanks to Djuann for assisting Magnum with student supervision. Thanks to Nick for coming early and staying late to help with the set up and pack down, and for sitting out on the track in the rain and mozzies all day. Thanks to Marcella and Nelle from my Year 11 PDHPE class who volunteered their time on the day and to Lee and Paul who travelled down to Lennox to help me with all the heavy lifting! 

Thank you and congratulations to all competitors, it was great to see Shearwater students competing happily and healthy in an inter-school sporting event. Well done and best of luck to our state runners. Run Shearwater Run! ​

Emma Sweeney
PDHPE Teacher

Our new High School basketball teams (junior and senior) headed down to the regional competition in Coffs Harbour last week. Despite an early start and not much experience, both teams were up for the challenge,  showing genuine enthusiasm and teamwork across all three games. All the players enjoyed themselves and gave their best while representing the School.

Many thanks to our basketball coach, Year 11 student Monica Brandolini, who was selected to be part of the NCIS basketball team. Well done Monica! Thanks also to Margaret Brandolini and Cameron Gough for all of their help on the day. 

Next week, the girl's Primary School netball team will also play in the regional competition, in Tweed Heads. We wish them luck and a great experience!

Magnum Brotto
PDHPE Teacher

With six excited new Class 4 players swelling their ranks, the Shearwater chess team headed for the Term 1 NSW Northern Rivers Inter-School Chess Tournament at St Johns Woodlawn last week. With the tournament kicking off at 9.00am, our 17 keen intellectuals battled it out strategically until the clocks stopped at 2.00pm. The age-old game gave the students attending a great learning opportunity, taking in new strategies with the losses and fulfilling smiles with the wins. Congratulations to the team on a great day.

Beau Devonshire