The School Year: Term Dates, public holidays and Pupil-free days. 
Shearwater is guided* by the AHISA (Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia) when setting term dates, and we publish these well in advance of the school year to help parents with their schedules. For more detail on school events and important dates please view the Shearwater School Calendar. 

Term 1, 2018
Wednesday January 31 to
​Friday  April 13
Term 2, 2018
Tuesday May 1 to
​Friday  July 6
Term 3, 2018
Tuesday July 31 to
​Friday  September 28
Term 4, 2018
Tuesday October 16 to
​Friday  December 14

Annual Events, Field trips and Excursions

  • Bush Dance – Term 1 An evening of multi-cultural Bush Dance from around the world, performed by the Primary classes. This festive foot-stomping, toe-tapping, come-along-and-dance-together marathon is accompanied by a teachers’ band and is a fundraising event.
  • Swimming Carnivals – Term 1 The Carnival, a compulsory school event for Classes 4 to 10, is also an enriching and enjoyable occasion at our local Mullumbimby Pool. In the late afternoon and evening: swimming under the stars, sharing a meal, families cheering each other on… There are water events for every age group and something for the adults.
  • Winter Solstice Celebrations – Term 2 The whole School community comes together to celebrate the rebirth of the light and life with the passing of the Winter Solstice. This is a highlight of the year, a time to witness and share in the passing of the old year into the new. The festival commences at 5.00pm and all students are expected to attend. 
  • Sports Day –  Sports Day is a day of athletics and games held late in Term 2 or early in Term 3.
  • Spring Fair Held every year on the first Saturday in September, Shearwater Spring Fair is our major annual fundraising event, featuring student performances, craft, games, food and fun for the whole family.
  • Pet Day – Late Term 3 A special day for the Primary School for children to bring in their pets and other animals. Displays, demonstrations, parades and award presentations are the order of a festive day.
  • UNPLUGGED – Term 2 Brings together students from Years 7 – 12 in a series of solo and ensemble performances. It gives younger students the opportunity to perform (often for the first time) in public, and senior students the chance to ‘warm up’ prior to their HSC exam performances. This concert showcases a diverse range of musical talent and content.
  • Wearable Arts Performance Event – Term 4 Held early in Term 4, this is one of the School’s major cultural events involving senior students, staff and the wider community. (For more information please check our Performing Arts website)
  • Open Day – Term 4 A comprehensive exhibition of the childrens’ work is held in Term 4. On this day the School is open to the public. Teachers and staff are available to discuss Steiner Education and the students’ work with existing and prospective parents
  • Summer Festival of Plays – Term 4 Riding on the expansive wings of summer all Classes work towards the production of end of year plays. Written and produced by their teachers, who draw on the content of the four terms of the Learning Program, the plays are a living culmination of the year’s work. The play schedule is issued in Term 4. Friends and family are warmly invited to attend.

Field Trips and Excursions – all years !
Day trips and Class trips take place every year. They are an integral part of the students’ education, and are NOT optional. They are an important component of the learning program, giving the students the opportunity of experiencing first hand the content of their lessons. For example the Class 1 & 2 Local Geography lessons happen during overnight camps, while Marine Biology, Coastal Geography and Australian History may be complemented by a field trip to the Great Barrier Reef.
In the High School, the trips also take on an important personal development aspect with challenging activities, e.g. white-water safety, canoeing and abseiling, and longer excursions to more distant locations.
Students are expected to take on personal and group responsibilities and are expected to work and contribute to being part of a team.
All field trips and outings are subject to the audit and review of the Field Trip Committee.
Examples of Field trip destinations :
Kindy: Overnight Camp in the Local Area
Class 1: Overnight Camp in the Local Area
Class 2: Mt Warning Area, Fingal Heads, Woody Head
Class 3: Border Ranges, Binna Burra, O'Reilleys
Class 4: Fraser Island
Class 5: Skiing, Horse Riding
Class 6: Canberra
Class 7: North West Island (Great Barrier Reef)
Class 8: Sydney/City Experience, Clarence River Canoeing
Class 9: New Zealand, Outback Australia, Tasmania
Class 10: Scuba Diving, Outdoor Education, Vanuatu
(These are examples only. A number of factors will determine the destination for each class)

In Years 11 and 12, the field trips are optional and relevant to that year’s field of study and/or interest. The curriculum being heavy, they may take place during the vacations.