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

The excitement of returning to school was evident in the happiness and anticipation bubbling over in the High School corridors and classrooms last week. A renewed enthusiasm for learning was evident to their teachers, as was the growth and change that the summer holiday break brings.
 
On the first day back, after gathering with their Guardians in the morning, the whole High School assembled in the Hall for a dynamic teacher-led presentation on sustainability in the School. The aim was to introduce new initiatives, promote the Enviro Club and to provide a potent reminder of our individual responsibilities to protect the natural world.
 
In this period of their development, adolescents respond positively when presented with aspirations and ideals that provide them with sustenance for their journey to adulthood. In this gradual development of sound judgement, founded on clear thinking, we must also ensure that accompanying actions are implemented to address change. This process assists our young adults to form a relationship between their inner lives and the outer world.
 
Shearwater has recently joined the Sustainable Schools Network and is participating in an environmental and film project recently launched by Steiner Education Australia. Expect further news and announcements on a range of sustainability initiatives for 2020!

Gillian Rogers
High School Coordinator

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

​Birdsong and Hummingbee Kindergartens were buzzing with excitement last week, as the children and their parents enjoyed getting to know each other and their new Kindy environment, during our orientation week.
​The lovingly prepared spaces were filled with a mood of warmth and happiness as the children enthusiastically helped to fluff and puff the wool for their rest time pillows, and mums and dads leant their hands to some embroidery. Songs were shared and a lovely puppet story told. It  was wonderful to see the children recreating their own puppet show stories during their free play time, proof of the power of imitation!

In Kindergarten, the children are active 'doers' and over the coming weeks and months they will have the opportunity to participate in meaningful will-strengthening tasks such as cleaning, cooking, gardening, and woodwork.

The many artistic experiences offered, including painting, drawing, craft work, beeswax modelling, circle games, music, songs and stories, will all help to nurture and enhance the children’s own innate imagination. Creative free play both inside the Kindy rooms and outside in the playground will provide plenty of opportunities for developing social skills and individual expression.

All of these activities form strong daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms helping the children to feel secure and participate with joy and a growing sense of confidence in themselves and the world around them.
 
We warmly welcome all our Kindergarten families and are very much looking forward to sharing a wonder-filled year with you all!
 
Jane Michaelis
Early Childhood Coordinator