​There is nothing like the smell of crisp mountain air and the sound of skis and boards carving through fresh snow – at the start of this term, Year 7 finally made it to their snow camp!

For most of the students, this was their first experience in Australia’s alpine region of the Snowy Mountains, and they certainly made the most of the opportunity. After plenty of warnings of cold and icy weather, we were met by blue skies and beautiful sun shining down on us throughout our days on the snow.

All the students skied or snowboarded at Thredbo, strapped on some snowshoes and cross country skis at Perisher and succumbed to fits of uncontrollable laughter during the daily snowball fights.  There is nothing like seeing pure joy radiate from the faces of our students with the Snowy Mountains as their background.

On our return journey, we visited Parliament House for a tour and education session.  We arrived the day before the current sitting of Parliament so there was plenty of activity in and around the building.  We were even treated to members of the armed forces practising their marching in formation in preparation for the ceremonies.

One of the highlights of the Year 7 camp is the opportunities it provides for the students to come together as one class and spend time with their new Guardians, who will guide them through their five years of High School. We would like to thank April, Sarah and Tom for all their support and the care and warmth they showed to the kids throughout the camp.


Penny Martin and Anja Grapentin
Class 7 Teachers

​As part of our Year 8 Science course students undertake a mini Scientific Research Task, an exercise implemented to improve and facilitate scientific writing skills. Mini-research is not limited to practicing writing skills but also trains students to communicate their writing in a scientific presentation and provides a ‘field study’ experience. 

This year students planted peas, measuring their growth (in cms) under two conditions, one in the greenhouse, the other in an open field garden plot. Both research groups were undertaken at the School’s biodynamic farm. The project, a collaboration between Science teachers and Farm staff, has seen students set up trials testing the effects of biodynamic and conventional soil treatments.

In the field trial, students prepared and planted two garden areas separated into biodynamic, control and NPK treatments. The biodynamic treatments used a compost known as cow pat pit (sometimes called manure concentrate), the control had no treatment and the conventional had a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertiliser added.  Lachie ran a pot trial in the greenhouse, in which small groups each planted three pots, biodynamic, control and NPK.

The trial encouraged students to deepen their understanding of scientific research methods and design. They were able to consider the various limitations of the trial and measure, observe (and taste) the results of the research.  To sweeten the experience, students also had a chance to forage amongst the mandarins and other citrus.

There were some challenges along the way. Rodents ate almost all of the seeds in one of the field trials and strong winds blew over the nursery pots. But the trial produced some interesting results.

In the pot trial, the NPK treatment increased growth significantly above the other treatments. In the field trial, the biodynamic treatment produced slightly better growth to the NPK and plants had a more upright growth pattern.

Biodynamics works with growth forces in the soil and atmosphere to create balanced growth and plants that are nutritious and disease resistant. The conventional approach is akin to force-feeding the plants. It can result in greater growth in the short term but also leads to poor soil conditions and plants that require continual inputs, as well as ongoing pest and disease management. 

Andrew Carter
Teacher, Primary Industries and Agriculture
Farm Manager
​

​​One of the happiest times during the learning week for Class 1 the Sun Rose is our ‘together’ time with Buddy Class 5L (Linda). On our ‘Yellow Day’ the Rainbow Buddy Bird flies into our room and sits way up high on the wooden beam and sings the most wonderful song – it is the song that tells us it can see our buddies walking from the most far away Primary classroom and that we must pack away our Main Lesson learning and form a circle for our buddies to join us. It is amazing how quickly and efficiently Class 1 can transition with such excitement and ease on Buddy Day – clearly the most enjoyable time of the week!

The aim of this program is to offer each student the opportunity to develop a relationship, with an ‘elder’, of warmth, trust, love and respect. With these delicious ingredients we have been able to consistently gather each week to embrace a variety of adventures and skills that have supported Class 1 to begin their Primary journey with such ease and satisfaction.

This unique Shearwater opportunity brings a joy-filled rhythm to our week and is deeply nourishing - full of warmth, laughter and discovery. Together with our buddies, we exchange conversations, questions, skills and joy.

Life Guides, Linda (Class 5) and Rin (Class 1) work together to bring weekly activities that enable the students to go out into the unique School nature land and make artworks, sing Shearwater songs, practice class skills, listen to stories, play and deeply connect through body language and conversations. Recently we walked over to the school Farm to observe nature and discuss all of the changes since the return from the winter holidays. As the sweet wattles danced under a blanket of blue Class 1 were introduced to ‘the magic liquorice tree’. ‘It really tastes like liquorice’ said Class 1 as they were gifted one leaf each to chew on.

We believe in the deep power of learning life skills through being together and we know these friendships are true and will travel with us far and wide throughout our Primary School journey and beyond.
 
Rin Dorczak
Class 1 Teacher

We are all very happy to be back at Birdsong Kindy this term. We have been noticing the changes in our Kindy garden, and out beyond our Kindy gate on our nature walks. We see which flowers are blossoming, which leaves are unfurling, and which trees have their branches covered in tiny buds, ready to open as Lady Spring comes closer.

The wattle trees are shining bright, covered in their sweet smelling golden suns, and we have made some Wattle Blossom friends to play with in Kindy. We used our tiny, most careful stitches to sew their golden gowns and matching crowns.

We have found ripe bananas at the Farm and made banana muffins on baking day. We have also been gifted some sweet, golden pumpkins and have made pumpkin soup and bread for a rainy day feast earlier this week. What a gift it is for children to prepare delicious treats, from the food grown here on our very own Farm, to share with our class and families. Soon we will have enough silverbeet for baking day... I wonder what we will make!

We are also noticing changes in our Kindy friends. Some are a little taller, some a little stronger, some with shorter or longer hair, some with missing teeth, or brand new adult teeth, and all are a little shinier.

Last week in Kindy was Birthday Week! We celebrated a birthday each day of the week. Each child in Kindy has a birthday celebration honouring them and the gifts they bring to our Kindy. We tell the Birthday Story and sing our Birthday Song. 
Today is a special day, today is Susie's Birthday.
Sent to us from the stars above.
She brings to us her gift of love.
Today is a special day, today is Susie's Birthday.

As we light the candles, we hear a little about the birthday child, a little picture from each year of their lives before they have joined us at Kindy. It could be something they learnt to do, their favourite thing to eat, or a memorable adventure they had with their family.

Each child is gifted with a birthday crown made just for them. We all make a drawing and include birthday messages for the birthday book and share fruit sticks to celebrate! These celebrations help us to create a class community where everyone is honoured and included. The children love, not just their own celebration but the chance to celebrate with their friends. Each one is a special day for the whole class.

Kat Barwick
Birdsong Kindergarten Teacher

By Veronika Beck

Hush do you feel the chill in the air.
The flowers are sleeping, the trees are all bare.
A cold crisp wind blows far from the north.
Is it time for King Winter to come forth?
Come listen close children to a story once told
of a King and his kingdom and times of old.
Of a beautiful palace adorned in white
blessed by the moon in her pale wintery light.
Here he reigns from his glacial throne
with his staff of crystal and precious stone.
So jump into bed and turn out the light
and I’ll tell you a tale of his travels tonight.

Long, long ago when the earth had begun
born was a child from the moon and the sun.
Then one summers day with the touch of his hand
he discovered a gift, he could cool the hot land.
From that day forth his duty was clear
he would circle the earth to lands far and near.
Covering her soil with blankets of snow and
preserving her roots for the children who follow.
Bound for the forests of the great northern lands
then south to warm waters and soft golden sands.
Conjuring the wind and the swell of the seas
frosting mountains, rivers and every last tree.
Bringing bountiful gifts of treasures sooo cold
puddles to splash in and snowballs to hold.

And he saddles his snow-bear year after year
he takes to the stars with a wintery cheer
and he rides through the wind with his piercing blue eyes
his white cloak blowing fiercely as he flies through the skies.
Then with an almighty strike of his staff to the ground
he sends out a message to those gathered round,
to the trees and the birds and the folk of the woods,
through the whispering winds and to all who are good.
Behold his proud presence with wonder and awe.
We must honour dear children his wintery law.
Hush can you hear him? He almost is here.
Dream blissful dreams as winter is near.
For when in the morning your spirits awake,
you might just be blessed with a precious snowflake.

​Our Year 9 class is currently enjoying the wonders of Far North Queensland. Our campsite on the edge of Lake Tinaroo is beautiful and we have the whole place to ourselves. We walked through rainforests, saw turtles and swam in the crystal blue waters of a volcanic crater lake and drove through misty mountains and the highest town in Australia to see a big waterfall and enjoy some hot springs. 

After leaving the Atherton tablelands and it’s lush cool climate the class headed out to Laura and it’s dry and hot weather where we have seen some amazing rock art. After spending a night sleeping under the stars we rose early and drove down to Mossman where we spent the day immersed in local indigenous culture and visited the shoreline and Mossman Gorge.

With the solstice upon us we prepared a winter festival for the Far North Steiner School and the students  helped the little ones with a beautiful spiral walk accompanied by some singing.

We are off to the Daintree today. Spirits are high and everyone is stepping up to support each other and make the most of this wonderful adventure.


Luke Wigmore
Year 9 Guardian

Class 4T was introduced to fractions in their second main lesson of Term 2. We looked at fractions in a holistic way, as parts within a whole. From an anthroposophical perspective, fractions is taught to Class 4 as the children go through the 'nine year change'. During this time, the children begin to conceive of themselves as separate from the world — an emerging individual, traversing a new emotional landscape. This can be a difficult time for the child, as she navigates new feelings of separation and aloneness. The study of fractions supports the children's understanding that while they are an individual they remain a part of a greater whole. 
 
In Fractions World, we learnt about the parts of the fraction — the numerator the denominator and the vinculum. We folded paper circles to create different fractions of the whole circle. The fractions tree was an artistic way to experience the number patterns within fractions. We also cut fruit into fractions and dehydrated it for a tasty snack. Finally we ended our main lesson work by making pizza and cutting it into fractions to eat!

Tiffany Jones
Class 4 Teacher

As winter solstice draws near, the in-breath is completed. The earth soul has drawn its forces down beneath the soil. The earth elementals (gnomes) have become intensely active underground, moving at will through the layers of rock and mineral.

In the winter night, the moon rises high in the sky, staying for about fifteen hours above the horizon, while the day time sun is gone after only nine or so hours. The moon, which regulates the ether body of the earth, now has a greater influence than the sun.

Our own consciousness is intensified in winter when our thinking life, which is connected to the gnomes, becomes active. It is especially in the activity of thinking that our ego manifests itself. It is in these times that we are being asked to stay conscious and free from despair and loss of hope—to remember the light in the darkness.

The source of energy we need is the “inner” light, the sunlight that was absorbed into the earth during the spring and summer and that is now, in winter, present beneath the ground and transformed into the spiritual light within.                   
 
We will gather together and walk the spiral one by one (parent and child) and light our lantern in the centre. We will be singing our songs the children have learned. The spiral-walk and lighting the candle represents our journey within and finding our inner light. Winter solstice has been regarded as especially sacred and a time to remember to bestow love and light on all living beings on the planet.
 
Warm wishes to all,
Carina Halliday
Playgroup

Local Bookshops – Local Authors

I popped in to The Book Room Collective in Byron Bay this week. What a wonderful bookstore with helpful staff who are very knowledgeable about children’s books. The Library now has some new books that will soon be ready to be borrowed!

I was very excited to also bump into a local author, Sarah Armstrong. Sarah’s new book Big Magic is now published and on the shelves! Sarah was kind enough to sign a copy for the Shearwater Library.  While Sarah has written other books, Big Magic is her first children's book. Have a look at her website to read more about Sarah. The Northern Rivers is home to talented children’s authors and illustrators!

Yvonne Barrett
Shearwater Library

In Term 2, our Rainbow Lorikeets have welcomed a new family, and our Sunny Sunflowers three new families! We are also very happy to welcome Brigid, our new gardener, who is helping us to weed, plant, prune and grow. Recently, on one of our first sunny days, Sunny Sunflowers and our Star Daisy neighbours stirred and sprinkled a biodynamic preparation to nourish our plants that give us their fruits, flowers, vegetables and shade.

At last, our outside spaces are firming up after all the wet, and this week we are once again able to use our grassy area for games and play. Thank you, Sunny Sun and Brother Wind! Our sandpit sees many wonderful creations in play, from whole villages to lakes and bridges, bakeries, pottery studios and more, individually, with a friend or in larger groups.
 
We’ve walked to The Farm and had lovely conversations with our cow friends there, as well as exploring, with delight, the properties of mud and puddles, and connecting with the wider environment around our Preschool home.
 
We are now busily preparing for our Winter Festival, learning new songs and making lanterns and candles, to remind us of our inner spark of light that sees us through the cold and dark of winter.
 
Each week, the children bake bread and help to prepare their own morning teas. Apple crumble is a favourite — using the ‘apple twirler’ to peel and cut the apples, and measuring and stirring the crumble, as well as making birthday cakes for our birthday celebration days and chopping juicy fruit for our morning teas.
 
In this cooler weather, cosy cubbies are a regular feature of play; using tables, chairs, play-stands and large cloths, the children create the cosiest homes imaginable, then live out many scenarios in our cubby villages.
 
Both groups of parents came together recently for an evening, connecting, sharing and learning together. We experienced the children's morning circle and spent nourishing time chatting and tie-dyeing, along with open conversations about how our roles as educators and parents support the children’s development.

Joanne Owens
Little Shearwater Preschool

​How delightful to be filled with the sun’s rays after grey days and heaving skies. The children in Class 5 are so happy to stretch out on the field again, playing soccer, becoming adept with the basketball and practising amazing gymnastic feats.

It’s a year of action, grace and honing skills as these young people discover how capable they are, both physically and mentally. With warm hearts they greet their buddies in Rin’s Class 1 each week, eager to share and care with the little ones as they grow accustomed to big school.

In class, we have been learning about Australia’s history, from thousands of years of First Nations to the exploration of the north west by our close neighbours in Indonesia, then the Dutch and French visits to the west coast and on to Captain James Cook’s exploration in 1770 on the east coast, and settlement in Botany Bay with the First Fleet.

Aunty Delta Kay shared her family history at the Pass in Byron Bay, and we listened to her childhood experiences and stories. We celebrated Reconciliation Week with a deeper understanding of time and place, understanding our history in the light of the past and the future of our nation, and our responsibility to be inclusive and considerate of others.

We worked diligently carving beautiful wooden bowls with Jazzy, our versatile new woodwork teacher. Our weekly geometry lessons, following a Main Lesson, are producing amazing outcomes from thoughtful mathematicians and skilled artists.

This group of children will bring much to the world in the future — passion, kindness and great skills to work together in many capacities.

Linda Mayer
Class 5 Teacher

The 2021 Marine Studies class, as part of the Marine Craft Construction module, planned, designed and built a new school boat. The design is a flat-bottomed punt with a glass panel in the floor for benthic (seafloor) survey work, and perfect for diving, fishing and snorkeling. So we now have our old school boat, Kylam, for boating skills training, skurfing and towing the underwater manta-board (fun), and our new research vessel for all things Marine Studies. Big thanks to our current Year 12 marine students.
​
Greg Shanahan and Nick Thorne
Marine Studies

​

The Shearwater Library is a hive of activity! Primary classes are immersed in the culture of stories as they listen to and enjoy reading and borrowing during their weekly library sessions. Our Fairy Wrens Preschool class also visited the library recently to listen to stories read by the Class 5 students, who individually selected picture books that would engage the younger children.

This term Classes 3 to 6 are learning about academic honesty, copyright and how to write simple bibliographies, learning in context - I know, I care, I act - to be ethical users of information.
 
New fiction and nonfiction books have arrived! These are based on student suggestions and selected to support the curriculum, with an added  focus this year on building diverse and inclusive voices in the library collection for both Primary School and High School.
 
'There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you until the day you begin to share your stories.'
— Jacqueline Woodson, The Day You Begin

Students need to hear and see their own voices and stories in books as well as to be introduced to stories that reflect different perspectives and experiences. Books provide the opportunity to build community and increase our understanding and empathy.
You may like to watch this video by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop who discusses her 'Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors' analogy to highlight the importance of diversity in books, or watch any of the videos by the authors in this article: Why Diverse Books Matter: Mirrors and Windows.

With new books arriving, the library is looking for volunteers to help with covering books. Training and a cuppa will be provided. Please email library@shearwater.nsw.edu.au if you are interested :)

Our Year 6 students are also embracing their community service as library helpers. They are learning how to shelf read (making sure books are in shelf order), help with loans and return books, tidying the library and helping with book displays. It is wonderful to see I know, I care, I act in practice!

Finally, a reminder for our younger readers in Classes 2 to 4 to please bring a waterproof library bag each week for borrowing.

Yvonne Barrett
Shearwater Library

Award-winning filmmaker and Shearwater alumni Jahvis Loveday brought his new short film, Bangay Lore, to our High School students (and some of our upper Primary School classes) last week, as part of our National Reconciliation Week activities. The screening of Jahvis' film, which explores his connection to culture and country, is one of a number of activities taking place across the School.

​Today we marked National Sorry Day by listening to the Apology made to First Nations Australians by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008, also known as the Sorry Speech. Many classes have also been discussing the Uluru Statement from the Heart and taking part in artistic activities.

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all of us to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for National Reconciliation Week remain the same each year — 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey — the 1967 referendum which finally gave First Nations Australians the right to vote, and the historic High Court Mabo decision, on 3 June 1992, when the High Court of Australia overturned the doctrine of terra nullius and recognised the land rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

For reconciliation to be effective, it must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, Be Brave. Make Change. is a challenge to all Australians — individuals, families, communities, organisations and government to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation for the benefit of all Australians.
This year we all have the opportunity to make change beginning with brave actions in our daily lives – where we live, work, play and socialise. Here at Shearwater we embrace this opportunity and thank Jahvis for coming and sharing his important film. 

Sarah Ndiaye
High School Teacher

Although we have been seeing a lot of grey, rainy days this autumn, in Kindy we know that a cloudy day is a chance to search for rainbows!
 
Rainbow Glow shines so bright, she fills our hearts with love.
A warm glow shines within us all when a rainbow shines above.
 
We started our term with busy fingers, as the Kindy children wove their own autumn rainbows, made rainbow crunchy buns and tie-dyed rainbow Kindy shirts as well as rainbow starry craft bags.
 
Last week our school celebrated IDAHOBIT Day. In Kindergarten, 'Rainbow Day' was a day to celebrate the diversity of people in our wonderful community and world. In the words of one of the Kindy children, “We celebrate that all people are different and all people are beautiful”.

Kara Mallory
Hummingbee Kindergarten

​As our region has experienced the great trauma and tragedy of these last weeks, the silver lining has undoubtedly been the unification of our community. Strangers and friends came together to lend whatever they could offer to a cause greater than themselves.

This tendency to rise above our own needs to meet the needs of another is one of our highest human qualities. But is it an inherent nature of our souls or one which is learnt over time, aided by our own unique human experience?

In Class 2 we have been working on building this quality. Caring for our friends is not only a feeling, it is an action and a choice. We have been practicing compassionate and attentive listening to our peers, showing them our kindness and letting them know we care. We have been learning how to allow our friends to feel loved and heard. We have been learning how to express what we are feeling and move through our troubles without blaming and accusing others. 

It is a long haul, but part of a lifelong journey to develop the social and emotional skills we all need, to be present and attentive human beings in our community and our world.

Belinda Kelly
Class 2 Teacher

​After the floods, some of our High School students were left with feelings of powerlessness and a lack of purpose. Many had been helping with the clean-up in Mullumbimby and Lismore and felt conflicted by coming to school, when there was still so much work to be done in the community. We came up with the idea of an exhibition fundraiser, to be held tomorrow night in the School Hall.

The exhibition includes artworks by Year 10 and 11 students to be auctioned, with all proceeds going to flood relief. The title ‘Ground’ refers to the longing for stability and healing after the experience of chaos and upheaval. Doors open at 5pm, followed by the High School music showcase, Shearwater Live, at 5.30pm. Cakes and coffee available. We very much look forward to seeing you there to support our wonderful and talented High School students.

Siobhan Hungerford-Gerth
High School Teacher

Our first painting for the year used the colours Lemon Light and Golden Bright, in which the children experienced the expansiveness of yellow, filled with sunlight. Now for our autumn experience we are exploring the warmer tones of carmine, vermillion and golden. Painting has therapeutic effects, regulating the children’s rhythmic systems and allowing them to breathe in harmony, when they can immerse themselves fully into the painting experience.

It is wonderful to see how the children are slowly getting more familiar with each other, making connections and building friendships. Sharing a swing in the hammock is a lot of fun!

Taking care of our guinea pigs, feeding them, holding and cuddling them is such a wonderful way of learning to love and respect non-human beings.

It amazes me to see the little ones already imitating and re-enacting our puppet story; with great sincerity they are replaying and digesting the content of the story through making it their own.

We love our food at Playgroup and making Crunchy Buns is the highlight of our morning. The children are encouraged to help with the daily tasks and carrying the basket for our Juicy Fruit time is a team effort. We always have some happy helpers to serve the fruit to each other. These are all wonderful learning experiences that strengthen the children's will forces and build their thinking capacity.

So much joy in learning!

Carina Halliday
Playgroup Coordinator

​Lachie's Year 8 Science class has been learning all about energy. They have been investigating the different types of energy, energy transformations, energy efficiency and the law of the conservation of energy, and investigating the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non renewable energies, within the context of solving real world problems. For their major assessment task the class attempted to solve the problem of heat loss by applying their knowledge of heat transfer to the construction of a homemade thermos, with several students succeeding in keeping water at 75 degrees celsius for 20 minutes.

​Lachie's Year 10 Science class has started a unit on genetics by investigating how traits are passed from one generation to the next. The students obtained DNA by performing an experiment that allowed them to extract it from the nucleus of strawberry cells.