Welcome to Bilya Bardip (River Stories), Helena River Steiner School's parent, caregiver and community newsletter. We warmly invite you to read on and keep up to date with news, important information and upcoming events at our school.
PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS
Kaya Parents and Caregivers,
You would have now heard our exciting news about the settlement of our 'Forever Home' on the banks of the kwobidak Helena River. This is a significant milestone for our school which will allow us to set down the roots we've been yearning for and provide much needed facilities for our students in a tranquil and inspiring setting. On the last day of school we shall hold our Christmas Festival there, making a pilgrimage by foot from our current site, bringing our intentions and wishes with us.
Next year we expand our high school to Class 9 and all high school year levels will be held on the new site. There will be classrooms, multipurpose rooms, administration offices, woodwork and metal workshops, and play and sports areas. We are holding a High School Information Night at West Coast Steiner School on Monday the 22nd of November at 6.30 pm so please come along (and bring a friend!) if you would like to learn more.
Last week the students saw the end of a two week swimming program. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to build on their skills and spend time out in the community.
A reminder that tomorrow is a Pupil Free Day, while staff are working and training. I hope you all have the opportunity to enjoy the glorious weather.
And, as always, heartfelt thanks to the parents who will be nourishing us with their delicious food. We love your cooking!
Thank you so much to Elisa Siipola who took students for violin while Ben was away. The children said you were fun and inspired them to practise.
And to finish off, I want to warmly introduce our newest member of staff who joined us this term - Aunty Cindy Nelson. Cindy is a senior Whadjuk Noongar Yok who has been working in education for 20 years, sharing with koorlangka her knowledge about Noongar language, seasons, bush tucker, tools and weapons, Dreaming stories and dance. We are really enjoying having Aunty Cindy's calming presence and wisdom around and really appreciate her contributions to our faculty. Wandju Aunty Cindy!
Blessings on our school,
Tanami Magnus
Principal
DIARY DATES
FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER
Pupil Free Day | Staff PD Day
MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER
HRSS High School Information Night at WCSS
TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER
Class 3/4 Play -Parent Performance 2 pm
THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER
Class 1/2 Play -Parent Performance 2.30 pm
THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER
P&F Parent Feedback Night 6.30 pm
WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER
Christmas Festival/New Site Blessing 9 am
We hope you enjoy learning about what our students have been up to, as much as we enjoy sharing it with you!
PREKINDY
Hello Magical Families,
We have started term 4 in the season of Kambarang, the Bottlebrush is in full bloom and the butterflies are dancing in the garden.
The Pre-Kindys have enjoyed living in Kambarang, through an excursion around our school grounds to pick all the colours in the garden, while making sure to leave enough for the birds and the bees.
The children's will has been at work; as we have created beautiful Mandalas, pressed flowers, decorated rocks and are eager to create flower windows this coming week.
The children have enjoyed metamorphosing from caterpillars into butterflies with their whole bodies at circle time.
Lastly and very importantly we lovingly welcome two amazing people to our little class Akshaya and Jesse who bring the gift of themselves to us and make our class brighter every orange day.
Blessings on our school and each other,
Jessica Coker
PreKindy Teacher
THE INDUS PROJECT
The Indus Project has announced plans to build the first Steiner-based university in Western Australia by 2027.
The university will be unique in Australia, one of only four known in the world to be founded on the principles of Anthroposophy, the educational principles of German philosopher Rudolf Steiner, and Goethean science.
The university will be open to the general public, offering degree and post-secondary courses fully approved by the appropriate Australian regulatory bodies in accord with the Tertiary Education Qualifications Standards Act 2011. An inauguration date has been set for the end of 2027, with the first intake of students to be February 2028.
“Globally, there is a growing demand for such a university, one which caters for student’s needs and fosters an environment where talents and capabilities are drawn out and built upon, equipping young men and women to meet the challenge of living and participating in society in an ethical and wholehearted manner” says Peter Want, chairperson of The Indus Project.
The dream of an Australian Steiner-based university dates back to October 2015, when author and Steiner teacher Dr Nigel Hoffmann formed Archeus Social Ltd to support the foundation of a university somewhere in Australia. In 2018 he outlined his plan in the Australian Anthroposophical Society Journal and in 2020 published a Preliminary Mission Statement and Feasibility Study as a further effort in discovering the interest of others in the initiative.
His effort was rewarded when, in late August 2020, Mr Want took up the baton and began gathering together a team in Western Australia, who have now formed The Indus Project Incorporated, a not-for-profit association formed for the specific purpose of bringing together like-minded people who might be interested in working together toward the founding of a new university in Western Australia.
We invite you to join us in working toward bringing this university into being. You are invited to a meeting of interested souls on Saturday the 6th of November in the Williams Hall at Perth Waldorf School on Gwilliam Drive in Bibra Lake. We will gather at 10.30 am.
Edstart is an organisation which provides families with flexible payment plans to help them manage their education costs. They have payment plans designed to fit around family budgets.
