From the Principal

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The wind is in the barley-grass
The wattles are in bloom
The breezes greet us as they pass
With honey-sweet perfume;
The parakeets go screaming by
With flash of golden wing,
And from the swamp the wild-ducks cry
Their long-drawn note of revelry
Rejoicing at the spring.

A.B.Paterson

Isn’t it lovely to feel Spring in the air?

With the recent warmer mornings, the bright moon-lit nights and welcome rain too, it feels with nature’s offerings, we have much to feel grateful for!
One of the lovely times of day on our school site is late afternoon when everything gradually becomes quieter and quieter and the animals and birds come out to play.

It was just this time last Friday when something unexpected and magical happened. A very active, healthy Koala came bounding across the top green playground (much like a rabbit) and scampered up a tree…it sat and looked around…then climbed higher and took a flying leap to another tree. It leapt this way from tree to tree several times before climbing back down to the ground, sniffing at the Macadamia tree and ambling onto the brick path past my office, then it rabbit-hopped quickly past Class 3, towards Class 1 and over to the Eucalypt trees he was surely seeking! So special!

In Animal Dreaming, a book by Scott Alexander King, Koala represents Journeys – A sacred journey that is unique for everyone, an expedition that supports the individual needs and requirements of all people. Koala reassures us that we inherently know the answers to our questions. Koala can show us that now is the time to take responsibility for our own life, our own path and our own destiny by listening to our heart of hearts. With Koala dreaming, the potential for growth and transformation strengthens.

Happy Spring Days

Teera

Can you help?

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Hello all,  I am a year 11 student who has had the opportunity to be an ambassador for a small non for profit organisation ‘Period Pack’ which was founded by Lily Harrison a CBRSS student who graduated in 2019. This organisation aims to provide women and people who menstruate in need in the Northern Rivers with menstruation products and maternity packs to make life a little easier each month. Whilst in Australia menstrual products are still not free we can all do something to bridge the gap between period poverty. If you would like to contribute to making someone’s month easier there is a donation box at the administration desk at school. Every dollar counts so if you can donate it is very much appreciated. If you would like to contribute but are unable to donate at school please email me to work something out. Email: Meira2021@capebyronsteiner.nsw.edu.au
Here is a link to Period Pack’s website for more information: https://periodpack.com.au/
Many Thanks
Meira Violet. 

Please Support our Year 11 Fundraiser

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Year 11 Steiner students feel extremely grateful to have not been deeply affected by COVID-19. Nevertheless, our previous fundraising events, such as showcases, have been cancelled as a result of the physical distancing restrictions. Due to this, our class has had to create alternative fundraising events in order to support our year 12 formal. Hence our idea to host an online silent auction of our peers’ artworks. Art students have worked tirelessly to produce artworks to auction via this website. We would be beyond grateful if bids were placed on these beautiful pieces, in order to help raise money for our formal. Thank you.

Click on the link to view the artwork: https://joshuas20211.wixsite.com/steiner-art-auction

Class 3 & Class 4 gardening programme

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Here are some pics from the Class 3 gardening programme with Evan this term. The students planted bulbs at the end of term 2 and you may have noticed that
the jonquils are the first to start flowering! Keep an eye out for them and other bulbs during the next few weeks.

Class 3 & Class 4 have also started planting potatoes and salad greens. They also did a bit of seed saving from the beans while revitalising last season’s garden beds. I think Class 3 got the most joy out of using their pitchforks on the giant mulch mounds near the car park!

Tanja – Teacher Assistant

‘Have a Go’ Athletics Classes 3 to 6

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Class 6 day in the 1850’s

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The Students of Class 6 spent a day learning in the ‘old school’ way in a classroom from the 1850’s. Copperplate handwriting, history and grammar formed part of our morning lessons. We learned the importance of manners and the teacher’s favorite proverb “Speech is silver but silence is golden”.
We also had a visit from Dr Benjamin Daly who checked the children for lice and showed them some of his surgical equipment which included a large pair of pliers for extracting teeth. Thankfully,  a clean bill of health was declared with the exception of a lass with a suspected case of cholera and one boy who may have a tapeworm.
After reading our Primers and practicing some arithmetic, we met Mrs MaCrae the music teacher who has formed a ‘Bush Band’ with the students and together they played a very jolly polka on their stringed instruments.
After lunch Mrs Nelson arrived to meet the girls as she is seeking to employ a young lady to help in her haberdashery shop. The girls practiced their sewing with Mrs Nelson whilst the boys engaged in woodwork under my supervision.
At the end of the day we debriefed our experience of the 1850’s and how both schooling and attitudes have changed for the better and will continue to change into the future.
Matt Reynolds
Class 6 Teacher

Class 3 and Class 9 news

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Class Nine and Class Three shared some time reading together and showing their Main Lesson books. Over the years the two classes have periodically met; something that is beneficial and enjoyable for both ages (and a true joy for Naina who has been class teacher for both.)

High School Athletics Carnival Day

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On Friday the 14th of August, the High School students spent a sunny winters day at Ewingsdale sports ground participating in the Inter-House Athletics Carnival. A total of ten Track and Field events were on offer for students to test their physical skills in running, jumping and throwing. The carnival continued into a couple of weeks after the Ewingsdale event with students completing the high jump event during lunchtimes and in their PE lessons, so the final results were not be known until just last week.

The results were incredibly close and could have seen any house in the lead at the end of the carnival. The final results are;-

Crete               878pts,

Sparta              859pts,

Athens             837pts,

Olympia          831pts.

Without doubt, this has been the closest competition between all the houses ever!

As usual there was some outstanding individual performers with 19 school records being broken. However, what was more impressive was the extent of participation of students enjoying the thrill and challenge of doing their best or pushing themselves to achieve a few extra points for their house. Team spirit was strong and defined by the excellent performances and leadership of all the house captains and by the number of new records broken by the year 12’s

New record holders,-

Year 12 Taj Birrell yr 12 – 100m, 200m & Shot Put, Thibault Walker– Long Jump, Lucia Bora – Long Jump & High Jump, Pearl Truswell– Javelin,  Harper Kelso -400m, Josie Huntsman – 200m,

Year 11 Della Knight – Javelin, Issac Poulson – 200m

Year 10 Zac Walcott – Shot Put, Arlia Keller – High Jump & Discus, Sachin Smith – 400m

Year 9 Brianna Hart – 800m & Long Jump

Junior Boys Relay by Crete

Senior Boys Relay by Athens

Students who performed well in their events by coming first or second would normally be invited to represent the school at the North Coast Sports Association Regional Carnival. Unfortunately, due to the Corona Virus, these have been cancelled.

Rudolf Steiner knew how important it was to have students participate in physical activities.  It has been proven time and time again how physical movement is directly related to assisting the development of pathways in the brain and therefore assists learning in many academic pursuits. It is also well known that exercise relieves stress and improves self-esteem. It allows social development and encourages students to express themselves in an acceptable and healthy way. Carnivals such as this provide opportunities for students to hone social skills of co-operation, teamwork and to develop a sense of empathy and trust. Skills that are not easily taught in the classroom but are regarded by Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School, its staff, and its community as important life skills required for any human being to achieve their potential.

A big thank you to all staff and parents who support these events and encourage the students to participate. You have made a difference to allow these students to realise their potential and be the best they can be as human beings.

Steven (Ric) Richards

CBRSS High School students and Staff “Wear it Purple”

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Wear it Purple strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. wearitpurple.org

Year 9/10 Art Elective

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Some Beautiful Pencil and Charcoal Animal Drawings created by the students in Year 9/10 Art Elective.

Claire

The Summer Day reimagined

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In Year 11 English Standard, we have been studying poetry from a recent anthology compiled by Paul Kelly, including Mary Oliver’s well known poem The Summer Day that celebrates the wonder of life via close observation of the natural world. The students appropriated her work, replacing her imagery of the grasshopper with aspects of the natural world as they know it to be. If you have a moment to pour a cup of tea and read their work, I’m sure you will also find it uplifting and reaffirming of life. Beautiful work Year 11! – Cover art, “Towards Bangalow” by Dash Pegram-Jones.

Alix

English Extension 2 Major Work- done!

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Congratulations to all!

Deeds of Love

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Our value for the world must be seen to lie wholly in deeds of love – Rudolf Steiner

From the Principal

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Greetings to all

Thank you to all members of our CBRSS community who continue to follow health advice regarding COVID-19, in keeping unwell children at home and respecting changed protocols. This continues to be a challenging time for all of us, as we find things changing day to day and as we face the uncertainty of what lies ahead should the situation in NSW deteriorate.

You may have heard that last week the Chief Health Officer of New South Wales issued a NSW Public Health Order. One directive which has impacted our school greatly is that group singing and chanting activities and use of wind instruments such as recorders in group music is to cease in schools.
CBRSS Updated Response is effective as of Wednesday 19th August.

This situation has required us to make sudden changes to school management, events, classes, routines and teaching modes in a swiftly, responsive way.
Once again, it is with inspiring flexibility, that our wonderful Teachers and Support Staff continue to re-think and adjust plans to enable events and activities to still take place for our students at school. At our Book Week Parade this week, teachers hastily devised a plan that did not include singing our much loved Book Week song, while still allowing students and teachers to enjoy all the usual dress up fun together.

We greatly appreciated parents supporting their children with costume preparations and we also greatly missed sharing our many Book Week characters with our usual parent audience. Of course, this circumstance feels very disappointing for many, but it is helpful to remember that there are also valuable lessons to be learned at this time in working with the constant changes; so as far as possible at school, we are encouraging a cheerful, resilient attitude and approach with our students and staff in meeting such challenges.

Please see the details of the NSW Public Health Order and some additional changes to our school practices outlined in the next article.

Our Support Staff and Teachers are striving daily to continue keeping the health and safety of our school community at the forefront of our practices at Cape Byron Steiner School.

At this time, more than ever, it is so important that we are mindful of making sure our interactions with others are kind, considerate and caring; in this way, we all ensure that our students, parents and staff will feel well supported through the remainder of the term and year ahead.

With thanks and best wishes to all
Teera

Minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools and their communities.

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NSW Public Health Order issued by the Chief Health Officer requires all schools to:

  • exclude students with even mild symptoms of COVID-19 and encourage immediate testing for any symptomatic child(ren)
  • prohibit return to school for anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 until a negative COVID test result has been reported
  • ensure that adults, including parents, maintain physical distancing at all times
  • promote good hand hygiene at all times

The Chief Health Officer also stated that certain practices in NSW schools must cease altogether.  These include:

  • school-related group singing or chanting activities and use of wind instruments in groups
  • school-related social activities (e.g. school formals, dinners or dances; graduation ceremonies; or parent engagement functions)
  • school-related overnight events (e.g. retreats, camps)
  • excursions

Changes when Students become unwell at CBRSS

If a student becomes unwell and is displaying symptoms consistent with COVID -19, we will ask for them to be collected and taken home. In order for students to return to school, a COVID negative test result or a medical certificate from a GP will be required, advising that they are safe, well and able to return to school.

These measures will assist in reducing the risk of community transmission, and will support our school to continue to deliver onsite learning.

Thank you for your support and cooperation in this.

Responding to COVID-19 Confirmed Cases or Suspected Cases

There is a clear plan in place for the School to respond to any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our community. We work closely with NSW Health and AISNSW and will communicate with parents if a situation arises.

Important Reminders  

  • WATER BOTTLES – It is imperative that ALL students K-12 bring a water bottle to school each day.  There is a strict closure of all drinking fountains and bubblers continuing.  Please ensure your child brings a full water bottle to school each day.
  • PARENTS ON SITE – Parents are NOT permitted to be on site unless in an emergency or with the permission of the Principal. An emergency constitutes collecting a child from the Sick Bay or if it has been pre-arranged and approved.

Primary School Bookweek

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Sunflower Kindy News

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Sunflower Kindy were treated to a bush tucker walk and talk, by our very knowledgeable friend Gavin.

The children ( and teachers) were treated to a walk and treasure hunt around our beautiful school, discovering all the hidden edible treasures within the grounds.

We got to harvest and sample our own bush tucker along the way!

This was such an enriching and educational experience for our youngest students, and we extend our love and gratitude to our friend Gavin for the sharing of his time and knowledge.

Our Gratitude also to all the plants that shared their food with us, and to our first people for handing down this knowledge over time.

We ended our walk with a blessing for the plants, which the children sang to the trees. Maybe you were lucky to hear us throughout the school?

Blessings on the blossoms
Blessings on the fruits
Blessings on the leaves and stems
And blessings on the roots

Class 2 News

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Class 2 have had a mildly challenging time over the last two weeks with my absence. I know they have missed me but Lisa and Kristine have guided them into their next main lesson and they have begun learning their times tables! I was sad to miss book week but Lisa has shared these lovely photos of them all. Here also are some photos of their work in the classroom. I can’t wait to join the class again next week and continue our exploration of counting, multiplication and times tables.

James

Class Three Play

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Class Three performed Noah and the Flood, an Old Testament story that we have studied this year.

As a part of our experience, the children made posters to display around the school. This was done in small groups and were composed by the children themselves.
Naina