Class 1 2020 Rose Ceremony
A lovely class 1 welcome ceremony.
Class 1 News
On Friday, Dec 6th James took Class One on a fun excursion to the Cape Byron Lighthouse and Wategos Beach. It was a lovely warm summer day and the class walked down from the lighthouse along the path and spotted turtles swimming and a pod of dolphins jumping in the waves. Two by two the children, James and a few parent helpers walked out to the most easterly point where we observed the breaking waves on the rocks and felt the enormous energy of the sea. We then ate lunch under the canopy of the trees at Wategos, had a skip along the beach, discovered rock pools and splashed in the waves on the shoreline.
Kindergarten
In Kindergarten, we have had the pleasure of hosting two work placement students, Annette and Henrietta from Norway. They are visiting the Kindergarten for five weeks. You may see them also visiting classrooms throughout the school. Annette and Henrietta have brought with them, Norwegian stories and verses which they are sharing with the children in Kindergarten during story and circle time. Annette and Henrietta have also been sharing songs and words in Norwegian. Both students have been helping in the routines of Kindergarten and enjoying our children and our wonderful community. Last week along with the children, they were fortunate enough to see a Koala visiting high up in a tree and also some chicks that visited Kindergarten.
Class 5 Play
Class Five presented their play ‘The Light of Isis & Osiris’ at the end of term three in an evening performance for families and friends. There were a number of children who stepped up to the challenge of a main role and everyone in the whole class shared their stagecraft and enjoyment of theatre throughout the entire play. The colourful set and bright costumes were very stunning and helped to create an atmosphere of Egyptian authenticity. The level of cooperation in the work behind the scenes helped it all run smoothly much to the enjoyment of the audience. Well done Class 5!
Matt – Class 5 Teacher
Class 1 News
To welcome the Spring, Class 1 held a Wattle Ball. We heard a story, sang, recited poetry and danced the “Wattle Polka” in order to celebrate the change in our local environment. The blooming of the wattle is important to Indigenous Australians and gives an indication for Bundjalung People
that hunting the Eastern Long Neck Turtle should cease as this is the time which marks the beginning of the turtle’s breeding season.
The children made wattle crowns and necklaces in preparation for the day and were accompanied on the violin by Ayla, Coco, River and Nina from Class 6.
What a beautiful way to welcome spring and the class will be performing this dance at the Spring Fair this Saturday.
James – Class 1 Teacher
Congratulations to CBRSS’ Class 5 Basketball Team
Primary basketball team ‘The Bandits’ featuring ten girls from Class 5 competed and won in the Byron Bay Basketball Association Finals at the local Cavanbah centre last Monday night.
This season was their first ever. They played well all season building a strong team relationship and having lots of fun.
Monday nights’ game started out well for the Bandits with a clear lead, but after half time their opponents ‘The Black Queens’ came back in full force and by the last quarter we were tied. As nerve racking as it was, our girls managed to pull themselves together and created a clear lead once again in time for the final buzzer (24:18). Congratulation girls! I am very proud and amazed to see such camaraderie so early in their development.
Coach Kasper Hagen
Go Bandits!!
KINDERGARTEN NEWS
The Kindergarten children have just finished creating felted soap and wooden soap holders as gifts. The children have worked for many weeks on rasping, sanding and waxing their pieces of wood. The wood was sourced from the Melaleuca Trees near the Vegetable Garden. The trees were originally planted over ten years ago by students who are no longer at our school. After completing their gifts, the children visited the Melaleuca Trees to gather the paperbark to wrap their gifts. Whilst on our excursion to the trees, Gavin visited and shared his memories of the trees being planted.
We have had several parents visiting on Friday mornings to garden. The children were very keen and enthusiastic to help weed, dig and lay large rocks to shape the garden. Bricks were wheelbarrowed over to the garden and the children helped to bed them into a spiral design in preparation of a sensory garden. Mulch has been added and strawberries planted. The gardening project will continue over the next few Fridays.
Class 3 News
Earlier this term, Class 3 went on camp to Lamington National Park. The children enjoyed sitting around the campfire, bushwalking, seeing two thousand year-old Antarctic Beech trees, flying through the air on a forest flying fox, spotlight walking in the night to find nocturnal animals, walking blindfolded through the forest, seeing spectacular views and being in nature with friends for three days. What a wonderful adventure we had together!
Anna
Class 3 Teacher
Class 2 News
Class Two has just finished learning about people, who through their compassion and kindness during their lifetime, are now considered saints. There were big acts; such as giving away all their worldly goods to serve the sick and poor, and little acts; such as allowing a blackbird to build a nest in your hand. So often in the stories the animals came close, to serve (like the two otters who warmed St Columba’s cold feet), or to be close. The children responded beautifully to these examples of humaness and the call we all have within us.
Naina
Class Two Teacher
Class 5 News
In our current main lesson we are learning about the inland exploration of Australia, the history and geography of our land. Working in small groups, the children are researching a particular explorer and their expeditions. Each group is preparing a lesson to teach the rest of the class, and is working from a list of supplies to calculate how much food and water they are consuming and how the weight of it can be shared evenly in the packsaddles of their horses or camels.
This theme will continue in our upcoming camp at Gibraltar Ranges National Park where we will experience the landscape in a very practical way – walking, camping and exploring the landscape.
Matt
Class 5 Teacher
Class 2 news
Class Two went on their very first excursion out to Ann Poulson’s (Class 5 teacher) farm in Burringbar. The children drew from nature, fed a lovely herd of black and white show cows and observed, groomed and interacted with a small herd of horses. Watching how each child approached a horse, braving their fear, and experiencing their joy, when a large animal responded to them was fantastic! It was such fun to be out and about with the class. They were so respectful, well mannered, joyful and appreciative. Steiner teachers are one lucky group of professionals.
Naina
Class Two Teacher
Class 6 News
Class 6 Main Lesson
This year in term 2 and 3, Class 6 have been learning about Physics, Acoustics, Optics, Warmth and Magnetism. We have explored multiple different experiments including what hot and cold do to substances and materials, how heat travels and what creates heat. For the experiment showing what hot and cold do to substances we had 4 people. Two people put their hands in ice cold water and the other two in warm water. They all tried tying their shoelaces and had a race to see who could tie their shoelaces the fastest. The warm water team beat the cold team. The warm team’s time was 7-8 seconds and the other was 17-24 seconds.
Another experiment was when we poured some food dye into hot and cold water. The dye in the cold water kept its beautiful pouring shape and the dye in the hot water dissolved very quickly and evenly in the water.
Physics is fun!
Malia and Isla
The Writers Festival
Last week on the 31st of July we went to the Writers Festival. We listened to Isabelle Carmody and John Flannagan talk about their experiences as children’s authors.
Isabelle Carmody is the author of The Little Fur Series, stories about a loving little elf-troll who cares for her animal companions. Isabelle has also written many other books, one of which included 1000 pages!! Isabelle told us stories about her family and childhood. She talked about her daughter and how she inspired her for many stories. Isabelle Carmody was inspiring and interesting and I think the whole class enjoyed listening to her.
We also heard from John Flannagan the author of the well known Ranger’s Apprentice Series. He told us that his are published in 12 different languages in 25 different countries! We were all very impressed. It was a great day
River
K-2 Winter Festival
The Kindergarten, Class 1 and 2 Winter Festival was a delightful experience. Despite the wet weather we managed to create an atmosphere of reverence, community and seasonal celebration. Through bringing the children into connection with the earth’s seasons, they develop a deep love and respect for nature. This connection goes into the depth of their being, penetrating far beyond the intellect.
The simple act of sharing food and a story (and a laugh) together brings us together as a community. Doing this during the bitter chill of winter reminds us that no matter how cold our inner life may feel, the joy of humanity can bring warmth to our souls.
