Newsletter Term 4 Week 2 - Samford Valley Steiner School

term 4 week 2 Friday 15 October 2010
DATESTOREMEMBER
week3 Tuesday 19 Oct
Parent/Teacher night
7pm, Class 3
Thursday 21 Oct
Parent/Teacher night
7pm, Classes 5 & 6
week4 Tuesday 26 Oct
Parent/Teacher night
7pm, Classes 1 & 10–12
Thursday 28 Oct
Guided School Tour
11.15am
Parent/Teacher night
7pm, Early Childhood
Saturday 30 October
Working Bee, 8am
week5 Friday 5 Nov
PAFA meeting, The
Hub 9-11am
Saturday 6 Nov
PAFA Bush Dance
week6 Thursday 11 Nov
PAFA meeting 7pm
Saturday 13 Nov
Class 12
Major Project
Presentations
Sunday 14 Nov
Class 12
Major Project
Presentations
week9 Thursday 2 Dec
Close of Year
Celebration Early
Childhood
Friday 3 Dec
Half Day
Close of Year
Celebration Primary &
High Schools
END OF TERM
Friday 3 December,
Half Day
Transitional Leadership Team
Last Friday saw the first meeting of the Transitional Leadership
Team.
In the new organisational structure, the Leadership
Team is made up of the Director, the 2
Education Administrators, the Business Administrator
and the Chair of College.
Until all these new roles are filled there will be a
Transitional Leadership Team consisting of Joan
Weir, Connie Grawert, Julie Lovett, Robyn Maggs,
Jas Lal and Liz Morrell- those in current roles most
closely matching the new structure. This group will
meet weekly on a Friday.
At the first meeting the team clarified the purpose
of the group – in essence to provide a communication
link across all management aspects of the
Class 12 Graduates
school, to share issues, prioritise and delegate so
that the operational functioning of the school is
smooth and effective.
We also discussed the need for a review of the
High School as it is now 5 years since the High
School was started and hence the end of the first
full cycle. A High School Research Group will be
established this term to work into the review.
It feels wonderful to start implementing the new
organisational structure and Friday’s Leadership
Team meeting was very positive.
Joan Weir
Transitional Manager
This year there are 10 students graduating from Class 12. Over
the next few weeks we will be introducing them to you as well
as walking down memory lane with them.
I
have started with the 4 students that will be the
first, and the only group to ever be the first, that
have completed their Primary and Secondary
education at Samford Valley Steiner School. Joel
Lindsey, Enya Crockford and Michael Smith all
started at Samford Valley Steiner School in 1997 in
their first year Preschool and Bronte Salmond who
started in 1998 in second year Preschool.
I spent 15/20 minutes with this wonderful group of
young adults chatting about memories from their
Preschool years – it was a delightful and humorous
20 minutes – I will miss them and wish them well!
Mercedes Logan
n Samford Valley Steiner School, Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, QLD 4520 n P (07) 3430 9600 n F (07) 3430 9630
n Absentee (07) 3430 9610 n www.samfordsteiner.qld.edu.au n Contributions info@samfordsteiner.qld.edu.au

Memories from Preschool from a Class 12 perspective
Bronte: Being outside.
All: Walking to the creek.
What was your most
memorable time in
preschool?
Bronte: The boys digging under the fence.
Enya: Walking into the wrong room after
playing outside – it was a bit scary – I
did not know any of the kids.
All: Winter spirals
Bronte: I tried to keep my apple forever!
Michael: Playing with Robbie and listening
to him sing, he always sang – like
karaoke.
Was there anything that
you did not enjoy?
All: The sleeping, some foods, the
punishment – having to sit still in the
kitchen.
Do you remember which
Preschool room you were
in? Your Symbol? Anything
about the rhythm of the
days?
Joel: Symbol?? Did we have a symbol?
Where is the evidence of these symbols?
The rooms did not have names but I was
in the one closest to the school, Anne’s
room
Bronte: The furthest room and my symbol
was the rainbow
Michael: The room without the crane in it
– I will find out what my symbol was.
Enya: I was in the room that was closest
to the gate; it was the one without the
truck. My symbol was the butterfly.
The rhythm of the day
proved to be a bit more
difficult to remember but
there were certainly some
fond and not so fond
memories coming out
regarding the preschool
menu.
Joel: I remember the eating yummy bread
days and visiting the creek, also at the
end of the day a rest.
Bronte: I hated the rest!
Joel: Was Tuesday apple crumble day? – I
didn’t like apple crumble.
Enya: No it was Thursday
Enya: Rice pudding – horrible – I
remember my friend and I locked
ourselves in the toilet so we did not have
to eat the rice pudding.
Michael: One was Golden soup/golden
mountain day – the golden mountain
was made out of healthy stuff.
Do you remember your first
day?
Enya: Yes, I was nervous at first, but felt
better after seeing the other little kids
and the toys that we could play with.
Joel: I remember the interview but not the
first day, I thought that my first day would
be a lot later then it was.
Joel: Class 1 was far away and they were
so big.
Enya and Bronte: the slats on the bridge
to Class 1 seemed so big that they
thought they might fall through them.
What was your favourite
activity?
Enya: Now it would be the sleeping but at
the time I hated it, my favourite was the
stories and the puppet show.
Joel: Digging a hole out of the preschool,
we used to be allowed to dig so far and
then we had to stop and the teachers
would fill it in again, once we did dig
the whole way out and when we got out
we were not sure what to do, so we went
back in again.
Michael & Joel: Building things out of
wooden blocks.
What do you miss about
those Preschool years?
Enya: The sleeping.
Joel: No homework.
Michael: No expectations.
All said it was a place to go and have fun.
Complete this sentence
“When I think of Preschool
I…”
Joel: I think of little people, doing naughty
things.
Later on Joel said: I can see that
Preschool helps to cultivate the mind,
body and spirit
Bronte: I think of a warm welcoming place
that really nourishes and prepares you
for school, it is a nice step between
being at home and school.
Enya: I think of lots of colours, having fun,
all the small things seemed AWE -some–
i.e. the successful building of a sand
castle, the blooming of the flowers
Michael: I think of doing without thinking –
we could just be kids, no responsibilities.
Do you remember your
Preschool teacher? And
what do you remember
about them?
Joel: Anne Anderson & Marilou and
Madonna Bailey –I remember them all
being kind and caring.
2 the newsletter n term 4 week 2 n Friday 15October 2010
Samford Valley Steiner School

Bronte: Anne Anderson – I used to think
that Marilou was the teacher and not
the assistant – I remember the home
visit, Marilou came first and when Anne
turned up. I could not work out why she
was there as well.
Enya: Connie Grawert (teacher) &
Jackie/Karen/ Marg sometimes Maria
(assistants) - I remember Connie being
American, she was nice, always wore a
dress or a skirt, always dressed up.
Michael: They were all nice – Marilou and
Anne were the main ones, I remember
Connie being around.
Looking back from your
18 year old perspective do
you have anything that you
would like to say to your
teacher?
Bronte: Thanks! And sorry! It was a great
stepping-stone to Class 1.
Joel: Cheers and thanks for everything.
Enya: Thanks for giving me a great start to
my 14 years of education.
Michael: Great place to start my
education, Thanks!
Again looking back
from your 18 year old
perspective is there
anything you can see that
you have taken away from
those Preschool years?
Enya: The importance of tidying up.
Monday (rice pudding) = bad, Thursday
(apple crumble) = good
Bronte: Lasting relationship with the
teachers and with my peers – I will leave
the school with long lasting friendships.
Michael: Creativity, problem solving, using
logic.
Joel: I think that it has shown me how
to nurture, the Preschool provided
nourishment and care for us all and
in turn this has taught me how to be
nurturing and caring.
Three of you have been
at Samford Valley Steiner
School since your first year
of Preschool and one from
second year Preschool –
how does it feel to be at
the end of your elementary
education – going all the
way through at SVSS?
Joel: We are the first!
Enya: Its hard to comprehend – we happen
to be the first in the school’s 23 years of
it providing education – I feel fortunate.
Michael: We have grown close together
– and we feel that we know how the
school has grown; we have been a part
of this growth and the school will always
be a part of us. I am excited about the
future.
Bronte: I feel a big part of the school and
the growth of it, we have seen the High
School grow, it is more then just a school
– it is our school.
Memories from the Preschool teachers
Anne Anderson: I feel that
I am very fortunate to
have known these three
Class 12 students since
they began their education
in the Preschool as 4 and
5 year olds. Joel Lindsey
and Michael Smith began
their journey at SVSS in
1997 and soon became
good friends. Bronte began
in 1998, the same year
that Marilou became my
assistant. I would like to
share some of the personal
qualities I observed in
the children prior to
their Primary education,
qualities that may still be
apparent:
Michael Smith (22/3/92)
Symbol: mushroom
• Quiet and reserved, a popular child
who was eagerly sought out by others;
either in play or just to sit next to.
• Michael had a calming influence on his
peers.
• His strong imagination and creative
abilities attracted others to him, seeking
new ideas and direction for building.
• Had a very steady hand to balance
blocks and bamboo to build intricate
patterns and constructions.
• Enjoyed painting and showed an interest
in forming rich secondary colours.
• Know what he wanted to paint/draw
and worked hard to achieve his desired
outcome. When finished Michael liked
to describe his artwork.
Bronte Salmond (11/4/92)
Symbol: rainbow
• Had a willingness to accept others into
her games.
• A cheery personality, often liked to sing
while playing.
• Graceful and well coordinated, enjoyed
the challenge of accomplishing new
movements in morning circle and
Eurythmy.
• Careful with her paintings and very
selective with her ideas and the motifs
she chose.
• Good friends with Amelia, who she
shared the same birthday with. They
often set up and presented puppet
shows.
• A confident child who could express
herself verbally.
• Liked to organise others into big group
games.
Joel Lindsay (5/5/92)
Symbol: Star
• A compassionate child who was often
concerned about the wellbeing of other
children and liked to include them in his
play.
• Could be very determined to get his own
way.
• This strong determination helped Joel to
become an astute problem solver. He
would just keep trying to build complex
towers and patterns, never giving up
until he achieved his goal.
3 the newsletter n term 4 week 2 n Friday 15October 2010
Samford Valley Steiner School

• Joel and Michael spent many play times
forming pathways from shells and seeds
into different patterns.
• Joel’s vivid imagination and attention to
detail bought many creative ideas into
the room during play.
• Joel was always persistent in seeking
the answers to quite often-profound
questions.
(Joel and Michael are still good friends to
this day)
All children were enthusiastic participants in
the Preschool. These 3 children were part
of a group who set a very high standard
with their capabilities in art, craft and play
– a ‘hard act’ to follow for future Preschool
classes. Marilou and I often reflect on how
this group has strengthened our own teaching
values and so we’d like to thank them for
giving us so many joyful experiences.
The Official
Opening of our
School Hall &
Library
Connie Grawert A profile
of Enya as I remember her
in Preschool:
Enya Crockford
Symbol: Butterfly
• Enya always loved horses, even back
in Preschool. I was amazed when she
began drawing horses at such a young
age. She often played horses outside
with the other girls.
• Enya tended to be shy to the point of
being timid and softly spoken. I wrote a
birthday story for her, which I published
in the storybook “Earthy Delights” about
a child that overcomes her fear and
makes friends with a possum.
• Her imagination was expressed in rich
play and drawings. She was competent
and enjoyed craft.
• Enya was always one of the reliable and
helpful children in the class.
• It is such a pleasure for me to see how
she has grown to become a self-assured
and confident person.
4 the newsletter n term 4 week 2 n Friday 15October 2010
Samford Valley Steiner School

Primary School
Updates
Class 1
In Class 1 we are learning the lower case
(little brother) letters and hearing stories
from the Dreamtime. We have been going
for weekly bushwalks since the beginning of
the year and this term, we are also adding
weekly gardening sessions to our outdoor
education. We are coming along nicely with
our recorders and can now play seven songs!
We are working up the courage to play them
for an audience.
So many of us are losing our baby teeth,
and Jill says she thinks we grew at least a
few centimetres over break. We continue to
have Eurythmy and German subject lessons,
and we must be getting bigger because this
term we were surprised to learn we now have
a pianist to play beautiful music for us during
Eurythmy! Thank you, Linda.
Jill Casavecchia
Class 1 Teacher
Sporting Goods with Coles Vouchers
So far we have collected
2868 vouchers and would
love to increase this in the
coming weeks.
Double vouchers this
weekend!
Missing Bell from
Prep
Our large old school bell with a wooden
handle that lived at the Preschool was borrowed
for festiValley and not been seen
since. If anyone knows were it's turned up
could you please, please return it to us as we
miss it, many thanks.
Anne Anderson and Marilou Araullo
Prep Teachers
Thank you to everyone for dropping off
their Coles Sports for Schools vouchers
to either the Primary or High School
offices. The more vouchers we collect, the
more sports gear we can get! Just remember
to ask for the vouchers when you pay during
your normal weekly shop. You can still help
us collect Sports gear for our School. Every
$10 spent at Coles Supermarkets, Coles Online,
Bi-Lo or Pick‘n Pay between Thursday 2
September and Sunday 31 October 2010,
will earn a Coles Sports for Schools voucher
worth 1 point.
Working Bee Challenge
The Lower Primary School
water course is in need of
a facelift. Is there anyone
who would like to be part
of a small group to design,
organise and help turn
this most loved and used
area of the Lower Primary
playground into a beautiful
water park/garden?
Term 4 Working Bee is on Saturday 30
October and this term we would like
to concentrate on the Prep garden
and play area, Primary watercourse and
High School gardens. Any parents with suggestions
on improvements to these 3 areas
would be gratefully accepted.
More updates next week.
Margaret King
Facilities Manager
Paul Hotston the
architect of the
Library.
5 the newsletter n term 4 week 2 n Friday 15October 2010
Samford Valley Steiner School

Steiner Language Teachers Conference
During the last school holidays, the Steiner Language
Teachers’ Conference was held in Canberra at the
beautiful Orana School.
Claudia and I attended the three days
of lively and informative learning
and networking workshops.
The program included lectures about the
anthroposophical understanding of the child
and language teaching, participatory model
lessons and networking. The format used was
that parts of language lessons demonstrated
over the three days were presented in one
of the 7 languages taught by teachers at the
conference.
As participants, we ourselves became language
learners.
We enjoyed the whole conference very much
and came home with lots of new ideas for
our own teaching.
Sonja Rank
German teacher
Win the ultimate
staffroom competition
Win the ultimate staffroom for your school
competition. Would you like a staff room
make over? Qld Teacher Credit Union is
running a competition for one lucky school
to win this prize, valued at $30,000. Voting
opened on Monday 4 Oct and will run until
Friday 29 October. Every vote counts and is
open for staff and the whole school community.
Go online at www.staffroomforimprovement.com.au
to register your vote for
the school.
PAFA
Parents
And
Friends
Association
Parent Education
Great news! The always
enlightening Chris Jack
has agreed to share his
wonderful experience
with a talk about the
therapeutic effects of
storytelling to children.
Come along to the Hub
next Friday 22 October at
9am to hear Chris and to
share some morning tea
and perhaps meet some
new friends. The talk will
then be repeated in the
evening on Tuesday 23
November from 7pm.
The talk will focus on the benefits of
storytelling to children and how these
stories can influence/address children's
behaviour. As parents, we are always looking
for practical parenting ideas/suggestions,
and Chris will be able to address many of
the issues we all face on our parenting paths.
Please remember that
The Hub is open every
Friday morning for tea
and coffee. We are always
looking for cake/slice
baking volunteers, so just
let us know if you can
bring something along!
Michele Harris
PAFA President
6 the newsletter n term 4 week 2 n Friday 15October 2010
Samford Valley Steiner School

Craft Group
Mermaids
Craft group returned last week with these
Mermaids – the pattern is a Mary-Jane
original design; complete with hand made
shimmering silky felt made over the holidays
especially for this project. We will be making
these little mystical creatures over the two
weeks (weeks 2 and 3), so if you didn’t come
last week it is not too late. Complete kits will
be $6. She will make a loved play thing, and
would also be the perfect addition to your
summer season table.
Fancy being Craft
Group Co-ordinator?
I am stepping down, aside, out... as craft
group co-ordinator at the end of this term
SO we will need a new someone to step in
and fill the role next year. You don’t need to
be clever or crafty – just a good co-ordinator
– there are folders and folders of patterns
and loads of people around to give you a
hand. All you really need is a bit of space to
store the dozen or so boxes of craft stuff and
a decent sized boot!
Craft Group meets every Wednesday from
around 9am in the community space near
the Tree House shop. Please bring a blue or
black ball point pen, sharp cutting scissors
and basic sewing supplies.
Cheers see you Wednesday,
Shannon
M 0412 532 641
Bush Dance
Dust off the boots, dig out
that plaid shirt, our Annual
Bush Dance is just around
the corner.
After such a fun filled evening last year,
November just wouldn't be the same
without a good old fashioned 'ho
down'. So mark your calendars now, Saturday
6 November held in our New Hall. More
details to follow next week!
Davina Rennie
Bush Dance Coordinator
Classifieds
Please note: All Classified
Advertisements are submitted
by individuals for the community
benefit. They do not
in any way express the views,
opinions, endorsement or
policy of the school and should
not be relied upon as such.
Wanted Car
The new volunteer Sven Stark is
looking for a cheap reliable car
by please contact Sven
M 0457 114 129 or
E mea_mea@gmx.de
Seeking Family Day Care
Are you a Steiner-oriented family
day care mum...or do you
know someone who is?
We are seeking someone
special to look after our two
beautiful children, aged 2 years
9 months, and 17 months, for
1-2 days per week.
Please call Jane on
P 3311 6365 if you might be
able to help us.
Cello For Sale
Full size V.G.C Hard and soft
case, new bow $1300 O.N.O
see or ring Inese
P 3289 7684
Zumba Fitness
Ditch the workout and join in
the party with Debbie Denti and
guest instructor Sammy Gunner
of Break it Down School of
Entertainment.
Farmers Hall, Samford
Monday Zumba Fitness
9.15-10.15am
Tuesday Zumbatomic for kids
3.30 -4.30pm
Samford Community Centre,
School Rd, Samford
Monday and Wednesday 7-8pm
Cedar Creek Community Hall,
Upper Kedron
Friday 9.15-10.15am
For further information please
contact Cheryl
M 0432 171 924.
Carpentry & Handyman
Carpentry and Handyman work
Phone Peter on
M 0427 994 169.
Urban Retreat Samford
Take some time out at the
Urban Retreat Samford We offer
Specialist Massage services
plus a range of healthy day
spa treats such as Salt Scrubs,
Aromatherapy Facials, Balinese
Body Polish. We are all Health
Fund Registered and prices start
from $20.00 for a "Quick Fix"
to $80 for a one hour Remedial
Massage. Mention this Ad and
receive $5.00 off on all treatments.
Urban Retreat Massage
& Day Spa - 26 Station Street,
Samford
P 3289 6695
(opposite Museum).
Steiner School Families
– save $$$$ on your
Certified Organic Meat
The Meat-ting Place provides
Certified Organic Fresh Meats
& Poultry, Gluten, Preservative,
Nitrite & HVP Free Sausages &
Smallgoods – all delivered to
the School for you to pick up -
Orders and information only
through Lesley McGregor
E lesleymcgregor@yahoo.com.
au
7 the newsletter n term 4 week 2 n Friday 15October 2010
Samford Valley Steiner School

Find us at
W www.themeat-tingplace.com.
au
Fountain of Youth and
Float Centre
Beauty, Massage, Float Tank,
Colonics, Naturopath, Homeopath,
Acupuncture, Cranial
Sacral, Pellowah. Monday - Saturday
126 Banks Street Alderley
P 3856 4087.
Kate Sharp Creative Arts
Therapy
MA (creative arts therapy)
Grad Dip Art Therapy & Couns
MIECAT
Using the Arts & Sandplay to
help support times of difficulty &
change, to help bring nourishment
and equilibrium. Suitable
for adults, teenagers & children
E katshar@gotalk.net.au
P 3289 7227
M 0402 884 205.
life. Mercury safe and fluoride
free preventive care.
W www.dentalwellness.com.au
P 07) 3511 1399
1056 Waterworks Rd, The Gap
PROfession LawnMOWing
Lawns - Moving/blowing; Whipper
Snipping; Waste Removal
Gardening - Weeding & Watering,
Hedge Trimming
Landscaping - Retaining walls &
Fences. Call Dave for free quote
M 0421 PRO MOW
(0421 776 669) professionalmowing@gmail.com.
Animal Connection -
Bodywork and Energy
Healing for Animals
If your pet is slowing down or
has any health or behaviour
issues – let me help!
As an Animal Therapist I work
with many complementary
modalities such as Therapeutic
Massage, Acupressure, T-Touch,
Cross Fibre Mobilisation,
Quantum Touch, Kinesiology,
Reiki and Australian Bush Flower
Essences. Phone Dagmar for an
initial assessment!
P 3298 5036
M 0417 716 907
E dagmar@animalconnection.
com.au
W www.animalconnection.com.
au
Piano service
Tuning, repair and inspection.
Tony Wen M 0412 799 674.
Dental Wellness
A whole body approach to oral
health. Dedicated to working
with your whole family to maintain
an optimal standard of oral
health throughout your entire
8 the newsletter n term 4 week 2 n Friday 15October 2010
Samford Valley Steiner School