Dear Families,

Wonderful news abounds for us as part of the Kamaroi Community. This is a significant time and a cause for real celebration. Those of us involved in the school’s biography long term have awaited this moment with great interest!

As announced in our last Bush Telegraph ‘Lilly Pilly’, our dedicated stand-alone Pre Kindy class for four year olds, will open in Term 1, 2022.

You can download the flyer here: LILLY PILLY FLYER to forward and share with your extended communities. Numbers are limited and we are filling up fast!

This initiative has been a longstanding wish of our parent body, the teaching faculty and our Board of Directors. We have forged, with courage and determination, the completion of a project that harnesses our shared values amidst the extremely nuanced challenges of this poignant time. I feel this is truly evidence of our collective dedication to future forms of inspired education at Kamaroi.

We cannot underestimate what this contributes, in our own small way, to the future of humanity. Our teaching methods become ever more relevant as an avenue for preparing young people to meet the demands of social change and the consciousness necessary to address the complexities we all now face.

I am delighted to announce that Rose McCathie, who joined us this year in the Kindergarten will be leading this group. Rose has a deep commitment to the Steiner Early Childhood journey and imbues her teaching practice with considered attention, care and insight. We could not imagine a more suitable person for this position.

Particular gratitude is extended to Jaqueline Fischer, our school’s founding Kindergarten Teacher and Anni Gemell, her long standing colleague, who have both continued to serve, guide and inform this process ever practically and ever willingly. I also thank Barbara Maxfield as our dynamic leader who worked tenaciously to leverage this project and Michael Twigg our Business Manager, for providing a steady rudder to oversee the project to its completion.

With Mark Baxter from Baxter and Jacobson Architects leading the repurposing of our library in the heart of our Kamaroi campus, our children and families can look forward to being held in a beautiful space. The deep appreciation of sustainable architectural design and sensitivity to the language of form and colour that nurtures our inner life, will integrate this space with the rest of the stunning classroom buildings they have designed for us

Last but not least! We are so grateful to Skye McKenzie, for contributing the stunning artwork for our Lilly Pilly room! Just another way as valued parents we receive incredible support and contributions in working together!

Happy Holidays!

Vanessa Snaith

Acting Principal 

Term 3 has been a huge challenge to not only our community but to the entire NSW. All families and individuals have had a unique experience through this time. The importance of creating connection, a sense community and any opportunity to foster social interaction has been very important to most of us.

On that note we wanted to say a BIG thank you to the Kamaroi PA who have provided additional Parent Education resources this term to help our community feel connected and supported. 

“The Parent Education talks provided by Kamaroi gave me a real sense of community, they helped me to feel connected and in balance to face the challenges we are facing right now. Some of the talks have also provided great tools to use with the children.  I am very grateful for these resources at this time"

- Karin, Kindergarten parent

We have had interest from our community during this time for a parent study group!

Please register your interest in Term 4 for an ongoing meeting via Zoom to experience, deepen and be nourished by some Steiner inspired content.

The intention is to create a sharing space of care relevant to parents questions and needs, to carry and give strength during a time that seems to demand a deeper reimagining of our lives.

This group is open to everyone. You could attend regularly or ‘drop in’ occasionally.

Please forward your interest to Cris cristianarf@hotmail.com and feel free to indicate any requests for particular content.

Kindest,

Cris & Lisa Devine

You are invited to join these online gatherings to hold and nourish the fire and light of our hearts during the ongoing challenge of our time . All the questions of our lives may be gathered here and each meeting is open to all.

Mondays 2pm and Wednesdays 8pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91917845027

Term 4 - Zoom Playgroup for babies - 5 year olds!

The Kamaroi PA is delighted to be able to join forces with the wonderful Lila Garcia to bring our community a weekly Zoom playgroup.

When: Fridays in Term 4

Time: 10:30am - 11:30am

Where: Zoom (link to come)

Lila Garcia is a Steiner trained educator who has been working with parents and their young ones for 20 years. She has been successfully running Sunshine Garden, a Steiner playgroup for over 10 years, both in Sydney and in America. Lila is also a trained Forest Kindergarten Teacher and a proud mother of four children.

​Lila’s mission is to build community and support parents with young children in a nurturing environment where love, diversity, sense of wonder and reverence for nature are key elements.

Please register your interest HERE

Dear families,

Please share this upcoming event with your friends and family who might be interested in our Lilly Pilly or Kindergarten Classes. 

Join Rose McCathie, Anni Gemell and Vanessa Snaith in an introduction to our new Lilly Pilly Class and the Steiner Early Learning Journey.

Please join us and like minded families on Wednesday 6 October at 7:30pm via Zoom to join in an open discussion about starting your child's education journey at Kamaroi.

This event will cover topics including:

• What is the new Lilly Pilly offering
• The Kamaroi Kindergarten
• How play is the child's work
• The importance of rhythm for the day, week, season and year
• Connection to Nature's rhythms
• Use of natural resources and open-ended toys in the classroom
• Freedom to explore
• Activity with purpose, rather than product

Families can register HERE

It has been announced that we will have a new Lilly Pilly classroom next year for children in the year before Kindergarten. Plans are afoot to create a warm and welcoming classroom in the library with a new garden that will link to the Kindergarten garden. This is such exciting news and fills me with great joy and enthusiasm.

In normal times I would have loved to have a few working bees over the next term in order to create and make resources for our new classroom. Unfortunately it may be that we cannot meet together for most of next term.

So, I have another plan!

I would like to get expressions of interest from our current parents and families in the Kamaroi community.  Would you like to help us with various tasks? The things I have in mind are making felt and knitted toys; dyeing material to make play cloths, cushion covers, bedding; making timber toys; gathering natural resources for the room such as seed pods, timber rounds, shells and rocks. Perhaps you have some good quality timber toys you would like to donate or some wicker baskets you no longer use.

Please contact me by email with your thoughts and offers and I will create a plan of action. I look forward to hearing from you.

rosem@kamaroi.nsw.edu.au

Regards,

Rose McCathie

Kindergarten Teacher

Spring is officially here and the beautiful Kamaroi grounds are putting on a show. Robert and Hugo have been keeping Kamaroi looking as beautiful as ever, ready for students to return in Term 4.

Last Sunday, 12th September we were very fortunate to have the wonderful Sandra Frain treat our families to a Sunday Sourdough Baking session which included making butter and cream cheese. Families joined together on Zoom to have a communal baking experience. Sandra brings warmth and a depth of knowledge to her sessions providing engaging content for our community. Thank you Sandra, for all you have done for Kamaroi this Term.

We have recorded part of this session, so if you would like to re-watch, you can access the recording via the GLO Platform 

"The baking the bread was a highlight at the end of the term as many families, including the children, worked together in the kitchen with Sandra. Here is a photo of our sourdough bread! We are very grateful." - Karin, Kindergarten parent 

Term 4, 2021

Wednesday 15 December - Last Day, Term 4

Term 1, 2022

Wednesday 2 February - First Day, Term 1

Thursday 7 April - Last Day, Term 1 

Term 2, 2022

Wednesday 27 April - First Day, Term 2 

Friday 1 July - Last Day, Term 2

Term 3, 2022

Wednesday 20 July - Frist Day, Term 3

Friday 23 September -  Last Day, Term 3

Term 4, 2022

Wednesday 12 October - First Day, Term 4 

Wednesday 14 December - Last Day, Term 4

As I write my final Bush Telegraph article at Kamaroi I reflect on my time at the school but also share my thoughts on the future of education.

The remote learning mode that NSW schools experienced in 2020 and again in 2021 has possibly changed the way education will be delivered well into the future.  I know this is a topic at the forefront of the minds of many educational leaders and institutions. What has been discovered is that pre-recorded, or even live lessons via zoom, delivered expertly, can replace face-to-face teaching.

I recall a review I undertook five years ago for a school that had multiple campuses. They had the one teacher delivering a recorded lesson at one campus and it was live-streamed to each of its other campuses so that all the students could watch and take part in the lesson simultaneously. It happened to be a Year 11 Physics lesson. Some of the campuses of this school had very small numbers of students studying this subject and so it made really good sense to have the one teacher deliver this to students across the multiple campuses.  She was a remarkable teacher who really knew her content and was skilled in the delivery of the concepts. She had well thought-out examples to back up the principles, and she also cleverly checked in with the students at each of the campuses during her delivery. Remarkable! 

I spoke to a parent this week who has a son in Year 9 and she remarked how the pre-recorded lessons with his Mathematics teacher had been incredibly effective for him as he was able to pause the lesson, go back if necessary and even replay the lesson. He is currently making better progress with this approach than in his usual on-site lessons.

What is missing with the concepts described above is the importance of the personal engagement that a teacher has with the students.  Children, particularly primary-aged children, need human interaction.  And one of the most important aspects of a Steiner Education is its focus on relationships.  The relationship that develops between the child and his or her teacher underpins the child’s educational development; academically, socially and emotionally. The well-being of each child is nurtured and guided by the Class Teacher. 

Kamaroi has certainly worked hard to provide this during the remote learning period and the regular Zooms have been well-supported by families.  At least a part of the human connection that usually flourishes on a daily basis at Kamaroi has been captured in the Zoom sessions. Yes, there have been challenges, particularly with our youngest children, as using technology is in such stark contrast to the way our children usually engage and learn.  It is so uplifting to know that the return to on-site learning is returning in Term 4.  I firmly believe that what Kamaroi normally provides for its children is what is right to produce ideal graduates. Young people who are well-rounded, flexible, caring and connected, and with the strength and appetite for ongoing learning into secondary school.

Reflecting on my time at Kamaroi since the commencement of Term 3 in 2020, I am content with having achieved as much as I have. Coupled with the strategic pillars of “Growing our Future 2020 – 2023” and through my early conversations with Board Directors and all staff at Kamaroi along with input by parents, it was clear that the following were a high priority for the school:

• Building enrolments
• Having a Preschool
• Resuming a second language for Classes 1 – 6
• Ensuring that Kamaroi would be successful in its 5-year Registration Renewal with NESA
• Adding value and expertise to the governance and responsible management at Kamaroi

There were some challenges on the way but I gave my all to steer Kamaroi forward. I have great confidence that Kamaroi will continue on its positive trajectory into the future. What is at Kamaroi’s core is its true respect for children and their connections to the world. My memories of Kamaroi will always come back to the children, their openness, their zest for life and joy!

Go well, Kamaroi!

Warm wishes,

Barbara Maxfield

Principal

We take this opportunity to say farewell to Barbara as our school Principal and wish her a wonderful transition toward new horizons!

She has served our school during a very delicate period and demonstrated her long standing experience in approaching difficult decisions in which she wholeheartedly advocated for the children's educational needs and social wellbeing. In just over 12 months she has guided our school and faced what is probably the most difficult period of Australian Educational history. What I have observed in Barbara during this time is the higher the challenge, the more energised, determined and resourceful she becomes to meet it. Her intelligence and hard work have kept our precious little school in stable conditions despite all odds!

She hit the ground running and worked tirelessly to get our school through the very stringent re-registration process, required by NESA (New South Wales Educational Standards Authority), gaining us the full five years at the highest level in both areas of educational provision and compliance. She also oversaw three teachers through the rigorous ‘Experienced Teacher Accreditation’ process and mentored two new teachers into Provisional and Proficient status. Barbara also reintroduced a specialist language teacher and employed new teaching faculty in Information Technology, Music, Kindergarten, Learning Support and Classroom Assistants.

I also want to give an enormous acknowledgement for her efforts in the instigation of ‘Lilly Pilly’ our new Pre Kindy dedicated class for 4 year olds. The provision of early childhood services in our school has been a long standing project that Barbara took on with gusto. She engaged in thorough extensive research, giving council staff and bureaucratic rigmaroles a run for their money in meeting, negotiating and advocating for Kamaroi’s options. There was an exorbitant amount of hard work and tenacity required in the backspace to arrive at a sound, viable option that met the needs of our community.

I have heard terms like, ‘you are a force of nature’, ‘action woman’, ‘traction’ and ‘fearless’ to describe Barbara's qualities, and we thank you deeply Barbara for all you have shared with us in your time at Kamaroi.

It is a particular phenomena for students, parents and staff of Kamaroi that no one ever really ‘leaves’!  We look forward to welcoming you back as part of our extended community for future festivals, fairs and celebrations and hope we have an opportunity for our families and children to give you a real life goodbye and Thank you!

Warmest,

Vanessa 

On behalf of our Teachers, Staff, Kamaroi Board and the PA

Our treasured Chaplin, Lisa Devine has gone above and beyond for our families this Term. Lisa has provided multiple sessions for our community to help our families find strength and unity in these strange time. We are so grateful for Lisa's ongoing guidance.

I think this year must be the 5^th year I’ve worked assisting Vanessa in the Handcraft Classes and I don’t think I’ve ever loved a job more than working at Kamaroi.  I feel so blessed to be with beautiful colleagues and families and I absolutely love working with the children on their projects. I’m constantly amazed by their creativity and the beautiful work they produce. Vanessa has created not only a wonderful curriculum but also a haven where everyone loves to be, children and adults alike.  I attended Glenaeon during high school but learnt most of my handwork skills from my grandmother, or taught myself as an adult.  I’ve always got multiple projects going at home and also love to draw in pencil or ink.  At the moment I’m working on a huge crochet blanket for my daughter Riley because she loved the one that Class Six made for Jennifer last year and put in an order for her birthday. I’ve also learnt a lot of new skills working with Vanessa and the children and I know that the handwork skills the children learn at Kamaroi will enrich them for a lifetime.  Having creative outlets in my life nourishes me deeply and I can see that it nourishes and supports the children too.

I’ve really missed having the children at school for their Craft Classes but have also loved seeing them on Zoom. It’s been fun to see the other school projects they’ve been working on at home and meeting dogs, cats and rabbits onscreen.  I think they do incredibly well to remain focused and wait patiently for their turn to share their work, or ask questions.  It’s not easy to help or explain a process through a screen, but the children are so quick to understand and always willing to try and work it out. 

Of course, like everyone, I’ve found elements of our lockdowns and travel restrictions challenging, most particularly being unable to be with one of my three grown-up sons who lives in the UK and my parents who live down the south coast.  But I also feel incredibly lucky that the things that I love and that sustain me are not denied during even the strictest lockdown. I have always been happiest outdoors in nature with my animals, whether it was in Sydney with pets or on family farms with my horses.  I love to be out in the elements, under the trees or by the ocean in all kinds of weather.  I particularly love being out in the rain, swimming, running or riding my horse when it’s wet and muddy always feels like fun. My favourite place to run with my dog is through the harbour-side bush tracks near where I live and I have to admit, having had them to myself for years and years, I’ve had to learn to happily share ‘my’ tracks with all the extra people that have appeared during lockdown. 

Another huge focus in my life is my beloved horse which I agist very close to school in Belrose. We have dressage lessons with a trainer twice a week and I usually ride in the arena, or on the trails at least 5 days each week.  Both my horse and I will have certain exercises to work on between lessons, maybe breaking a certain postural habit or making a tiny physical adjustment that challenges our mental and physical coordination.  Working with your own body and balance in yoga is one thing, but also being aware of your horse’s body at the same time, and how you either assist or hinder their state of balance adds another level of coordination! I really enjoy the challenge, patience, commitment and focus it demands and it never ceases to amaze me that this huge 750kg flight-animal willingly works in unison with me in this way.  I don’t think it matters which discipline you choose to work on with your horse, dressage, jumping, western or ground-work, they are all simply a vehicle to build communication and partnership.  Spending time with horses also teaches you a lot about yourself because in order to achieve trust and connection and remain safe you need to be present and aware of yourself, your body language and the energy you bring.  All of which are important in our human relationships too!

I hope everyone has the relaxing, energizing break we all desperately need and deserve.  The light at the end of the tunnel is being together at school again as soon as we are able, children, teachers and families…. can’t wait!

Belinda Flynn

Handcraft Assistant 

Often is the way when we are at crossroads in our life that we are presented with something, that if trusting and open to being vulnerable, will take you on a path that perhaps you may not have walked along otherwise. That was the case with my introduction to Steiner Education 18 years ago.

Seeking direction and answers to questions that could be found by connecting to the spiritual world, I discovered Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy and education.

Until this point I had been a passionate actor, workshop facilitator and drama tutor. Possessing an appetite for creative arts, and desire to continue to work with children, I discovered a way that both could seamlessly weave together.

I remember walking into Kamaroi while I was studying Rudolf Steiner education and was taken aback by the beauty of the buildings and their surroundings, the colour in the classrooms, which exuded warmth and inspiration and the confident child that asked me if I was an adult or a child. Being small in stature, I understood their curiosity and was impressed by their assertiveness. 

I spent a week observing a teacher that, to this day continues to inspire me.

The more I learned about Steiner education the more I knew this was my calling.

At Kamaroi the education is meaningful. We consciously work with the physical, emotional and intellectual abilities of the children, while striving to inspire them to become strong, resilient and confident individuals. We continue to foster the child’s imagination, and seek new ways to enliven the curriculum, while holding the child in the centre.

As I continue to learn about the individual child, the more I learn about myself. Steiner education is not only life long learning for the child, but as importantly life long learning for myself.

Schools are not meant to be silent places. I miss connecting with parents. I crave delicious culinary delights from the Kamaroi Kitchen. I miss the sound of chatter, laughter, music, singing and above all, the children. I look forward to Term 4 when we can all be together as one big Class 4 family.

Nicole Wise
Class 4 Teacher 

Dear Kamaroi Community,

I am Julie and beside being the Class 2 Teacher, you may know that I am mad about Bees.

One of my roles here at Kamaroi is to look after animals or insects that roam into our school, if they need a hand, otherwise I leave them alone.

Whilst I love bees, I am a bit scared of snakes, I leave those to Robert to manage.  Last week we split our native bee hive here at school to replace one we unfortunately lost last summer due to a beetle infection.  The native bees are now safely in their new space at the Class 1 garden beds.

We also have some honey bee hives at 224 that we take a look at regularly.  Class 2 love to go and say hello, they know quite a bit about bees now. 

Before I came to Kamaroi I was involved with three friends to start the Northern Beaches Beekeepers Association.  We established the club for enthusiasts to come and talk about all things bees and to learn more from experts in the field.  I was asked to become a Wheen Bee Ambassador in 2019.  My role is to promote bee education for children and adults.  I give community talks or help with promotions about beekeeping when required.

There are many aspects to bees.  From how to build a hive and make frames, how to check bees for diseases and pests, how to find the Queen Bee in the hive and check how the pupae and larvae are growing, if they are healthy or not. There is a 3 year certification course for people who want to become beekeepers, through TAFE NSW.

Then finally the fun part of extracting honey, straining it, bottling and eating it! Yum.

We melt bees wax to make wax wraps, candles and cosmetics.  Lindy in the office is a wiz with the wax melting process.  It is messy and time consuming, but she is patient and gets all the debris from the wax.  Finally, she makes a beautiful clean perfect piece of wax.

There is so much to investigate with bees, you never stop learning.  My mentor is 95 and he only just retired this year from breeding Queen Bees.  He is very well known for his knowledge of beekeeping.  There is nothing about bees that he does not know.  I was lucky enough to meet him when I was 9, about the same age as my Class 2 students, he is a good friend.  He knows what gums and shrubs are flowering when and where and when to move the bees throughout the year to get those blossoms.   He even taught me if I had chalkbrood, a small pest, to put a green banana skin in for a week to get rid of it.  Voila! It works.

I know getting stung by a bee is not fun, but if you put honey on it as soon as possible it wont be so bad. I once dropped a hive while moving it and got stung many times, now they don’t bother me very much at all.  I don’t recommend this as a solution though.

Children, when you are in the garden see if you can spot the native tetragonia carbonaria bees, or the European honey bees and say hello. They will appreciate it. 

If a bee lands on you: stay still, don’t squeal or jump, they wont sting if you stay still.

Julie Leal

Class 2 Teacher 

What have I been doing this lockdown? Aside from assisting at school and moving the Library, I've been making socks! Here's one I'm working on at the moment.  Having never made socks before I now understand what people love them, relatively fast, portable, you can do a round or two in snatched little moments of time.

The pattern is https://ravel.me/hermiones-everyday-socks 

Bernie,

Library