From The Principal
“How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races. The myths about dragons in our lives that at the last moment are transformed into princesses. Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are only princesses waiting to act just once with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in the deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love”
- Rainer Maria Rilke
This last week we have had the opportunity to live more deeply into the pictures that stand behind the seasonal celebration of Harvest. I hope every parent, grandparent and child felt the substance of all the fruits of our inner work celebrated at this time of year. When the nature forces pull back and we see a withering in the outer life, we feel ourselves to not be so carried by the warmth of the sun and a certain awakening to belong more to ourselves arises. This takes courage. The bounty of overcoming the ‘dragons in our lives’ is reflected in the harvest that reaps abundantly in the cycle of nature at this time and is celebrated in a festival like this. Rudolf Steiner said so wisely, ‘the smallest thing in its rightful place can lead to the highest goals’, I have observed this gesture over and over again in recent weeks in how the teachers, assistants and children devotedly worked to create our St Michael Pageant.
It is heartening to be absorbed by an artistic encounter that can give some perspective at a time like this when we are so often left with the question, ‘why are certain things as they are?' To know that the children get to incrementally build up these wisdom filled pictures of overcoming fear, acting with courage, truth and strength certainly gives us some comfort that they are cultivating an inner resourcefulness to what life may ask of them.
As I shared in my welcome to the festivals, Steiner believed that ‘art can be nothing else than a reflection of what the human being feels to be, in relation to the universe’. To experience oneself to be part of that conjoined fabric of goodness and human striving really is the ‘event’ of the festival. The performance opens us up to an experience, but the event in our own hearts and how we courageously live what has been stirred, is the real event. This too is the real pedagogical value of why we put so much emphasis on these turning points in the seasons.
This time is enriched even more in the southern hemisphere where Easter is celebrated amidst the autumnal fading away mood, and we are afforded the opportunity to focus on renewal and new life. The children in each class worked hard throughout the term to make an individual Easter basket, their own woven or stitched designs inspired with autumn colours to receive these symbols of rebirth, and that you can add to your seasonal tables at home. Katherine Balbi, our Extra Lesson and Magic of Movement consultant contributed to the Easter Assembly sharing the profound story of ‘The White Lily’ that gleams on the window sill of a poor and dirty home and transforms everything around it by its glowing purity.
At the festival I acknowledged the lineage of all that has been in the building up of our festivals across many a long year, what was formed and developed in other Steiner schools around the world with which our dear Colleagues worked and reimagined from 2014 when we first brought this story to the community, Lisa Smith our founding teacher (now Class Two teacher), Anthony Downs long standing Kamaroi class teacher who remains united with our work across the threshold, David Rodely another fine long standing class teacher who carries a deep commitment to the impulse and Diane Tatum. Diane has nourished, held and carried festivals at Kamaroi for the true 'spiritual event of the heart' that they are and we are deeply grateful for all she has developed for the community. She now continues with us as a contracted mentor to class teachers, specialists and assistants to support a self generative culture of festivals at Kamaroi. This has taken exorbitant commitment, sheer hard work and brought new challenges and abundant soul developmental rewards for how we work together. Thank you Diane from the bottom of our hearts.
I lastly want to acknowledge the princesses love demonstrates as a community together, and acknowledge every one of you outstanding individuals that has made it possible for us to continue bringing what we bring to the children. We are so much more together than we are ever alone.
We wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday full of whatever renews you as a family and we look forward to resuming for a wonderful Term Two.
Warmest,
Vanessa Snaith
Leader of the Transitional Team
From the Business Manager
SAVE THE DATE Grounds and Maintenance Day
Please join us in making Kamaroi shine for the new school term
Saturday 30th April, 2022 from 8:00am till 12noon.
The main tasks will be filling sandpits, moving mulch, weeding, clearing drains, sweeping, pruning and general cleaning.
Volunteer registration is essential for Covid-19 safe planning, allocating tasks and providing morning tea. Please email michaelt@kamaroi.nsw.edu.au if you are able to attend. This is a great way to get to know other parents and connect with the Kamaroi community.
- Morning tea will be provided
- All tools will be provided.
Due to the nature of the work we recommend that children are not on site for this day.
Appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn, and please bring a pair of gardening gloves.
Kind regards,
Michael Twigg
Business Manager
Community Update
What a wonderful Autumn celebration we experienced at Kamaroi on Friday and Monday. Our community gathered and the children brought to life the story of St Michael and the dragon. I think we would all agree they did a fantastic job and that we all left with a good dose of courage. Steiner gave a picture whereby the archangel activity of ‘cosmic thought’ which we receive in summer can be activated into good deeds with autumnal ‘forces of movement’. The children demonstrated this beautifully for us all to enjoy.
This is why the archetypal pictures of overcoming difficulties to act are so poignant.
We would like to thank all those who made the festival such a success.
To the creative team of Shannon, Nicole, Ali, Lisa, Aleisha and Julie, as well as all of the class teachers, thank you for helping the children to rise to their challenging roles and to participate wholeheartedly in the storytelling. Special thanks goes to Shannon who spent countless hours sourcing costumes and supporting students with their roles.
Many thanks to all those who helped to set up/pack up and fit costumes, your input was greatly appreciated. Thank you also to the covid wardens and ushers needed to make our event possible. Surely you were amongst the most gracious we’ve experienced! Thank you to the audience for joining in with the speech and for the warm sea of smiles that received the children’s striving.
Lastly, thank you to all the staff members who assisted with organisation in preparation for the festival and on the day. This really was a whole community effort. Street Mission would like to thank everyone for their generous contributions of food. It is an important gesture for our children, who are so blessed with privileged lives, to see and experience our contributions to others.
Seasonal festivals are an important facet of Steiner Education because they help to forge meaningful connections between the child, the natural world, and the encompassing community. The sense of belonging to a class, a school, a community, developed through these events, is an authentic lived experience that plants seeds which may mature long after our students have moved on from Kamaroi.
We wish you all a wonderful break harvesting the fruits of a deeply fulfilling term and festival of reuniting and remembering who we are together.
Shannon, Ali, Aleisha, Julie and Lisa
THE HARVEST FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
After School Care at Covenant Christian School
While Kamaroi still hopes to be able to re-offer an after-school programme at Kamaroi at some time in the future, it has become apparent that it is not feasible for us to do so at this time.
We have recognised the need for this for some of our parents and, endeavouring to find a solution, we have contacted our neighbouring school, the Covenant Christian School. Very kindly, they are happy to welcome our students into their After-School Care programme, which is run by Extend (see link below).
We have contacted Extend and have been assured that there are no device-based activities other than personal computers needed by older students for set homework. They offer a wide range of options including cooking, drama and sport. They also provide nutritional food for the children.
Children of parents who wish to avail themselves of this option will be accompanied to Extend by one of our teachers, once we have been notified by Extend as to which children are attending that afternoon.
The NSW Government is currently offering vouchers for registered child care services including before and after school care. Information can be found here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/basc-voucher
To use this service, please click on the link below and enrol your child with Extend. Once enrolled, you can book to use the service. As we walk the children to the service each day, it is important that you book your child in at least the day before in order for us to know to walk your child to the service each day.
https://www.extend.com.au/school/covenant-christian-school-nsw/
For late bookings (after 5pm the day before) please do the following:
- Book your child into the Extend service via the link
- Call Kamaroi in the morning and inform the school of your need for After School Care on the day, to ensure your child is walked to the service at Covenant Christian School.
Kamaroi children will be walked to Covenant Christian School each day by Kamaroi teachers.
Parents will pick up their child before 6pm at Covenant Christian School after they attend After School Care.
We hope this service is helpful for our families.
In the Classroom and the Playground
Easter at Kamaroi
Each class has been working away creating their gorgeous Easter baskets in Handcraft. An annual tradition for Kamaroi children, each year creating a more complex design. The children placed the baskets out for the Easter Hare visit on the last day of term.
Easter at Kamaroi Continued
Class 1 Egg Dyeing
Class 1 used their beeswax crayons to draw on their eggs before dyeing them
Beautiful Flowers Spotted at Class 1
Class 2 Eggs
Class 2 also decorated beautiful eggs in celebration of Easter!
Class 6 Woodwork
Class 6 have been also working on their spoons in woodwork this term. Woodwork is part of our upper primary curriculum and the children develop their skills to gauge, rasp and file their shapes to make unique handcrafted objects which will be used and treasured by their families for a long time to come.
Class 6 Woodwork
This term Class 6 have also been working on their woodwork eggs.
Class 5 Artwork
Reminders
2023 Enrolments
Dear Kamaroi Families,
Please remember to have your Expression Of Interest Application submitted by end of Term 1 if you have a child ready to join Lilly Pilly or Kindergarten. Offers will be made from Term 2 and spaces are limited so please get in touch to secure a spot!
If you have any questions about enrolments please contact Bonnie on registrar@kamaroi.nsw.edu.au
Kindest,
Bonnie Kelly
Registrar and Marketing
2022 Photo Consent Forms
Dear Families,
The 2022 Photo Consent Forms are now online!
All families should have received an email requesting them to complete the Photo Consent Form for their children. Please login via the Parent Dashboard.
If you have not received the email, or you need some assistance please contact Bonnie via email registrar@kamaroi.nsw.edu.au
Thank you,
Bonnie Kelly
Registrar and Marketing
Community Notices
French Club!
Kamaroi Key Dates
Dear Families, please see this term's key dates and additional dates below. You can also view these on the online Kamaroi Calendar
Term 2 Key Dates
Myths and Mysteries Parent Education
Thursday 5th May - 7:30pm
NAPLAN
Tuesday 10th May - Friday 20th May
School Tour
Wednesday 11th May - 3:30pm
Explorative Family Workshop Parent Education with Sandra Frain
Sunday 15th May - 10am
Myths and Mysteries Parent Education
Thursday 19th May - 9:30pm
An Anthroposophic Health Approach Parent Education
Thursday 26th May
Kindergarten and Lilly Pilly Open Days
Wednesday 1st June - 3:30pm
Winter Storytelling with Ebba Bodame
Thursday 2nd June
Working with Warmth, Inflammation & Fever in Support of Children’s Health & Development Parent Education
Thursday 9th June
Mid-Winter Festival Classes 5 & 6
Tuesday 21st June
Lilly Pilly Lantern Walk
Wednesday 22 June - 4pm
Mid-Winter Festival Classes Kindy, 1, 2, 3 & 4
Friday 1 July
Term Dates
Term 2:
Wednesday 27th April – Friday 1st July
Term 3:
Wednesday 20th July – Friday 23rd September
Term 4:
Wednesday 12th October – Wednesday 14th December
Kamaroi Kitchen
Online Orders for Kamaroi Kitchen
A reminder that families can make Kamaroi Kitchen orders online via the Spriggy app.
Steps to get started:
- Go to www.spriggyschools.com.au to register and download the app.
- Add a profile for each of your children, making sure you select Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School and your child’s class.
- Start placing lunch orders! You can place orders up to 2 weeks in advance.
If you have any questions, please contact Akiko (0416225006/akkofraval@gmail.com) or Spriggy Schools via their website.
Akiko's Hot Cross Buns
Makes 12 buns
Dough ingredients
1 tablespoon dry yeast
½ cup caster sugar
1 ½ cups lukewarm milk
4 ¼ cups plain flour, sifted
2 teaspoons mixed spice
2 teaspoons cinnamon
50g unsalted butter
1 egg
1 ½ cup sultanas and currents, 3 cup mixed peel
Or2 cups sultanas and currents
Cross ingredients
1/2 cup plain flour
1/3 cup water
Glaze Ingredients
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons gelatine powder
½ cup caster sugar
Step 1
Place the yeast, 2 teaspoon sugar & the milk in a large bowl and set aside for 15 minutes. The mixture will start to foam
Add the flour, mixed spice, cinnamon, butter, egg, sultanas, mixed peel and the remaining sugar to the yeast mixture
Mix until a sticky dough forms
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8 minutes or until elastic
Place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean, damp cloth and set aside in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size
Divide the dough into 12 pieces and roll into balls
Arrange the dough balls in a lightly greased 22cm square tin lined with non-stick baking paper, cover with a damp cloth and set aside for 30 minutes or until the dough has risen
Step 2
Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Place flour and water in a bowl and stir and combine
Place in a piping bag and pipe across the hot cross buns
Place in oven
Step 3
Bake buns for 30 – 35 minutes or until golden and springy to touch
While the buns are baking, make the glaze.
Place the water in a small bowl and sprinkle in the gelatine
Set aside for 1 - 2 minutes or until the gelatine is dissolved. Set aside
Place the sugar and extra water in a saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
Use a wet pastry brush to remove sugar crystals on the side of the pan
Add the gelatine mixture and cook for 1-2 minutes or until well dissolved and combined
Brush the buns with the warm glaze while they are still hot