"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.”

― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

It is always wonderful to encounter the work of contemporary philosophers who ratify the underpinnings of Steiner education and the implicit ethics promoted. Paulo Freire is one of these individuals who after a positive international reception of his work, was offered a visiting professorship at Harvard University and Cambridge, and worked as a special education advisor to the World Council of Churches leading educational reform. 

The qualities of working critically and creatively, intrinsic to Freire’s methodology, are reflective of the Steiner values we seek to see alive in our students. This was truly evident in our Alumni Panel last Thursday where we had the privilege of reconnecting with a group of past students 14 - 31 years old to hear their stories, reflections, insights and memories from their Primary Education at Kamaroi. The depth of their perceptions, the human-centered outlook, their capacity to articulate their ideas and experiences and the faculties they shared for connecting aspects of the teaching and learning were outstanding. Needless to say, the concrete stories on the content of the curriculum, the methods in how they were taught and the culture of relationship which they felt carried with students and teachers alike, engendered a quality of respect, positive regard and teamwork that remain as cornerstones in their personal and professional lives.

A 21 year old alumni reflected that what she has come to realise is that the friends she has through her Steiner school connection share very similar morals that aren’t easy to find in other peers her own age. A 31 year old alumni gave assurance of what they leave with academically and how she became very ambitious and competitive with her approach in high school, but that it wasn’t against others but for her own standards and ideals. Though she hadn’t been aware of it during primary school, she considered that her love for deep learning prepared her on a thorough level for academic achievement and put her in very good stead. Another common theme was a general agreement that the students didn’t feel lacking behind, or that they had missed anything, to be prepared for high school and that, to the contrary, the incredible implicit extra incidental learning of strong engagement, social awareness and emotional maturity was something they came to be more aware of and that they attributed it to how they were taught, communicated with and encouraged at Kamaroi. Other congruent highlights were kindness, courage, ability to have a voice, confidence and ability to question both the status quo but also able to ask for what they needed. Key highlights were plays, festivals, songs, group work, craft, community and depth of relationship with peers and teachers that believed in them.

We also had parents speak and share of their experience both for what Kamaroi gave them personally and how they witnessed their children thrive as learners and individuals. What a night of positivity and encouragement in a time when we certainly keenly feel the need to know our young people are being adequately equipped for the future!

Thank you to all of our Class Teachers who have spent so many extra hours dedicated to their students in parent-teacher interviews. Every family is offered 30-40 minutes to connect and get a real picture of their child which is such a gift, (as we know in many other settings interviews can generally be a kind of speed dating 5-minute allocation).  It is just one of the many small ways all of the above transpires in a Kamaroi journey.

Make sure you have a look at the wonderful whole school Operation Wattle program that we have started this term. This is an intensive program the teachers have developed with some external providers, Adam and Clarence, local Indigenous men and Ashlea who has a PhD in Biology. It is an incredible blend of Indigenous perspectives, understanding and cultivating a relationship to Country, bush regeneration and science learning outcomes. We had a wonderful beginning with a yarn from Adam at our whole school assembly and the children are now enjoying weekly lessons on a Thursday.

Ashlea holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban Ecology (University of Technology Sydney). First Class Honours in Natural Resource Management and Geography (The University of Melbourne) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Charles Sturt University). This Multidisciplinary PhD (in the disciplines Urban Ecology and Environmental Psychology) she investigated how exposure to different types of natural environments yield different types of psychological benefits to urban green space users. Her academic achievements are an indication of the incredible passion, enthusiasm and commitment Ashlea has in this area and her exuberance is very palpable - the children and teachers are loving the sessions. 

Many plans are afoot already for our wonderful end-of-term Spring Festival Open Day, on Friday 9th September. A fun family day is planned for us to come together as a community, so mark it in the diary! A huge thank you to the Parent Association and Dana our PA Chair who have patiently and tenaciously worked towards forming a vision that can encapsulate some of our much loved (and in recent years very missed) fair activities. A big call out to Angus Rex, Class Four Parent who has bravely taken on the gargantuan task of coordinating a great many treats for us all to look forward to!

Yata Wiitya (stay well),

Vanessa Snaith

Principal

Each year, Kamaroi sets aside a portion of its revenue to offer a limited number of means-tested partial bursaries to families who would not otherwise be able to afford a Steiner based education for their children at Kamaroi. Bursaries are available for students from Class 1 onwards.

Specifically, Kamaroi School’s bursary fund supports continuing enrolment for children of community members who are experiencing financial hardship, which impacts their ability to meet tuition fee obligations.

Applications for bursary support during 2023 are now open and must be submitted by September 30th, 2022. To request an application form please email the School’s Business Manager, Michael Twigg michaelt@kamaroi.nsw.edu.au

Kind regards,

Michael Twigg

Business Manager

Dear Kamaroi Parents, Guardians and Community,

Welcome back everyone, and a special welcome to all the new families joining us this term.

The Kamaroi Board comprises of seven Directors who are all connected to our community in some way. We currently have two parents on the Board, three past parents with their grandchildren at the school, a former principal of another Steiner School and a founding parent of Kamaroi. We have a broad range of skills and expertise that is invaluable when dealing with current matters, risk and governance.

With only a few meetings until the end of the year, the Board will be focusing on budget and strategic planning and other matters that come to hand.

We have a few available positions on the Board, and I welcome you to consider joining. If you have time, skills and a commitment to attend meetings, you could help be a part of the future planning of Kamaroi. Particularly in areas of human resources, legal, marketing and education. There are a few steps to the process, so please feel free to reach out to me at boardchair@kamaroi.nsw.edu.au or contact our Business Manager at michaelt@kamaroi.nsw.ed.au to learn more.

I wish you all the best for the term ahead.

Sincerely,

Dayana Brooke

Board Chair of Kamaroi

We understand that there is a desire within the community for Kamaroi to offer After School Care. Please know that the school has put much effort into trying to arrange a solution to this need. Unfortunately, over recent years we have been unable to gather sufficient commitment from enough families to make this viable through Kamaroi. As an alternative measure, we have arranged access to the after-school facility operated on site at our neighbouring school, Christian Covenant.

We will continue to work towards a solution on site at Kamaroi and have put together a short survey so that we may better understand the level of interest and requirements from our families. Included in the survey are questions around the alternative provision of after school activity classes.

If you are genuinely interested in utilising an after school care facility at Kamaroi, please complete the survey below. 

You can complete the survey HERE

Dear Parents and Carers of Kamaroi Students,

Welcome to Operation Wattle! My name is Ashlea Zivanovic and I’ll be leading the Operation Wattle program with Kamaroi students as part of their Science studies in Term 3, 2022. Operation Wattle will be delivered in partnership between Bush to Bowl and Garigal Nursery.

About Operation Wattle

Operation Wattle is a curriculum aligned inquiry based learning unit where students will help save a locally occurring wattle species from extinction. The Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis subspecies Eastern Sydney) is a threatened species classified as “endangered” under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act, 2016. The Sunshine Wattle has a small distribution around Sydney, ranging between Botany Bay to Curl Curl and inland as far as North Sydney. It is threatened primarily owing to increasing urban development removing habitat; however, herbivory from feral rabbits, inappropriate fire regimes and other human disturbances are also factors at play. Some places in the Sydney Harbour National Park where Sunshine Wattles grow include Dobroyd Headland (Balgowlah Heights), Chowder Bay (Mosman) and North Head (Manly).

Figure 1) Sunshine Wattle  

a) habit

b) bi-pinnate foliage

c) seed pod (unripe)

d) flower

Project specifics

In 2022, Kamaroi students will participate in Operation Wattle during weekly lessons on a Thursday. Operation Wattle is aligned with the “Living World” strand of the NSW Science Curriculum (e.g., living things have life cycles; similarities and differences between living things; interactions between plants and animals) and Aboriginal Studies (e.g., Aboriginal culture).

Students will grow Sunshine Wattles from seed, nurture the seedlings in the school greenhouse and then plant the Sunshine Wattles back out into Sydney Harbour National Park during a school excursion. Concurrently, students will work on age appropriate projects to help save the Sunshine Wattle from extinction, which will be exhibited at the end of term in the school hall.

Project partners

Operation Wattle has been developed by Garigal Nursery and Bush to Bowl in partnership with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Saving our Species Program. Operation Wattle was successfully piloted in 2021 at Balgowlah Heights Public School, with over 300 Sunshine Wattle tubestock grown and planted out at North Head to help secure this species from extinction.

About Garigal Nursery and Bush to Bowl

Bush to Bowl is a 100% Aboriginal owned business co-owned by Clarence Bruinsma (Yaegl) and Adam Byrne (Gadigal/Garigal). Located in Terry Hills, Bush to Bowl provides education programs on native bushfoods and Aboriginal culture, provides landscaping services and has a retail nursery in Terry Hills (www.bushtobowl.com).

Garigal Nursery is located on the Eastern Campus at Balgowlah Heights Public School. Established in 2022 as a sister company to Bush to Bowl, Garigal Nursery specialises in contract growing threatened plant species and delivering threatened species education programs such as Operation Wattle. Garigal Nursery is co-owned by Ashlea Zivanovic, Adam Byrne and Clarence Bruinsma.

If you have any questions regarding Operation Wattle you are welcome to contact me at info@garigalnursery.com

Kind regards,

Dr Ashlea Zivanovic

Co-owner, Garigal Nursery

We need weekly volunteers to run the Kamaroi Market stall. If you are available to help for an hour on Wednesdays please sign up for a shift!

You can sign up HERE

Click on the event title to register!

Developing the Self- Developing the World – Anthroposophical Insights To The Pre-Teenage Years

For ALL parents classes 4,5,6 – we do ask that you attend as part of vital information on your children’s developmental needs, though everyone welcome.

Thursday 11th August - 6:30pm

ONSITE - Kamaroi School, 220 Forest Way, Belrose

STONE SOUP and SOURDOUGH BREAD Family Workshop with Sandra Frain

Sunday 14th August

ONSITE - Kamaroi School, 220 Forest Way, Belrose

The Nature of Childhood; a Parents Perspective - with John Holmes

Thursday 18th August

ZOOM EVENT

The Transition From 6 To 7 Years  - with Susan Laing

Thursday 25th August

ZOOM EVENT

Inviting Harmony Workshop - With Raphael's Rooms Practitioners 

Thursday 1st September

ONSITE - Kamaroi School, 220 Forest Way, Belrose

Inviting Harmony Workshop (Weekend) - With Raphael's Rooms Practitioners

Saturday 3rd September

ONSITE – Kamaroi School, 220 Forest Way, Belrose

All Parent Education Information can be found on the Kamaroi What's On Page

A friendly reminder that if your child arrives at school past 9:00am (please note the first bell rings at 8.55am) you must see Frances at the office to sign them in. (Please see Vanessa's request/ reminder from week 1) 

If you need to collect your child before 2:50pm you will also need to see Frances and sign your child out. 

We understand with the times we are in how challenging it has been for families to enjoy time away and connect with broader family, however we are receiving a very high turnover of absences many of which are for holidays and travel and a significant number without the correct process. Thank you to those families who have approached their teachers prior to making arrangements and for those who have been filling in the necessary paperwork.

As a reminder and point of clarification, it is a requirement from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for extended leave (e.g. for holidays in term time) to be approved by the Principal. Parents/Carers must make requests for leave in writing via the ‘Application for Leave’ form, which is available from the office, to the Principal. Reasonable requests for leave from the government are those such as family (bereavement, weddings), educational, cultural/religious events and other special family circumstances. Only one extended leave of absence should be approved each calendar year. The teachers curate such meaningful experiences and lesson structures and extended absences do have an effect on your child educationally, socially and for the coherence of the class. There are often important and pivotal experiences that teachers highly prefer not to be missed. Would you please confer with your teacher prior to filling out the leave form? All students are expected to participate in all aspects of the curriculum including festivals, camps, excursions, plays and other whole school events during the school year. If there are any concerns or issues with students engaging in these activities please have a conversation with your Class Teacher.

We do ask that this is done prospectively, please. It is not appropriate to take leave prior to approval as it does compromise our integrity as an educational organisation and the protocols we are expected to operate within.

If you intend to take extended leave please collect a leave form from Frances at the office.

You may have noticed boxes of fresh produce arriving at school on Thursday afternoons last term! Our collaboration with Warrah Society has proved to be a success. This great initiative is such a win for everyone! Kamaroi families can place orders for top quality organic and biodynamic fruit & veg, while supporting a fellow Steiner organisation.

Warrah Society is a disability services provider with its own certified biodynamic farm in Dural. Warrah-grown produce is supplemented with fresh produce and other goods supplied by certified organic producers.

Warrah’s Specialist School and Discovery Program participants work on bagging salad mix and dry goods, weighing fruit and vegetables, packing boxes, loading the delivery van and assisting with deliveries to various collection points in Sydney. All profits from the Farm Shop go towards Warrah’s disability services.

Anyone interested in signing up for an order should send an email requesting more information to Debbie at wholesome@warrahfarmshop.org.au. 

Term 3 Key Dates

Class 3 Camp

9th - 11th August

School Tour

Wednesday 10th August 3:30pm

Developing the Self- Developing the World - Parents of Classes 4, 5, 6 

Thursday 11th August - 6:30pm

Stone Soup & Sourdough Bread Parent Workshop

Sunday 14th August

The Nature Of Childhood Parent Education

Thursday 18th August

Musica Viva

Tuesday 23rd August

The Transition From 6 to 7 Years Parent Education

Thursday 25th August

Class 2 Play

Week 31st August - 2nd September

Inviting Harmony Parent Education 

Thursday 1st September

Inviting Harmony Parent Education (weekend)

Saturday 3rd September

PA Meeting

Thursday 1st September 7:30pm

Spring Fair Open Day

Friday 9th September

Spring Open Day

Saturday 10th September

Class 5 Play

Week 13 September - 16th September

Class 6 Camp

19th - 22nd September

Term Dates

Term 3:

Wednesday 20th July – Friday 23rd September

Term 4:

Wednesday 12th October – Wednesday 14th December

Tuesday 9 August

Morning Tea

Fresh dates, oats and cacao bliss balls (GF/DF) $1.5, Tahini Choc bliss balls (GF/DF) $1

Inari $1.5

Cheesy sticks $1.5

Dark choc chips sultana chia seed oats spelt biscuits $2

Spelt lemon biscuits $2

Apple blueberry turnover $3

Warm honey lemon drink $3

Fruits cup $3

Cheese tomato garlic pizza bread $3

Lunch

Inari $1.5

Assorted sushi $3.5

Minestrone soup with garlic bread $5 GF bread available

Wednesday 10 August

Morning Tea

Spinach and feta quiche GF option $4

Quiche Lorraine GF Option $4

Cinnamon scrolls $3

Yoghurt berry cup $3

Golden honey chino $2

Fruit $1

Lunch

Sausage roll DF, GF option $4

Spinach and feta gf option $4

Vege soup Mug GF, DF $5

Brown rice ball $3

Bread roll $1

Thursday 11 August

Morning Tea

Fresh dates, oats and cacao bliss balls (GF/DF) $1.5, Tahini Choc bliss balls (GF/DF) $1

Inari $1.5

Cheesy sticks $1.5

Dark choc chips sultana chia seed oats spelt biscuits $2

Spelt Anzac biscuits $2

Spelt apple cinnamon loaf $3

GF DF chocolate crackles $2

Fruits cup $3

Vegetable frittata GF $4

Warm honey lemon drink $3

Lunch

Inari $1.5

Assorted sushi $3.5

Lentil curry with naan/basmati rice $5 GF/DF

Friday 12 August

Morning Tea

Cheesy pizza slice $3

Olive and basil pizza $3

Gluten free pizza $3

Apple Crumble GF, DF available $4

Organic Hot Cocoa sweetened with maple syrup DF option $3

Fruit $1

Lunch

Organic chicken broth noodle cup $5

Chicken dumpling bowl DF $5

Vege soup Mug GF, DF $5

Roll $1

Tuesday 16 August

Morning Tea

Fresh dates, oats and cacao bliss balls (GF/DF) $1.5, Tahini Choc bliss balls (GF/DF) $1

Inari $1.5

Cheesy sticks $1.5

Dark choc chips sultana chia seed oats spelt biscuits $2

Spelt Anzac biscuits $2

Apple blueberry turnover $3

Warm honey lemon drink $3

Fruit cup $3

Tomato basil pizza rolls $3

Lunch

Inari $1.5

Assorted sushi $3.5

Vegetable tofu miso soup $5

Wednesday 17 August

Morning Tea

HCT toasties on organic sourdough gf option $5

Cheese and tomato toasties on sourdough gf option $4

Baked bean and cheese toasties gf option $4

Cinnamon scrolls $3

Yoghurt berry cup $3

Golden honey chino $2

Fruit $1

Lunch

Sausage roll DF, GF option $4

Spinach and feta gf option $4

Pumpkin soup Mug GF, DF $5

Brown rice ball $3

Bread roll $1

Thursday 18 August

Morning Tea

Fresh dates, oats and cacao bliss balls (GF/DF) $1.5, Tahini Choc bliss balls (GF/DF) $1

Inari $1.5

Cheesy sticks $1.5

Dark choc chips sultana chia seed oats spelt biscuits $2

Spelt Anzac biscuits $2

GF DF chocolate crackles $2

Feta mix cheese spinach gozleme $3 GF available

Spelt banana cinnamon loaf $3

Fresh orange juice $3

Fruit cup $3

Lunch

Inari $1.5

Assorted sushi $3.5

Vegetable curry with lemon rice $5

Friday 19 August

Morning Tea

Cheesy pizza slice $3

Olive and basil pizza $3

Gluten free pizza $3

Apple Crumble GF, DF available $4

Organic Hot Cocoa sweetened with maple syrup DF option $3

Fruit $1

Lunch

Spaghetti bolognaise GF option $6

Cheesy Jacket organic potato GF, DF, $4

Pumpkin soup Mug GF, DF $5

Roll $1