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 


7pm, Classes 5 & 6 

week4 Tuesday 26 Oct 


7pm, Classes 1 & 10–12 

Thursday 28 Oct 

Guided School Tour 

11.15am 


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. 



• 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. 



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. 



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 



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 



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

Newsletter Term 4 Week 2 - Samford Valley Steiner School

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