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School NewsletterTerm 2 Week 2, 2016

IMPORTANT DATESPlease also remember the online calendar on the school website

TERM 2Sat 23 Apr 10am Principal’s School TourMon 25 Apr ANZAC Day Public Holiday26-29 Apr Class 6 Camp - AngleseaThu 28 Apr 7pm NAPLAN MeetingSun 01 May 3pm Class 6: Polyphonic Social Sound Project at the ConventMon 16 May 7pm P&F Meeting Thu 19 May 6:30pm Class 4,5,6 & 7 Parent/ Teacher Meetings 7:30pm Secondary Information Evening24 May - 01 June Class 3 - Class 10 Music Concerts Fri 17 Jun Last day Term 2Wed 20 Jul Primary and Secondary Parent Teacher Interview evening

Term 2 Week 2, April 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Greetings all, What a ‘gate way into winter’ we celebrated on Thursday. The atmosphere around the lantern festivities was infectious – despite or because of the rain - as primary (and a number of senior students that couldn’t keep themselves away) children splashed and stomped in the ever-expanding puddles with their boots in time with the song ‘when the gnomes go underground’. And then taking the light out while walking along the bike path with our lanterns in the downpour - what a beautiful sight. These vivid images will bring a smile for a very long time.

The past week has been rich with sometimes difficult and yet always rewarding conversations. The Board of Directors and Management came together for a sharing and honouring as we prepare for our annual recreation of the School Improvement Plan. I learned much about my colleagues and I was reminded of the many wonderful stories we have

Next newsletter admissions deadline: Wed 27 April

From Calendar of the Soul, by Rudolf Steiner

Sprout for me in soul sunlight Thinking ripe fruits,

In Self consciousness security All feelings transform themselves.

I can experience joyfully Autumn’s wakening spirit:

Winter will in me Rouse the soul’s summer

shared over the years. Sophia Mundi continues to inspire families and teachers to strive towards a higher purpose. Other insightful discussions have been with Middle School students that are striving to find their truth and purpose – which involves pushing against the boundaries that society places on them. I honour our secondary teachers as they search for creative and innovative ways to meet the emerging adolescents.

Another challenging conversation I’ve had has been with Julie McKie. After much consideration, Julie has resigned as our Canteen Manger and will finish up next week. I know that we have all enjoyed her delicious and nourishing meals. Thank you Julie for all the care and nourishment you’ve brought over the past months.

Canteen will not be available on Wednesday 4 May due to the SEA GLaM Conference preparations on campus.

If you have thoughts on future possibilities for the Canteen, please do come and share with me.

Finally, our class music concerts are just around the corner. I strongly encourage parents to continue to support regular daily practice and I look forward to hearing the fruits of our children’s hard work. Your support and encouragement is essential.

Warm regards, Fiona.

2Term 2 Week 2, April 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

AROUND THE TRAPS

Class 1 Main lesson is English and it titled “From Letters to Text”. The children will copy simple sentences to compliment the daily story.

Class 2 are studying Celtic Tales and The Celtic Dragon Myth. Children will explore the Celtic tradition through story, verse, writing and drawing pictures.

Class 3 will be launching into farming. We are looking forward to a very productive Main Lesson which include visits to the Collingwood Children’s Farm.

Class 4 Main Lesson is Norse Myths, Part 2. Beginning with the lay of Grimnir, we will be exploring grammar, spelling, sentence types and refining our illustrative work.

Class 5 are studying Australian History. From Indigenous culture to early colonization we will be finishing off our Main Lesson with our camp to the Brisbane Ranges and Sovereign Hill.

Class 6 are exploring the earth processes that form the mineral world in their Geology Main Lesson. We are beginning with the bedrock of our local landscape.

Class 7 are discovering the mathematical laws behind nature and coming to understand the wisdom behind patterns around us, including within the human body. We will also look at great works of art and architecture to appreciate how human beings have used these patterns in their creation of beauty. Geometry is central.

Physical Education. We are getting to know our new PE teacher Leah Ryan. Primary classes are having fun participating in traditional games and activities that enhance skills in team work, problem solving and strategy.

French In Term 2 we have the Alliance Francaise poetry recital on Tuesday 17 May. We will be beginning our poems this week in Classes 3-9. This is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the sound and intonation of the French language.

ADULT EURYTHMY CLASSESOnce again Kelly Pappas is offering ½ hr sessions of Eurythmy before pick up on Tuesdays at 2:30pm. It is a time to move together and experience this unique form of movement offered as part of your child’s education. The sessions will be ongoing and you are invited to come whenever you are able to make it. All are warmly welcomed. $5 per session. Classes in Term 2 will be held in the room upstairs opposite the canteen (Maths Room).

Class 3 Black Board: Farming Main Lesson

Class 7 Black Board: Geometry Main Lesson

3Term 2 Week 2, April 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

NIKKI FLETCHER: PRE SERVICE TEACHERHi,my name is Nikki Fletcher and I am passionate about felting and everything to do with crafting in the natural, sustainable contemporary Waldorf tradition. I have been teaching craft since 2008 and I am currently studying a DipEd at Swinburne. I am delighted to be doing teacher placements at Sophia Mundi over the next 7 weeks and working with the wonderful craft teachers Maree and Margaret. I’m also joining Class 5 for their Main Lesson. My teaching journey began with sessional dance lecturing at VCA and outdoor community theatre. I then completed the Steiner Craft curriculum course and the Rudolf Steiner Early Education Certificate. I have most recently worked at Sophia Mundi (with Class 1 doing felting)and have a craft studio, time4craft, which hosts all ages workshops. I also run professional development craft courses for Steiner Playgroup VIC leaders and community Family Crafting Workshops.

SCHOOL KEYSCould all families who borrow a school key from the office please return them first up Monday morning.

LOST PROPERTYDear Parents, The Lost Property cupboard is full of clothing. There is also a helmet, a pillow and many lunch box containers. Please check if you ( your child ) has lost anything recently. The cupboard will be cleaned out at the end of next week and items donated.Thanks Gregorio, Dianne and Ann.

STAFF PROFILE

CHERYL NEKVAPIL : WELFARE About myself: I have been an invited member of the Anthroposophical Society since 1976 and when my husband Michael and I moved with friends to Canberra in 1980 where we joined the group who worked in establishing the Orana Steiner School. We were also active members of the Anthroposophical Society there, and joined the foundation group for The Christian Community. The Orana School started in 1981, and we were fully involved in supporting its development and consolidation. I was a member of the Council/Board of the Orana School for 27 years, until the end of 2015 when we moved to Melbourne.

After studying in Stuttgart for a year, I was ordained as a priest of The Christian Community in 2002. Part of my work since then has involved adult education with parents and teachers at various schools in Canberra, NSW and Queensland on Steiner’s world view and education and on organisational dynamics; I was also the coordinator for 4 years of a Family Governance.

As chaplain/student welfare support person my work covered: individual conversations with students, parents and teachers;Class 12 project supervisor; support person/mediator for parents, staff and students in interviews/meetings; facilitating and presenting courses on Steiner Education; co-initiating, designing and facilitating Years 9 & 10 Community Service; organising and storytelling/speaking at school festival assemblies amongst many, many other things.

I am delighted to be continuing this work at Sophia Mundi and look forward to discovering what my role will be here.

P&F MEETING Everyone is warmly invited to attend our next P&F meeting which will be held in the Library at 7.00pm Monday 16 May. Our meetings always contain rich conversation and laughter. Next session we will be discussing activities and plans for the rest of the year. We are also hopeful that we’ll find a new Treasurer too! We hope you can join us.

“THANK YOU”Peter Fulton at Fulton’s Garden supplies - Hawthorn branch - for various materials towards the central playground development.

Barry and Nicolette Minster of Visual Images in Collingwood for donating resources towards our Senior IB theatre classes.

4Term 2 Week 2, April 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

SOPHIA MUNDI STEINER EDUCATION AND IB WORLD SCHOOL T 03 9419 9229 | www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Secondary Information EveningThursday 19 May, 7:30pm

Enrol Nowfor 2017

• OutstandingresultsforIBstudentsin2015-Aboveworldaveragescores!

• 100%achievedtheIBDiploma

• 50%ofStudentsreceivedanotionalATARof90orabove

SOPHIAMUNDISTEINER SCHOOL

AFTERCAREAftercare in the cottage is very busy this term so please make sure you book ahead if you need to secure a place.

Also, if your children are booked in but will not be staying after school we would be grateful if you could let Reception know.This ensures there are places for other children who need to attend.

An enrolment form needs to be completed before a child attends Aftercare. The forms are available at Reception. We will be increasingly indoors and I am looking for dress ups. Any donations would be appreciated.

You are very welcome to come and see me to discuss the program.Fiona Couttie

SECONDARY INFORMATION EVENING PROMOTIONWe have our Secondary School information evening coming up on Thursday May 19 at 7:30pm.

Please spread the word and let others know about or Senior School and IB Diploma course! We have some flyers available at the school reception for distribution. If any parents could take a bundle for a letter box drop, or to place in local cafes we would be very grateful.

We also have the option of placing an advertising board on your front fence if you are willing.

Please collect flyers on Tuesday and help us promote our wonderful Senior program and our school!

BIKE RIDERS ANNOUNCEMENTThe Convent has recently installed wonderful bike stations around the grounds. Lets use these instead of crowding our senior precinct. Over the coming months we would like to shift the bike storage & racks out of the Senior area so it can be developed in line with our playground vision. We appreciate that this will require students and parents to obtain bike locks but it’s a much better long term option. The closest bike rack to school is just outside Cone11 and the Hard Arts area. Please note: the Convent precinct is a pedestrian zone only.

CONVENT CAR PARKThe Convent management have asked that we do not park in the designated parking zones that do not belong to us. Please observe the signage painted on the car park’s asphalt.

5Term 2 Week 2, April 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Kids Yoga & Story Time Yoga

on again in Term 2!

Kids Yoga Yoga for kids aged 6-9 years

Mondays 3.45-4.30pm with Kaela Snibson

Kids are welcome to drop in for a single try-out class

Story Time YogaFor ages 2-5 years with carer

Mondays 2.30-3.15pm by school termwith Kaela Snibson

Booking is essential for both classes.

For full details please contact Anahata Giri

anahatagiri@gmail.com 0410 950 606 www.oneheartyoga.com.au

Elemental Living,! Lisa’s Shiatsu Clinic, has returned to 395 Johnston St, Abbotsford. !!

Elemental Living offers:!Relaxation Shiatsu Bodywork for One and Two people,!

Clinical Japanese Therapies!Qigong Classes!

!Our treatments improve health & wellbeing for the !

following conditions: digestive, respiratory, women’s health, musculo-skeletal, sleep, emotional and stress.!

!Join us at our Open Clinic:!

Friday afternoon - April 15th & April 22nd , 1.00pm to 7.00pm. Presentation and demonstration of therapies at 1.30pm and 6.00pm,

discussion all afternoon and a cup of tea! !!

Open Day attendees will all receive one voucher for an initial 1 hr 30 min Shiatsu & Japanese therapies consultation &

treatment for $70, normally $90.!!

A course in Self Healing Qigong, a wonderful self healing awareness practice, will be run this term on Thursday evenings and Friday mornings. !Please contact the clinic for more details on 0401 167 223.!

!We hope to see you at the Open Clinic. !

MUSIC CORNER

STATE MUSIC CAMP Michelle John (Cello Teacher)I’m very happy to be involved in the auditions for the State Music Camp, that runs from 4th to 9th July at Caulfield Grammar. I encourage any students who are interested in a week-long immersion in orchestral music to give it a try!

There are four orchestras from the young to very advanced. It’s an inspiring and fun week, making new friends and performing in an amazing concert at the end. Many moons ago, I went to them (as did Fiona, on violin!). More details can be viewed at: www.statemusiccamp.com.au

PRACTICE TIPSet up a regular practice space at home. Invest in a music stand so that your instrument is ready at hand, but out of harms way.

Check out these great options here: http://www.simplyforstrings.com.au/accessories/violin-accessories/violin-stands.html

CLASS 6: POLYPHONIC SOCIAL PROGRAM PERFORMANCEAs part of the Liquid Architecture event at the Convent at 3pm on 01 May, Class 6 has been developing a sound performance. Working with pedagogic sound work artist Kym Maxwell, the class is co-creating a sound performance that accentuates the daily rhythm of Steiner Education. As such, the group is exploring the rhythm of a daily verse and songs. The children are forming part of the interpretation and creation —utilising phonic rounds they are building a story based on mindfulness and deep listening: celebrating Steiner Education and community life. Whilst some children may not choose to perform on the day, everyone in involved in developing the work together through workshop activities leading up to the performance date.