School NewsletterTerm 1 Week 3, 2015

IMPORTANT DATESPlease also remember the online calendar

TERM 1 Tue 17 Feb Shrove Tuesday (See below)Tue 24 Feb PFA MeetingSat 28 Feb Slow Food Market & school tourMon 9 Mar Labour Day Public Holiday (P-12)Fri 27 Mar Harvest Festival & Last Day of Term 1

Term 1 Week 3, 2015 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Dear all,

The term is in full swing with Class 9 completing their first aid training and away on camp this week at Cape Liptrap. Welcome to all the new families across the school. We hope you feel the embrace of our wonderful community. It was lovely to meet so many of you at the warm and relaxed “welcome” evening, sharing pizzas from our wood fired oven. A big thank you to all that contributed to the evening last Friday.

Next week brings the birth of the Parent College. This group was inspired out of the School Improvement Plan meetings that were held last year. I feel that the parent college is a wonderful initiative for parents to explore their own journeys in an honest and creative place.

The Parents and Friends association (PFA) will meet in the Library on Tuesday 24 February at 7:15pm and will be chaired by Jane Davis this year. Thank you Jane for stepping so ably into this important position for the community.

Congratulations to the graduating Year 12 class of 2014 on their IB Diploma results: 100% pass rate for all students that attempted the full Diploma. The IB Diploma ATAR conversion is a complicated equation, however a pass in 2014 was 66.10. We look forward to welcoming these graduates back to school as Alumni. Karen Learner and Miriam Abud (Acting IB Coordinator) will be sharing the results in more detail along with students’ future intentions and placements... A great result for the students and the school.

There has been much discussion over the past year around developing the courtyard playground. I would like to hear from parents who are interested in making this project a reality. The funds from last years school Spring Fair have been set aside to facilitate this exciting project. Please let me know your interest so I can begin to finalise designs and start work very soon.

I look forward to seeing many of you at next week’s pancake festivities and annual teachers’ pancake toss!

Warm regards, Fiona

Shrove Tuesday

Set up time from 10am.

The festival starts at 11.15 and finishes around 12.15. Parents will then clean up.

Pancakes will be served after the events at around 11.45.

Tables and extension chords for each class will be organised by Titus by 10am ready for set up along the nun’s walk by the courts.

Any contributions can be left in the classroom or canteen, clearly labelled.

Head Lice

There has been a case of headlice reported in Prep. Many students in Prep do have siblings in older classes so please can you call have a thorough check of your children’s hair.

If your child has head lice please keep them at home until effective treatment has commenced.

Next newsletter admissions deadline: Wed 25 Feb

Term 1 Week 3, 2015 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Caravan Wanted!Hello, this year I am undertaking my Year 8 project. I would like to do up an old caravan.

I am looking to purchase or acquire a caravan that needs work. If you have or know someone that may own one, please contact me either through school or on

0411340611, Thanks, Jolie (Class 8)

Mentor Needed!Hello, I’m Akina and I’m making a wakeboard for my Class 8 project.

I need a mentor who is over 18 and has had experience with Fibre Glass. Please call 0415 104 926 if you can

help! Thankyou, Akina (Class 8)

The Parents’ College

Arising out of the work of the School Improvement Plan we have been inspired to create a Parents’ College. Modelled on the school’s Teachers’ College, the Parents’ College is a space for parents and carers to find support and inspiration together.

A big thank you to those who were able to come to our Welcome Dinner last friday night. I think we created a lovely and warm atmosphere for our families, new and old.

Special thanks to Adian and Rowan who performed the essential task of Pizza aficionado. Aldo on sausages, Irina, Anneka and Stephan, Mitta, Beth and all the kitchen helpers for their invaluable assistance.

Thank you, your contribution is greatly appreciated. Have a great weekend.

Jane Davis

PFA

The Parent and Friends Association is a good way to keep informed of what is happening within the school and to make connections with other parents, either by attending PFA meetings and participating in dialogue or joining working groups to support various school activities.

If you are interested in receiving PFA emails or attending our meetings, please let me know. Our next meetings is 7.15pm Tuesday 24 February.

Jane Davis

If the Parents & Friends Association (PFA) is the busy, doing work in the life of the parent body, or the ‘breathing out’, then the Parents’ College is the ‘breathing in’, receiving nourishment for the journey. If we as parents are cared for, then we can offer better care to the teachers and to our children.

During first term we are meeting on Thursday mornings from 9:00-10:30 am in the Cottage. Each week will have a topic or question for us to consider in different and enjoyable ways. This coming week we are reflecting on “Belonging and what has brought you to the school”.

In recognising that many won’t be able to join the daytime meeting we will also be developing evening sessions and online resources so we can continue the discussions beyond the meetings and the school yard. We will communicate about these in future newsletters.

All parents, carers and friends of the school are warmly invited to join us this Thursday 19 February from 9:00am in the Cottage.

If you want to know more please email pfa@sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

“To be human is to belong. Belonging is a circle that embraces everything; if we reject it, we damage our nature. The word ‘belonging’ holds together the two fundamental aspects of life: Being and Longing, the longing of our Being and the being of our Longing.”

John O’Donohue | Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong

Term 1 Week 3, 2015 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Outdoor Ed 2015

Don’t forget to check out www.camplist.com.au for all gear that you may need for your children.

You can hire or buy.

Make life easy for yourself and comfortable for your child in the outdoors, by buying high quality Australian Made gear online.

Please see Jen Gibson for any extra info.

Feel Better Now!

Sugar consumption triggers chemical reactions that promote inflammation. Consuming less sugar equates to less inflammation in the body, which is at the root of most aches and pains. Inflammation also has negative effects on the immune system, feeds yeast and contributes to the growth of bacteria. Take in less sugar and you may quickly notice a difference in how you feel overall.

It is amazing how delicious food can be without refined sugar. There are many sugar substitutes that can be used to provide a hint of sweetness without the calories or ill effects of sugar.

This is why I have decided to share with my Sophia Mundi Community some healthy recipes that are healthy, delicious, super easy to make and free of refined sugars.

Dawn’s Delicious Delights

This week’s recipe is one of my favourite.

Jaffa Slice1 cup desiccated coconut (or coconut flakes)

10 medjool dates

¼ cup almond butter

4 tablespoons of cacao

Zest of 2 oranges

½ teaspoon of natural vanilla extract

Pinch of salt (optional)

Place the ingredients into your blender or food processor and blend until reasonably smooth. My blender is weak and I quite like having it with a more textured finish. Press the mixture firmly into a small baking tray lined with baking paper overhanging the sides. I have also made it in a small non stick tray without paper and this also works well. Place in the fridge for several hours or overnight to set. Cut, eat and enjoy.

Note: This one will have to be enjoyed at home as it includes a nut butter. Anyone with nut allergies cannot include the nut butter but could perhaps try a substitute!

Best wishes Dawn Hartigan

Class 6 Charity Fundraiser!

Class Six have taken on a special fundraising project this term as an introduction to the Main Lesson, Business Maths. This project forges links with our broader community and brings greater awareness about people who live with a condition or illness that makes life challenging. It allows for empathy and a sense that we can help others.

The class have elected to donate monies raised to two charities - Guide Dogs Victoria, who are responsible for breeding, puppy raising and training programs as well as Guide Dog and other mobility services for vision impaired clients, and Muscular Dystrophy Association Vic, who provide individual support for people with muscular dystrophy and their families, community education, support group meetings, activity programs, camps and fund raising for research.

The children are developing a great range of activities in order to fund raise. Every Monday and Thursday after school this term there will be a stall selling fruit smoothies, icy poles made with pure fruit juice, fruit ice-cream and popcorn. Honey will be our sweetener so we avoid sugar. In addition we will have a sausage sizzle near the end of term and will invite you to a concert and CD launch later in the term. This will include beautiful and original songs written by class members. There are also two raffles of beautiful goods and irresistible foods.

Please support the work of Class 6 and come along to purchase your healthy and refreshing afterschool treats every Monday and Thursday!

Term 1 Week 3, 2015 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

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The Story of Creation - The Journey of the Incarnating Spirit through Embroyology.

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No previous attendance or experience is needed. Each workshop stands on its own.

These workshops are appropriate for anyone who is interested in life and its many mysteries!

The dates are: Saturday, 7th March 2015, 10.00am – 4.00pm

Sunday, 8th March 2015, 9.00am – 2.30pm.

Venue: Sophia Mundi Steiner School Abbotsford Convent, St Mary’s Building 1 Heliers St., Abbotsford

Course Cost: $260.00 for the weekend. Morning tea provided, please bring your lunch or there are

cafes at the ConventFor registration, payment and/or further information, you

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Casual Relief Staff Needed

Little Sophia is an independent not for profit and accredited Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten located in inner-city Melbourne

We are looking for casual relief staff who we can call at short

notice to replace staff when they call in sick.

EXPERIENCED COOK – you will need to have a Food Handling Certificate ASSISTANT TEACHER – you will need to have your Certificate 3 or be working towards Cert 3.

If you are interested in applying for either of these positions,

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(03) 9417 2537 admin@littlesophiakindergarten.org.au

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The inclusion of adverts/links do not represent an endorsement of those sites by Sophia Mundi, nor can the School be held responsible or liable for the accuracy, availability or content of the information or services therein.

Craft Curriculum Course for Adults at Sophia Mundi Steiner SchoolIn this course, we make many of the articles that the students make during craft lessons in a Steiner Primary School. We will explore the links between the handwork, stages in the child’s development and other curriculum areas.Taken for a full year, this course is a comprehensive training for those wishing to teach handwork in a Steiner School. However, no previous teaching or craft experience is necessary, nor is the intention to teach.Commences: Tuesday February 17th from 7 to 8.30pmCost: $30 a week, materials includedEnquiries: marg.skerry@gmail.com