Community

National Reconciliation Week and The Imagination Declaration…

In 2020 Reconciliation Australia marks twenty years of shaping Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation. 2020 also marks the twentieth anniversary of the reconciliation walks of 2000, when people came together to walk on bridges and roads across the nation and show their support for a more reconciled Australia. Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We strive towards a more just, equitable nation by…

In My Blood It Runs…

At Chrysalis this week we will be imagining in to National Reconciliation Week (Wednesday 27th May to Tuesday 2nd June) in each of our classes. In addition, our Class 7 and 8 students will be watching the recently released movie - In My Blood It Runs. In My Blood It Runs was shot in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Sandy Bore Homeland and Borroloola Community, Northern Territory, Australia over three years. However Maya, the director, has been making films alongside Arrernte Elders and families at an NGO called Akeyulerrre for a decade. This film arose organically from those relationships. The intimacy of the…

Suicide prevention courses within the Bellingen Shire

Lifeline has been asked by the Bellingen Neighbourhood Centre to present a couple suicide prevention courses within the Bellingen Shire. Thankfully these courses are at no cost. safeTALK: is a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources, such…

Chrysalis Scholarships available for 2020

With over 35 years of providing Steiner education to families in the Bellinger Valley, Chrysalis Steiner School is opening up its doors further by offering scholarships to those families who have previously been unable to consider Steiner education due to financial or community disadvantage. The School is committed to providing access to Steiner education for as broad a group as possible within the community and appreciates that a diverse school community adds to the richness of the children’s education. Where class sizes and resources permit, the School will seek to offer a fully paid scholarship for children from families with…

Bushfire Support Information

The current bushfire situation is causing the Community a considerable amount of disruption and anxiety. Whilst our attention is drawn to the ferocity of the fires, there can be a number of cascading impacts that we should be aware of. Firstly, there is the impact of smoke which extends well beyond the immediate interface with the fire. The NSW Department of Health has information on this, which can be sourced from the following link: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/bushfire-smoke.aspx The factsheet contains information in respect to health precautions you can take to help you and your children. We also seek to protect the well-being…

Dorrigo Donations

The school has been advised that the Dorrigo Evacuation Centre now has sufficient clothing donations to help out those affected by the fires, and as the disaster has now been classified as a section 44 emergency there is a lot more support from the government who will be financially supporting the costs of food bills. If people want to donate, a new account has been set up at BCU. This will be a fund that will help the community when they are no longer covered by emergency funding. Beaumont’s Produce and Norco in Bellingen are still taking bales of hay and…

Camp Creative Scholarships Now Open

Camp Creative are generous enough to offer our students the opportunity to win scholarships again this year. It is a wonderful experience and students from our school have been in many courses over the years. The 2020 Camp Creative scholarship program is now open for kids and teens aged five to eighteen, living in the Coffs City, Nambucca and Bellingen Shires. The scholarships offer an opportunity to participate in a week of fun learning in the creative and performing arts. They’ll get five full days of creativity across a range of course options, including music, visual art, singing, drama, dance,…

Chrysalis staff make water safety a priority

Water activities form a large part of the Chrysalis Steiner School’s wholistic approach to education. Through direct, hands-on experiences our sense of responsibility for self and to each other is increased out in nature. The school is determined that staff and students alike are able to continue to enjoy the benefits of water-based activities safely. With raised awareness around water safety on the Mid North Coast this summer, it is timely that sixteen teachers and staff from the school completed their Still Water Bronze Medallion qualification last week under the watchful eye of Jason Phillips from Royal Lifesaving NSW. Jason…

Senior String Quartet play for Bellinger Valley View Club

The Chrysalis Senior String Quartet (or FALL Quartet as they have named themselves, using the first letters of their names) performed for the Bellinger Valley View Club on Monday 19th November to rapturous applause from the 80 attendees and the Christmas Lunch event. They were very impressed by the ability and musicality of the Quartet and their wide-ranging repertoire. The Quartet played for almost an hour straight and still didn't play all of their favourite pieces! It was lovely to hear the ladies sing along to Silent Night and Skye Boat Song. The students were able to experience for a…

Honouring the school’s founders…

The Founders Shelter was named (Maam Giinganda - Peaceful Place) and officially opened by Michael Jarrett in a moving ceremony at the Maypole Green followed by an wonderful afternoon tea at the shelter on a glorious autumn day. Family, friends and school community members came to honour those who helped envision and create this metamorphic school in the Thora Valley! Steve and Kelley both spoke representing the school and their own personal families' journeys at Chrysalis. Friends and family members paid touching tributes to Geo Scott, Marek Chodkiewicz and Michael Harfield, and past teacher, Christine Riley, honoured many other key contributors in the foundation stages…