News

Welcoming native bees to our school!

Bees, these creatures of the sun, help many of our food crops to multiply, and at the same time show us the state of our souls: “The entire beehive is actually permeated with love life” observed Rudolf Steiner. Bees are an image of the spiritual power that lends dignity to freedom: for the power of love that wants to become effective. At Chrysalis, we are have successfully acquired a Junior Landcare grant to support and implement the 100 Hives in 100 Schools project in our school. This project aims to raise the profile of Native Bees for future generations and…

School may be Closing. Now What?

A little planning can help make this difficult time easier. With massive public closures to prevent the spread of COVID 19, some 300 million students around the world are currently home from school for what could be weeks. This will certainly be a stressful time for many families, but with a little planning and imagination, it can also be a time to to make memories, explore, imagine, learn, and play! Here are tips, advice, and ideas for low-screen, commercial-free options to keep kids engaged – and yourself sane – through quarantine or social distancing. (And remember: wash those hands!) Have…

Chrysalis School’s Ongoing Response to COVID 19

Dear Parents, The School continues to monitor the COVID 19 situation and develop its response.  In the immediate term, the Australian Government is insisting schools remain open (see https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-18/coronavirus-pandemic-schools-to-stay-open/12066116).  The same article makes mention of the building pressure to close schools, and Chrysalis School is making preparations for this outcome. We are extremely sensitive to the concerns and anxieties of families and staff, as well as the consequences on families of closing School.  To that extent, we are seeking to navigate competing concerns as best we can and to prepare our Community for all eventualities. We anticipate being able to provide…

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…

Lots of Socks Day 2020

World Down Syndrome Day celebrate with Chrysalis on Monday 23rd March Chrysalis is participating in the international campaign of Lots Of Socks for World Down Syndrome Day again this year. We encourage all children and teachers to wear some brightly coloured, long or mismatched socks to school in celebration of diversity and inclusion. Activities are planned to learn about and appreciate every person’s uniqueness and to understand more about Down syndrome. Perhaps it’s time to buy some new socks for Autumn or borrow and swap to make a pair of wild socks, please think ahead and have some snazzy socks…

Class 6 to 8 Transition camp 2020

The Class 6, 7 and 8 students and staff embarked on a multi-day adventure to Cascade Environmental Education Centre. This camp provides the students with many team-building exercises, as well as inward reflective time for them, designed to create harmony across the years. This year the students communed with a 1,500 year old brush box tree, engaged in composting workshops, snake-wrangling, nature mandala envisioning and creating, as many other team-building games!

Chrysalis Harvest Festival 2020

Thora Campus celebrations The School has decided to cancel this coming Thursday 19th March Harvest Festival celebration as well as next Wednesday 25th March Morning Star Harvest Festival. The teachers will be looking to recognise this ritual within the classroom and will liaise separately with their parents on any special arrangements that may involve their participation. We very much regret this cancellation and any inconvenience caused, however, we hope you appreciate our desire to keep our Community safe.  

School Bus Flashing Lights Campaign

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://chrysalis.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/School_Bus_Flashing_Lights_Campaign_Video.mp4"][/video] Did you know that by law you must slow down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing? As our students start the 2020 school year, the NSW Government and your local school bus operator Busways are reminding parents, teachers and other motorists about this law which is designed to keep our kids safe. Lights begin to flash when the bus stops and the doors open, and they keep flashing for 20 seconds after the doors close. Children are most at risk in the minutes after they get off the bus as the can be unpredictable in…

Student Residential Address Collection 2020

The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment will shortly be undertaking the 2020 Student Residential Address Collection. As a parent/guardian you do not need to provide any information directly to the department. The only thing you need to do is ensure your address details are up-to-date with our school. If you need to update your child’s/ children’s residential address details, please contact the School office BEFORE next Monday 17th February. We will provide the department with de-identified address information for all of our students’ families. This means we will provide addresses but no student names. The Statement of…

Head, Heart, Hands: Reflections on Steiner Education in Australia 1957-2020

Steiner Education Australia is excited to be involved with the Australian National Museum of Education exhibition on Steiner education in Australia 1957-2020. The exhibition, which is housed in the University of Canberra Library Exhibition Space, opens at 9am on February 24th and runs until March 27th. The official opening is on Friday March 6th at 4.30 pm. There will be a book launch at the official opening of Dr Tom Stehlik’s new book Waldorf Schools and the History of Steiner Education: an International View of 100 Years. It would be wonderful to see as many people there as possible to…