Class 7 left on their big adventure this week to Lady Musgrave Island. They will be away for 12 days in all, 7 of which will be spent on this little drop of coral in the big ocean. The Island Camp is one of the jewels in the crown of the Chrysalis Camp program. That such a complex, lengthy and rich camp experience is even possible is mainly due to the fact that the Chrysalis camp program has developed capacity and experience in the class every year since that first camp at Bundagen in Year 1. (See the picture below)…

In 2015 the National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is available for students in Years 3,5,7 and 9 in all government and non-government schools on the 12th, 13th and 14th May. This program, which has the support of all State and Territory Education Ministers, will assess the literacy and numeracy learning of students in all Australian schools. The SEA (Steiner Education Australia) and its member schools have agreed that “in principle all Steiner schools are opposed to mandatory testing” because both the nature and the content of the test does not fit in with the Steiner educational approach and philosophy.…

On Wed April 1st we invite all parents to our End of Term Music Soiree.  As in previous years, this is a lovely day where you can come and hear what your children have been working on this term. This will involve all students from Class 1-7 and will happen over both middle and afternoon lessons. Oftentimes the different musical ensembles don’t a get chance to hear the music that the other classes and ensembles are working on until one of the yearly music concerts. So this day is an opportunity for the students to play their music pieces to…

It has come to our attention that there are a couple of cases of suspected whooping cough in the school in the younger years.Whooping cough is a communicable disease which can have serious effects on the young, old and immune compromised individuals.As a community we can support each other so that we can help minimise the spread of infection through conscious awareness. If your child or a household family member has a suspected or confirmed case of whooping cough please inform us in the school office (confidentiality is assured). It is important that parents are proactive by isolating suspected cases…

It is with much gratitude that we thank the visiting delegates from the Steiner Schools across Australia. For many it was their first time in Thora, for some their last visit was in the mid eighties!Through their eyes we rekindled the wonder that this campus offers the children, staff and school community who live and work here. This was a special moment for both of us, as it offered the opportunity not to be complacent about this marvelous place at 703 Darkwood Road, Thora. The participants were amazed at the location of our school campus, impressed by the state of…

Please note that we have been advised that there is no danger to humans. It is safe to swim in the river.  We ask only that children leave their swimmers at school at the end of the day. This is based on Department recommendations to minimise the chance of transmission from one area of the catchment to another. What follows is a summary of NSW Dept of Environment information. See below for the official press release. Following the discovery of Bellinger River Snapping Turtles (Myuchelys georgesi) dead and dying in the Bellinger River late last month, a response team has…

In our house, feelings are important and may tell us what to do. We always have the right and deserve to feel safe Privacy is respected. I am boss of my body. We always have the right to say no if we are asked to do something that we think is wrong or do not understand. We do not keep bad secrets in our house, only good surprises. We have a loving circle of friends who would help us if we needed help. We can say NO and YES strongly when we mean it. We can be persistent to get…

The week 4 assembly went sensationally. The hall was packed with around 40 parents who had taken the time to treat themselves to a morning with their children, to enjoy the performance and the inspiration. Class 5 set the space. Beautifully dressed in their fine saris and Indian clothes,  they called the parents into the hall by chanting the mantra that they have learned as part of their Indian Main lesson. Cathy welcomed Class 1 and their teacher Michelle Donovan to the Primary School. We also welcomed all of of our lovely new families that have arrived within our community…