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The Sixth A

Feature Story

The Sixth A

03 Jun 2021

In our last Newsletter Dani Finch outlined how our program of 5A’s meets the six 21st century capabilities. But …Read more

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The Sixth A

The Sixth A

03 Jun 2021

In our last Newsletter Dani Finch outlined how our program of 5A’s meets the six 21st century capabilities. But there’s a sixth A, though we don’t talk about it much.

Julia Baird’s recent best-seller has brought it into the open and it’s time to talk about it. Her title says everything: Phosphorescence:  On awe, wonder, and things that sustain you when the world goes dark. The book has sold 150,000 copies in Australia and was the publishing phenomenon of the pandemic year. In the year when so many things went dark, her beautifully written book spoke to so many people about how to seek and find the extraordinary in the ordinary, the inner light in the ordinary world around us. Julia’s book told her own story of survival through extraordinarily challenging difficulties of pain and loss, and how she built reserves that in the face of these challenges, brought her “immense beauty”. She touched death numbers of times and she learned a number of lessons to cope.

A key lesson? “Seek awe, and nature, daily”.

As I read her book, I thought again of a constant question in my mind: how can we prepare children to find that feeling of awe, the sustaining sense that life is spectacular and grand, and we all have a place in it.

If this is such a human need, why aren’t schools making it a part of daily life? How can schools make sure that awe, and nature, are part of every child’s daily education?

Her book is a reminder that we all need bread as much as stones to nourish our inner lives. Feelings of awe nourish our inwardness. How sad that the language of education is yet to embrace this profound and essential human need as a fundamental for schools, just as much as other subjects.

Glenaeon draws on the rich heritage of Steiner education to embed feeling of awe and wonder in our daily school journey. Here are some of the ways we do it:

Morning verse: we start each day with a mindful reflection on the great powers of life. In a little touch of daily awe, a simple non-denominational verse starts our work for each student and teacher/mentor/guardian with a reminder that we are part of a bigger whole, that our lives are woven into a grander design than our minds can sometime fathom.

Stories: the special moment in a primary class day is story time, usually just before morning Recess. When all is quiet, a candle is lit and the teacher tells, in person, a story from world tales or their own imagination. For a teacher there is no more special moment in the day than seeing this crowd of expectant faces, waiting to be moved and touched by the power of imagination. So many of the stories carry the curriculum and in primary school even Maths and Science lessons can be woven out of and developed from a well-crafted story. Right up into high school, our classes enjoy a moment of wonder as the story unfolds, and the mind is taken to far off places and remarkable deeds.

Poetry: Our commitment to spoken poetry through the school says so much, just as a poem compacts meaning into a few lines. How much awe is in these 29 simple words?

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower.
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

 

Festivals: a man of aboriginal descent recently told me how impressed he was at his children’s Steiner school because they celebrated seasonal festivals, such as MidWinter when the children carry a candle and build a communal spiral of lights on the year’s darkest day. He hadn’t found other institutions so connected with the rhythms of the year, something which to him as an indigenous person was so fundamental. Our western style seasons have of course been simplistic and blunt compared to the nuanced and embedded aboriginal consciousness, but at least we have a feeling of awe and connection with the turning of the year.

Nature: “the quiet healing properties of Nature” writes Julia. Our Middle Campus is a haven in the busy north shore, with a backyard that includes the exquisite Scotts Creek as it winds through mangroves to Middle Harbour. Our Outdoor Education program explicitly takes students to wild outdoor places where as well as stretching themselves against the forces of rivers and rocks, they can sit and absorb the quiet majesty of wilderness. The power of place is a sense in itself, and needs regular educating.

Cuttlefish: “For me, cuttlefish are symbols of awe” says Julia. Our Main Lesson curriculum charts a course through the rich stories of history, Science, Maths and literature, finding an implicit sense of wonder in our human connections with the world’s phenomena. How special it was to read Chapter 1 in Julia’s book which is titled Lessons from a Cuttlefish. We traditionally start our study of animals in Class 4 with the cuttlefish and examine their remarkable structure. Implicit in our scientific study is a sense of wonder at the extraordinary way the cuttlefish moves through the ocean.

The 5A’s of the Glenaeon journey educate the whole human being: Academic, Aesthetic, Artisan, Altruistic, Active Wilderness. But holding them all together is the sixth A, the special sense that life is grand and powerful, and we all have a place in it, the sustaining sense of Awe.

Andrew Hill
Head of School

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The Power of Play in Nature

The Power of Play in Nature

14 Feb 2020

Glenaeon is proud to present The Power of Play in Nature, a free public seminar featuring two of Australia's leading education experts: Professor Pasi Sahlberg, Professor of Educational Policy, Deputy Director, Gonski Institute for Education, UNSW and Professor Tonia Gray, Senior Researcher, Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University. After the keynote, there will be a panel discussion, facilitated by MC Lucy Clark, Associate Editor of The Guardian and Author of Beautiful Failures. The forum is on Thursday 5 March 4pm-6:30pm at the Concourse Theatre, Chatswood.

This is a ticketed event. Please register via www.glenaeon.nsw.edu.au/play

Download the flyer 

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Castlecrag students enjoy outdoor play time

Castlecrag students enjoy outdoor play time

14 Feb 2020

Children at Castlecrag are enjoying their outside play and are full of activity as they jump, slide and swing! 

 

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AEON Issue 12 Magazine out now

AEON Issue 12 Magazine out now

03 Dec 2019

Issue 12 AEON Magazine out now!

 

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Preschool & Playgroups Apple Picking

Preschool & Playgroups Apple Picking

15 Mar 2023

Around 40 families and the teachers from Glenaeon Preschool and Playgroups enjoyed the beautiful weather in Bilpin last Sunday morning. After singing their Autumn Circle together they went off with baskets to gather apples and pears and return for a picnic with shared food from our many cultural heritages.
What a wonderful opportunity for our community to gather and share time together in nature. Back at Preschool, the children and teachers were able to use their harvest to make apple crumble for morning tea. A delicious way to enjoy the handpicked apples.

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Playgroups Diversity

Playgroups Diversity

23 Feb 2023

A beautiful aspect of Glenaeon's playgroups is the sense of belonging as soon as the child, carer, and educator gather in the space together. For many, parenthood can be isolating and we love that the natural rhythm of coming to playgroup each week makes you, and your child, feel connected and supported.

Our seven weekly playgroups located at both our Willoughby and Castlecrag Campuses take great pride in celebrating diversity and the relationships built between educators and families. Parents and grandparents, nannies and friends are invited to share in the rich learning environment for both children and adults. 

Thank you to Naoko Murphy, our Japanese Immersion Playgroup Educator for translating this story.

一体感、共に過ごす喜び。それを来てすぐに感じられるのが、グレネオンのプレイグループです。子どもたちと保護者、そしてエジュケーターが集う、皆にとっての豊かな学びの場です。孤立を感じることもある子育てではあります。でもこうして毎週プレイグループに通うという心地よいリズムを作ることで、保護者も子どもたちも、つながりとサポートを感じることでしょう。

 グレネオンには、WilloughbyとCastlecragの2つのキャンパスに、週に合わせて7つのプレイグループがあります。多様性を尊重し喜び合い、エジュケーターと家族の皆さんの関係づくりを深めることを大切にしています。ご家族の皆さん、ナニーやご友人の皆さんもぜひご一緒に、私たちみんなの学びの場へいらっしゃってください。

 

For more information and to register for Playgroup please contact Playgroup Manager and Educator Sandra Frain at playgroups@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au

 

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Muddy Puddles

Muddy Puddles

23 Feb 2023

The summer rain brings the opportunity to explore nature's childhood gift of the famous muddy puddle.
Our Glenaeon Preschool children enjoyed adventuring to the nearby park adorned in raincoats and gumboots, essential items for rainy play.
Jumping, twirling, skipping and stomping, nothing beats this freeing sensory experience and outdoor play in any weather.
Their educator, Carly Solomon captured the pure joy had by all.

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Summer play at Preschool

Summer play at Preschool

15 Feb 2023

It's been a wonderful start to the new preschool year, with children, parents and teachers making the most of summer and engaging in supportive and adventurous activities.

The warm weather has encouraged garden and water play - digging trenches, sifting sand, and catching water from the pipe.

On a cooler day, the children took to the park in search of cicada shells, a much loved summer tradition and a beautiful lesson in life cycles.

Some very cute and fury members visited preschool, and the children enjoyed cuddles and care with some leaf munching Guinea pigs.

For some indoor fun, the children explored wet on wet watercolour painting. The painting process is taught with a told story about a little brush who went to visit the coloured house and the teacher demonstrates for learning through imitation. At the beginning of the year we work with one colour at a time for the child to really experience each colour. Yellow last week, blue this week and then yellow and blue combined to experience making green.

We thank our parents for joining us for morning tea preparation - a lovely activity to support the transition and arrival at Preschool. Helping, imitation and creating meaningful work.

If you know a family with children aged 3-5 years who are interested in Preschool, please share our upcoming tours on March 4 & 21.

Visit Preschool Tours

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Welcome Soiree wrap up

Welcome Soiree wrap up

03 Feb 2023

Last Friday evening, we were delighted to formally welcome our community to the 2023 school year.

We celebrated with a soiree hosted by Head of School, Diana Drummond at our Middle Cove campus.

Thank you to Peter Candotti, Chair of the Board for your address and introducing our Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Board members who were present.

Thank you also to Warwick Brown and Sabine Simmons, Co-Chairs of the GPA for your words on the night.

It was a lovely chance for new and existing members of our community to make meaningful connections over drinks, canapes, and entertainment - thank you, Joe Littlefield for providing the tunes.

We were thrilled to say it was our best turnout to date and we thank our parents, carers, teachers and staff for joining us for a wonderful night.  

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Japanese Immersion playgroup

Japanese Immersion playgroup

27 Jan 2023

We are delighted to officially launch our Japanese Immersion Playgroup on Monday 9:30-11:30am at our Castlecrag Campus.
This playgroup will follow the 'family style' model of Glenaeon's other Playgroups: Birth to 5 years with song, story, baking and shared morning tea picnic with adult discussion.

This Japanese-English bilingual playgroup will be led by educator Naoko Murphy, who will deliver a unique playgroup experience that embraces Japanese culture and language. Siblings of children who attend Glenaeon School or families from our wider community are all welcome.

We have spaces available in all playgroup sessions across Castlecrag and Willoughby campuses. To view our flyer click here.

To book or enquire, please email playgroups@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au or phone: 02 9932 2340. We look forward to welcoming you.

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Apply now for Preschool 2023 - limited places!

Apply now for Preschool 2023 - limited places!

10 Dec 2022

Preschool has limited places available for 2023. Applications are now open.  Interested families should call Preschool to speak with Preschool staff or arrange a private tour now to avoid missing out. Call 02 9412 5547 

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Glenaeon launches a Japanese Immersion Playgroup for 2023

Glenaeon launches a Japanese Immersion Playgroup for 2023

10 Dec 2022

Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School is delighted to announce the launching of a Japanese Immersion Playgroup Mondays at Castlecrag Campus 9:30-11:30: led by Playgroup Educator Naoko Murphy.

 

This playgroup will follow the ‘family style’ model of Glenaeon’s other Playgroups: Birth to 5 years with song, story, baking and shared morning tea picnic with adult discussion. All families are welcome with preference to families with a sibling who currently attends Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School.

グレネオンでは、新しく日英バイリンガルのプレイグループがスタートすることになりました。2023年2月6日から4月3日の9週間、9:30−11:30、Castlecragキャンパスにて行われます。担当は、なおこ先生です。

グレネオンのプレイグループとして、この日英バイリンガルのプレイグループは「ファミリースタイル」モデルで行われます。0歳の赤ちゃんから5歳の子供たちと、その家族が対象です。歌、お話しの時間、パン作りに、みんなで囲むおやつの時間。晴れた日にはキャンパス内でピクニック、そして大人同士のディスカッションの時間もあります。グレネオンシュタイナースクールに通っているお子さまの兄弟も、他の家族の皆さまも、ぜひ一緒に時間を過ごしましょう!

To book, enquire or add your child’s name to the waitlist, please email playgroups@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au or phone: 02 9932 2340

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Ahoy there Preschool!

Ahoy there Preschool!

17 Nov 2022

At Preschool, our new boat arrived on Friday and on Saturday Tim (Owen’s dad), Ben (Yolandi’s dad) and Mike (Axel’s dad) came and helped screw it together and glue it. How lucky we are to have such help?  Tim and Ben can be seen below finishing up around 7pm! Noel will varnish it and make a base. Our thanks to these very kind parents.

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Apply now for Preschool 2023

Apply now for Preschool 2023

17 Nov 2022

Preschool has announced a final tour for prospective 2023 families taking place on Thursday 1 December at 11am. To make a booking click HERE.

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Welcome Back Soraya!

Welcome Back Soraya!

31 Aug 2022

We are so very happy and excited to have our dear colleague and educator Soraya returning to us from extended maternity leave in Spain. Soraya is full of love, warmth and creativity. She is an incredible cook, gardener and illustrator.  Our Preschool children’s older siblings fondly remember her teaching them songs in Spanish.

Since she was very young, Soraya has been committed to living a life of self-exploration that involved working in a profession that embraced integrity and the sacred. In this path, she came across Steiner Education and found her purpose in life.

Soraya started her journey as an Educator at Glenaeon Preschool in 2018. She left the Preschool in 2022 to welcome her second child, daughter Lua. Her son Rio, now 6, also attended the preschool. Her partner Borja works at Warrah Farm where we get our delicious Biodynamic vegetables from.

Soraya has a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and Steiner Early Childhood Teacher Training. She is currently deepening her knowledge in Education through a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Primary Education.

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Sandra’s weekly visit to the Kindergarten

Sandra’s weekly visit to the Kindergarten

18 Aug 2022

Each morning in Little Kindy when we start the day we sing:

"Rinka, rinka rosie ray, what day is it today?"

On Tuesday the children recall it is Porridge Day, Painting Day and yes of course it’s SANDRA DAY. Yes, this is the day that Sandra comes to visit Little Kindy on her way to the garden. We must remember to save a bowl of porridge for her.  We all look forward to Sandra joining us at our table. After we finish our porridge the children are keen to join Sandra and her helper Gucchi in the garden where they work each week with the children of all three Kindergartens. 

Last week Sandra brought a special healing mixture to paste on the trees and plants that had been pruned or had broken branches. This wonderfully tactile, cooling slurry (Sandra is the keeper of this special recipe) was lovingly and carefully spread over the cuts and wounds of our beloved trees as the children earnestly sang the tree pasting song: 

Healing healing medicine for our beautiful trees
Healing healing has begun
Soon our trees will be big and strong

Even the most rumbunctious and active kindergarten players were drawn into the calming qualities of the song as they participated in the healing and cooling magic of the tree pasting ritual. Sandra’s tree paste is not only transforming our trees but also our children!

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Come and join Glenaeon Playgroups!

Come and join Glenaeon Playgroups!

18 Aug 2022

Glenaeon Playgroups are back and we are enjoying coming together to sing, play, bake, explore and listen to wonderful stories together! Please come and join our lovely Playgroups - they run 6 times per week - Monday - Friday across our Castlecrag and Willoughby (Preschool) Campus.

The Playgroup time begins with a story journey around the garden - we explore the wonders of nature in a playful adventure. Returning to the Playgroup room, we sit on pillows to listen and watch a beautiful story told by puppets and our felt animals and dolls. We sing together, learning songs with actions and finger rhymes. Then we knead, roll and bake delicious bread together. As the smell of baking bread fills the room, we play with the wooden, felt and natural toys - rocking horses, animals, blocks, scarves, vehicles and much more. Parents enjoy each others' company and the sense of community that grows together.

If the weather is fine, we take our fruit, some bread, butter and toppings to the garden and share a healthy and delicious morning tea together. The children play in the sandpit and gardens, climbing, digging, pumping water, exploring and building creations. Songs bring us all together again and we return to the Playgroup space for a closing circle. We pack up our freshly-baked bread buns to take home.  It's another lovely day at Playgroup so come along and join us!

Regular playgroups run every week day and there are currently paces in our Monday and Tuesday sessions. Please see our Playgroups Flyer HERE.

Try one of our Playgroup sessions: In response to the frequent request for a 'trial session' at our Glenaeon Playgroups, we are delighted to invite you and your families for a single Playgroup session at both our Willoughby and Castlecrag campuses:  Monday Willoughby 22nd August 9:00am-11:00am  and  Tuesday Castlecrag 23rd August 9:30am-11:30am 

Contact : Glenaeon  Playgroups: playgroups@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au.    
Phone: 99322340

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Preschool Winter nature tables

Preschool Winter nature tables

23 Jun 2022

In the Indigenous Dharawal seasons it is now the time of the Burrugin, the Echidna. At Preschool we therefore have a nature table depicting a "train" of Echidnas creatively made from casuarina seed pods and beeswax warmed by the children's hands. 

This is the time of year when male Burrugin (echidnas) form lines of up to ten as they follow the female through the woodlands. It is also the time when the Burringoa (Eucalyptus tereticornis) starts to produce flowers, indicating that it is time to collect the nectar of certain plants for the ceremonies which will begin to take place during the next season.  For more about the Indigenous Dharawal seasons see: http://www.bom.gov.au/iwk/calendars/dharawal.shtml 

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Preschool Apple Picking and Harmony Day Cultural Feast

Preschool Apple Picking and Harmony Day Cultural Feast

06 Apr 2022

Around 50 Preschool families went to Bilpin Springs Orchard on Sunday 27 March and after gathering apples, had a Harmony Day sharing of finger foods from their many cultures. What tables full of culinary delights! The rain could not dampen the spirits of all and the tractor rides were a much loved final addition to the experience before families reconvened at Hillbilly Cider undercover lunch tables for further conversation and playtime for the children.

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Celebrating birthdays in the Little Kindy

Celebrating birthdays in the Little Kindy

03 Mar 2022

In Little Kindy we have been celebrating some of the first birthdays for the year. As each child in the Little Kindy turns five their birthday is acknowledged with a special ritual and celebration.  As part of the preparation for this celebration the children help make a birthday book and bake a cake. On the day of the birthday a seasonal birthday table is prepared, flowers are picked, songs are sung and a birthday story is told. The birthday story tells of a little star child who looks down on earth and longs to be born. When the time is right for each child to be born on earth they receive their heavenly gifts from the stars, sun and moon and then travel across the rainbow bridge to earth where they are welcomed by their chosen family.  The children all look forward to each birthday being celebrated. The mood that is created is reverent and honours the unique individuality of each child. 

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Preschool Storytelling

Preschool Storytelling

03 Mar 2022

At Preschool, the children have been told a  story titled, “A little boy went sailing”.  In the following days, the children played alongside and together, and imaginative scenes from the story emerged.

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Playgroups coming back!

Playgroups coming back!

03 Mar 2022

Playgroups will be returning soon.  Please contact Sandra Frain for information and booking requests or to waitlist.

 

Download our flyer.

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Bursts of Colour at Castlecrag

Bursts of Colour at Castlecrag

17 Feb 2022

Castlecrag has blossomed in the warm, wet weather, and so have the chalkboards in Classes 1 & 2! The chalkboards are alive with stories that accompany the lesson in literacy, letters and learning, and in the Craft room lives the dolphin that dives in and out of the waves, helping the children to learn the path of the needle during embroidery. Here's our glorious sunflowers and blackboards to enjoy.

 

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Introducing our new Preschool Teaching Assistant Sweta

Introducing our new Preschool Teaching Assistant Sweta

03 Feb 2022

A very warm welcome to our new Preschool Teaching Assistant who will work in Room 1 with Carly  Solomon on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Sweta has very kindly shared this introduction:

My name is Mahasweta (Sweta as you will come to know me). I grew up in a place called Dibrugarh in Assam - a state in north-eastern India, located south of the eastern Himalayas. Assam is known for its tea, orchids, one-horned rhino and silk. I love where I grew up and I have fond memories of my hometown. I speak some of the Indian languages like Assamese, Hindi and Bengali. Travelling, learning about new cultures, learning a new language, cooking, gardening, yoga and nature walks make me happy.

I started my career as a Life Skills Trainer for school children in 2009 in Bangalore, India after completing my post-graduation in Psychology. I then worked as an Early Childhood Educator in Bengaluru, Dubai and then finally moved to Australia in 2014 from Dubai with my husband. I completed my Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care from TAFE NSW in 2017 and worked in two preschools in the North Shore since then. We have a 19-month-old daughter, and I am truly enjoying my new role as a mother. My focus as an educator is on facilitating life skills and making learning fun, challenging and organic.

As a psychology graduate, I have deep interest in the realm of Developmental Psychology and Positive Psychology. I have always gravitated towards Steiner’s philosophy in early childhood education. His holistic view on child development has helped me immensely in observing, understanding and facilitating children’s growth physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

We have a small number of vacancies at our Preschool for 2022. If you would like to learn more, please watch our Preschool online videos and register for our Preschool Online Tour on Tuesday 8th February 11:15am with Preschool Director Peggy Day: https://enquiry.glenaeon.nsw.edu.au/events

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Love, Gratitude, Reverence and Wonder at Preschool

Love, Gratitude, Reverence and Wonder at Preschool

03 Feb 2022

At Glenaeon Preschool, love and emotional warmth create the basis for a child’s healthy development. These qualities are expressed in what lives between the adult caregiver and the child, in the children’s behaviour toward one another, and among the early childhood educators, parents and the surrounding community. Love and warmth are considered essentials of our Preschool’s educational philosophy.

Young children absorb and imitate the mood of the teachers and the program. Teachers strive to be worthy of imitation and filled with gratitude, love and warmth.

We thank our Preschool teachers for their important work, and welcome parents considering Glenaeon Preschool for their child in 2023.

To apply visit our website: https://www.glenaeonpreschool.nsw.edu.au/about/enrolment/

Limited spots available. Come and tour beautiful Preschool at any of the following tour dates:

Tuesday 14 February

Saturday 4 March

Tuesday 21 March

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Preschool gets muddy!

Preschool gets muddy!

18 Nov 2021

Mud, mud glorious mud! Here are some wonderful moments capturing our Preschooler’s mud play at the park this week.

We have one final Preschool Tour/webinar this year on Tuesday 30 November, at 11:15am hosted by Peggy Day. We have some 2 or 5-day per week spaces available for 2022. To register for this Preschool Tour click here.  

#glenaeon #preschool #willoughby #nature #outdoor #outdoorlearning #earlychildhood #childcare #steiner #steinereducation #steinerschool

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Preschoolers return to the park

Preschoolers return to the park

04 Nov 2021

Some wonderful news for our Preschool families: all groups are going back to their park trips now. Our Preschoolers are once again enjoying tree climbing and running through the wide open spaces. Much excitement prevailed! 

We have one final Preschool Tour/webinar this year on Tuesday 30 November, at 11:15am hosted by Peggy Day. We have some 2 or 5-day per week spaces available for 2022. To register for this Preschool Tour click here.  

#glenaeon #preschool #willoughby #nature #outdoor #outdoorlearning #earlychildhood #childcare #steiner #steinereducation #steinerschool

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Diwali Festival

Diwali Festival

04 Nov 2021

Happy Diwali! There was so much beauty and magic in our Preschool day today as we celebrated Diwali the Hindu Festival of Lights. Our teacher Pooja made a delicious rice porridge for morning tea. After our park play, we came together and Pooja captivated the children with a Diwali story she had written and a joyful, exuberant song and dance. A mandala of flowers from the children’s gardens was created by all and left as a beautiful natural Diwali gift for the park community. The children were delighted at the return of a lunch favourite of Idlis before resting with the magic of their clay diya candles shining light into the darkness. Avi then surprised his friends with a gift of bracelets to celebrate Diwali through dressing up beautifully. Thank you so much to Pooja and Avi and his family for sharing this special day with us.

 

#preschool #willoughby #Diwali #Hindu #Festival

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Playgroups in Term 4

Playgroups in Term 4

21 Oct 2021

 

Due to the current COVID situation and the Level 3+ restrictions on schools, Glenaeon Playgroups sessions with Sandra and Nancy are not able to be held at our Castlecrag or Willoughby campuses in Term 4.

Instead, Glenaeon Playgroups are offering families the chance to connect each Tuesday between 9:30am and 10:30am over Zoom. All Playgroup families are welcome to ‘drop in’ for a song, game, story, show & tell, and guided adult discussion hosted by Sandra.

If you would like the Zoom link for the Playgroups Zoom session, (there is no charge for these opportunities for gathering) or any other queries regarding Glenaeon Playgroups, please contact Sandra Frain via email: playgroups@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au 

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Silkworms at Preschool

Silkworms at Preschool

21 Oct 2021

Each day our Preschoolers picked some leaves and watched the silkworms grow larger until we saw the first cocoons being spun. The children look at the silkworms which have just been given the freshly picked leaves from our mulberry tree and one child is delighted to carefully hold one in a leaf.

 

#glenaeon #preschool #willoughby #nature #outdooreducation #outdoorlearning #earlychildhood #childcare #steiner #steinereducation #steinerschool

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Playgroups in Term 4

Playgroups in Term 4

07 Oct 2021

Due to the current COVID situation, Glenaeon Playgroups sessions with Sandra and Nancy are not able to be held at our Castlecrag or Willoughby campuses.

Instead, Glenaeon Playgroups are offering families the chance to connect each Tuesday between 9:30am and 10:30am, starting on October 12 over Zoom. All Playgroup families are welcome to ‘drop in’ for a song, game, story, show & tell, and guided adult discussion hosted by Sandra.

Also, on offer is a Playgroup Parent Educational Evening on Tuesday 12 October between 7pm-8pm hosted by Sandra and Nancy.

The Zoom link will be sent out on Sunday October 10th. (There is no charge for these opportunities for gathering.)

If you have any further questions about Glenaeon Playgroups, please contact Sandra via email: playgroups@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au 

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Preschool Introductory webinar 19 OCT 11:15am

Preschool Introductory webinar 19 OCT 11:15am

07 Oct 2021

Preschool Director Peggy Day will host an introductory webinar for Parents considering enrolling their child in Preschool in 2022.

This webinar will take parents through the Preschool philosophy and program, with time for Q&A. To book click here.

 

Download our Preschool poster and share with your friends and family.

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Spring Nature Tables at school and home

Spring Nature Tables at school and home

16 Sep 2021

Here are some lovely Spring Nature Tables from Castlecrag - enjoy as we wish you all a lovely spring holiday!

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Playgroups fun

Playgroups fun

05 Aug 2021

Lockdown has meant that our Playgroups team has had to pivot its delivery model and is now provided via Zoom, email and phone calls with our wonderful Playgroup families. Songs, stories and craft ideas are sent through to families to enjoy.  We have also delivered parent-only sessions with Child Development Experts Peggy Day (Director Glenaeon Preschool) and Mary Heard (Simplicity Parenting Coach) to give Parents extra support at this difficult time.

Playgroup leaders Sandra and Nancy are very much looking forward to the time when Playgroup families can once again have fun at our Willoughby and Castlecrag campuses.

Here are some Playgroup photos taken during Term 2.

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Glenaeon launches “Clubs” program for Students from Class 1 through to Year 10

Glenaeon launches “Clubs” program for Students from Class 1 through to Year 10

05 Aug 2021

We are very excited to announce the launch of a brand new initiative for students in Class 1 to Year 10 during the remote learning period in 2021.  Glenaeon Clubs run from 2:30pm each weekday afternoon  and the first sessions ran on Monday with good attendance across the board.

There are a wonderful variety of activities on offer for students of all ages – from sport to art, book clubs, dance and origami.  Each club’s session length can vary. For example, Art Club runs from 2:30pm-4pm and Sport club runs for 1 hour.  Attendance is voluntary and you can join multiple clubs if you wish (one per day), and all sessions are delivered live.

To find out more about each activity, view the Glenaeon Clubs timetable, and to access the zoom links, please follow the instructions in the guide or click here: https://glo.glenaeon.nsw.edu.au/homepage/3656/

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When schooling at home, rhythm is your best friend by Mary Heard

When schooling at home, rhythm is your best friend by Mary Heard

22 Jul 2021

Rhythm is the key to discipline, the secret Steiner schools have always understood. It is also the secret to making children feel secure, it is a message to their nervous system that some things are still the same in the world and that the life they know really matters.

As parents many of us have a tenuous hold on the sort of rhythm and discipline children experience at school but this is a wonderful opportunity for us to reclaim our dominion as we bring school into our home. Home Schooling last time may have been a bit chaotic or formless but we can start this term mapping out with our child/ren what home schooling is going to look like from now on.

As our children have the school rhythm already built into their body clock it is best to stick with that as much as possible. Insist that our children are dressed and ready to start learning at the usual school time - making sure we are free ourselves at this time to get everyone set up. Younger children can also go to their play area at this time as though they are doing their ‘work’ too.

Keep to the morning tea and lunch times of school, we can try to get all the inside activities completed in the morning and then go outside in the afternoon. Outside of school times we need to engage our children in as much of the home life as possible to keep them occupied and to make our own lives easier. Children should be given as many tasks as they can manage like preparing food, cleaning up their rooms daily, packing away the dishes, looking after the garden etc. I would also suggest a long family walk every day for at least an hour. This way we can wear our children out a bit, get some good exercise ourselves and get some outside time.

In order to establish our authority we need to give directions to our children that they can understand and follow. We must be careful not to disguise our directions as questions or requests. I always think the teacher’s ‘now it’s time to…..’ works very well. Once we have established these actions over a few days they will become habits. Also we should try to talk to our children as little as possible, we will see as we try to do this how many unnecessary things we say during the day.

If we only speak when necessary, we will notice how much more our children will listen.

We can say to our children ‘you need to play by yourself now until I finish my work’ (this time will depend on the child’s age) making it clear that they cannot disturb us for that time as we need to get our work done. So long as children have good solid blocks of our undivided attention they should also be able to cope with blocks of time while we do our work. When we do spend time with them we can spend that time doing household chores like hanging out washing or putting it away so that we have the chance to get things done while also being with them. If we spend our time doing chores with our children they will be even happier to have some ‘downtime’ to just play while we leave them alone.

We should try to resist the temptation to put our children in front of screens as this will just make their behaviour worse the rest of the time, reduce their capacity for deep play and encourage them to whinge and whine hoping for more screen time. if we allow our screen time to increase during lockdown we are bound to regret it when lockdown is over. If we need our child to be occupied in the afternoon for a while without us, audiobooks are a good compromise – we can use the opportunity to expose our children to some of the classics we may not have had time to read like ‘Swallows and Amazons’ or the Narnia series.

This is not an easy time for parents who are going through their own anxieties, trying to work from home, managing different age children, sickness and trying to keep family life manageable. Of course it will be 3 steps forward and 2 steps back a lot of the time however if we put the effort in for the first few days and establish and an element of predictability there will be a lot more room for love, compassion, kindness and fun in the home.

 

Mary Heard is a Simplicity Parenting Coach. Visit https://www.maryheardsimplicityparenting.com/ for more information.

 

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Preschool remains open for essential workers

Preschool remains open for essential workers

21 Jul 2021

The Preschool remains open for children of essential workers during the current COVID lockdown.  Our beautiful Preschool also has a new A4 poster. If anyone in our community is able to print and display or share with their contacts we'd be very grateful.

Download the A4 poster

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Preschool remains open for essential workers

Preschool remains open for essential workers

21 Jul 2021

Our Preschool Director Peggy Day is now interviewing for 2022 Preschool placements. If you, or someone you know, is considering Preschool for their child, now is the time to get your application in. Application forms are on the website: www.glenaeonpreschool.nsw.edu.au  There are also limited places available for the remainder of this year.  Childcare is an essential service for all families and our Preschool remains open for children of essential workers during the current COVID lockdown.  Our beautiful Preschool also has a new A4 poster. If anyone in our community is able to print and display or share with their contacts we'd be very grateful. Link to download below.

Download the A4 poster

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Parent Craft and Kindy Craft is warming up

Parent Craft and Kindy Craft is warming up

03 Jun 2021

Parent Craft on Wednesday mornings and Kindergarten Craft on Tuesdays are warming up as the weather gets cooler. The mornings are full of creativity and enjoyment and everyone is welcome on Wednesday mornings.

Kindergarten Parents meet once a week also, and have recently made beautiful felt flowers, starting with coloured roving (soft, fleeced wool), massaging and felting the colours together. Both groups have been making crowns - birthday crowns, as well as a play set for the Kindergarten classrooms. 

Come and join these groups when you can - no experience is necessary and you will learn with the helpful hands of others. Younger siblings and babies are welcome and there is an indoor play area and an enclosed garden. These lovely social mornings are growing and becoming part of the fabric of our community once again. No bookings are required and attendance can be for as long or as little as you like. Attendees must follow the school's COVID safety plan and sign in, use hand sanitiser on arrival and please refrain from coming along if you feel unwell. 

In coming weeks we will be having little workshops on dyeing our own felt, wet felting and continuing a variety of sewing projects. Email castlecrag@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au or contact Melony at Reception, Castlecrag Campus on 9958 0774 for any further information.

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Preschoolers enjoy Ripe Golden Mandarins

Preschoolers enjoy Ripe Golden Mandarins

03 Jun 2021

Our mandarin tree has many ripe golden mandarins this year and each Preschool class has been able to pick some for their nature table and morning or lunch.

They have all heard the story of the little boy who planted the mandarin seed and watched the tree grow. The children gathered the seeds from their mandarin segments with great care.

Our Preschool has some limited vacancies, so please contact Preschool on 9412 4457 to book a private tour or enquire. Or book in to an upcoming group tour online: https://www.glenaeonpreschool.nsw.edu.au/ 

#glenaeon #preschool #willoughby #steiner #steinereducation #earlylearning #longdaycare #daycare #childcare #steinerschool #sydney #naturetable #stories #mandarin #fruit #trees #nature

 

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Parent Library at Castlecrag bursting with books

Parent Library at Castlecrag bursting with books

03 Jun 2021

The Parent Library is now open on:

TUESDAYS 8:30am - 9:10am and

THURSDAYS 2:30 - 3:10pm

Come and browse a wide selection of titles across areas of parenting, craft, gardening, food, anthroposophy, Steiner education, children's stories and festivals.

We have Grimms' Fairy Tales, Susan Perrow's "Therapeutic Storytelling", Michaela Glockler's "A Guide to Child Health", Jude Blereau's "Wholefood for Children" and many more wonderful books for infants, preschoolers, young children and parents. See photos below for just some of the lovely books we hold in the library.

If you haven't been to our Glenaeon Castlecrag Campus before, the Parent Library is located in the room to the left of Reception at 121 Edinburgh Rd, Castlecrag.

We look forward to seeing you soon and chatting about our wonderful books!

Amity - Parent Library Coordinator (Volunteer)

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Preschool goes Apple Picking

Preschool goes Apple Picking

20 May 2021

What beautiful memories we all have from apple picking. The crisp air in the morning, finding apples and pomegranates on the trees, our picnic lunch together and the children on the tractor ride. The whole community was vibrant and smiling. We all feel fortunate to have such lovely families together in our Preschool.

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Playgroups at Glenaeon

Playgroups at Glenaeon

11 Mar 2021

Our families with little ones are enjoying Steiner Playgroups and the welcoming space with stories, games, bread-baking and songs. With Playgroup leaders Nancy Amini and Sandra Frain, the children enjoy the creativity, playgrounds and friendships that grow during their regular weekly times together.

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Autumn has arrived at Grassroots Eco Store!

Autumn has arrived at Grassroots Eco Store!

10 Mar 2021

The shop is full of beautiful materials to inspire your Autumn craft projects whether it be making apple pompoms with wool, sewing felt leaf shapes to hang or modelling with beeswax or clay, Autumn provides a wonderful abundance of inspiration for craft activities and the perfect opportunity for children to practice all those amazing craft skills they are learning in class.

Pop in store to view Yuki’s Autumn felt creations, you’ll find a delightful collection of hand-dyed felt gnomes, little mushroom people and toadstools which are perfect for your Autumn nature table displays or play shelves.

The bookshelves have recently been re-stocked with quality children’s books with stories to enrich the experience of the changing seasons and spark the imagination in both young and older readers!

If you can’t make it to the shop, many of our products are now available online: grassrootsecostore.com.au with more products added each week!

 

 

 

Opening Hours for Term 1
Monday: 8.30am–11.30am    &   2pm–3.45pm
Tuesday: 8.30am–11.30am    &   2pm–3.45pm
Wednesday: 8.30am–12.30pm
Thursday: 8.30am–11.30am    &   2pm–3.45pm
Friday: 8.30am–11.30am    &   2pm–3.45pm

Thank you for shopping locally. A portion of every sale goes to support Glenaeon.

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Meet Pooja, Preschool's New Teaching Assistant (Monday-Wednesday group)

Meet Pooja, Preschool's New Teaching Assistant (Monday-Wednesday group)

25 Feb 2021

My name is Pooja Munjal. I am originally from India, and I moved to Australia about seven years ago.  It's been five years since I was introduced to Steiner education and my journey has just been awesome from there on. Both my daughters age 9 and 12 go to Lorien Novalis Steiner school in Dural and my husband works as a Business Analyst.

It's not just the education, it's the lifestyle that we adapt. It guides you to take up each task through the heart and bring joy into that.

I have taken up Early Childhood teaching to bring a love of learning to children.  I have completed a Diploma in Early Childhood Education (EYLF) and the Foundations Course in Steiner Early Childhood.  For the past few years, I've worked as a casual staff member in Lorien Novalis Steiner Preschool and also have two years of experience in Montessori teaching.

I love yoga and nature walks. I am also fond of cooking and reading books on spirituality, health and wellness.

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Welcome Baby Lua

Welcome Baby Lua

11 Feb 2021

Congratulations to our dear Preschool Teacher Soraya on the birth of baby Lua. What a beautiful blessing!

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Grassroots Eco Store is open with new products in-store and online!

Grassroots Eco Store is open with new products in-store and online!

10 Feb 2021

We are well stocked with the beautiful range of Anthroposophical creams and lotions from Southern Swan. If your children need a bit of extra care and comfort being back at school, applying the Sphagni Rose Lotion “can feel like being surrounded by a mother's cuddle, which they can take with them as they go about their day.” While the Lavender Bath Milk added to the bath can be just the thing to transition from a busy day into slumber.

New in the shop this week are these super versatile, breathable cotton Dish Covers in a range of sizes and native flower designs, not only do they look fantastic on your table, storing or transporting your dishes of food, they are also made by and support women working in home industries in South Africa.

We’ve also been lucky to receive a small delivery of the highly sought after Grimm’s Wooden puzzles and rainbow stacking toys. Grimm’s is well known for their natural, high quality wooden toys that are perfect for hours of open-ended play.

If you are in need of new books and stories to spark your child’s imagination and love of reading, come in and browse our bookshelves filled with a curated collection of books sure to delight both young and older readers.

If you can’t make it to the shop, visit us online: grassrootsecostore.com.au more products are added each week!

Opening Hours for Term 1
Monday: 8.30am–11.30am & 2pm–3.45pm
Tuesday: 8.30am–11.30am & 2pm–3.45pm
Wednesday: 8.30am–12.30pm
Thursday: 8.30am–11.30am & 2pm–3.45pm
Friday: 8.30am–11.30am & 2pm–3.45pm

Thank you for shopping locally. A portion of every sale goes to support Glenaeon.

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Happy sunflowers bring joy to our Preschoolers

Happy sunflowers bring joy to our Preschoolers

28 Jan 2021

At Preschool, the garden is flourishing. Take a look at these beautiful sunflowers. Last year we enjoyed a story and song about sunflowers with our children, and then planted the seeds. They all flowered just in time for our return to preschool this year. The song we sang was called Sunflowers Growing Tall by Katrina Ross.

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Poppies at Castlecrag

Poppies at Castlecrag

12 Nov 2020

Class 1 and 2 planted poppies, snapdragons and natives in their new garden, and just in time for Remembrance Day, the most beautiful red poppies burst into bloom. There were many busy bees visiting and the garden also attracted the butterflies!

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Sending Love to Sandra

Sending Love to Sandra

12 Nov 2020

When Sandra slipped and broke her collarbone, the children gathered to water the gardens, dig out the compost and care for the gardens at Castlecrag. They also made a plethora of gifts and cards which were delivered by Melony to her door. It is the measure of a great teacher, that the children can continue in their absence, with the same rhythm and enthusiasm. We all wish Sandra a speedy recovery and return! Look at all the composts, watering, flowers, bees, the playground and cups of tea in these cards! Playgroup has continued beautifully thanks to lovely Carly from Preschool, who has enjoyed visiting Castlecrag and meeting all of Sandra's playgroup children. Said Sandra from home: “I am so pleased that they know what to do, even though I am not there! They have learned how to garden, compost and fertilise from Playgroup through Preschool, Kindergarten and it continues through the Primary school. When one person in the team steps out, everyone else knows how to keep all the cycles going. I am enormously grateful to the children and their teachers for coming forward to continue caring for the plants and the animals in all the school gardens until I return.” 

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Playgroup is happily back

Playgroup is happily back

15 Oct 2020

Playgroup has returned in small COVID-19 managed groups, and what a delight it is! Stories, bread baking, playing in the sandpit and the children being able to explore and share valuable time together. 

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Our Preschoolers enjoy Spring!

Our Preschoolers enjoy Spring!

17 Sep 2020

Here we are at Preschool wondering in the joy of Spring. It is a full sense experience with the warm bright weather, the smell of Jasmine in the air and the incredible growth in the plant world. Tiny mulberries and mulberry leaves are beginning to emerge on our white Mulberry Tree and one of our families has gifted us baby silkworms to nurture through their life cycle.

Silkworm on a mulberry leaf goes wriggle, wriggle, wriggle
Silkworm on a mulberry leaf goes munch, munch, munch
Silkworm on a mulberry leaf goes to sleep
And when he sleeps he has a dream of places he has never seen
He opens his eyes, is wide awake, spreads his wings, he's a moth-afly, flutterby moth-afly, fly fly

(adapted from Caterpillar on a soft green leaf by Ebba Bodame)

Snow peas and sugar snap peas are growing from their flowers and the children are very excited to spot them and check their growth.

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Our Preschoolers thrive with Creative Play

Our Preschoolers thrive with Creative Play

20 Aug 2020

At Glenaeon Preschool every day is one full of creative play, park trips and joyful sharing with friends. You can see the children playing together walking on their stepping stones with delight and making a volcano in the sandpit.

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Crafty parents knit winter warmers for students

Crafty parents knit winter warmers for students

06 Aug 2020

These colourful woollen fingerless gloves were knitted by Parent Crafters to help keep our students hands warm this winter. We have a limited number available for sale. Please contact Melony via email to organise purchase for your child, or as a gift. We are able to send them home with your child.

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Playgroup Begins for Term 3

Playgroup Begins for Term 3

06 Aug 2020

Playgroup has begun in its modified form at both the Preschool and Castlecrag Campuses. Thank you to our patient families who are now able to participate in our lovely '4-family' groups. It's so lovely to be back and to see the children and families connecting again. Playgroup at Castlecrag runs from the Hall Kitchen on Tuesdays, Thursdays and in the Playgroup room on Saturday mornings. Please contact Playgroup Co-ordinator Sandra Frain to join the waitlist for this lovely experience. 

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Rainbow Magic in Reception

Rainbow Magic in Reception

06 Aug 2020

A trip to Melony in Reception at Castlecrag its often coupled with an important message or job for the children. Each day though, as the children come in, there are colourful rainbows that visit and shine all over the room - floor, ceilings, walls and most importantly - the children! They catch them on each other and wonder WHO could be sending SO MANY rainbows to Castlecrag? Is it the Winter Angel, who hangs above the desk? Is it Mother Earth or King Winter and their gnomes... or is it a Rainbow Fairy that comes and sprinkles the children with her light and delight?! Either way, we love the rainbows and so do the children!

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Spring is Coming to Castlecrag

Spring is Coming to Castlecrag

06 Aug 2020

After the very cold mornings we are having at Castlecrag, comes a period of warmth and sunshine in the middle of the day - a time to treasure and bask in it, just a little, to warm up. In this time between MidWinter and Early Spring, both bulbs and spring blossoms flower. Amongst the daffodils and jonquils, there may not be much jasmine blossoming yet, but the sweet scent is already in the air! As we cannot have parents on campus so much at the moment - we thought it would be nice to bring a little of the campus to you! It is beautiful and blooming!

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Welcome back to our ‘Welcome Home’ Glenaeon Playgroups in Term 3

Welcome back to our ‘Welcome Home’ Glenaeon Playgroups in Term 3

23 Jul 2020

We are happy to announce that our Welcome Home Playgroups are recommencing after the COVID-19 shutdown. 

As we reopen, we have strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines in place as well as an alternate COVID-safe timetable, with a maximum of only four (4) families per group.

Our spots are already fully-booked for Term 3, but families are invited to add their name to the waitlist for Term 4 or for any additional sessions that may be added to the Term 3 timetable, which would occur with any further relaxation of health department and education department COVID-19 guidelines.

Playgroups are joyful and nurturing of the young child’s developmental stages. Our activities and interactions are presented in a carefully structured, educational morning that allows parents and children to enjoy the time together.  

All will benefit from the wisdom and experience of the educated playgroup teachers who capably address the challenges of parenting within a supportive community-oriented environment.

To add your name to the Playgroups waitlist, please contact Sandra Frain by email sandraf@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au

 

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Hello Dolly

Hello Dolly

23 Jul 2020

Our Preschool teachers have been busy making lovely little dolls and bees for the children's much loved story time and for our youngest learners to play with. If you've ever wondered why Steiner dolls have minimal or no faces, it is because they are intentionally left blank to allow the child to further develop their imagination and engage creatively in play.  For more about Preschool, download our flyer, or head to www.glenaeonpreschool.nsw.edu.au 

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Our Kindergarten Spaces

Our Kindergarten Spaces

23 Jul 2020

Kindergarten is a special place and much care, thought and meaning is given to the surroundings, equipment and spaces in which the children play. The environment is beautiful, warm and welcoming, inviting open-ended creative play, whilst also nourishing aspects of play such as sorting, counting, building and much social engagement. The Kindy day starts with Outside Play, before moving inside into Morning Circle and then Inside Play. These beautiful play spaces come alive as toys, objects and furniture become trains, planes, houses, gardens and play spaces; endless sessions of creative and imaginative play. They also grind grains for cooking, bake and prepare food each day. A strong rhythm is held by the teachers, which also includes the children tidying up and putting everything away again, ready for tomorrow.

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Kindergarten and Little Kindy students return to campus

Kindergarten and Little Kindy students return to campus

15 May 2020

With COVID restrictions now being gradually eased, the Kindergarten teachers and children were delighted to be back in Kindergarten for two days this week. Despite our rather different start to the day, which involved a very quick goodbye to Mums and Dads at the gate or at the bottom of the Kindy stairs, we all quickly found our way back into the healing rhythmic flow of daily life in the Kindergarten. We were full of joy and enthusiasm as we heartily ate our Kindy morning tea, shared our stories and songs and happily worked and played in the golden light of the Kindy garden. By the end of two days we were once again full with all the magic and wholesome engagement that ‘real-life’ Kindy brings each day. Our time away from Kindergarten has affirmed above all, that the Kindergarten lives in the healing environment and rhythms that we create here each day in our beautiful campus at Castlecrag.  

Catherine Pilko

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Playgroup room is ready and waiting

Playgroup room is ready and waiting

14 May 2020

Sandra continued her Playgroup Zoom chat this week and it was another warm, enjoyable session with parents and children able to connect from the playgroup room at Castlecrag. Some of the childrens' little friends help Sandra sing hello to them all. It is such a lovely space, and the toys here are ready and waiting for when playgroup can return! Here are some of your favourite friends, just waiting to be discovered when playgroup resumes. Next week Nancy Amini will also be connecting with her playgroup families using Zoom, and there is also a special Zoom session for new families and those on our waiting lists who would like to say hello and stay in touch this way as well. For all Playgroup Zoom enquiries please contact: Sandra Frain 

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Playgroup families connect on ZOOM

Playgroup families connect on ZOOM

08 May 2020

Some of Sandra’s regular Tuesday and Wednesday Playgroup Families connected over ZOOM yesterday. It was the first time parents and carers were able to connect since the COVID19 restrictions were put in place over a month ago.  During the joyous session (with song and movement) Sandra led an adult discussion on ‘golden moments’ and other child development themes, and the group discussed how COVID19 had impacted them and their children.  There were many moments of recognition over the struggles that COVID 19 has created for families and the happy memories that past Glenaeon Playgroups have brought too. 

Whilst, nothing quite compares to an actual physical and traditional Rudolf Steiner influenced Playgroup, the families told Sandra that they were very happy to have had the opportunity for social connection, the chance to learn more about Steiner Education’s approach to early childhood development, and the ability to pick up new and different ideas for enjoying this time at home with our children.

The Zoom calls for Playgroup Families will continue with demand and a new Zoom session may be opened up to new families and families in regional areas who might wish to learn more about the attributes of traditional Steiner Playgroups.

 

Playgroup Zoom enquiries: Sandra Frain 

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A celebration of colour at Castlecrag

A celebration of colour at Castlecrag

05 May 2020

Castlecrag has exploded with colour. The flowers are glorious. It is a rainbow of colours as you look around the grounds from deep red flowers, huge orange wild cosmos plants (taller than your teachers!), yellow lantern bush, lush greens and deep purple. I wonder if we can plant some blue flowers for Spring?

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Kindergarten at home and lost teeth

Kindergarten at home and lost teeth

13 Apr 2020

Kindergarten children have been enjoying their home activities - baking, story play, songs and craft, with the help of beautiful resources and stories prepared by their Kindy teachers on GLO. Several have also experienced their first tooth falling out - a familiar Kindy 'right of passage'.

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Caring for our Castlecrag campus

Caring for our Castlecrag campus

13 Apr 2020

Whilst it's quieter at Castlecrag, we have been busy cleaning, washing and gardening, preparing all of our beautiful classrooms and grounds for the time when we can all return. The colours of our washing, some pretty plants and the blooms are a reminder of how special this place is to us all. Whilst the children are at home, we will care for Castlecrag until you all return. Notice how the 'Lantern Bush' is beginning to grow its proud lanterns for the coming of Winter, and how the Cosmos flowers are simply bursting with colour! We also have five of the Middle Cove hens here on holiday and thanks to our local families for looking after them so lovingly for us!

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The Power of Play in Nature - last chance for tickets

The Power of Play in Nature - last chance for tickets

28 Feb 2020

Power of Play in Nature

Glenaeon is proud to present The Power of Play in Nature, a free public seminar featuring two of Australia's leading education experts: Professor Pasi Sahlberg, Professor of Educational Policy, Deputy Director, Gonski Institute for Education, UNSW and Professor Tonia Gray, Senior Researcher, Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University. After the keynote, there will be a panel discussion, facilitated by MC Lucy Clark, Associate Editor of The Guardian and Author of Beautiful Failures. The forum is on Thursday 5 March 4pm-6:30pm at the Concourse Theatre, Chatswood.

This is a ticketed event. Please register via www.glenaeon.nsw.edu.au/play

Download the flyer 

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Playgroups 2020

Playgroups 2020

31 Jan 2020

Glenaeon offers a range of Steiner-inspired Playgroups that are joyful, nurturing and supportive of the young child’s developmental stages.  Playgroups are suitable for children from birth to 4 years of age.

Join us with your children for a joy-filled, wholesome and nourishing play oriented morning. This is a structured, ‘family style’, relaxed time to connect with your child/ren and each other and with nature, in a beautiful expansive setting both outdoors and indoors.  There are a few limited places left for Term 1 Playgroups at our Willoughby and Castlecrag campuses, but places are filling fast, so get in quick. Please contact Sandra Frain to register your interest. Email: sandraf@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au

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2020 Welcome Celebration

2020 Welcome Celebration

31 Jan 2020

Welcome to 2020 is an invitation to all Parents & Carers to come together at Glenaeon, but a special chance for our Kindergarten and Year 7 parents to meet and mingle with our community. It's a wonderul moment to meet other Parents in the school, teachers and some members of the GPA.  A selection of beer and wine is on offer and canapes will be served. Please note this is an adults only function.  We kindly ask you to RSVP for catering purposes.

  • Friday 7 February 6.30pm-8.30pm
  • Castlecrag campus, 121 Edinburgh Road Castlecrag
  • RSVP link https://www.trybooking.com/BHUVB 
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Preschool has a beautiful outdoor weaving loom

Preschool has a beautiful outdoor weaving loom

30 Aug 2019

The weaving loom at the Preschool is a beautiful outdoor feature, where children can be creative with natural fibres as well as grasses and treasures that they find. What a wonderful idea!

 

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Little Kindy work and play

Little Kindy work and play

05 Jul 2019

This week Little Kindy have been busy making hand squeezed orange juice to help keep winter colds at bay. Every Wednesday is bread baking day in Little Kindy! The children also enjoyed a plant study in the garden, finding that gold and yellow flower petals and bright green leaves are still found in our garden this winter. 

 

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Class Rolls and Autumn leaves

Class Rolls and Autumn leaves

04 Jun 2019

The rolls at Castlecrag are very beautiful

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Class 1 form drawing, bushwalking and birthdays

Class 1 form drawing, bushwalking and birthdays

30 May 2019

Class 1 draw 'form' drawings' each week

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Easter is coming... children were busy...

Easter is coming... children were busy...

17 Apr 2019

Castlecrag was abuzz with Easter craft and cooking this week

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