Gardening teacher extraordinaire Sandra Frain is finishing this term after teaching for eight years at Glenaeon. This week was filled with gatherings in all her classes to say goodbye and thank her for her invaluable, inspiring, and incredible contributions to our children, campuses, and gardens. Sandra has gradually reduced her teaching this year, first in Playgroup, then Gardening K–2 at Castlecrag. She is now finishing her Primary 3–6 Gardening classes and Year 10 Biodynamic Minor-Elective. Students, parents, and colleagues have relished her creativity, passion, dedication, and joyful presence in the garden, Playgroup, Parent Education, sourdough bread baking, the friendly chicken flock, and compost making!
Class 5 had a tea party and gifted her a hand-made felted tea cosy with embroidered leaves, flowers, and bugs from the children and families, along with a teapot. Class 4 read her a beautiful poem (read below), and Year 10 brought a banquet of homemade treats to share in honour of Sandra and her social alchemy in their biodynamic agricultural studies.
For Class 3, it was business as usual, cleaning out the duck and chicken coop, watering plants (and each other on a hot day!), before gathering to share memories and a ceremonious slice of cake at Sandra's last official garden class at Middle Cove. Last weekend Sandra also hosted a 'Volunteers Thank you Picnic' and shared with some wonderful cakes made by talented parent, Carolina.
Sandra will continue working within the Steiner community as a Tutor at Sydney Rudolf Steiner College and as a consultant for schools and community groups in her many areas of expertise, as well as doing some casual teaching at Glenaeon. You can join the biodynamic conversation and keep up to date with her workshops through her Biodynamic Gardening Group on Facebook. Thank you, Sandra, from the bottom of our (compost and worm-filled) hearts!
A Farewell for Sandra
In a garden where wonders bloomed each day,
You guided our hearts along the way.
With kindness and wisdom, you helped us grow,
Nurturing passions we didn’t yet know.
Your laughter, like sunlight, brightened our fears,
You listened with patience, wiping our tears.
Each lesson a treasure, each smile a seed,
You taught us of courage, of kindness, and need.
As you gather your leaves and prepare to depart,
Know you’ll forever reside in our heart.
Though distance may stretch like the branches of trees,
The love you have given will echo in breeze.
So, thank you, dear Sandra, for all that you've done,
For teaching us how to shine, like the sun.
As you journey ahead, with new paths to explore,
We'll carry your lessons and cherish them more.
- From Jamie Loftus and Class 4