High School Small Group Tour with Head of Student Support Services
Date: Friday 30 October 2026
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Location: 5A Glenroy Ave, Middle Cove NSW 2068

We invite families to join a small group tour of our High School, led by our Registrar and Head of Student Support Services, Anna Wetzel. Enjoy a guided walk through the campus and time for conversation to learn more about our High School curriculum, Steiner philosophy as well as our Learning Support and Wellbeing Program. We look forward to welcoming you. If this tour is fully booked and you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email enrolments@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au

Registration: Book Now

High School Small Group Tour with Head of School
Date: Thursday 5 November
Time: 9:30am - 10:30am
Location: 5A Glenroy Ave, Middle Cove NSW 2068

We invite families to join a small group tour of our High School, led by our Registrar and Head of School, Diana Drummond. Enjoy a guided walk through the campus and time for conversation to learn more about our High School curriculum, Steiner philosophy as well as our values and mission. We look forward to welcoming you. If this tour is fully booked and you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email enrolments@glenaeon.nsw.edu.au

Registration: Book Now

Upper Primary Small Group Tour with Deputy Head of School
Date: Thursday 12 November
Time: 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Location: 5A Glenroy Ave, Middle Cove NSW 2068

We invite families to join a small group tour of our Middle Cove Primary School – Classes 4, 5 and 6, led by our Registrar and Deputy Head of Primary School, Dani Finch. Enjoy a guided walk through the campus and time for conversation to learn about the transition into our upper Primary School and Steiner philosophy.

Registration: Book Now

Kath to share story

Our Castlecrag Campus was positively glowing for our Primary School (K–6) Open Day on Saturday, 5 September - helped by a magnificent Sydney spring morning and the energy of our school community coming together.

Our visitors experienced Glenaeon's Primary School in action, with games, gardening, craft, art, puppet plays, bread baking, magical mathematics and journeys into literacy bringing classrooms and learning spaces to life.

The day offered new families and current Playgroups and Preschool families a genuine glimpse into the richness of a Glenaeon Steiner education, one that is deeply connected to the developmental needs of children.

A particular highlight was our Parent Circle, where current parents generously shared their experiences of Glenaeon with prospective families. Their warmth, honesty and willingness to talk about school life offered visitors an authentic glimpse into the strength of our community and the relationships that sit at the heart of a Glenaeon education.

One visitor described it as the best Open Day she had ever attended - a wonderful reflection of the warmth, professionalism and care of our staff and the very special parent community spirit of our School.

Last Friday, our Middle Cove community came together for a very special afternoon honouring the memory and legacy of Jonas Stoebe.

Led by our Sports Captains, Finn C, Lenny T and Emily M, alongside our Culture Captains, the afternoon was a beautiful reflection of the initiative, care and spirit of our students. Through shared activities and reflective conversation, students and staff came together to remember Jonas.

The afternoon culminated in our Laps for Jonas, with students and staff starting at the Basketball courts and running or walking up to the top of the driveway and back, encouraging one another along the way. There were runners, walkers and talkers and some sore calf muscles the following days. It was a meaningful expression of connection and remembrance for the joy Jonas brought to our school community.

Das Leben ist zum Leben da — life is there to be lived.

Classes 1 - 8 recently enjoyed a wonderful day learning about the fascinating world of bees hosted by Class 5 and Class Teacher and beekeeper Jamie Loftus. Classes 1-3 walked to the Middle Cove campus to join Class 4-6 and later Year 7 and 8 students as they were introduced to the life and work of bees. This included getting a closer look at the equipment used by beekeepers. They watched a honey extraction demonstration and took part in hands-on activities, bringing the learning to life in a practical and engaging way. The afternoon concluded with a very welcomed feast of scones, cream and butter, followed by thoughtful questions and conversation with Jamie. It was a lovely opportunity for the students to deepen their understanding of these remarkable creatures and the important role they play in our natural world. Thank you to Jamie, teachers and parent volunteers who made such a memorable day possible!

The holiday chicken care roster for Middle Cove is now open. Please sign up here.

During the school holidays, our flock of hens depends on school families for daily care. Each visit involves a few simple and enjoyable tasks, including checking their food and water, collecting eggs and offering fresh greens. It is a lovely activity to share with children.

Families are also welcome to spend some extra time in the Middle Cove Garden during their visit. You might enjoy morning tea in the Garden Classroom, explore the rock platforms or follow the bush track down to Scott’s Creek.

If you need CIP hours, you can claim both the time spent caring for the chickens and your travel time to and from school for each visit.

Detailed care instructions will be sent to everyone who signs up. Thank you to everyone who helps care for our flock during the holidays. Bolt, Cloudy Jane, Clover, Curio, Eagle and Delta are very grateful for all the attention they receive from our wonderful school community.

Middle Cove Reception will remain open Monday to Friday, from 10am to 3pm throughout the Spring holiday period. Please also note that families are welcome to visit the Second-Hand Uniform Shop during these hours.

Please note that Castlecrag Reception will be closed during the holidays.

Thanks to the amazing vision of Walter and Marion Burley Griffin, we are fortunate to have a wealth of wonderful bushwalks right on the doorstep of our Castlecrag Campus. Each Friday afternoon during Term 2, Big Kindy went on very small walks to the Lookout Reserve where we happily picnicked and played. This term our walks have grown in length and difficulty, and each Friday for the past month we have been enthusiastically setting out in the early afternoon with water and lunch in our backpacks to enjoy the challenge of the rather long, but incredibly beautiful, Marion Mahony Griffin walk from the Bastion to Tower Reserve. After carefully descending some very steep stairs from the Bastion, we wind our way past the black bean tree (gathering pods for boat making at the Fair en route), past old Bush Turkey's mound and on into the rainforest. We then clamber up through the rocks to the stepping stones crossing adjacent to the waterfall guarded by a sculpted stone gargoyle (shh, careful now, we had better not wake him). At last we stop for a well earned rest and sip of our water on the steps that lead up to the Citadel and on into a liquid amber forest where the path is covered in jiggly, roly poly conkers. Finally we arrive at a little picnic stop beneath Tower Reserve. We spread out our picnic blankets, sing our blessing and enjoy our picnic lunch before taking time to have a well earned and very quiet little bush rest. Before returning to school the children are always very excited to enjoy a wonderfully rich and vibrant play on Castle Rock. This is the highest point in Castlecrag and from the Trig point one can see beyond Middle Harbour to the ocean. Each week our walk feels a little easier than the last but we always arrive back at school tired and satisfied. What a wonderful opportunity for energetic five and six year olds to have such a full, challenging and engaging immersion in natural bushland each week.

Class 1 have been enjoying the amazing outdoor classroom with Gardening Teacher Kate Flood. The new garden area has been beautifully developed and is already flourishing. They harvested tasty watermelon radishes, lettuce, snow peas and parsley, made rice balls and garden herb tea. The garden also has a wonderful library of garden, plant, animal, ecosystem and bee books to enjoy. Kate, Kai and Michelle all love being in the outdoor classroom with the students.

Year 9 and 10 Japanese students recently enjoyed an exciting cultural excursion to the Japan Foundation Sydney, where they participated in engaging workshops exploring Japanese language and culture. Students learned about traditional Japanese patterns and customs, gaining a deeper appreciation for Japan’s rich cultural heritage.

One of the highlights of the day was taking part in the fun and fast-paced Quiz Grand Prix, where students tested their knowledge and worked together in a friendly competition.

The excursion concluded with a shared meal at a local Japanese restaurant, Peko Peko, where students put their language skills into practice by ordering their meals in Japanese. The experience provided a valuable opportunity to use Japanese in a real-world setting while enjoying delicious authentic cuisine.

The day was a fantastic celebration of language learning, cultural discovery, and student participation, leaving everyone with wonderful memories and building confidence in their Japanese communication skills.

As our Year 10 students step into their senior school years, embracing greater independence, cultivating self-reliance and situational awareness becomes a vital part of their development. This term, as part of their PE and wellbeing curriculum, Year 10 have been participating in a practical Self-Defence and Personal Safety Workshop. The program focuses on building confidence, presence, and boundary-setting, aligning closely with our commitment to nurturing resilient and capable young adults. This workshop offers an invaluable space for students to discover their inner strength and refine their moral discernment as they enter a new phase of their school life.

Glenaeon is delighted to share that three students have received individual nominations, and students in two group performances have been nominated for possible inclusion in OnSTAGE 2027, the prestigious annual showcase of outstanding HSC Drama performances and individual projects.

Congratulations go to:

Sara H – Questions
Ava K – This is Acting
Sacha S – Punch

Congratulations also go to the following students for their group performances:

Callum B; Nicholas J; Indy MJ; and Charlotte W for Nuclear Family and

Valentino G; Sara H; Antonina S; and Sascha S for Devon.

We are incredibly proud of your creativity and collaborative efforts, and we congratulate you all on these well-deserved nominations.

Being nominated for OnSTAGE is a recognition of the exceptional talent, dedication and artistry demonstrated throughout the HSC Drama process.

OnSTAGE 2027 will be held at the Seymour Centre from Saturday 6 February to Friday 12 February 2027, showcasing some of the finest HSC Drama works from across New South Wales.

Congratulations to all our nominated students and the teachers and families who supported them on this remarkable journey. We look forward to hearing more about the final selections.

As your child approaches the end of their High School journey, we’d love to help them stay connected with Glenaeon beyond graduation. For the Class of 2026, their Glenaeon school email address will be deactivated by the end of November, so now is the perfect time to join our GlenX Alumni Community.

We kindly ask you to encourage your child to complete the short GlenX Snapform, giving consent to join our alumni database. This will ensure they continue to receive:

• News and updates from the school
• Invitations to alumni events and reunions
• Opportunities to stay engaged with the Glenaeon community

Class of 2025 GlenX Sign-Up Form

Your child may be finishing their studies, but they will always be part of our Glenaeon family. Other ways to stay connected:

• Join our Facebook Alumni Page
• Connect on LinkedIn and list Glenaeon as their school

Together, we can help our graduates stay connected, build lifelong friendships, and continue to make a positive impact on the world.

We look forward to welcoming the children with a lovely program of Spring activities for the coming holidays.
Please see the daily program here.

More details and bookings on our website here.

After six wonderful years, I wanted to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you before the shop on the Castlecrag campus closes its doors on Wednesday 23rd September. It has been such a privilege to be part of this community, and I am so grateful to every family who has visited, ordered online, shared the shop with a friend or simply stopped in for a chat. Thank you for supporting local, for choosing sustainable products that nurture creativity and imagination and for the many wonderful conversations we have shared over the years.

The good news is that Grassroots Eco Store is very much continuing online at grassrootsecostore.com.au you know and love. And in some ways it has never been more convenient: with a free weekly delivery service available from the start of Term 4 to the Castlecrag reception, Middle Cove reception and Willoughby Preschool reception, your orders can be delivered directly to school each week. Just put your order in online and it will be waiting for you to collect from school reception.

If you would like to visit the shop one last time, I would love to see you. There are some lovely in-store specials available this week too.

Final Week – Opening Hours:

• Monday 21 September: 8:30am—3:45pm
• Tuesday 22 September: 11:30am—3:45pm
• Wednesday 23 September: 8:30am—3:45pm

Visit the Castlecrag shop before 23rd September or continue shopping anytime at grassrootsecostore.com.au

And of course this isn't really a goodbye. I will still be here as a Glenaeon parent and I look forward to seeing you all around the campus.

The CIP allocates 32 hours of involvement per year to each family with the option for families to pay a levy in lieu of volunteering at numerous tasks and events. A CIP levy of $160 per term per family is charged up front to school accounts. When voluntary work is done and registered via the CIP service record form, it is credited to their account at the rate of $20 per hour (i.e. 8 hours per term gives you your full credit). You must note your work on the form by the due date (CIP points to be submitted by the deadline, Wednesday 23rd September).

Credits may be accumulated during the calendar year and you don’t have to do the full 8 hours each term for the accumulation to occur. Some families make their entire contribution for the year in a single term by attending a school camp for example. Credits are not carried over from one year to the next.

For families who pay via Direct Debit, your final debit in November will be reduced by any CIP credits that have accumulated during the year (you will receive a statement shortly before showing the amount of your CIP credits).

For families who prepay, you can either elect to leave the credit on your account to offset against the following year’s CIP charges, or if you prefer a refund you can email accounts@glenaeon.nsw.edu.auat the end of the year with your bank account details requesting the refund.

Some of the tasks that attract full CIP credits are class parent, school council member, serving on a committee, running the parent library, and attendance at class camp. Other tasks that may gain CIP credits on an hourly basis include classroom assistance, library support, baking for school events, voluntary work at the preschool, helping with repairs and maintenance, supporting twilight concerts, and assisting in the Biodynamic garden. Note this is not the full extent of activities that will attract CIP credits. If you have a query about the eligibility of a certain task contact the Daily Operations Manager and/or refer to your Parent Handbook.

As we come to the end of Term 3, the GPA would like to wish all Glenaeon families a happy final week of term and a wonderful spring holiday break. Thank you to the many parents, carers, and staff who have supported GPA activities, conversations, and planning this term. There is a lot happening across the school, and we are grateful for the energy, time and care people continue to contribute.

Huw Morris (GPA Chair) & Alex Pampel (GPA Secretary)
Glenaeon Parents Association (GPA)
GPA in GLO  |  Contact the GPA  |  GPA on website

The Glenaeon Family Fair is on 14th November, proudly hosted by the GPA in conjunction with the School. Please see the Fair updates in this newsletter.

The GPA Sunset Social held recently was a wonderful success. Thank you to the parents and carers who came along, shared a bite and a drink, met new people, and helped make the evening feel relaxed and welcoming. 

Garden, Gather & Connect is another GPA-supported opportunity for parents and carers to come together in a simple and practical way. It is a chance to spend time outdoors, contribute to the life of the school, and connect with other parents while helping cultivate the new Middle Cove campus garden. Please see the poster below for details about how to get involved...

🪴 GPA Garden, Gather & Connect ☕️
📍 Mondays during term, 3.30–4.45pm @ Garden Classroom, Middle Cove Campus
👨‍🌾 Families from all campuses are welcome!

For the past two weeks, parents and students in the community have been coming together after school for the GPA Garden, Gather & Connect. It is a relaxed opportunity to garden, connect with others in the community and enjoy a cuppa. There are lots of ways to join in: help with gardening, work on a craft project, spend time with the chickens, or simply relax and chat. 🌱☕️🐓
These sessions have been a wonderful way to connect, with families helping to weed paths, move mulch and enjoy freshly brewed chai. There are also exciting projects underway, including a new area being regenerated with endemic local plants. Lane Cove Council Community Nursery has generously donated 40 plants for the school community to plant. The last session for this term is Monday 22 September, 3.30–4.45pm. Come along when you can — stay for a little while or the whole afternoon! Please sign in at the office before heading down to the garden. Children are very welcome, provided they remain closely supervised.

If you would like your participation to count towards Community Involvement Program (CIP) hours, you will need a completed Working With Children Check and Parent and Volunteer Child Safety Declaration Form.

Sylvia Robinson
GPA Steering Committee Member, Little Kindy & Class 4 Parent 

All 2026 + 2027 Term dates for K-12, Preschool and Playgroups can be found on our website, click here .

Our Newsletter is published Week 1,3,5,7 and 9 in term time.
Please see our publishing schedule for exact dates.

The Willoughby Fauna Fair is back at Willoughby Park on Sunday 20 September, with a new Nature Makers Market, alongside wildlife encounters, live music and hands-on activities for all ages. 

Now in its 21st year, the free community event brings together wildlife experts, environmental organisations and community groups, with activities focused on local wildlife, habitat and biodiversity. 

The new Nature Makers Market will feature artists and makers whose work is inspired by wildlife, plants and the natural world. 

Willoughby City Council Mayor Tanya Taylor said the Fauna Fair encourages people to connect with nature while learning how small actions at home can make a positive difference for local wildlife.  

"The Willoughby Fauna Fair is a great opportunity for our community to experience our native wildlife, meet the passionate people working to protect it and discover practical ways to create more wildlife-friendly neighbourhoods," Mayor Taylor said. 

“The new Nature Makers Market adds another element to the event, bringing together nature, art and creativity.” 

The program includes live wildlife presentations from Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, music by Amelie Ecology, native plant workshops presented by Bush to Bowl and displays showcasing innovative nest boxes and artificial habitats. 

Children can get creative in the craft area, including screen printing their own tote bag for a gold coin donation. Local native plants will also be available to purchase for residents wanting to add habitat and biodiversity to their gardens. 

Council’s bushland management and restoration team will share information about wildlife monitoring, bush regeneration, community bird surveys, fire management and other environmental programs. 

Other participants include BirdLife Australia, the Cat Protection Society, local community gardens, Bushcare groups and environmental organisations. 

Helping put sustainability into action, all food stalls will use reusable cups and plates, reducing single-use waste and reinforcing the event’s message of caring for our natural environment. 

Event details

Willoughby Fauna Fair
Date: Sunday 20 September 2026 
Time: 10am to 3pm 
Location: Willoughby Park 

Entry is free. 

For more information, visit here. 

Join Parsifal College for an early childhood enrichment experience in The Art of Caring — an in-person creative seminar for anyone caring for children in the earliest years.

Across three days, participants will move through the practical, creative activities at the heart of Steiner early childhood work: painting, singing, puppetry, felting, wax modelling, nutrition and baking, gardening, and well-being and self-care practices. Each day builds skills you can bring directly into your teaching, your childcare setting, or your own home.

This is an adults-only education experience, open to educators, parents, carers and playgroup leaders — no prior experience necessary.

When: 29 September – 1 October 2026
Where: Lorien Novalis Steiner School, Dural NSW
Format: In-person | Join for 1, 2, or all 3 days
Fee: $110 – $550 (incl. GST, includes delicious catering)

Places are limited, so we encourage you to register early to secure your preferred day or days.

BOOK HERE

An online masterclass with Maggie Dent & The Man Cave CEO Ben Vasiliou
Join us live Wednesday, 23rd September from 1pm (Sydney time) or watch the replay in your own time.

The digital world did not invent the idea that boys and men must be strong, successful, dominant, in control and emotionally tough. However, it has certainly amplified it, especially for young men. 

We only need look at the statistics around boys’ literacy, school readiness, behaviour, loneliness, men’s mental health, suicide and male violence to see the cost of these rigid, persistent stereotypes.

So, what do today’s boys really need from us, to move beyond these narrow ideas of boyhood so they can one day grow into healthy, happy, respectful, accountable, whole-hearted and connected men? 

In this masterclass, Maggie Dent is joined by another ‘boy champion’, CEO of The Man Cave Ben Vasiliou, who has his ear to the ground when it comes to our boys and young men, having worked with more than 110,000 Aussie lads. 

In his new book, Better Man: Reclaiming masculinity for good, Ben carves a new path for guiding our boys and men to make meaningful changes so they can become the best versions of themselves. 

In this lunchtime session, Maggie and Ben will explore:

• Why the OECD has said there is a ‘boy crisis’ and what it means.
• The real voices of our tween and teen boys — what Ben’s hearing from boys about their main concerns, and how adults can help build optimism and positivity.
• The 'man box' — are these traditional social norms persisting or shifting for the today’s adolescents?
• Why so many boys are struggling with gambling challenges.
• What messages boys are hearing about being a man and how this might be contributing to the increased teen boy loneliness and social isolation.
• Why boys create masks on the bridge to adulthood and what role they play.
• The root causes of disruptive behaviour, especially in terms of boys’ sense of self or self-worth, and around fear of failure.
• Why boys tend to struggle in silence (especially when they’re really struggling) and how we can change their perspective on help-seeking behaviours.
• Preparing and guiding boys for their emerging sexual awakening in healthy ways.
• Ben’s three foundations for a healthy identity that give a boy permission to “feel deeply, think critically and act responsibly”.

Register here

Biodynamic Agriculture Festival for Linuwel Steiner School

All families and individuals are warmly invited to a Biodynamic Festival at Linuwel Steiner School, celebrating the school's long-standing commitment to biodynamic agriculture. Led by biodynamics practitioner and educator Sandra Frain, the day will be filled with hands-on learning and fun — fertilising the land and water, planting flowers and grasses for local wildlife, and making a remedial tonic for the school's trees.

All ages and interest levels welcome; no experience necessary. There'll be take-homes for everyone, and plenty of time for story, song and connection along the way.

Sunday 11 October 2026
8am – 1pm
Linuwel Steiner School, East Maitland NSW
$130 per family (incl. GST)

Full details and bookings