1

School NewsletterTerm 3 Week 3, 2016

IMPORTANT DATESPlease see our online website calendar TERM 3Sun 30 Jul Melbourne Open Houses1-5 Aug Class 8 CampThu 11 Aug Debating CompetitionThu 25 Aug Steiner Curriculum day NO SCHOOL classes P-10Wed 7 Sep Annual Music Concert Thu 15 Sep Last day Term 3

Term 3 Week 3, July 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Dear Parents,

The education of our children at Sophia Mundi and their learning experiences are the reasons why we devote ourselves to parenting and to teaching. I/We all wish to see our children/ youth go out into the world as confident, respectful and willing participants in society with whatever journey that they may choose for themselves. We hope that we have been able to impart to them some of the wisdom of the world through our experiences and our knowledge. Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they participate and sometimes they don’t. Nevertheless we are relentless in our pursuit to engage the students in the wonder of learning and to bring to them experiences that will resound positively in their life’s memories.

I really would like us to see education as a collaborative effort between the parents and teachers for the developmental benefit of the students. While the school has clearly identifiable rules and curriculum, each family has their own individual set of rules and expectations. Each child therefore has to amalgamate their dual set of parameters and apply them to their day to day life.

With this collaboration in mind I would like us as a community to begin a healthy dialogue around technology use. Earlier this year, some parents approached me with some concerns about our use of WiFi technology in the school and recently the management of mobile phones on campus has been an issue. I have begun some research into this topic and, whilst there is no definitive evidence about the effects of WiFi technology, there is enough concern to warrant some preventative action. With the agreement and support of the College of Teachers, we have decided that the WiFi routers in the Primary School will be turned off when they are not being used by the teachers.

Next newsletter admissions deadline: Tue 9 August

From Calendar of the Soul, by Rudolf Steiner

Grasping new sensationsSingle minded in full draught of spirit birth,

Soul clarity is filling,Bewildering sprouting world becoming

With my thinking’s will shaping.

The next Parents and Friends Meeting is Tuesday 16 August. We invite parents and Alumni to join us at 7pm in the Library. At this meeting we would like to explore discussions on technology in our environment and our Open Day. With the increased availability of technology invading our (children, parents and teachers) lives we would like to explore strategies we as a community can implement. This PFA meeting will (we hope) galvanise and springboard our community into action. We are planning to hold an evening for the community where we can be build healthy boundaries as we support our adolescents. I’m told the most critical time to address Internet addiction and usage is between the ages of 13-15.

As always, please don’t hesitate to bring any concerns or questions to me, so that we can resolve them as quickly as possible. Although I’ll try to keep you up to date with the many activities which happen here at school, I am sure that much remains unacknowledged but is nevertheless important in building the culture of learning and community.

Warm regards, Fiona

2Term 3 Week 3, July 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

NEW IMAgE CONSENTThere are still a number of families who are yet to return the image consent to the office. If we can please have these returned as soon as possible it will make the promotion of our school and highlighting the work done by your children all the more easier for us.

AROuD THE TRAPS:Class 5: Exploring Ancient Egypt with all its magic, colours and stories. The children are mesmerised by the images and myths, the significance of the Nile and the wisdom of these cultures as an evolutionary force.

Preps have been building inside and out in the sandpit, and creating claves (musical wood sticks) in woodwork which they sourced on their many adventures along the Yarra River.

MuSIC SuRvEySThe Music Department is seeking your input and thoughts on our Instrumental Music Program. Please take a ‘cuppa’ and spend 10 minutes sharing your reflections / aspirations with us through our survey monkey link. This information will help us renew our instrumental music offering.

CHILD SAFE SCHOOL COMMuNICATIONOn 26 November 2015, Victorian Parliament passed the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Bill 2015 to introduce child safe standards into law. Subsequently, Ministerial Order No. 870 was gazetted in January 2016. The Order details specific actions that schools must take to meet the child safe standards. These standards will promote cultures where protecting children from abuse is part of everyday thinking and practice in organisations.

To ensure compliance with The Order and in line with the School Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy, all staff employed at Sophia Mundi Steiner School (SMSS) must now undertake the Department of Education and Training online eLearning Module, Protecting Children - Mandatory Reporting and other Obligations.

SMSS has also set up a working group that has the responsibility to review and monitor our procedures and policies in light of these standards. These staff are:Dianne Paull – PrimaryJohn Rauris – SecondaryFiona Couttie – Aftercare and Parent CollegeRaquel McConnell - Welfare

CANTEEN NEWSBette Poulakos will be our new Canteen person Wednesday 10 Aug or possibly the following week.

3Term 3 Week 3, July 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

SCHOOL OFFICE OPEN HOuRSThe Office is open from 8:30am – 4pm. If you have any questions or concerns you would like to raise or discuss with the admin team, please do so within these hours.

PARENT COLLEgEParent College meets every Thursday morning in The Cottage (aftercare room) from the 2nd week of Term, and we warmly welcome the circle of wisdom and openness that Parents bring to this space. Please feel free to drop in for a visit. It really is a great opportunity to partake of the nourishment that our children enjoy in their Steiner education. This past week we read and considered the Grimm’s Hanzel and Gretal where we explored the themes, deepening our understanding of the many layers of storytelling and drawing connections to our shared experience.Next week, we will look at another Grimm’s Story in particular through the light of Anthrosophy, Jennifer will lead this discussion. We are also pleased to offer child minding for parents who wish to attend Parent’s College. We are able to accommodate small children in the library space for the duration of the Parents College. Please contact the pfa@sophiamunid.gsi.edu.au or let Reception know if you wish to avail of this service. Hope to see you there.

INTERSCHOOL DEbATINg: Once again, our debating team, composed of newcomers to the sport, impressed their audience.Their beautifully paced clear articulation and assured expression won comments from the parents of other schools.Maddie Chadwick from Class 8, Jasper Bennett-Conigrave from Class 6 and Noah Furman from Class 9 showed an ability to work together and prepare a sound argument with an excellent grasp of the challenging issue; ‘That we should not ban Internet gambling’.Thankyou to the teachers debating team; Robert Stemp, Jonathon Shaw and Tom Hungerford. The students enjoy practising against such a skilled and entertaining team. Fiona Couttie

PFA uPDATEThe PFA will have its next meeting on Tuesday 16 August 7pm, in particular we will be discussing the issue of the children’s use of technology, at the request of the parent body. Please come along and join in the discussion. SPRINg FAIRHello Everyone, it is that time of year again when we look towards preparations for our Spring Fair which will be held this year on Sunday 6 November.We are looking for a few parents to help with the organization of the fair, in particular Sustainability, Marketing and Market Stalls. If you are interested in helping out please drop us a line and we can talk through ideas.We have suggested a list of stalls for class Parents to run this Spring, if you would like to talk further please contact us via email or mobile, or arrange a time for a quick catch-up. Please email springfair@sophiamundi.gsi.edu.au or grab Angel (cl 2) or Jane (cl 1 & 3) in the playground. Class 1: Cake and Coffee StallClass 2: Wood Fired PizzaClass 3: Sausages & Veggie BurgersClass 4: Soft ServeClass 5: Silent AuctionClass 6: Children’s ActivitiesClass 7: Children’s ActivitiesClass 8: Children’s ActivitiesClass 9: Children’s ActivitiesClass 10: Coconut ShieClass 11: Own Student run stall

AuF WIEDERSEHEN LukASOn Tuesday this week we farewelled Lukas Werndorfer. Lukas began his journey wth Sophia Mundi in July 2015. Over the past 12 months, he has participated in camps, festivals and events held by Sophia Mundi. His humour, wit and smile will be greatly missed, but we all wish him the best for his future travels, and hope to one day see him again.

4Term 3 Week 3, July 2016 www.sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Fitzroy Foot and Ankle Clinicwww.fitzpod.com9485 8000

Podiatryfor all the family:

­ orthotics ­ sports injuries ­ children's feet

­ toenails, corns, callous ­ ingrown toenails

Come along and join in the fun at our

2016 Trivia Night

When: Saturday 20th August, 7pm

Where: Sophia Mundi School Hall Sophia Mundi Steiner School, St Mary's Abbotsford Convent 1 St Helier’s Street, Abbotsford

Theme: “Fairy Tales”

There will be prizes for best costumes!

BYO Plate to share and Drinks (a small corkage fee will be charged)

Please invite your friends and family along to join us for a social night out. The more the merrier!

We will have rounds of Trivia along with Live and Silent Auctions and other fun games.

All proceeds from the night will go towards our new office.

Tickets On Sale Now

$15 each $20 each on the night

If you have any questions please contact Fereshteh Zamani on 0420 313 720 or the kinder office on 9417 2537.

Come along and join in the fun at our

2016 Trivia Night

When: Saturday 20th August, 7pm

Where: Sophia Mundi School Hall Sophia Mundi Steiner School, St Mary's Abbotsford Convent 1 St Helier’s Street, Abbotsford

Theme: “Fairy Tales”

There will be prizes for best costumes!

BYO Plate to share and Drinks (a small corkage fee will be charged)

Please invite your friends and family along to join us for a social night out. The more the merrier!

We will have rounds of Trivia along with Live and Silent Auctions and other fun games.

All proceeds from the night will go towards our new office.

Tickets On Sale Now

$15 each $20 each on the night

If you have any questions please contact Fereshteh Zamani on 0420 313 720 or the kinder office on 9417 2537.

NORTH WEST OF NOWHEREOne ute, two teenagers and a long

road ahead. No looking back now.

Wyatt and Nella are 16 and from the middle of nowhere. Wyatt’s in love with a girl who doesn’t love him back and Nella just wants to escape from the small town gossip. Enter Cuz. He’s just got out of jail and knows a good time when he sees one. Desperate to fit in, Wyatt tags along with Nella and Cuz and together they pile into Cuz’s ute headed one way for Sydney. Nella’s got her heart set on the big smoke and a whole new life, Cuz has other ideas and Wyatt can’t help thinking they should all just turn back now.

NORTH WEST OF NOWHERE is the next instalment from the team behind the multi award-winning shows CHOPPED LIVER and BODY ARMOUR, which have been seen by almost 20,000 people in over 200 communities, schools and prisons across Australia.

NORTH WEST OF NOWHERE is raw, honest and takes a fresh approach to raising awareness of sexual health and the importance of respectful sexual relationships. Written for secondary school audiences from a uniquely Indigenous perspective, young people will relate to Wyatt and Nella as they journey from their teenage dreams to proud young adults ready for the world.