In Term 1, students sat the annual NAPLAN tests. Our school conducts the test with lightness and brings them to the children as an adventure rather than a chore. We recognise that in order to maintain our freedom to bring the Steiner Curriculum to the children unhindered, to receive money from our society to be able to offer a holistic and comprehensive curriculum, we need to demonstrate, in some way, that standards of literacy and numeracy are being met. The very special freedom we have, to focus on education, to not be assessment driven, is a privilege we should hold dear and protect.

This year's results were shared with families earlier this term. NAPLAN covers Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Spelling and Grammar. Most students in Classes 5, 7 & 9 sat the tests and in all cases the class average was located in the “strong” proficiency level. This means “the students’ results meet challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing”. The results are very similar to previous years and given that we don’t “teach to the test” and sometimes the content of the NAPLAN test does not match the timing of our curriculum compared to the mainstream curriculum, we are always reassured that we are on the right track when it comes to literacy and numeracy. Teachers are aware of the results and may use them to make adjustments, including extra support where necessary. 

Open Day

Many of you will have recently attended the Open Day at the Bibra Lake campus. It was a fantastic event, which showcased the outstanding curriculum on offer at both campuses.

Next year, Silver Tree and Parkerville Steiner College will come together to host a combined Open Day for both campuses. This event will serve as an excellent opportunity to celebrate our beautiful school with family, friends and the wider community, sharing the wonderful experiences and learning opportunities available to all our students.

Save the Date!

Get ready for a fun-filled evening! We invite PSC families and friends to join us on Friday 3rd November for our inaugural band night. Set against a balmy summer evening, we invite you to lay out your picnic blankets and be thoroughly entertained by student performances. Be sure to mark this date in your diaries – more information will follow soon.

The Peace of Wild Things

Thank you Mark Phillips for sharing this poem. A reminder to appreciate the moment and not live into fear of the future.

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world and am free.

Wendell Berry

With gratitude

Bruce Lee
School Administrator