Inner Seed of Strength

Each week a seasonal verse is included in the Pabulum. One purpose is to help ground ourselves at the particular time of year. To be present. It can also be used as something to meditate on. During the long drive to work it could act as a guard against the ever pressing thoughts that crowd the brain. 

This week’s verse speaks metaphorically of the sun and the precious gift we have inside each of us, keeping us strong until the time to radiate out into the world. We can see that same preciousness that lies within each child that we care for. From infants to 18 year olds. At the right times, in their stage of development, we support, strengthen, defend our children then send them out into the world. It is our task to raise our children consciously and with love and care. Providing for them what is needed at each stage, through our goodness and humanity, our boundaries and our removal of hindrances. 

This parenting task is special. Sometimes it drags us down and hopefully it also lifts us up. Our school community and the many activities and opportunities to learn and develop, as people and as parents, can be a source of support and also of wisdom. 

As the verse below indicates, take the journey with your children, carrying a seed within your deepest self, ‘a thing most rich and strange’ that lives on in you through nights of winter, dark and cold, knowing that, in time, a beauteous flower shall unfold! 

Donna

Donna Bieundurry was present on the first day of Parkerville Steiner College and was instrumental in establishing the new school. It is a big event to be farewelling Donna as she embarks on a new phase of her education career.

Donna, together with Katie, the first Class teacher at PSC, got the school off to a positive and successful start. The first Class 7s were in the Music Room at Silver Tree where compromises and adjustments were needed. So Donna’s previous experiences as a Head of School and leader helped to navigate that period so well. 

In the new buildings, Donna has gone on to forge the Wellbeing and Learning Support roles with wisdom and with genuine care for the students. The school has tripled its numbers since that first ceremony and Donna has been on the journey all the way. Loved by the students and highly respected by her colleagues. 

Donna has been appointed to a role guiding and teaching people in the Berry Street Education Model. This approach is through a Trauma-Informed Positive Education lens that offers approaches for the classroom that are healing, with proven positive psychology interventions that offer opportunities for growth. Donna will excel in this work because she is following her passion and has within her so much to offer other educators and schools who are striving to both heal and to help grow our young people, to reach their potential. 

Donna will leave at the end of week 5. Please take time to thank her for her work. She will remain a parent in our school so she is not lost to us.

Thank you Donna.

Soon we will recruit staff to fill the gap being left by Donna and we assure everyone that our commitment to Wellbeing and Learning Support is steadfast. 

With gratitude

Bruce Lee
School Administrator

And when the golden summer sun grows weaker in our skies,
I know it really does not die - it just goes through a change.
For it has given its very self to me, in me it lies
As seed within my deepest heart - a thing most rich and strange.

This sun-seed - I must guard it, precious in my heart as gold.
It will live on in me through nights of winter, dark and cold,
Till lo, in spring a radiant, beauteous flower shall unfold!

by Michael Hedley Burton / verse no. 27