Perth Waldorf School eNewsletter

High School

Class 7A Wardong Play Her three Kings

Class Seven Wardong worked hard together on the play of 'Her Three Kings". The play looked at the biography of Eleanore of Aquitaine, who was born in 1122 and lived to the age of eighty-two. Sixty seven of those years were spent as a Queen, first of France and then of England.

We brought to life her first marriage to King Louis of France, whom 15 years later divorced. Only to marry Henry of Anjou soon to be King of England. When he died in 1189, Queen Eleanor was instrumental in crowing England's next King - Richard the Lionheart, The most beloved of her children.

We would like to thank Sarah Boyle for her expertise and creativity in pulling this play together. To Minoli, Elena, Jodi and Sam for helping paint our beautiful castle backdrop and to Renae for being there to support the students.

Michelle Guffie
Class 7 W Teacher

Class 8 Trip to Hovea Falls

In Week 5, the Perth Waldorf School Class 8 students joined the Parkerville Steiner College Class 8 students for a walk in the beautiful Perth Hills, along the bridal trail to Victoria Falls and then on to Hovea Falls. It was a beautiful day with sunshine and only a small rain shower. The water rushed over the rocks, and there were many fun moments of laughter, slipping and sliding over the rocks, and lots of exploring and climbing of rocks and boulders. It was beautiful to see our 8's enthusiastically walking the trail, chatting with known friends and making new friends across our two campuses.

Thank you to all the staff who accompanied us: Josh, Shanelle, Natalia, Kate and Joanna. It was a fabulous day, and we thoroughly enjoyed the company of our class 8's!

Donna Kerr
Year 7 & 8 Coordinator

Class Twelve Cosmology Main Lesson

Across the first six weeks of this term, the two Class 12 groups have completed their Cosmology Main Lessons. During these three weeks together, we have explored how humanity views the cosmos, and how these views have evolved over time, alongside the emerging human consciousness.

Each class engaged in conversations about societies and ideas that helped them explore the evolution of humanity’s perspectives of the cosmos. Focusing on their Creation Stories, connection to spirit and interactions with the environment allowed student to empathise with people with vastly different views to theirs and learn from their ideas. They explored ideas like how the night sky has been used by different cultures, the metaphysical aspects of time and space, and Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity. Through studying the lens with which people view the cosmos and exploring their sympathies and antipathies, students were able to get a deeper understanding of why they interact with the people and space around them in the way they do.

Through looking at the elements that shape the cosmology of a society or culture, students can start to acknowledge what has shaped their view of the Universe, and share this openly with their class. In small groups they engaged in an activity of world-building, where they developed their own small societies, based on the environment around them and interactions with their classmates’ societies. As a result of this three-week study, the class was inspired to ask more questions of themselves, their classmates, and the cosmos, in a way that is authentic to their journey as a Waldorf student.

Brett Kranz-Little
High School Physics Teacher

Class 12 Projects

ABRIL AYORA MOLANO

I'm April, and my goal for this project was to find a topic that would remain relevant throughout my life. I wanted to invest a year's worth of research and thinking into something that would help me develop a sharper mind than most 18-year-olds as well as connecting all aspects of my life: mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. After wrestling with many ideas centered around mindset, I realized that mindset itself was too broad. So, I narrowed it down to a specific question:

“How does embracing an optimistic attitude lead to an improvement in our quality of life?”

I define optimism as the tendency to hold positive expectations for the future. Optimism is not just about seeing the glass as half full; it’s about believing that our actions can lead to positive outcomes. This mindset encourages individuals to pursue goals and persist through challenges, fostering personal growth and resilience. The importance of studying optimism lies in understanding how mental mindsets shape our lives. By advocating for better education around self-improvement, we can equip people with the tools to cultivate optimism and harness its benefits. Teaching optimism can empower individuals to approach life with essentials skills and offer more opportunities.

Quality of life refers to the degree to which an individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy life events. It encompasses both physical well-being and mental satisfaction. Optimism plays a crucial role in enhancing quality of life by promoting healthier lifestyle choices, reducing stress, and improving emotional well-being

In essence, optimism and quality of life are deeply interconnected. By fostering a positive mindset, we can improve not only our outlook on the future but also our overall well-being. Embracing optimism can lead to a richer, more vibrant life where individuals feel empowered to achieve their goals and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

So where does this positive thinking occur? Our thoughts cause emotions, which cause actions and actions cause behavior. This seems logical but how?

Our brain is the most powerful engine, and the best part is we control it.

Some interesting research I wish to share looks neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change and adapt throughout your life. In essence this means that the brain is not fixed, it can rewire, repair, and transform hundreds of times. Examples of neuroplasticity that you would be familiar with range from learning a new language to recovery in response to a sensory impairment or injury. Habits can be formed this way too and my research taught me the ‘wiring’ that our brains are capable of when we learn new things and change our habits. It can be truly transformative in changing our outlook and behaviour to be more positive or optimistic. Negative thinking patterns can be ‘rewired’ to form new, positive ones that will spur on better possibilities via this awareness.

Our thoughts ignite our emotions, and this causes our actions, which can be both positive and negative, depending on our mindset. It all sounds quite simple until you realise that many of us struggle with being intentional and reframing our negative thoughts. I’ve learned that it can be easier for many of us to stay trapped in negative thinking because of this. This is why I believe optimism can be OUR first step to become capable individuals in controlling our life's direction, using our thoughts!

For my practical I have made a video of interviewing strangers of Perth and asking what optimism means to the. I have also made an educational animation video where I continue to expand on some of the themes I discussed here and I would like to share it with our community. Please go to the link and watch my video and leave some feedback to support my project this year.

The Science of Optimism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfESOVmJn3M&t=1s

Optimism on the Go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfCQxE2mgvg&t=1s

Thanks for taking the time to read ?