High School
Class 9 - Ecology
Radishes are a fast-growing root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family. This season, we planted four different varieties, each offering its own unique flavour, colour, and size. They're a speedy addition to the garden - ready to harvest in less than 5 weeks from seed. With such a generous harvest, we had to get creative with how to use them all. A quick pickle, stirred through a simple fried rice, turned out to be a delicious way to finish off Term 1!
Alex McLeod
High School Science & Maths Teacher
Class 9 Autobiography Main Lesson
In class 9, students complete an English Main Lesson called Autobiography. They learn what an autobiography is, I read extracts from a variety of autobiographies to them, they choose an autobiography to read in part and share an extract from it in pairs (in interview format) and they write their own mini autobiography which includes the following stories:
- How My Parents Met
- My Birth Story
- Baby/ toddler years
- Kindergarten stories
- Primary School Memories
- Early High School Highlights
BONUS STORY - this is an extended story that they remember in detail so they can write it using a beautiful depth of descriptive detail. This is often a family holiday, an adventure they have had or a significant injury.
Each day, we sit in our storytelling circle and share our stories. Class 9B are currently in this main lesson, and for our "Birth Story", Indi and Terezka made delicious vanilla cupcakes with vanilla icing for us to eat while we shared our "Birth Day" stories in our circle.
We were then treated to our first Autobiography share from Livia and Grace, who read from and spoke to us about "Mao's Last Dancer" by Li Cunxin. Pictured is another example of an Autobiography that was also shared with us by Harrie and Mark - "Rising Heart" by Aminata Conteh-Biger.
Behind the students, on the board, is the variety of places and countries our students have indicated that they have family heritage. A wide-ranging selection enhancing the message that everyone has a unique story and heritage to share.
Liesl Barnett
English and Financial Literacy Teacher
CLASS 12 PROJECTS
Orlando Saikip-Ricciardo
Hi, my name is Orlando Saikip-Ricciardo, and I am a current year 12 student at Perth Waldorf School. At the age of just 13, I grew an obsession with muscular and lean physiques and wanted to obtain one myself. My journey began by just following along with home workouts on YouTube, in which I was able to make progress that I was quite happy with. After seeing signs of improvement, I became hooked on fitness and eventually joined a gym to begin routine weight training. As most gym goers around me, I was exposed to fitness related social media online which often displayed very impressive physiques, and some which could only be achieved through the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Over time, I found that exposure to these body images was skewing my perception of an impressive physique, and I often found myself wondering what it would be like to use PEDs myself, and I felt that the goal I set to achieve was not naturally attainable. This got me thinking as to how other people who go to the gym like me are affected by this increase of steroid use and acceptance. As the gym is a big part of my life, I knew I had to relate it to my year 12 Project so that I would be speaking with passion. This led me to my topic question:
“What is behind the increased acceptance and availability of Performance Enhancing Drugs in bodybuilding, and how has this impacted men interested in building strength and muscle naturally?”
While scouting research into the topic, I have learnt that increased muscular male body images within society can induce Muscle Dysmorphia on those interested in recreational bodybuilding. Muscle Dysmorphia is a body dysmorphic disorder that can create feelings of dissatisfaction within one's physique and can lead to depression and eating disorders. This can also play as a factor that leads to steroid use; however, Muscle Dysmorphia may not subside after steroid use and is actually higher in PED users than compared to non-users.
Delving into this topic also led me into researching about how steroids are purchased and acquired through online markets. I found that Australia almost solely relies on internet purchases for steroid imports and I was shocked to learn how unreliable and unsafe these markets are, and that it is probable that the product is a fake or has been swapped for something completely unspecified. Many of these black markets also actively promote the benefits of steroids and downplay or rarely include information about side effects, which only increases the risks associated with them.
As for my practical component, I’m looking to put myself through the diet and routine of a natural bodybuilder before competition. The more research I put into it, the harder it seems to achieve but this only fuels my determination and willingness to get it done. Being competition ready means having very low body fat and a considerably muscular physique. As of writing this, I have been dieting for some months now and have already lost 12 kilos which has vastly improved my self-confidence and helped me in getting a taste of the dedication needed for natural bodybuilding.
I hope that my Project brings light to the hidden epidemic of societal steroid acceptance and highlights reasons that could lead to PED use, while also sharing what it’s like to be a natural bodybuilder preparing for competition.