From the Administrator
Supporting Children’s Development
The recently released Australian Early Development Census revealed that nearly one in four children in WA are starting school without key readiness skills — such as the ability to follow instructions, express themselves clearly, or interact positively with peers. We are told that these findings echo what many teachers are noticing across the country: a concerning rise in developmental vulnerability.
WA Primary Principals Association president Niel Smith attributed much of the decline to growing technology use. “Kids are regularly sitting at a restaurant, or in a pram, watching things on iPads instead of interacting socially. That impacts a child’s social development. We see fewer parents taking kids to libraries and reading them books, because it’s easy to put Bluey on the iPad and they get amused that way.
Our school participates in this data collection process, and while the data provides valuable insights, it also confirms what we know through daily experience — that strong human-to-human connections are essential to healthy child development.
Healthy child development is a foundational principle of Steiner education. Our approach places genuine human relationships at the center of learning. In a time when children are increasingly exposed to screens in their earliest years - often in place of books, play, or conversation, we consciously create an environment where authentic connection, imagination, and meaningful activity are prioritised.
We can view the Early Development Census as a reminder of our responsibility to nurture the whole child: intellectually, emotionally and socially, through real-world experiences and relational learning that build confidence, resilience and curiosity. These qualities are cultivated in the early years and deepened through high school, where a focus on developmentally aligned curriculum and experiences supports a growing sense of purpose, independence and engagement with the world.
Winter Festivals
One such nurturing experience is the Winter Festival, which is deeply embedded in our school as an opportunity for families to pause, reflect, and carry light into the darkness of the winter season. The spiral walk invites quiet contemplation; the fire gathers us in community warmth. The lanterns symbolically allow us to carry our own light forward.
In a fast-paced world, the Winter Festival reminds us that stillness, reflection, and community have a vital place in all our lives. May your family’s experience of the Winter Festival, whether at Kindy or in the high school, be gratefully received.
WA Student Assistance Payment
We have been told that the uptake of this payment by our school families is less than 50%. This payment is available to all families with school age children.
All the details on how to claim are here: https://www.education.wa.edu.au/wasap/
Stage 2
Construction has commenced on the Science Building at Parkerville Steiner College which will comprise 5 classrooms, including purpose built science labs. Safety fences are up, and bulldozers are working. It will be a wonderful new facility for our ever-expanding, thriving campus.
At the All-Staff faculty meeting in week 5 it was a surprise to see how quickly the faculty had grown. When we met in 2022 there were just 3 or 4 people gathering. As you can see in the photo, many more staff were at the meeting plus someone was online.
School Governance
In this edition we introduce those people nominating to be on our School Council. We are grateful for their service. Sometimes people say, “I want to know more about the school and how it operates”. This is the event! Parents and staff are welcome to attend the AGM for reports on various aspects of the school and the election of Councillors. The AGM is scheduled for next Tuesday the 24th at 6.00pm. AGM documents are posted on our website.
Council Nominee Profiles
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Peter has been a Council member since 2017, has held a number of positions during this time. He is the parent of a boy in Class 11. His two adult children have also graduated with a Steiner education. Peter’s work financial governance role as a Program Manager delivers between $80-140M of capital projects across the State each year. He has a high level of financial acumen that he uses to support the sound financial governance of the school. Peter is nominating for re-election as Chairperson so that he can ably support the Administrator and the whole school. |
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Lisa has been involved with PWS as a parent as well as working in the kindergarten and administration. Lisa is a former member of the PWS Council. She was also the former chairperson of Silver Tree Steiner School Board during the period of relocation to its current site. Lisa’s background is in early childhood education and for the past 15 years she has been managing funded family services in local government. Lisa is nominating for re-election as Treasurer |
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Linda is a parent of two children who are both at Parkerville Steiner College. As a family they have been involved in Steiner education now for over 11 years. Linda is a Clinical & Counselling Psychologist currently working in private practice in the Perth Hills. Linda provides psychological support to adults, young people and children. She is passionate about holistic approaches to mental health. Linda is nominating for re-election as Secretary |
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Mark Edwards is a parent with one child in Primary School and one in High School at PWS. Mark’s background is in the mechanical engineering industry, and he has a strong academic background. He also has a passion for sustainable development and the environment and associates more with the ethos at PWS. Mark feels his balanced approach to problem solving and decision making can bring benefits to how the school navigates competing issues. Mark is nominating for re-election as an Ordinary Council Member |
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Mee Cheng Wong is a parent with two children at Parkerville Steiner College and one in Silver Tree Steiner School. Mee Cheng has a strong academic background. She is not only an architect but also has developed a deep passion in embracing cultural traditions in all sorts, from food, knowledge, and value. Since immersing with the wisdom of Steiner education, she has been a consistent supportive parent in Steiner community. She is ready to support the school in shaping a better future. Mee is nominating for re-election as an Ordinary Council Member |
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Gosia Winter is a Class Teacher for the current Class 6. She has two children attending PWS in Class 2 and 7. In 2001, she began her Anthroposophical Studies and Teacher Training in the program that was then offered. Gosia has been part of many Anthroposophical initiatives and studies since this time, including being the organiser of the Australian Youth Section and working with others to create national and international Anthroposophical conferences and meetings. Gosia studied Bothmer in Kassel, Germany. She is an artist, and also enjoys working with budgets and policies. Gosia is nominating for election as an Ordinary Council Member |
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Samantha Robson has a son who attended Silver Tree Steiner School and is currently at Parkerville Steiner College in Year 7. She has been teaching for 15 years and feels absolutely blessed to work with children. Sam recently completed the Steiner Teacher Training at the Bibra Lake campus and believes that Steiner education meets the child at every stage of development and enables every child's rich diversity to be recognised and nurtured. Sam is nominating for election as an Ordinary Council Member |
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Mark has been involved with PWS as a parent and a teacher for over 30 years. After 15 years in Western Australian Public High Schools, and 21 years as a Class Teacher and Faculty Coordinator at PWS he is now the Teaching and Curriculum Development Coordinator. Mark has coordinated several Steiner Teacher Training Courses, Professional Development for Teachers and presented a number of adult Courses in Anthroposophy. He has been on both the College of Teachers and the PWS School Council for many years. Mark is the College appointed member of Council |
With much gratitude
Bruce Lee
School Administrator
O Nature, you are as a mother to me,
Giving me strength and nourishing me.
I feel you near me and nearer still.
You fill me with fire - how strong is my will!
To be doing what's good is what I desire,
And I shall, for I'm filled with God's heavenly fire.
by Michael Hedley Burton / verse no. 26