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| May | |
| Fri 26th | C7 Parkour – Excursion |
| Mon 29th | Annual General Meeting - held at the Bibra Lake Campus |
| June | |
| Thurs 1st | C8 Red Hill Waste Mgmt Facility – Excursion |
| Fri 2nd | Pupil Free Day |
| Mon 5th | Public Holiday - WA Day |
| Thurs 8th | School Information Session 9am |
| Fri 9th | Class 7 Parkour - Excursion |
| Fri 16th | Class 7 Parkour - Excursion |
| Wed 21st | Winter Festival |
| Fri 23rd | Class 7 Parkour - Excursion |
Giving Time, Skills, Energy And Love - Thank You
Debbie-Lee Sorensen, our Community Support Officer, has been so thoughtful lately. In this edition she is calling out to Celebrate a Volunteer in our school community. Please take the time to consider this and nominate a person you think goes above and beyond.
We are extremely fortunate to have a volunteer culture at PWS and PSC. It makes a world of difference. At the Parkerville Steiner College Class 7 play in Darlington Hall last week, it was all hands on deck with setting up, packing down and serving delicious food and soup at interval. Thank you to everyone who helps out for those regular events.
School Council AGM - ALL WELCOME
The nominations are in and we look forward to an informative AGM next Monday night at 7.00pm. Nominations can be received until the meeting starts so if you would like to be in the illustrious company of those who have already put their hand up, then contact Fiona Peters fpeters@pws.wa.edu.au to get nomination forms. We are hoping that parents or staff from our Parkerville Steiner College will also sit on the council.
Why join? Back in 2018 the Master Planning Group projected the building's plan for the future. It is gratifying that many of the projects have been completed, some have been delayed and others, unplanned at that time, have been fast-tracked. Some of the capital budget spending has included extensions to Marri Miah kindy, building the brand new Jarrah Miah kindy, improvements to the Maintenance area, a new Admin building, improvements to the driveways and the biggest of them all - the site works and building of six classrooms (plus a toilet block!) up at Parkerville. All done since 2018. Over the next five years do you want to be involved in oversight of the next stage of growth???
Last year we struggled to get a quorum at the AGM so if for no other reason than making up numbers please come along, sit back and be counted. All parents and staff are automatically voting members! Plus enjoy the various reports from all areas of the school. People usually walk away saying, “Wow, I wish more people were here to hear”.
Bruce Lee
School Administrator
Rich treasures planted long ago
Within my soul, so dark and deep,
Are wakened by my will from sleep.
They stream into the world; they grow.
They bear star-substances of greatest worth,
Through loving deeds of mine, uniting heaven and earth.
by Michael Hedley Burton / verse no. 34
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Parkerville Steiner College’s Class 7 presents Her Three Kings
The Parkerville Steiner College Class Seven students have been studiously rehearsing and preparing their class play, Her Three Kings, a wonderful story about the incredible life of Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 1100’s. Eleanor of Aquitaine was born c. 1122—died April 1, 1204, in Fontevrault, Anjou, France. In her lifetime she married two kings, at the young age of 15 she was queen consort to Louis VII of France (1137–52) and 15 years later to Henry II of England (1152–1204) and she was also Duchess of Aquitaine 1137-1204. She bore 10 children and was notably the mother of Richard I, (the Lionheart) and John of England. She was an extraordinary woman, beautiful, strong, intelligent, educated and dignified, participating actively in the administration and management of her domains. She was a great supporter and ardent fan of courtly love, poetry, and the famous troubadours who frequented the royal French courts. In the last three years of her life, she retired to Fontrevault Abbey, Anjou and after her passing the nuns of Fontevrault wrote in their necrology, “She was beautiful and just, imposing and modest, humble and elegant, a queen who surpassed almost all the queens of the world.”
The Class Seven students take on many responsibilities and tasks during the development and performance of a class play, their creativity, inner will, and their kind hearts and sensitive awareness of others all came into focus during this time. All students performed in the play, with a small group of students creating the music and others assisting with set and prop transitions, working together toward a common goal; to bring to life a profound and riveting true story.
Both the matinee and evening performance at Darlington Hall were a huge success with students coming together to deliver a lovely enactment of Eleanor’s extraordinary life. Despite the challenges of a reduced cast due to sickness, Class Seven did a wonderful job in both performances.
Much gratitude and appreciation must be given to the wonderful Katie Southall, Hayley Spracklen, Donna Bieundurry, Kirsten Greenshaw (music) for their support and for holding the vision of the Class Seven play, and to the fantastic Eva Rinaldi for the most stunning costumes!
Jane Diamond
Drama Teacher
Class 8 Geography: Cultural Contrasts
Class Eight have just completed a Geography Main Lesson where they delved into the physical and human geography of both Japan and New Zealand. Beginning with listening to the creation stories of both cultures, Class Eight continued by examining the physical geography of both island nations through looking at maps of both countries, comparing and contrasting these vastly different cultures who have many physical similarities. This Main Lesson saw students learn about precipitation and the different cloud formations, and what sort of weather they indicate.
Given the choice to explore majestic Mount Fuji in Japan or picturesque Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) fjord on New Zealand’s South Island, students researched and presented their findings in the form of a written project accompanied by some truly beautiful drawing and painting of their chosen location.
The final week of the Main Lesson saw students learn about the human geography of both countries with a look at their cultures and faith; Shinto and Māori animism, as pictures of culture and religion. They heard about Māori tā moko (traditional Māori tattoos) and how both cultures have a strong respect for nature and the belief that humans cannot control nature, which is something that is reflected in both cultures' creation stories.
Ethna Brave
English and Humanities Teacher
Class Nine Physics - Technology of the Modern Era Main Lesson
Class Nine is a year of transformation, so it is fitting that in Physics we explore transformation of energy. To bring authenticity to the experience, and historical context, we focus on some of the key technologies of the modern era that allowed society to progress into what we see today. In each of the three core technologies explored (telecommunications, steam power, and internal combustion) energy is transformed for the benefit of both society and individual. Many of these technologies form the precursors for the technologies that underpin the fields of telecommunications and automation today.
To gain a deeper appreciation of the global society our students are growing up in, it is important for students to see the developmental path that brought us to this place. As social creatures, we use energy to communicate in many ways every day. The words you’re reading have been transformed from my tapping on keys (kinetic energy) to the digital file (electrical energy), along some form of telecommunications (involving multiple types of energy), and finally to be displayed on your screen (light energy). This is a long way from Morse Code, but through experiencing the limitations each technology presents, students are able find the logical progression within the technological development.
Students also explored external and internal combustion as form of energy transfer that can be harnessed. The relative inefficiencies of each present newer challenges and require different solutions. Being able to harness each as a source of motion provides for greater distances to be travelled, more reliable electricity and expanded trade routes.
By experiencing these technologies, and sometimes taking them apart, students can find a deeper sense of connection to the technology they use, its history and its cost. Exploring their own home, many of them were able to see just how reliant we are on tools that transform energy for us, to make our lives easier and more comfortable.
Brett Kranz-Little
Physics Teacher
Class 10 Karara Ranges Expedition
The Karara Ranges are an incredible landscape to explore and connect with place. Wild camping, expansive horizons & an abundance of wild life within a slow and unassumingly beautiful environment.
Class 12 Poetry
Bush Batch Magazine
Issue 274, March 21st, 1898
All Over Red Drover !
How one lonely housewife ditched absent hubby and you can too
Does your husband refuse to help with the dishes? Or to pick up the kids from school? Or does it feel like he’s just never around? Maybe, you’ve just had it up to here and sometimes you feel like you just need a holiday away…forever. Well good news for you babe, it’s 1898 and we don’t need men anymore ! Out with the male and in with the girl power, and boy do we have just the woman for you! Drover’s ex-wife shares all about her new life.
It's the same old meet-cute story we’ve heard a thousand times. Country girl meets droving boy, he takes her to the big city and a few romantic buggy rides later they’re living the high life in a two-bedroom shanty with four kids. Only, this fairy-tale doesn’t end in a happily ever after. For the first few years, he only goes droving for a few weeks at a time, and always comes home with a flash pressie from the big smoke or some pretty flowers for the missus. But by baby number four, the weeks have turned into months and any notions of romance have shriveled up and died in the last drought. Six months and not a word, someone’s in the doghouse when he gets home ! I mean, even with four little ones to clean up after there’s only so many issues of ‘Young Ladies Journal’ you can read before your brain starts going mushy. But the Drover’s ex-wife isn’t a softie, no she is one badass independent woman ! She’s single handedly fought bushfires, wild bullocks, deadly snakes and burst dams. So why does she need a man around for anything ? Not to mention the shady bushmen that come lurking, hungry for a taste of the finest mare for 19 miles. But this is nothing to phase our ferocious bush-babe, she’s got those chumps out of the place before you can say “Honey I’m home!”.
We asked the Drover’s ex-wife about her new life as a bachelorette, and this is what she had to say.
” To tell you the truth, I’m just living my best life now. I’ve got four beautiful kids, thirty, flirty and thriving! It is SUCH a relief not to have to worry about the drover anymore, it was a real strain on my mental health, had me finding premature greys and all. It was really the lack of communication that destroyed our marriage…and who knows how many city-slicker chicks he was chatting up in the city all those months. One time he even came home to me smelling like perfume! A rough man like him don’t have any business smelling so good. That was what did it, the last straw so to speak. I left him and I’ve never looked back.”
When asked for any parting words of wisdom, the Drover’s ex-wife left us with this:
“I’m just so happy I get to share my story and help other women like me out there have the confidence to do what’s best for them. If I could give one piece of advice to all the drovers’ wives out there… don’t be fooled by the rugged charm and roses, and if you’re starting to forget what his face looks like, dump his ass !”
Well there you have it. Wise words from one badass queen who’s not afraid to go for what she wants. This year, we should all strive to be a bit more like the Drovers ex-wife. Ditch that man and make this year about YOU , you’ve got this girlfriend !
Next Week:
The Drover’s Ex-Wife: “How I found love after renouncing all men “
Class 12 Projects
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Aj Kaur
Hi, my name is Aj Kaur, and for my Year 12 project, I am exploring the concept of evil in humanity and how filmmakers have incorporated this concept into their films. The question I will be exploring throughout the year is:
HOW IS OUR PERCEPTION OF HUMAN EVIL BEING DISTORTED BY THE MEDIA, AND WHAT ARE ITS EFFECTS ON VIEWERS?
I've known for a few years that I wanted to look at something relating to crime for my Year 12 project, but when the time came for me to decide, I felt so stuck. Initially, I wanted to look into why we are so fascinated by what we don't understand, which led me to look into evil. Evil is a phenomenon that is barely understood, yet it captivates people, nonetheless. Since I was looking at fascination, I took two things I am fascinated by and merged them together to create my topic. That being film and true crime. As a visual thinker, film has always been a massive influence on how my perspective is shaped. I watch a lot of true crime and never really realised the negative effects this genre of film can have on an individual until my recent Project related exploration.
I started out my research by just looking into evil and the many varying perspectives people have on it. I tried to look at how our understanding of evil developed from being completely theological to a more modern perspective. It became a bit of a struggle to find a conclusive definition due to there being contrasting opinions. I ended up focusing on a form of evil called malignant evil. Malignant evil acts are actions done from evil motives; actions that cause colossal suffering done with the intent to do something unimaginably wrong to another human's life. This concept of evil felt the most relevant to the types of people I wanted to look at, as well as representing my belief in evil. I believe that all actions are done with some form of intention and thought, even though they can't always be explained. As you would expect, researching evil became quite confronting as I had to read detailed examples of malignant evil.
Initially, researching evil in film started making me second-guess my choice of topic. I couldn't find any evidence which supported my theory. I started to think that maybe it was just me who thought these true crime films were glamorizing evil characters. I discovered more questions than there were answers. At this time, I was also beginning to feel like a hypocrite for picking this topic when I loved to watch true crime. I felt that it wasn't fair to be talking about how we're being desensitized to violence and how viewers are losing empathy for victims when I most likely have fallen into that trap. But as my research has furthered, my understanding has grown. I have become more aware of my detachment from reality due to the media, and I have learned people have been trying to fight the glamorization of evil for a long time.
When I began my research, I wanted to look into how directors of popular Hollywood films could take some of the most evil humans and turn them into loved and misunderstood characters. Despite already being aware of the details of different evil-deemed crime cases, it was interesting viewing these films and noticing how I and others reacted to these evil high-profile murderers, rapists, and manipulators on-screen. The film industry has taken the world's fascination with malignant evil and turned the concept into visual entertainment. My focus developed into looking into how the media can lessen empathy towards victims and how that desensitizes us to the evils surrounding us.
Through my research, I came across a theory called cognitive film theory. It refers to the relationship between human psychology and film by referring to the similarities between our experiences of cinematic images and narrative and our experiences of comprehending events in real life. I learned that by eliciting empathy towards evil, it influences the alteration of our real-world beliefs.
There are cinematic techniques that can be used to evoke emotions, such as sympathy. A film can heighten the narrative, creating an emotional attraction to the perpetrator on-screen. For the viewer to form this emotional attachment, they need to consider the morals of what is being shown to them. This means that to provoke sympathy towards the character on screen, that character must be morally approved. This is a form of desensitisation, which I then learned can cause a lack of empathy because repeated exposure to violent or aggressive behaviour can lead to a blunting of emotional responses. This can make it harder for people to feel or understand the emotions of others.
Often, we forget when viewing a true crime film that these are people's real stories and real traumas being turned into entertainment. For the practical component, I want to give the viewer an experience of this reality. I am thinking of creating a short film/ trailer using scenes from other films to create a montage of evil that provokes sympathy from the viewer. I will also write a short article on the events of the film for people to read, so that they may gain a sense of how film can distort evil.
My research on the distortion of human evil by the media and its effects on viewers has heightened my empathy for victims and emphasised the need for awareness regarding the real traumas behind the entertainment of true crime films.
Renaud Matthys
Growing up with many siblings, three of whom are older than me, the year twelve project was constantly talked about in our house. When it finally came time to create my own project topic, I knew I wanted to do something that had never been done.
As a little kid, I remember always trying to make my friends laugh. This has remained till now, and I knew I had to explore this idea. Comedy instantly stood out for me. I have always loved to watch stand-up comedy, and some of my favorites are Josh Blue, Jimmy Carr, and Jack Whitehall. I enjoy watching these comedians as they talk about life. Not only life but personal struggles and simple things they notice around them.
My love of comedy led me to think of some of my early ideas, such as the psychology of humour but this idea was too broad and started to lead me away from what I was really passionate about; Comedy – particularly stand-up comedy.
Once I started looking into stand-up, I learned about the different styles and techniques comedians use, and I decided I wanted to focus on 3 specifically: Dark humour, which talks about the horrible things in life, Observational comedy, which talks about life and everything that happens within it and lastly, Self-Deprecating humour which is the art of putting yourself down.
My appreciation for comedy has grown immensely from watching my first favourite sitcom "The Office," to going out to Comedy clubs and watching amateur comedians perform. Yes, believe it or not, this is something I get to do for research this year.
I also found out some pretty interesting information when I came across a theory written by Sigmund Freud. He explains that humour is a form of superiority. When we make fun of someone, we do it as it makes us feel superior. Throughout the year, we must track our progress in a journal. Although I am not the biggest fan of having to complete journal entries, it will feel incredibly rewarding once it is all done. The year twelve project also has a practical part. This gives us an opportunity to work with our project topic and gives us a deeper understanding.
For my practical, I will perform my own stand-up comedy routine at the Fremantle Comedy Factory. So far, I have started writing my script and telling my usual jokes at lunchtime but there is still a lot of work to be done. I will be practicing my material with Friends, teachers, and family so that I have a perfect final copy. If you are interested in coming to watch me perform, I will be sending out some information in the future. I believe that doing my own stand-up comedy skit is an appropriate practical and is directly correlated to my topic. I am very nervous to stand up on stage and present my comedy, but if I practice my material and delivery, I believe I will be okay. If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me here: renaud.matthys05@gmail.com
Payments of School Fees in 2023
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Leaning Tree Steiner School: Alumni Film Success
Congratulations Tabitha on the short film "In our Minds which has been nominated four times in various National Youth Film Festival Events.
See article below for more information:
