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.

Winter Festivals

One such nurturing experience is the Winter Festival, here at Bibra Lake and Parkerville. The Winter Festival 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

Families are reminded that you can claim these payments when you have school-aged kids. We have been told that the uptake by our school families is less than 50%.   

All the details on how to claim are here: https://www.education.wa.edu.au/wasap/

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.

With much gratitude

Bruce Lee
School Administrator

Council Nominee Profiles

	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.
	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
	Linda is a parent of two children. Her eldest is a member of the inaugural year at Parkerville Steiner College, her youngest child is at Silver Tree Steiner school. 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
	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
	Mee Cheng Wong is a parent with one child at Parkerville Steiner College and two 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
	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
	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
	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

Within the darkness of the night
I long to be a light,
That seeds be planted, small but glowing,
Seeds of brightness which start growing....

Soon, in darkness round me, empty, void of light,
God's Word resounds, and all things sparkle pure
and clear and bright.

by Michael Hedley Burton / verse no. 37

Thank you!

Please click on the images to see all the people who helped make the event a success. 

Photo's from the night

Survey

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Ngala Miah Koort 

In Ngala Miah Koort Kindy we feel the change of the season upon us.

The morning fog has wrapped us in a Makuru blanket and we venture inwards to seek warmth and light.

Each morning families connect with a simple ritual of warm tea to begin the day. It is a joy to see parents sharing a moment of connection with their child before the work of the day begins. A loving snuggle, and an extra last squeeze goodbye.

The energy that comes of moments like these grounds the day.

Now is the time to draw on nourishing practices that bring warmth to our soul life and in turn balance and steady us.

Last Thursday we came together for our parent night and shared in a beautiful evening of togetherness.

Soaking feet in lemon footbaths and sharing warm treats, we settled in.

We took some time to reflect of the rhythms of our lives and take note of the relationship between our sense of balance and that of our child.

Around the circle each parent shared an act of self-care that they are practicing and something they do with their child each day. This led to a beautiful discussion. An acknowledgement of the challenges we face as we strive to offer ourselves and our families these gentle uplifting moments. Life is busy!

Finding lightness together in the community we hear ourselves reflected, it softens our experience and offers support to our endeavours.

We were reminded of the simple gestures that can nourish us so deeply. Such as breathing in the scent of a leaf, crunched between our fingers as we pass through the garden. Taking the time to prepare a home cooked meal with the helping hands of our children.

An acknowledgement of the value of steadying ourselves, giving ourselves a little time and care.

Ngala Miah Koort Winter Festival

What a lovely sight Twinkling stars shine bright Winter’s holy night The longest night of the year Winter is finally here.

Class 1 Craft

Class 2 Craft

Class 3 Craft

How to Create a Beautiful Winter Festival

Thursday 19th June

I hope everyone is enjoying the crisp change of seasons. There are now just two more sleeps until our community Winter Festival for Primary and High School families!

The Theme of Festival this year is ‘Connection to Place’.

The moods we are aiming to create together:

1. Quiet community in the classrooms,
2. Reverence on the walk
3. Celebration once fire is lit.

What you need to know-

• Arrive on time and be well-prepared. Entry: via Front Gate Only.
• Gates open at 5:30pm. Please find parking at Adventure World and allow plenty of time to walk to the classrooms for 6:00pm start sharp.
• Switch off mobile phones, no flash photography. A school photographer will be taking lots of wonderful photos on the night. 
• Please feel free to bring your own lantern from home.
• Hold a reverent mood for yourself and your child/ren. Please don't socialise on the lantern walk when walking behind your child's class. Save that for when the fire is lit.
• Stay in designated ‘Festival areas‘ i.e. the classrooms, the walk route, the bonfire area. 
• For HS parents, there will be singing in Jarah Miah, a Winter Meditation in Seekers Place and quiet guitar music on the High School art room deck.
• Take your Primary school-aged child home once ‘Goodnight, Stars are Bright‘ has been sung at the fire circle. 

A map of the lantern walk route is below. Please let Kevin know if you require seating at the fire circle. (kmazzer@pws.wa.edu.au)

Also included is a copy of the Fire Blessing which will be spoken before the fire is lit.

Enjoy the photos of Walliabup mornings and the song lyrics by Gosia and Class 6. 

THE FIRE BLESSING

Classes 1 and 2: May the fire be in our thoughts -
Making them true, good and just. 

Class 3: May the fire be in our eyes;
May it open our eyes to share what is good in life. 

Class 4: May the fire be on our lips -
So that we may speak the truth in kindness;
That we may serve and encourage others. 

Class 5: May the fire be in our ears -
We pray that we may hear with a deep, deep listening
So that we may hear the flow of water, and of all creation. 

Class 6: May the fire be in our arms and hands -
So that we may be of service and build up love. 

Class 7: May the fire protect us from all violence.
May the fire be in our whole being -
In our legs and in our feet. 

 All classes:  May the fire enable us to walk the earth
With reverence and care
So that we may walk in the ways of goodness and truth.

A gift from Burnum Burnum

Still Wanted

Good quality greenery (not prickly) and flowers. These are needed either the day before, or the morning of, the festival.

They can be delivered to the school or arranged to be picked up. Please text Anita on 0423 523 613 or Adrian on 0467 713 405

Please also contact Anita if you would like to decorate the spiral the morning of the festival. Or Adrian if you’d like to assist with laying out the jars on the day of the festival.

Looking forward to creating a wonderful Winter Festival together!

Bibra Lake Winter Moods

Kevin Mazzer
Head of Primary School

Class 5 & 6 Eurythmy

From Class 5 and 6 Eurythmy assembly presentations (dress rehearsal photos):

Class 5

Class 6

Djeran

(Seasonal Song by Gosia Winter with lyrics added by Class 6)

Rain…
Rain…
Rain…

Reconciliation Week - Class 7 Wardong

The walk from Cockburn Library back to P.W.S., on that sunny Tuesday 27^th May morning, seemed particularly short.  The students were in great form after such a satisfying time.  The Class 7’s had witnessed the students from Fremantle College performing their Aboriginal dance on the grassed area outside the library, to the sound of the Didge.  The raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, was very moving. 

The 7’s had been part of the Reconciliation Ceremony, streamed live from Fremantle.  They observed the work of Reconciliation throughout Western Australia. 

Meanwhile, they helped themselves to a variety of the delicious food available. Many children enjoyed seconds, even thirds!  Yes indeed, they were in great form as they headed back to school, ready for their afternoon class.

Michelle Guffie
Class 7 W Teacher

Reconciliation Week - West Coast Steiner School

It was Tuesday morning, June 3^rd and despite the long weekend, the children were enthusiastic about the final practice of both songs and play before heading off to West Coast School for their second Reconciliation Ceremony.  It was also the launch of the book, the ‘Balyet Gets the Boy’, by Elder Cliff Humphries.

Class 7 Wardong had eagerly taken on the task of dramatizing the story and retelling it in Noongar.  They learnt their Noongar lines in four weeks and performed it well. The Class 7 Koolbardi participated by exploring the process in the creation of this book.  Students from both 7’s, originally from West Coast School, spoke of how they drew the illustrations found throughout the book.  After a delicious lunch of ‘Bush Tucker’, we boarded the bus in a jubilant manner, back to school for afternoon classes!

Class 8 Biology Main Lesson

Collaborative class project looking at the specific structures and functions within a human that allow the amazing symphony of our body to do all it needs to. 

Alex McLeod
HS Science and Maths Teacher

Class 8B Drama Main Lesson

Class 8B Drama Main Lesson presents – The Tempest by William Shakespeare.

The Tempest was Shakespeare’s final play before he retired from a life in the theatre. Scholars believe Shakespeare wrote a hint of a farewell to his audiences and included it towards the end of The Tempest for the protagonist character, Prospero, to speak, announcing he will “break his staff and drown his book”. Rather than being defined as a comedy or tragedy, the play is often characterised as a “romance”, containing darker elements but with lighter, comedic moments and a happy ending.

The play begins with a storm, the “tempest” of the title. Prospero, a powerful sorcerer has commanded his elemental servant, Ariel, to control the sky and the sea to wreck a ship passing his small Mediterranean island.

On this ship are people who have wronged Prospero and his daughter Miranda: King Alonso of Naples, who helped Prospero’s sister, Antonia, usurp the Duchy of Milan and then cast Prospero off in a leaky boat with his three-year-old daughter Miranda, twelve years earlier.

Also on the ship during Prospero’s storm are Alonso’s ambitious sister, Sabina; and Alonso’s noble and handsome son, Ferdinand; Gonzalo, a kindly old councillor who secretly sends supplies with Prospero into exile; a nobleman called Francisco; the court Jester, Trinculo; and Trinculo’s friend Stephano, a butler. On the island, Prospero has been living with Miranda, Ariel, and an enslaved half man, half monster, Caliban.

Alonso, washed up on the island after the storm, fearing his son Ferdinand has been lost in the wreck, is devastated and leads the other survivors on a search.

Meanwhile Caliban meets Trinculo the Jester and Stephano the butler who floated to shore on a full cask of wine, and an unlikely alliance is formed, based on delusions of grandeur.

Prospero has almost unlimited control over the magic of the island and soon has his enemies right where he wants them...

The Tempest is about choosing between wanting revenge for past injustices or showing forgiveness; power and how it can be used for right or wrong; loss and restoration involving several characters; and magic and illusion.

Our Class 8 students have worked together, taking collective breaths to blow The Tempest to life. By stepping into their roles, they connect to a golden era of the English language and imagine inhabiting an enchanted desert island, personally developing as growing young people.

PWS staff have worked hard to make this play happen: Justin Crossley, Eva Rinaldi, Gabriela Morales, Ian Lawrence, Shanelle Schramm, Sarah Boyle and Joshua Raich.

Families are encouraged to attend evening performances together, from all High School and Primary year levels. Entry will be by donation.

All performances will take place in Williams Hall:

Cast 1 Wednesday 25 June 10.40am
Cast 2 Wednesday 25 June 6.30pm
Cast 2 Thursday 26 June 9.00am
Cast 1 Thursday 26 June 6.30pm

Austin Castiglione
HS Drama Teacher

Class 12 Projects

Guy Ridge

Hello, my name is Guy and for my Class 12 Project I’m looking into sustainable fashion practices. My goal for this project is to spread information on change and to share and make upcycling easy and accessible to everyone.

The reason I chose this subject is because I’ve always liked fashion, and upcycling old jeans was something I enjoyed.  I decided I wanted to spread my passion for upcycling to others, and I also wanted to share how easy it is to do. Over this year I’ve become aware of the sheer quantity of fast and ultra-fast fashion, and it makes me kind of sad. I think a lot of people want to learn to upcycle but are stuck with the barrier of thinking, 'it’s too hard.' I want to change that."

Over the year, my question has changed and developed into this current version:

“What sustainable fashion options are available for individuals to contribute with  small and large scall change?”

For my Practical, I will be upcycling old denim jeans I find at the op shop and anywhere else and creating something new and something different. My practical is unfolding, and I still have some more to do, but this is the basis of what it will be.

Before I started my research, I didn’t know 100 billion garments were made new each year, with 92 million tons going into landfill annually. To me this was crazy to think about and over the year I have become a lot more conscious of how out of control consumerism is in our society today.

Over this year, I have realised the importance of individuality, and one way I like to express that is through fashion. With upcycling, you always create one-of-a-kind pieces. Individuality and artwork are what drive my passion for upcycling, along with a love for recycling.

Donations of quality jeans are welcome and much appreciated. If you’d like to donate, please get in touch via class12projects@pws.wa.edu.au

Thank you

Guy Ridge

Seraphin Maitland Smith

I have always struggled with maintaining my menstrual health, whether it was irregular periods, mood swings or even knowing how to match my lifestyle and activities to my cycle. My project started where all good things start, with my mother. I was talking about how I was putting on and losing three to four kilos every other week. I was confused and stressed that I was doing something wrong. She assured me that it was normal and that many women experience weight fluctuations throughout their period. It got me thinking, why was I only learning about this at 18? I formed my question soon after.

“How does poor menstrual literacy affect health outcomes in women?”

Menstrual literacy and health management in women is important but is not covered in the necessary depths within schools. Menstrual literacy is vital for several reasons such as supporting mental and physical health and understanding more about women’s bodies. The purpose of my report is to investigate menstrual literacy and women’s health in Australia. The focus, on non-marginalised women spanning from puberty to around 25 years old.  

I started my research quite early and found out a lot of surprising information. However, the most unexpected thing I found had to do with our very own Australian curriculum. Primary and high school teachers are indeed required to teach about menstruation and periods but unlike Math or English, there is not a specific set of information to help teachers communicate the proper information to students. This means that the topics being discussed are taught using the teacher’s personal knowledge. This can be harmful to students given that the information may not actually be correct. In addition, teachers who feel uncomfortable teaching the topic of menstruation may unknowingly encourage negative stereotypes, as the language used around periods can often be undermining, dismissive and normalise pain for young girls regarding their cycle.

I’ve been trying to start on my practical this term and round out the sharp edges of my plan. For my practical I want to make an educational booklet aimed at women but not ONLY for women, as men and boys need to educate themselves on female hormones and anatomy to understand the women in their lives. To create some common questions that adolescents may have, I decided that it would be a great idea to talk to some of the year 9, 10 and 11 classes and gauge what it is they do and do not know about menstruation and women’s health. This will directly influence the information in my booklet.

Overall, my project journey has been up and down. I started off very slow having not grasped the full weight of my task. Then the pressure set in, I spent the next month switching between pulling all-nighters to get just a bit more work done and doing absolutely nothing and letting the world pass me by. I have weighed what the outcome would be if I dropped out compared to if whether I stayed and achieved something I knew I would be proud of, I chose the latter. I’ve learnt a lot about myself, I’ve learnt I can often be lazy and prioritise the wrong things, but I’ve also learnt I’m smarter than I give myself credit for and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

2025 Building Levy 

A late payment fee will apply to all accounts not paid by the due date. This does not apply if you have a payment plan arrangement in place.

Elder Cliff Humphries Reconciliation Book Launch: ‘Aalidja Balyet Koolang Baranginy – The Balyet Gets a Boy’

In honour of Reconciliation Week, West Coast Steiner School were delighted to host its second book launch for the Elder Cliff Humphries Reconciliation Book Project. Students from West Coast Steiner School joined with the Class 7 students of Perth Waldorf School to experience a traditional smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country led by the Elder’s grandson and great-grandson, a marvellous re-enactment of the book delivered entirely in Noongar by the Class 7s, a Q&A session with the student illustrators, a moving presentation by the Elder’s surviving daughters, and a beautiful rendering of traditional Steiner songs in Noongar performed by students from Classes 4 and 7. The event concluded with a delicious traditional bush tucker tea.

This event marked the culmination of a powerful reconciliation project undertaken by last year’s graduates in collaboration with the family of the late Noongar Elder, Cliff Humphries (1910–1998), one of the last fluent Noongar speakers. A senior Ballardong Elder who carried within him a vast repository of ancient Noongar knowledge, Elder Cliff recorded hundreds of Dreamtime stories and songs prior to his passing, entrusting his family with the responsibility of sharing these stories with the Noongar and wider communities in an effort to preserve the Noongar language and culture. For decades, his invaluable recordings remained in restricted-access archives at the Battye Library, with the exception of their use as critical evidence in the 2006 Bennell vs The State of WA High Court trial that secured Native Title for the Noongar nation.

Thank you to West Coast Steiner School for inviting our Class 7 Students to be a part of the magical day. Especially, Elaine Meyer and Patricia Cook for all their efforts in this project. 

We acknowledge "The Balyet Gets a boy" is a story that has been told for hundreds of thousands of years. To hear this story is to connect with the wisdom and understanding of the Noongar people. We are deeply grateful to have been given this opportunity. We also pay our respect to the Humphries Family and all Elders both past and present. 

Boorda

Your RAP Committee

Community Notices are for members of the school’s community only and may consist of: Business adverts, producers, services, items for sale (non-school related), etc. keeping in mind that they need to be consistent within our schools’ ethos. Please try and keep your notice short (this is free of charge). All Community Notices will appear in this section for two weeks only.  If you would like a ¼ page advert, a $10 fee is required and will only appear in Week 2 and Week 8.

Toning Choir

Housesitter Available

❄️✨ Winter Warmer Day Retreat ✨❄️

A soulful, hands-on journey into creativity, connection, and winter wellbeing.

As the days grow colder and darker, take time to nurture yourself from the inside out. This Winter Warmer Day Retreat is a heart-crafted collaboration by a group of passionate women—each bringing their gifts to create a day of learning, making, relaxing, and sharing.

Join us for a full-day immersive retreat filled with natural beauty, gentle practices, and inspiring hands-on sessions that will leave you feeling nourished, grounded, and deeply connected.

What to Expect:

✨ Nourish Your Mind & Body

• Learn from naturopath Conny Wehland, who will share her gentle wisdom for winter wellness—herbal tips, seasonal nourishment, and ways to honour your body during the colder months.

✨ Craft Magic & Light

• Tap into your inner child and creativity with a delightful needle felting session. Guided by Sandy A Koellikerfrom NOLI by Sandy, you’ll craft a beautiful matchbox cover to light a candle to hold the light through long, cold winter nights.

✨ Create with Nature

• Be guided by artist and teacher Yolanda Millar from Yol Creative in a meditative woodcraft session. You'll sand and shape locally sourced wood, transforming it into a one-of-a-kind pendant imbued with your intention and care.

✨ Awaken Your Senses

• Let Monica Witsch take you on a journey into the sensual and healing world of essential oils. Learn how to use these powerful plant essences to uplift, soothe, and energise your winter self-care rituals.

✨ Soothe Your Soles

• Sink into a warm footbath while reflexologist Jill Lisson shares her knowledge. Learn simple, effective techniques to support your health through the feet—tools you can take home and use all season long.

For bookings see:

https://events.humanitix.com/winter-warmer-day-retreat

Groups/Classes

Participating in any of these activities goes toward Family Participation Hours. 

These groups for parents are run or led by teachers or parents. Members of the school community are encouraged to join any of the groups and enjoy the experience of personal growth and learning in this beautiful environment - a great inspiration for our children!

General Canteen Information 

Pixie Stott Canteen - Perth Waldorf School 

Can you Help?

The canteen is looking for Slushi return cups and any donations of forks and spoons.

Thank you

You can set up an account with the canteen using the form below:

CANTEEN MENU

Reusable stainless steel straws Silver just $1 cleaners 50c
Banister Downs milk full cream and lite $2.50 per litre.
Tammy sourdough bread whole meal $6.50 or fruit $8.50 available every day.
Breadtime story handmade sourdough Spelt $12 fruit and nut $14 4 seeds $13 preorder for Friday delivery.
Fresh Raw Local Honey $14/kg refill your own jar prepacked glass jars $9
Local Organic Olive oil $16.00/litre refill your own bottle or prefilled bottles available.
Grounded Pleasures chai $12.50 200g box
Grounded Pleasures Chocolate $11.50
Karvan coffee #3 $13/ 250g whole beans or Swiss water Decaf Ground $13.00/ 250g Tally Ho farm biodynamic tempeh $9.50

New nudeherbs drinks available $4.50 

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Volunteers are welcome in the Canteen!

Food Handling Training Link https://www.cockburn.wa.gov.au/Health-Safety-and-Rangers/Public-Health/Safe-Food/Food-Handling-Training

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If you would like to volunteer please take the course above. For free access use the code FSCBURN315. The course takes approximately an hour to complete. You will receive a certificate upon completion. Once you have acquired the certificate we can arrange a time that suits you to come in. All hours can be used towards the Parent Participation Scheme including the online course. If you would like more information, please contact Megan in the Canteen or via email canteen@pws.wa.edu.au 
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Megan Harry
Canteen Manager