Treetops | A Montessori and International Baccalaureate School

Children’s House Community Helpers

The past few weeks have been very eventful for the students in Children’s House as they delved into the fascinating world of community helpers. We have had some amazing experiences:

Andrew‘s Helicopter Pilot Visit:

Students were astounded by the captivating video showcasing Andrew’s role as a helicopter pilot for the Royal Flying Doctors. The video depicted a remarkable landing at Fiona Stanley Hospital, transporting a patient all the way from Rottnest!

The children were particularly amazed by Andrew's special helmet, designed to cancel out the deafening noise of the helicopter. They were also astonished to learn that these extraordinary machines cost a staggering $10 million! As a souvenir, the children were given a paper plane and activity books from the Royal Flying Doctors to take home.

Captain Karin’s Pilot Visit:

Karin, a pilot with Qantas, shared her captivating experiences, giving the students a glimpse into her profession. The highlight of her visit was an incredible video she presented, showcasing her plane taking off and landing. The students were captivated by the demonstration of how the wings of a plane employ force to achieve lift-off. As an engaging activity, the students were encouraged to fold their very own super-duper paper planes to test this theory.

Will’s Beekeeper Visit:

Felicia’s St. John Ambulance Visit:

Felicia from St. John Ambulance paid us a visit to teach the students about essential burn safety measures. The valuable lesson included the importance of cooling burns with cold running water for 20 minutes (which is about the length of watching three Bluey shows!).

Additionally, the students were educated on the significance of dialling 000 in the event of an emergency. We bid Felicia farewell amidst the excitement of sirens blaring. Parents may want to reinforce these lessons by helping their children memorise their street address, as it can prove invaluable in emergencies.

Will, a dedicated and enthusiastic beekeeper, came to share his knowledge about bees with the students. Recognising the crucial role of bees as community helpers, we wanted the students to understand their significance.

Will went the extra mile and built a plexiglass case around a beehive frame, ensuring the students could safely observe the bees' intricate work without the fear of being stung. The students were captivated by the sight of bees buzzing and tirelessly collecting nectar. They relished the opportunity to taste fresh honeycomb, a sweet reward for their curiosity!

We have been thrilled to witness the enthusiasm and curiosity our students have displayed throughout these interactive sessions. Such experiences broaden their understanding of the world around them and inspire them to dream big. Thank you to all of our community helpers.

Silver Tree Steiner

As the Steiner Main Lesson curriculum follows the very specific stages of child development, so also does the Music curriculum. Engaging the soul activities of thinking, feeling and willing in the child, the study and experience of the various elements in music arouse and cultivate the very forces necessary to be able to meet the challenges of the world with enthusiasm and confidence.

The melody of a piece of music can effortlessly engage the thinking of a child when a tune gets stuck in their head. The heart forces are moved when they hear harmony, and then they can’t help but feel the music. Lastly, when a child hears a piece of music with a strong rhythm, they tap their foot to the beat moving their limbs. Music at Silver Tree awakens and nurtures the deep inner life of the child.

Singing is the central musical element in Steiner Education. From the first day of kindergarten to the closing ceremony of graduation, singing at Silver Tree forms a basis of inner peace and community strength and is integral to learning, communicating, and celebrating.

If you have ever had the opportunity to walk through the school during the day you might hear the kindergarten children singing the bread-making song, or the Class 2 children skip counting the times tables into memory or the upper primary choir joyfully singing a seasonal song in preparation for a festival.

In the early years, songs may be spontaneous melodic greetings at the children’s arrival, chanting instructions for their main lesson work, or a calling to attention. In later years, music is studied as an art form.

In the lower primary years, songs are learned aurally (by ear) but after Class 3 a more formal study of musical principles begins with reading music and playing songs with multiple parts. Please enjoy the photographs below to give you a snapshot of music lessons