AEON 2023 Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Magazine Issue 16

AEON gives a glimpse into the rich learning community that is Glenaeon, established as Australia’s first school for Rudolf Steiner education. The magazine is a record of school life, featuring people and events that are important in our community.

Glenaeon pioneered the vision of a creative and collaborative education in Sydney, and we celebrate the unique community that has grown around the school.

AEON is a voice and forum for the unique learning that remains the school’s core impulse. Whether currently involved with the school, or one of our many alumni families and friends, we invite you to enjoy in the following pages the unique vision of a Glenaeon education.

The School Concert returns Photo: Tom Psomotragos

AEON Editors: Kath Kissell and Tamara Louis Design: Campbell van Venrooy p18

Greetings to our remarkable community!

If indeed it were possible to chronicle the ‘year in the life of a school’, then the 2023 edition of AEON might just about achieve that.

As you flip through the pages that follow, be prepared to embark on a journey that captures the spirit, achievements and memories of this school year –a celebration indeed of our remarkable community.

Each article, photograph, anecdote, artwork tells a story – of friendships forged, of adversity, courage and growth, milestones met and surpassed, and new beginnings fashioned. Together, they weave a rich and vibrant tapestry of our shared experience that was 2023 and demonstrate our school’s unique culture, our strength, our commitment to the development of the whole child, and to Glenaeon’s future.

I hope that, in years to come, when you revisit this edition of AEON, it will remind you not only of the chronicled events within these pages, but also of the laughter, the fellowship and the myriad of emotions that made this year unique.

Enjoy this edition of AEON, one that we’ve lovingly crafted together! 

Diana Drummond Head of School

Diana Drummond Head of School

Above: Diana Drummond meeting students on the first day of Term 1

Below: Diana Drummond with our 2023 SRC

A holistic and nurturing learning experience

This year, we welcomed Diana Drummond as our new Head of School and we congratulate her on an outstanding transition into this role. Diana enriches the Glenaeon community with her passion for a holistic and nurturing learning experience.

She has fully embraced every aspect of her new role and has throughout the year eagerly established professional and personal relationships with the students, teachers and the parent community. 2023 has seen Diana write a new script for the school’s ongoing commitment to creating meaningful lives and she has held the school through both challenge and growth. Please join me in expressing gratitude to Diana and her executive team for reminding us of the spirit of Glenaeon and how change and new beginnings can also enrich the tapestry of our school life and our unique and remarkable community. As we flagged at the end of last year, the renewal of the School’s strategic plan was deferred by a year to allow for Diana’s input into this important next stage of Glenaeon’s journey. Whilst strategy is ultimately the Board’s responsibility, we believe strongly that the school’s strategic plan should, as much as possible, reflect the vision of the entire Glenaeon community, while of course remaining true to our Steiner values. Work on the plan has commenced and will continue through the remainder

of the year. Our Glenaeon community is what makes our school unique and community engagement will be prioritised as the plan is being developed, with a view to it being finalised and shared with everyone in early 2024.

We are all still in a state of shock and grief following the tragic death of our beloved teacher, colleague and friend, Jonas Stoebe. On behalf of the Board, our deepest condolences remain with Jonas’ wife Belinda, his sons Lio and Luca, and his entire family. Words simply can’t express our gratitude for Jonas’ decade long commitment to our school. He leaves behind a great legacy and we will miss his enthusiasm, kindness and boundless energy. He was an amazing role model and mentor for our students and a source of inspiration for students, colleagues and parents alike. His loss remains painfully palpable. It is also wonderful to witness the awe-inspiring strength of our community in such tragic times. As time goes on and we all slowly come to terms with this new reality, we will continue to honour Jonas and keep him in our memory.

In closing, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to you all; teachers, students, parents, alumni and friends, for the contribution that you all make to our extraordinary Glenaeon community. 

Peter Candotti Chair, Glenaeon School Board

Peter Candotti Chair, Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Board

Below: Diana Drummond welcoming guests to the School Concert, August 2023

REFLECTIONS

From our

not-so-new Head of School

One Year In

At the start of 2023, I set out to speak with every staff member and also with parents through the GPA, to student groups and to members of our extended community with the aim of understanding our school more holistically.

These conversations were rich in content, vivid, heart-warming and most of all, insightful, revealing what people treasure most about Glenaeon, and what they see as crucial next steps for the school’s future. Unsurprisingly, recurring themes woven through the dialogue highlighted our cherished extended community, the unique approach to education, and the serene outdoor environments that envelope our campus’.

The Steiner educational philosophy, with its emphasis on nurturing the whole person – intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually – is palpably alive in every corner of our school. I see it in classrooms, in the work our students produce, in the way our youngest children explore their world through unstructured, unhurried play. Our passionate and dedicated teachers create classrooms and learning experiences where the joy of discovery and of self-expression, resonates deeply. A place where learning is championed as a means of deepening understanding, where children and students develop, over time, a strong sense of self, and an authenticity that’s refreshing.

This past year has also resolutely demonstrated the incredible strength of our community. In September, when faced with an unimaginable loss that left our hearts heavy with grief, our community came together, supporting one another to find solace and healing, for our children and each other, testament to our resilience and unwavering sense of community.

Jonas’ tragic passing underscored the depth of our connections and the enduring culture of this special place, and sharpened the focus on what is valued most.

As we set our eyes on the future and the possibilities that abound, it is becoming abundantly clear that what is vital is the preservation of our core identity, of the Steiner educational philosophy and related pedagogies and our approach to learning and to teaching, to our precious learning environments and to our deeply connected community. These are the true treasures of Glenaeon. In the development of the School’s next Strategy that will guide our work over the next 3-5 years, we see the manifestation of our collective aspirations, our hopes and our future

vision. Together, we are crafting a path that retains our Steiner heritage and prepares our students for a rapidly changing world.

As I conclude, the words of Rudolf Steiner resonate deeply: ‘To truly know the world, look deeply within your own being. To truly know yourself, take a real interest in the world.’ This year has been a poignant reminder of these indications, encouraging us to confront the challenges we face, looking outward and in the mirror in order to shape the future we see. As we move ahead, with shared and renewed purpose, I am filled with gratitude, optimism and hope for all that our school treasures and all that it will become. 

Diana Drummond Head of School

Diana Drummond Head of School

Above: Diana Drummond's address at the 2023 Welcome Soiree

Below: Diana at the Family Fair

Cultivating a community culture at Playgroup

In the heart of our Glenaeon Playgroups, a tapestry of connection and laughter weaves through every moment. As the golden sun bathes our gathering in warmth, parents and grandparents alike come together, sharing morning tea and stories.

Meanwhile, the children, with rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes, embark on adventures of their own, guided by the enchanting world of free play. In this nurturing embrace, generations unite, fostering a spirit of togetherness that will forever echo in the memories of our little ones.

In 2023 the Glenaeon Playgroups experienced the personal and collective relief of socialising in freedom, after our endured COVID constricted lives.

What joy we are having to sing and to share stories of our everyday and extraordinary experiences ‘face to face’, inside and outside. Whether large groups or small, our family style playgroups are humming in our carefully curated and dedicated educational spaces.

‘Babes in arms’, ‘crawling to standing’, ‘parallel playing toddlers’, ‘creative pre-schoolers’: all bask in the adoration of accompanying, amused adults. Socially supportive discussions accompany the activities of our playgroups that are inclusive of all participants.

Our goal is to provide deeply nourishing and stimulating experiences

for children and adults: physically; emotionally; socially; and intellectually with a lot of playful fun too.

Many adults say: ‘This is so nourishing for me. It isn’t just about my child. I need this playgroup. This is the only playgroup I have ever been to that caters to adults and not just children. I leave playgroup feeling so fulfilled.’

‘My child sings all the songs and asks for the next playgroup all week long.’

Due to an overly full waiting list for all of our six playgroups the Glenaeon Board of Directors encouraged us to expand our Playgroup base in 2023. We now offer seven playgroups over the two campuses of Castlecrag and Preschool in Willoughby.

Our Playgroup Leaders Sandra Frain and Nancy Amini have welcomed two new professional playgroup leaders: Natalie Choo and Naoko Murphy. Natalie and Naoko are being supported by Glenaeon to further their study of Steiner Early Childhood Education with Sydney Rudolf Steiner College.

All four playgroup educators participate in an International Playgroup Educator forum that meets

four times a year and also facilitates a supportive social media group.

Glenaeon embraces Japanese culture in many ways, we are trialling a ‘Japanese Immersion’ Playgroup. Participants with or without Japanese heritage appreciate the thoughtful stories, songs, activities and food that Naoko wisely prepares.

Both Naoko and Natalie are welcomed as teachers in other faculties of Glenaeon too. Our Playgroup professional team is an integral part of strengthening Glenaeon school, spread as we are over the three campuses and the three pedagogical faculties.

The sense of community is even more strongly bonded when we have Glenaeon Alumni and past parents join us in the role as new grandparents, parents and friends. 

Sandra Frain Playgroup Manager and Leader

Above: Baking bread at Playgroup

Experiencing joy at Preschool

What a joy it is to see the young child come to meet the world, expanding from the realm of the home and family to that of educators and friends in the beauty of the Preschool space and the park next door.

Creating this bridge between home and Preschool with the families is prepared through many earlier meetings and visits.

As the children settle in and form caring attachments to the educators, they also observe a whole new community of friends exploring the world and then begin to reach out in conversation and co-operative play.

Some children observe for a longer time, deeply connected and yet still hesitant to fully engage until one day they leave the educator’s side and venture into the room of children playing and laughing.

Tentatively they play alongside the other children and then share a conversation about the newly created, imaginative world spread

out before them, built from shells, wood, pinecones, cloths and pebbles.

How wonderful that this capacity to create finds full expression each day! Farms, villages, towers and cubby houses appear as a joyful community emerges amongst these young world creators.

They have observed this world around them in activity at preschool, at home and in local surroundings and have heard stories of farmers, sailors, children and families. They make these experiences their own through the powers of imitation and through expressing, adapting and innovating on the themes.

Building trust and relationship, fully engaging and developing creativity and imagination are all involved in the unique ways that children of this age learn.

How the seeds sprout in the springtime, the way that the plant grows, the cooking of nature’s produce into nourishing food, baking bread and painting with clear shining watercolours are all experienced with delight. They climb the tower in the garden and look out upon the world around and beyond

them in the park. This dedication to the moment is something adults strive for again in later life in mindfulness and as artists and entrepreneurs.

Preschool educators develop their art of providing a caring space with beauty and objects capable of imaginative transformation. They create daily rhythms of breathing in the world and breathing out creative expression. They engage in meaningful and dedicated tasks and the children then imitate this love of, and commitment to the world. 

Soraya Garcia Preschool Educator Peggy Day Preschool Director

Catherine Pilko Kindergarten Teacher and Senior Teacher at Castlecrag

Celebrating community at Castlecrag

Castlecrag Campus, with its beautiful bush setting and gardens is host to a bustling and thriving community of families, students, teachers and ancillary staff.

INaddition to the Castlecrag Campus being home to Little Kindy, Big Kindergarten and Class 1 and 2, we also host playgroups, parent craft, Kitchen Conversations and many other community and family events.

At the start of each year, we welcome many new families to our campus. This is also a time when the Kindergarten children from the previous year transition to Class 1 and begin their journey with their new teacher. Amidst the excitement

of new beginnings, for many, there can also be elements of uncertainty and anxiety. This is a time where we feel the importance of established rituals and traditions that welcome everyone into the security of familiar daily and weekly rhythms that bring predictability, warmth, and security to all.

As the year progresses the daily and weekly rhythms of our campus slowly turn towards our seasonal festivals which give a wonderful opportunity for community involvement and heartfelt celebration. Towards the end of Term 1 when summer gives way to autumn, we celebrate the harvest. In Kindergarten the families all meet for an enjoyable day of apple picking, picnicking and harvest songs. In Class 1 and 2 the children join with the other primary classes in the Marion Mahony Griffin Hall for a rousing Harvest Play in which the children all participate with wholehearted singing and recitation.

Term 2 gives rise to our heart warming and very moving winter festivals. In Kindergarten, the children

stay back after school to make a fire and to share afternoon tea. After listening to a beautiful puppet play, a lantern walk leads them back to the fire where they join their parents for community singing. In Class 1 and 2, the quiet inner mood of winter is celebrated with a beautiful winter spiral. As is the tradition, each child courageously and quietly walks into the centre of the spiral to light their candle and then place it in the growing outward spiral of light.

This year the families of Class 1 and 2 were fortunate to experience another winter celebration that was added to our calendar. Along with the help of our Campus Administrator Melony and many willing parents, the Class 1 and 2

Jonathan Shaw Rainbow Bridge Class 1

teachers, Jonathan and Jamie, hosted a special winter celebration for the community. This wonderfully inspiring and deeply moving event was held in the Castlecrag Amphitheatre. The beautiful bush setting of this venue that was magically lit up with the children’s handmade lanterns provided the perfect back drop for storytelling, community singing and supper.

Spring brought many changes to our community this year. Amidst these changes we created a new form for our Spring Festival. The day began with Class 1 and 2 celebrating Spring with song and dance in a beautifully decorated space below the Kindergarten playground. The children of Kindergarten along with the parents of Class 1 and 2 watched on with delight. Later in the morning the parents of Kindergarten watched the children of Kindergarten celebrate Spring in the same space. The Kindergarten children joyfully shared songs, dances rainbow fruit sticks and lemonade with their appreciative parents.

In addition to the more predictable cycle of seasonal celebrations, each year, with each new constellation

of teachers, parents and children, there are many new possibilities to celebrate and enjoy the unique and ever-changing diversity and richness of our community. For example, in the Kindergarten this year, we celebrated the Lunar New Year with a group of parents making delicious Chinese dumplings to be shared at a lavish Kindy morning tea. In Little Kindy this year, as part of different children’s birthday celebrations, moments were found to acknowledge and celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as well as the Jewish Festival of Rosh Hashanah. In Class 1 and 2, our Japanese teachers, Naoko and Junko brought the celebration of Tanabata to life. The children thoroughly enjoyed decorating bamboo trees with their individually decorated wish cards. How exciting it was to make a fire and watch the bamboo trees go up in flames as their wishes rose up into the heavens!

And then there was the day that Jonathan, in introducing his class to a unit of work on Aboriginal stories, invited an Aboriginal Elder to perform a smoking ceremony and Welcome us all to Country.

What a rich and culturally diverse year we have had!

2023 has included class plays, festivals, celebrations and we have just hosted our much-loved Glenaeon Family Fair, which we look forward to each November. We have also warmly welcomed our new Kindergarten families at our orientation events.

All of these gatherings have brought our wonderful community together and we can't wait to see what 2024 brings! 

Catherine Pilko Kindergarten Teacher and Senior Teacher at Castlecrag

Deputy Head of School Classes K–6

Embracing community through seasonal festivals, plays, and performances

Community is core during Glenaeon's Class Teacher period. From Term 1 through to Term 4, from the Morning Circle to the Afternoon Verse, our teachers foster a keen sense of individual capacity while instilling in each child a sense of interdependence and responsibility within the group.

The Autumn Festival (or the Festival of St. Michael) exemplifies this sense of community. Here, each class learns their part, and on the festival day, we come together to tell the story of St Michael facing and conquering the fearsome dragon. Each year, Class 5 takes on the formidable task of becoming the mighty dragon and even the youngest members of the primary school sing their parts while being swept up in the pageantry crafted by the whole community. And it's not just the students who contribute to the festivities! Parents,

teachers, and professional services staff come together to bake, prepare, and serve delicious bread rolls and corn on the cob, creating treats for the young performers to enjoy after their show. The excitement of the fiery dragon, the harmonious choral singing, and the magnificent appearance of St. Michael create a magical atmosphere. The community rallies, offering support and making the event a cherished memory for years to come.

The MidWinter Festival presents another opportunity for the community to come together and shine. Older classes partner with younger ones to walk through a dimly lit hall, guided by gentle music towards a central candle. Each child walks the spiral, lighting their candle from the central flame and placing it on the floor as they exit, gradually illuminating the room; A beautiful symbol of unity and shared light.

Annual Class Plays and performances further enhance our sense of community. In 2023, Class 1 performed the story of Old Goorialla (The Rainbow Serpent), while Class 3 embarked on a fabulous production of Noah’s Ark. Class 4 presented

“The Theft of Thor’s Hammer”, and Class 5 enchanted us with their shadow puppet show of Isis and Osiris As we go to print, Class 6 is gearing up for their performance of Aladdin, and Class 2 is preparing for their annual performance! These productions are not just plays; they are a collaborative, communal effort. Each child plays their part, contributing to the spectacular whole. It is a reminder that true community is about cooperation, where individual talents come together to create something special.

Glenaeon’s Primary School celebrates togetherness and community in many ways, but none more visible than our seasonal festivals, plays, and performances. It’s a place where children learn the value of shared responsibility and where unity is celebrated day in, day out, and year-round. These experiences are not fleeting moments but building blocks of lasting friendships and cherished memories. By celebrating community through the arts, and with the seasons, we nurture an environment of support, creativity, and camaraderie that stays with the students throughout their lives.

Dani Finch

Top left: Class 5 enjoy the Greek Olympics Above: Class 6 enjoys the award-winning Outdoor Education program in NSW Western Plains At Right, Top: Class 3 Play 'Noah and the Flood' At Right: Class 5 Indian Festival

Below: Class 6 pan for gold

HIGH SCHOOL

Yura Totsuka Deputy Head of School Years 7–12

A place of learning, a place of belonging

The first day of a school year is one filled with excitement, a few nerves, and an abundance of hope for the journey ahead, and this is particularly so for our new Year 7 students joining Glenaeon for the first time.

As they gathered at the gate in uniforms that are slightly too big for their frame, they searched keenly for the familiar faces from their Orientation Day. Soon enough, they were greeted by their fellow Year 7 peers who, having made their transition from Class 6 room to the High School building, were now excitedly showing off the campus as they, shoulder to shoulder, made their way down to their rooms. Similar introductions were also happening

in the staff room as we welcomed a number of new teachers to our High School in 2023.

One of the many exciting challenges for Year 7 was the Outdoor Education Program in Newnes where students were introduced to camp craft skills that they will hone over the next six years of the high school, such as cooking on Trangias, setting up shelter, how to care for oneself and the group, and how to be present and hold the wilderness in awe.

The Year 8 Project allows for a huge scope for freedom in creativity, innovation and self-expression as each student pursues their own interest, learns to project manage and bring their work to a presentable conclusion. It was an absolute joy to witness their pride as they presented their work which were as varied as the students are, and ranged from a novel, arcade game, crocheted garments, desk, ghillie suit to name but a few.

Class plays in Years 7 and 8 are a true group effort. In both Medieval Plays and the Shakespeare Festival, every student held a speaking role in the production. These activities help to foster a sense of community

as students, together, overcome the challenges that come their way, and at the same time, allow for individual strengths and capacities to be acknowledged.

For Year 9 students, The Cove program played a key role in finding their place within the wider community through their volunteer work at Warrah Farm and acknowledging the social responsibilities one has. Being the only year group on campus at 7:30am also builds a certain sense of comradery which will no doubt be of great value as musical preparation starts in earnest early next year.

Above and Left: Year 8 Projects

Above and Below: Year 9 Warrah Farm

Right: Year 9

Warrah Farm

Year 10 students greatly benefited from having completed the program last year as their class musical, AIDA School Edition, claimed much success this year.

Year 11 students can choose to be involved in leadership roles through our Captains Leadership Portfolio Program, and and having seen Year 12 students fulfil the roles previously, they were eager to make their contributions to the school. Our senior students are instrumental in building a culture of inclusion and respect. This can be seen at lunch time when students from different year groups play together, during vibrant discussions at SRC meetings, and how fondly and with pride the captains talk about the school during school tours.

This year, we faced one of the toughest challenges as a school – the loss of our beloved teacher, Jonas Stoebe. It was a very dark and sad time as we struggled to come to terms with the tragic new reality. But it was also a time when the strength of the community shone bright and a time where we felt deeply connected through love and care for one another. I will never forget the sincerity and the genuine care in the students’ eyes as they took the time to connect with me and ask how I was doing. Words of support came from parents, graduates and other Steiner schools, as well as from schools and organisations we were associated with through ISC carnivals and PDHPE classes, and we are eternally grateful.

In the weeks that followed, we were each buoyed by the return of school routines. We were also uplifted by individuals stepping up, such as Year 11 students supporting Year 9’s The Cove program, Sport Captains looking out for younger students and encouraging their participation in ISD events, and gestures of kindness and understanding that underpin each and every interaction.

These experiences and moments, and many more, are what bring the community together and what make Glenaeon not just a place of learning, but also a place of belonging. 

Above: Year 7 Medieval Play

Below: Year 11 Captains

Above: SRC host Earth Hour 2023

Go well Year 12!

“May those things shine again On the path through life That in the time of youth Were planted in the heart As the seal of true humanity.”

– Rudolf Steiner

ITwas with a mixture of sadness and joy that the School farewelled the Class of 2023. The final week of Term 3 saw Year 12 enjoy the annual campus tour, the Head of School Breakfast, the farewell lunch, hosted by Year 11 students, the Mystery Tour, and of course, the annual Farewell Tunnel up the Middle Cove hill, attended by all staff and students.

After the HSC Examinations, Year 12 and their parents gathered for the Graduation Assembly and the Formal, two very special events that showcased the journey of this cohort.

As these wonderful young adults leave Glenaeon, we are confident they will continue to carve their own shining paths as free human beings, with purpose and direction. Go well Year 12!  

Right: Sally Mock and Pamela Laycock present Year 12 with a flower each at the first Term 1 2023 assembly

Above: Ready to take the Mystery Tour

GLENAEON CLASS OF 2023

Finn Barry

Bibi Cassidy Natalia Bennett Petal Gill Cooper Grant-Cook

Nathan Sharp

Oscar Street Flynn Tanner Alex Smyth

Anouk Swanepoel

Natalie McDowell

Mya Hill

Jolan Leforestier

Ivan Moore

Eliza Johnston

Maadi Prasad

Lily Sainsbury

Eva Petkovich

Hana Peter Taras Sagan

Ashleigh Taylor

Keizo Tomishima

Jess Weber

Sophia Thompson

Fred Watson

Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Year 10’s

Production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s

AIDA School Edition

Music by Elton John Lyrics by Tim Rice

Book

by

Linda Woolverton and Robert Falls & David Henry Hwang

Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia).

All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.

The first moment you engage with AIDA School Edition, you know you are in for something special – a captivating and emotionally gripping musical. It spoke to us on many levels, and we knew it was a solid choice for the 2023 Year 10 cohort.

They have been able to learn through the kaleidoscope of images and the bookend device of the museum in the musical how we can still be so connected to the past and its learnings for the present day. The musical transcends time, moving from the present to the past and back to the present. Its story of doomed lovers, of people trapped by station and expectation, of conquers and the conquered, reverberates the centuries of tragedies linked to human

hunger for power and their need to find a connection to the order of the universe. Therefore, immersing the Year 10 cohort in the transcendent nature of their experience of the world and their meaning within it.

Producing a musical is a massive undertaking, and from the beginning, the cast was up for the challenge, keen and eager with choreography, character and blocking suggestions and alive with creative impulses. We watched them struggle, practise, persist and succeed in learning and unravelling the story. While it was as entertaining as it is moving, we discovered that it teaches them true resilience. That is the Musical’s true power.

We hope Year 10 have enjoyed their experience playing as part of the ensemble on this musical production. We also hope they were able to bond with others within their cohort, and we hope they can appreciate their creation – Glenaeon's version of AIDA School Edition.

Thank you to all the creatives: Evan Sanders, Raphaela Mazzone, Clair Cisterne and Alleyne Moss. All the other drop-in creatives, especially the teachers, parents and students who have assisted behind the scenes and Year 10 for their commitment to their musical for 2023.  

Brenton Fletcher and Ian Munns

Ian Munns Head of Department (Music)

The School Concert returns

After four fairly long years, we celebrated the musical life of the school with the return of our annual Music Concert.

After a lot of preparation, dedication to rehearsals and commitment to making the best music possible, our students came together to produce performances of the highest standard. It is our strong belief that music is at the heart of our school and, as I always say to our students, singing together brings us together in one of the biggest ‘teams’ we will ever experience. The joy of making music together is something very special and we treasure the opportunities to do that here at Glenaeon.

Our audience on the night were treated to pieces by our co-curricular ensembles, our class ensembles and a full school performance. Over the course of the first two terms of the year, our ensemble leaders and conductors came together with their ensembles to learn, rehearse and musically craft each performance.

The program was opened by the Glenaeon Big Band who set the scene for the evening. This was followed by a some crowd pleasing tunes by our Year 7/8 Guitar Ensemble, Year 9 Choir and the always entertaining Year 7/8 Percussion Ensemble, very ably led by Gavin Labotte, Alleyne Moss and Roscoe Frazier (respectively). Our Year 11 Choir performed a beautiful rendition of Morten Lauridsen’s ‘Dirait-On’ and the first half of our concert was rounded out by our Jazz Combo, led by Adriaan Mees.

After interval we were treated to performances by our larger class and co-curricular ensembles: Concert Band, Year 7/8 Bands and Strings (including students who are relative beginners on their instruments, having only started learning them this year) and Year 5/6 Bands and Strings. Our relatively newly formed Glenaeon Chamber Choir performed two contrasting pieces to

lead us into the final two performances by Sinfonia and the Full School

A special thank you needs to go to the music staff and tutors for preparing such an amazing program. Also, the support of Evan Sanders in organising the logistics of the evening was remarkable. The assistance of so many of our staff during the rehearsals and performance made the running of such a large concert so seamless. Without all of you, concerts like this would not be possible. We look forward to so many more wonderful opportunities for our students to come together to make music.

The spirit of community in sport

Sport and Co-curricular at Glenaeon was lead aptly and so passionately by PDHPE Teacher Jonas Stoebe for the past decade. The unimaginable grief of his sudden loss has impacted our community in profound ways, however Jonas taught us that ‘sport’ at Glenaeon is so much more than we ever knew. It is about moving intuitively, respecting our bodies and minds, resilience, giving back, challenging our limits, nurturing our environment, supporting our teammates and celebrating that doing something together is about belonging.

This year, we are beyond proud of our students’ sporting and wellbeing achievements in class, at carnivals, and out in the community.

Our students from Class 3 to Year 12 have immersed themselves in sport and wellness pursuits such as Year 10 Surfing at Collaroy Beach and Sailing, SUP and Sea Kayaking at Balmoral, Junior and Senior ISD Basketball, Touch Football, Soccer and Cross Country carnivals, Year 9 Excursions to Warrah Farm, Class 5 Greek Olympics with Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School, Inter-Steiner School Swimming Carnival, PDHPE Extension program which included an array of sports designed to further the knowledge, skills and understanding of students including a 7km run around

Iron Cove Bay, our victorious team taking out the ISD Netball championships, wheelchair basketball skills on the courts.

The Year 9 Cove program contributing to Clean Up Australia Day around Scotts Creek, our pursuit to support mental health with OneWave Fluro Day, incredible results at AICES Athletics and so much more.

Our co-curricular activities have also soared to new heights in 2023 with the addition of Parkour, a discipline where athletes get from A to B in the fastest way possible, often with flips and leaps. The students have welcomed Parkour to Glenaeon with great enthusiasm, a new venture to accompany fencing, archery, soccer and basketball along with the ever-popular Athletics games and fitness activities on a Friday morning.

Thank you, Jonas, your capacity to encourage, foster, and inspire our students in their sporting and wellness pursuits will enrich them well beyond their years at Glenaeon. 

Above: Steiner School Swimming Carnival 2023 Right: Class 5 Greek Olympics long jump

Right: Year 10 water sports at Balmoral Beach

Above: Diana Drummond, Donna Miller, Jonas Stoebe celebrate OneWave Fluro day to raise funds and awareness for mental health

Above: ISD Netball Carnival Champions 2023

Above: ISD Basketball Juniors

Below: ISD Basketball Seniors

Left: Year 10 PDHPE Ext. 7km Iron Cove Bay Run

Above: Class 5 Greek Olympics javelin

Right: Year 10 surfing at Collaroy Beach

Above: Year 9 PDHPE Ext. Bubble Soccer

OUTDOOR

Written from Nature

" Every passing year I watch students of Glenaeon return once more to live alongside me for a short while, before leaving slightly more aware and slightly more attuned than when they arrived.

Within my Blue Mountains, students enjoy the spectrum of colours across the sunbaked orange sandstone walls towering above, glowing in the failing afternoon light.

This year I have played both witness and director to the experience of hundreds of Glenaeon students all across the country, from Tasmania all the way north to the very top of Western Australia. I challenge them, enthrall them, and ultimately unite them. Unite them with themselves, those they share their space with, and unite them with me. The sense of community students arrive with is strengthened through their shared experiences. The shared struggles, failures, and successes all act to mould the community that they are an integral part of.

Coexistence with me, Nature, can at times be difficult, and it is through unity and community that students find the easiest paths to navigate those difficulties. Taking communal refuge underneath the shelter of a sandstone cave for a group lunch after abseiling down a cliff face, or simply gathering as a whole group to cook a meal

under the night sky’s stars. Journeying across a gigantic dam sharing stories, responsibilities, and time, students naturally form communities in places outside of doors. They watched stars together in the Warrumbungles, negotiated bushes and rock at Webbs Creek, travelled through howling winds in Tasmania, all together as a group. In the Wolgan Valley they cheered for the climber, supported the vulnerable, and relished the panoramic views. Finally, in my waterways, a stone’s throw from school, they cared for me, removing rubbish from my mangrove roots so that I may now breathe again.

While I must challenge these communities as a part of their continued growth, it is equally important to captivate, intrigue, and mesmerise the heads and hearts of those that chose to spend time with me.

Students of Glenaeon are entangled with me, and while we may never fully understand the extent of that unity, I will continue to look forward to their visits, and the challenges, failures, and successes that lie ahead. 

Sincerely, Nature

Left and Below: Year 8 Trip to Coonabarabran

Jason Walker Outdoor Education Teacher

This Page: Year 11 Expedition to Lake Argyle, Western Australia

In September this year, we lost our much-loved Head of Sport and PDHPE Teacher, Jonas Stoebe. He suffered a brain injury from a ski accident, while accompanying a group of Year 9 and Year 11 students on a ski trip to Perisher. Jonas was more than just an educator; he was a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration to all who knew him. With unwavering dedication, Jonas had been part of our school community for 10 years, leaving an indelible mark on countless students’ lives.

In the weeks following this tragic accident, our school community attended Jonas’ funeral held at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Chatswood.

We finished Term 3 with a whole of school event running ‘500 laps for Jonas’ in blazing Sydney heat. 460 people then joined together in the Sylvia Brose Hall at Middle Cove for a Celebration of Life Memorial event on the last Friday in October, a service with musical performance and elegies from members of the community and a video tribute, allowing us to reflect on Jonas’ unique and vibrant personality and the joy he brought to us all.

We extend our deepest condolences to Jonas’ family, friends, and loved ones. 

REFLECTIONS

“Imet Jonas on my second day of Year 7. I had just joined Glenaeon and had been told that my ankles were far too skinny to perform eurythmy the previous day; I wondered, what exactly awaited me in my first P.E. class? I was nervous. I’d never been a particularly sporty individual, and wasn’t looking forward to being barked at by some maniacal army-type drill instructor for two hours in the sweltering summer sun. Well, that’s what my mind envisioned for high school P.E., at least.

My assumptions were quickly dispelled by the arrival of Jonas. He was an exceptionally punctual, incredibly fit, white-toothed smiling man, with the energy of a caffeinated hare. He looked like he had about 0.5% body fat and was dressed in a dazzling attire of monochrome sports gear; one block colour from his sneakers to his cap. ‘Now you new students are lucky,’ he said, addressing the group, ‘because this class has always been one of my most favourites.’

I liked the way he said students: he pronounced his s’s as sch’s, so it was more like schtudents. I also liked the way he didn’t make us pick teams when we started to play a game of soccer, so all of the athletic kids were spread throughout the class like well-intentioned, speedy head-lice. It was insanely fun, and his energy was infectious. I could sense myself feeling more at home at this “weird hippie school” (which, I’m sorry to say, is what I thought of Glenaeon at first) with each passing second.

Jonas remained a constant, exciting presence for my class, especially during the 2021 lockdown. I remember rolling out of my bed to begrudgingly watch his morning

movement sessions (camera off, bowl of cereal in hand), and wondering how on earth he could remain so energetic when it seemed the rest of the world had gone to sleep. I must confess I wasn’t a very good student during lockdown, especially to poor Jonas. One over-Zoom P.E. class he made us do push-ups, and instead of exercising I lowered my laptop camera so he could only see my forehead, then bobbed up and down in what I thought was a convincing ruse.

‘Sophie,’ he said after we’d finished, ‘that was remarkable. You did about a hundred pushups in one minute. How did you do it?’

Stammering, I tried to come up with a reply that wouldn’t humiliate me further. But then Jonas winked at me, and I knew he wasn’t upset about my blatant disregard for my own fitness. (At least, I think it was a wink. It might have been a Zoom glitch).

Not only did Jonas teach P.E., but he was also a passionate PDH educator. That is: Personal Development and Health. He taught us some really important things, like how to eat well, consent, and safe alcohol usage. Other times he would just talk about his life to us, and there were some anecdotes told during those Monday afternoon Year 10 PDH classes that I definitely can’t disclose here, but I will say this: his stories were always rich with experience and humour, and painted a portrait of the world so colourful and marvellous I wanted to drink it in and travel to the places he’d travelled to, see the things he’d seen, do the things he’d done. Such was his life’s canvas. 

Sophie Lewis Year 11 Student

Above: 500 laps for Jonas

Jonas

In the realm where time and eternity meet, There lies a tale of Jonas, so bittersweet.

Amidst the whispers of a fading light, I'll weave a poem for him, taking flight.

Upon the shores where the ocean kisses land, Jonas found solace, his heart held in hand.

The beach, a canvas of sand and sea, Became his sanctuary, where he longed to be.

But beyond the waves, where the mountains stood, Jonas found another love, pure and good.

Skiing, a dance upon glistening snow, A passion that made his spirit truly glow.

With grace and skill, he carved the slopes, Leaving tracks like whispers of endless hopes.

Through snow-laden forests, he would glide, Embracing freedom with each daring stride.

But Jonas' love for skiing went beyond his own, For he taught the sport to children, seeds he sown.

With patience and joy, he shared his gift, Uplifting their spirits, their hearts adrift.

In their laughter and smiles, he found his reward, Their eyes alight, their dreams soared.

He nurtured their courage, their fears erased, Instilling in their souls a sense of grace.

And as he guided them down the snowy trails, He taught them lessons that would never fail.

To embrace life's challenges with strength and poise, To find beauty in every stumble and rejoice.

His presence on the slopes was a radiant light, Igniting hope and joy, shining ever so bright.

His spirit contagious, a beacon for all, Inspiring greatness, standing tall.

Though the mountains may no longer feel his touch, Jonas' legacy lives on, it means so much.

In the hearts of those he taught and inspired, His love for skiing forever admired.

So let us remember Jonas, his spirit so free, Embracing the beauty of life, like the sea.

Through the beach, the birds, the forest's embrace, And the joy of skiing, his love they'll forever trace.

Jamie Loftus Class 2 Teacher

Above and Above Right: Jonas Mandala at the Middle Cove amphitheatre

Far Right: Floral tribute on the Middle Cove basketball courts by Donna Miller and Alisan Smotlak

Forest

Birds have wings

Trees have leaves

Nature is hiding some wonderful things

Lizards have scales

Rocks have lichen

Peacocks have the most beautiful tails

Snakes have fangs

Leaves have patterns

Nature has animals

Some are orangutangs

Rufus B.

Class 5

Welcome to the inaugural pages dedicated to ‘student life’ at Glenaeon

This year, we are delighted to showcase just a taste of the words, thoughts, artistic works, and imagination of the people who represent the beating heart of our school, our students.

Thank you to the Primary and High School students who so generously shared their craft with us to enjoy. We are so proud of our unique vision of a Glenaeon education and how we can support our students to learn and grow in ways that harness their full creative potential.

Top Right: Otis T. Year 8 Dragon, timber carved spinning top and launcher handle

Right:

Jayden S. Year 11 Ecolamp, Timber, LED light strip, Acrylic

Above: Jessica H. Year 10

‘Self portrait’ Acrylic on canvas, posca pen

They say the sun never really sets

For it’s always in your mind

Something to hope for In the blue depths of night

In the winter cold

There was a breath of sunlight.

Something to remind you

The flowers will revive.

Here comes the time of rebirth

Here comes the sun once more

Feast upon the gold and mirth

For one day it shall be gone

Winters cool shall come again

But wait for winters dawn

The suns streaking golden rays

And there life is reborn.

Learn from the cold

Learn from the early mornings brisk breath

And take your step towards the sun

And remember.

Ava K. Year 9 Spring

Above: Class 6

Mosaic Tiled Wooden Stumps created for the Glenaeon Family Fair Silent Auction

Above:

1. Ryder D. Year 8

‘Skatedeck’, Acrylic paint, posca pen

2. Poppy W. Year 8

‘Skatedeck’, Acrylic paint, posca pen

3. Sofia H. Year 8

‘Skatedeck’, Acrylic paint

4. Chloe M. Year 8

‘Skatedeck’, Acrylic paint

Reflection

The Glenaeon community is one of connection. Our connection to nature. Our connection to our learning and the connections we have with each other.

Our school lives and breathes nature. Walking through the campus, the trees shelter us and all the wildlife around our grounds reminds us of our connection to our earth and each other. Throughout our education, there are steps we take each year to further our knowledge and connection to our world through our outdoor education programs. Whether we are out on canoes in the Shoalhaven River in Year 9 or sleeping under our tarp as it rains in Year 7, lifelong connections and memories are forged and engraved with those who surround us. There is a knowing sense when you are out there hiking up a mountain that the people you are surrounded with will not leave you behind, they will support you and encourage you to make it through the journey even at the hardest of times and be proud of the effort you have made.

Within our school year, there are several communal functions that build our community. The concourse in Term 3 is a way to rely on each other through music and give a gift back to our parents by presenting the music we have worked on through the year. Similarly, the Carol Service that closes off the year brings the whole school community, including parents and teachers, together through song for a night of spirit and festivity that is remembered through to the next years' service. The annual Family Fair is another time our school comes together to produce something fun and colorful. Parents and students help set up, clean up, and volunteer throughout the day and it is a wonderful opportunity for connections and friendships to be built between members of the community that you would never normally speak to.

Our school is filled with familiar faces. As I walk from class to class, I see students I am in choir with, friends from SRC and I can talk to younger students about the experiences they are having with their Main Lessons or classes having gone through the same thing. Our school embraces the connections between younger and older students who are seen as mentors and role models for younger students and the friendships that have been born are strong. By playing soccer at lunch, to orchestras and bands in the mornings, the student community comes together. The teacher and student bond we have at Glenaeon is one that is admired by students and parents combined. As students we admire and respect our teachers and the friendship and support they show us through our education. Our teachers are well known throughout the school, and whether you had been taught by a teacher yourself, they might have taught your sibling or friend, and everyone knows everyone. As a young student, you would hear stories of how cool a class was because of the teacher and from that moment, the excitement of ever getting to experience that too was strong.

In our Glenaeon community the connections we have are so deeply acknowledged and loved as our friendships and our relationship with nature builds the atmosphere of our school.

Ava K.

Year 9

Above: Arty C. Year 9 Design and Technology Boxer, timbers, 3D printed plastic, Cigar Box Ukulele

Above: Erin M. Year 11

‘Transience’, pastel, charcoal on paper

Kindness is

Kindness is sometimes hard to describe. Trusting your bus driver to give you a ride. Sharing with a neighbour, without asking for a favour. Kindness holds your heart in place, and puts a smile upon your face.

Kindness is friendship. But is bullying, too? Let’s think about choices: Good choices are good. Bad ones are bad. So which rhymes with which? We think bullying stays ‘bad’.

And the people who hurt, deserve another chance. To give kindness to others, returning like a boomerang.

Me? I receive generosity through love, and love through generosity. I devote my life to those, who would devote their life to me.

I build foundations of trust, I fly like a dove, shedding feathers of care, and moments of love.

So what then is kindness? Kindness is special. Kindness is brave. Not everybody has it, some kindness crave. Kindness is given, by mothers and brothers. It's hard at first, but in kindness we dance. And wait. Once you get it, believe me you prance!

And the people who hurt. Deserve kindness, too. Give kindness to others, and it’ll return to you.

Collaboration

Class 6 and Year 10

Above: Sappho A. Year 10

‘Self Portrait’, acrylic on canvas

Natalie M. Year 12

The Eternal Quest

Yarn, clay, digital photo on acrylic

Left: Sophia T. Year 12

Hidden in Plain Sight

Acrylic paint, charcoal, tissue paper, timber, photography on paper

Above:

Above: Natalia B. Year 12 Birds of a Feather Wood, watercolour, pyrographic tool

Above and Right: Wellbeing is integrated into daily school life

Left: A visual representation of the draft Wellbeing Framework Right: Glenaeon staff work on the framework through interactive sessions.

Wellbeing Framework

Over the course of 2023, Glenaeon embarked on a comprehensive journey to craft a robust school Wellbeing Framework.

The process commenced with a return to fundamentals, by examining what wellbeing truly signifies within our unique school environment and its broader community context. Delving deep into the intricacies of wellbeing, we examined the myriad elements that contribute to it within the school environment. We engaged in consultations with our staff, students, and parents. Furthermore, we sought invaluable insights from external consultants, ensuring a well-rounded and holistic approach. The resulting framework has laid the groundwork for articulating and continuously improving wellbeing at Glenaeon.

A Steiner education is, at its heart, an education of wellbeing. As with all aspects of the integrated Glenaeon curriculum, wellbeing is woven into the fabric of life at our school. From how we interact with each other to the materials we use, the stories we tell, and the places we go, our primary focus is the development of free, healthy human beings.

“Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility— these three forces are the very nerve of education.”

Rudolf Steiner

Wellbeing is subjective, internal, and intangible; each person feels the balance of wellbeing in their particular way, and human beings often notice an absence of wellbeing rather than its presence. This framework represents how wellbeing lives and is nurtured at our school; Glenaeon has an integrated, holistic, and intentional approach to promoting wellbeing. The framework aims to express, clarify, and communicate the practices Glenaeon offers to provide a foundation for and to actively increase the wellbeing of our students. It is important to note that while wellbeing incorporates the topic of mental health, the two are not synonymous. Our school has additional systems, processes and

staff which come into play when intervention is required on a more individual level.

Glenaeon’s Wellbeing Framework has been developed through consultation with Glenaeon staff, external consultants, parents, and students. It reflects Rudolf Steiner’s indications and how these ‘live’ in our contemporary Australian school, backed by current neuroscience and positive psychology research.

In early 2024 the Wellbeing Framework will be published. Then begins the work of embedding and exploring our practices and learning experiences through the lens of the framework itself. We can look forward to professional development for staff, interactive parent education sessions, and student learning experiences. We are excited to see where this new framework will lead! 

Dani Finch Deputy Head of School Classes K–6

Chris Scrogie Operations and Facilities Manager

Sustainability at Glenaeon

The term sustainability means many things to many people. Broadly it is the “ability to maintain at a certain level”. Perhaps the most recognised areas where sustainability is discussed relate to the highly visible environmental areas like the use of solar power and re-forestation.

Sustainability is important in these days of ever changing weather patterns, including deluge rains, extreme temperatures, heavy smoke days, and also significant events like COVID.

This has made us look critically at how we can sustain our learning spaces through all these challenges. It may interest people to know that at Middle Cove even though the school has added air conditioning to many spaces, it has actually reduced the overall power consumption of the Campus, achieved a better energy efficiency, while importantly, providing learning environments that can cope with the weather extremes that we are witnessing.

The School has four solar panel installations across two campuses, providing significant power to the School during weekdays, and on weekends, can feed power back into the electricity grid, earning the School some small cost offsets. In Operations, to ensure the sustainability of this, we regularly clean our panels and endeavour to maintain them at their peak level of performance.

To sustain the beautiful outdoor landscape that is so much part of the school, we consider carefully which trees and shrubs we plant. We try to choose plants that are suited to our local conditions (prioritising varieties that are indigenous to the area), but that are also appropriate in a School environment. Part of the sustainability of this environment is the ongoing tree management plan (the clearing of deadwood from high in the trees and removal of dead trees), and bushfire fire fuel reduction – making sure we don’t take too much ground cover, enough to protect the ground from erosion, without leaving too much combustible fuel). Where it is appropriate, we may create a habitat tree rather than remove it, so as to

support our local wildlife. Those of us lucky enough to be around in quiet times see the echidnas, wallabies, frill neck lizards, kookaburras and like, that call our grounds home.

In recent years we’ve been able to conduct programs on bush and creek regeneration, to pass onto our students the importance of stewardship of our surroundings.

To the future, there are areas of opportunity for us to further embrace sustainable outcomes at a school level; water reusage and overall waste minimisation, for example. As a School we can positively impact these areas, reducing our footprint and fostering a learning environment.

Chris Scrogie

FOUNDATION

2023 was a year of change for Glenaeon, and as is often the case, change promotes new ideas and opens up new possibilities and pathways.

It was in this spirit that the Glenaeon Foundation launched its 2023 Annual Giving Campaign, adding a new donor category, “Glenaeon Staff Innovation Fund,” designed to recognise Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School staff members as valued team members and to support the promotion of professional growth, idea generation, and execution towards innovative projects to enhance the experience of students and the Glenaeon community more broadly.

The Staff Innovation Fund will support staff in the pursuit of professional learning and research opportunities in education-related areas of passion, attendance at experiential-style study tours, and the development of outstanding ideas from concept through to implementation.

The new Innovation Fund was featured as the main category for the Annual Giving Campaign, alongside long-standing other categories, including the Building Fund, Schools Discretion, Scholarships Fund, and Bursaries Fund. Pleasingly, the campaign overall performed very well, raising just over $56,000 with $12,770 allocated to the Staff Innovation Fund. With this seed money, the Fund is well-placed to offer immediate funds to support our staff in pursuing innovative projects and ideas that will inspire them and our school community to remain at the forefront of what is possible now and into the future.

Following the theme of change and evolution, the Foundation has also seen leadership change in 2023 as I retire from the Chair position

after seven years and Warwick Brown steps in to lead the way into the next era of fundraising and community building. Warwick has a long history with Glenaeon, having three children attend the school and serving on the GPA for many years, as well as previously serving as a Foundation Director from 2015–2017, and after a short hiatus, he is back to help guide the Foundation forward. Serving as the Glenaeon Foundation Chair for the past seven years and working with the community to build a more vital and vibrant school has been a great pleasure and a privilege. I want to take this opportunity once again and for the last time to thank the Glenaeon community for your tireless, unending generosity.

Robin Borrud

Robin Borrud Glenaeon Foundation Chair

The Glenaeon Parents Association is a registered not-for-profit association, made up of the parents and carers of the children who attend Glenaeon. We exist to actively foster a culture of giving, connection, support and care for ourselves and each other through purposeful activities such as parent craft, parent education and fundraising projects.

Together we contributed over $100,000 to our school this year

MidWinter Party

Organised by the Year 7 parents, The Fernery in Mosman was a stunning venue for us as a community to connect, celebrate and enjoy ourselves. There was disco dancing, games and entertainment provided by parents and teachers.

Lots of people entered into the disco spirit with glitzy costumes bringing sparkle and flair to the evening.

A huge thank you to the Year 7 organising committee of Anne and Neil Mundie, Guiselle Vargas, Hasu Opa-Clarke, James and Julia Henty, Maja Rose, Melony Browell, Nick Merredith-Jones, Peter Miles, Sam Gibson and Shaun Thompson. Thanks also to the Year 9 parents who organised the Silent Auction – Angela Lakkis, Erika Hosoyama and Holly Gibbons –which alone raised over $13,500!

The Family Fair

It takes a village, and this year’s Family Fair was our village at its best – what a celebration of our community the Family Fair was!

Guided by the diligent, tireless leadership of Korin Virgona and Michelle Glew-Ross the Class 4 parents and many others across the school staged a vibrant, fun, uplifting fair for us all to enjoy. Our gorgeous Castlecrag campus opened its gates and its heart to families, friends, stall holders and the broader community.

The classrooms and grounds were transformed into places to play, create, rest, restore, get nourished with delicious food, listen to music, chat, connect, relax, go shopping, showcase our children’s learning, cool off with a dunk, paint, plant, mine for treasures, climb for lollipops, listen to stories, tie dye some clothes, bid on gorgeous art works created by our children, have a chance of winning in the raffle and so much more.

Thank you to everyone who contributed so generously, to support and celebrate our school. We deeply appreciate all the hard work, time, goodwill and energy! 

Sabine Simmonds and Warwick Brown GPA Co-Chairs

Above: MidWinter dance floor at The Fernery Mosman

Nurturing families and community through knowledge

Glenaeon proudly extends its commitment to holistic education beyond the classroom, embracing parents in their crucial role as partners in their children’s development and education.

Our Parent Education program engages with parents and carers to enhance their understanding of their child’s developmental stages, the Glenaeon curriculum and teaching methods, and various topical issues.

From Preschool to Year 12 and beyond, we offer a comprehensive array of workshops, lectures, and interactive sessions designed to enrich the lives of our Glenaeon families.

» Parenting Skills: We equip parents with valuable insights from early childhood through adolescence and beyond, ensuring they are supported through the diverse challenges of parenthood.

» Glenaeon Curriculum and Child Development: We provide insights into Glenaeon’s curriculum and philosophy, aligning it with Rudolf Steiner’s picture of child development and enabling parents to actively engage with their child’s education.

» Community Engagement and Hands on Activities: We facilitate opportunities for parents to expand their engagement within the Glenaeon community, through

practical, hands-on activities, strengthening bonds and support networks.

» Addressing Educational Themes: Our sessions tackle pertinent educational topics, including current trends such as concerns around changes in attention span and the increasing prevalence of mental ill health.

To ensure accessibility, we offer sessions at various times, both online and in person, catering to all age groups, from our youngest students to Year 12.

A few Parent Education highlights from 2023:

» Katherine Arconati and Elena Rowan delivered a taste of Glenaeon’s Mathematics Curriculum. “Have You Ever Wanted to Be a Steiner Student?” gave parents an insight into our rich education in a two-part immersion into middle school geometry. Participants enjoyed hands-on activities and left with a sense of wonder about the mathematical mysteries that surround us.

» Sandra Frain, caretaker of our Bio-Dynamic Garden, Gardening Teacher and composting and sourdough wizard, is a community hub in herself! Her excellent ‘Harvest Gratitude’ sessions and ‘Father’s Day Sourdough’ classes have become treasured annual events.

» We are also fortunate to regularly host psychologist Lorraine Cushing Kleber, who, in 2023, presented via Zoom on the topic of ‘Navigating Adolescence’; as always, we had a significant number of parents from Classes 5 through to Year 10 join the Zoom call to learn about current research and tried and true strategies.

» For the first time this year, our Head of School, Diana Drummond, hosted a ‘Supper Club’ where the group reflected on and discussed Johann Hari’s book Stolen Focus

We look forward to another wonderful year of Parent Education in 2024 – we already have some old favourites and new offerings on the drawing board! 

Many Glenaeon students go on incredible journeys, carve out unique pathways, and live quite inspiring lives. Our latest Where Are They Now? feature delves into the remarkable story of Glenaeon Alumni Toby Thatcher (2007). We caught up with Toby on his most recent return to Sydney.

supplied WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Toby Thatcher

Toby Thatcher is an Australian/British conductor. He is Artistic Director of Zeitgeist, and founder and Artistic Director of the Nineteenth Circle. He is also the Assistant Conductor to the Orchestre National d'Île-de-France.

Toby graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with an MA in Music Performance. As an orchestral musician he performed regularly with the London Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, & London Sinfonietta.

How did having a Steiner Education influence your understanding of yourself and the world around you?

I’m immensely grateful for the range of education I received. Attending Glenaeon from Class 1–6 gifted me appreciation for and awareness of skills that I think are perhaps less-valued in other education methods. These range from arts (drawing/painting/etc) to practical skills (sewing/knitting and cooking) and a general awareness of and appreciation for the natural world. It also left me with an endless curiosity, an appreciation for individuality, and a more intimate relationship with creativity.

What was your favourite subject or extracurricular activity at Glenaeon and why?

Honestly, my memory is shocking. What I do know however is that Glenaeon is where I was first given opportunities to discover music, and to perform. Given that I’m now fortunate to find myself a professional musician and performer, I’d be over thinking the question if I gave any other answer. I also distinctly remember loving the Middle Cove campus. I can't imagine many kids in the world had a better setting in which to learn.

You have worked hard to create a successful career, what advice would you give to the current Year 12’s at Glenaeon?

Learn a language! I can't tell you how much I regret never taking up the opportunities to do so in Australia. You never know where you'll end up, and the ability to communicate with more people can never be a bad thing. Work together. Collaboration will always lead you to new and fruitful ground.

Focus on the present. No matter what your ambitions, always put your focus into enjoying what you're currently doing, and pouring as much of yourself as possible into that activity.

What are some more recent projects you have done and are proud of?

Within the past year I’ve worked with Ensemble Intercontemporain (Paris) and Ensemble Modern (Frankfurt) who are, at the risk of putting the noses of other top ensembles out of joint, two of the world’s most prestigious and respected groups dedicated to new-music. It’s an absurd thrill to have interacted with them. I will be returning to work with Ensemble Modern later this year, and can’t wait.

Photos:

What are your plans for 2024 and beyond?

My musical journey is one of unpredictability, and as such it’s always hard to look too ahead. I recently won a job for the 2023/24 season as Assistant Conductor to the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France, which will see me spending more time in Paris in the next year – hopefully an opportunity to improve my French!

In January 2024 I’ll be working with the Australian Youth Orchestra. I was a member, back when I was an instrumentalist, and am ludicrously excited to work with the current generation.

As a freelancer I’m lucky to be doing various things around the world. As a lunatic who doesn’t know when to stop, I’m in the process of developing a festival all about listening (associated with a digital platform I’m building as an international hub for new-music), and an ensemble that is looking to fuse historical music and spoken-word work with the intention of dramatically expanding representation in our audience’s view of the 19th Century.  

GlenX Reunion

2023

On a warm Saturday afternoon in September 2023, we were thrilled to welcome our GlenX Alumni back to the Middle Cove Campus for drinks, canapés, a walking tour and a great catch up.

Hosted by Head of School, Diana Drummond, it was wonderful to especially celebrate the Class of 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003, 2013 for their reunion milestones.

The conversations, toasts and energy were felt around the school and it was a special moment to share the Morning Verse together once more. 

GlenX 2024

In 2024, we will host a single reunion gathering which will be open to all GlenXers but will have a special celebratory focus on the:

» Class of 2014, 10-year reunion

» Class of 2004, 20-year reunion

» Class of 1994, 30-year reunion

» Class of 1984, 40-year reunion

» Class of 1974, 50-year reunion

We encourage GlenXers from these cohorts to save the date: Saturday 14 September 2024, 3pm–6pm.

Join the Glenaeon Alumni Group on Facebook.

Above: Anne Rouse standing far left, with her first class, Class 6 1981 Right: Anne as a milk vendor in Glenaeon’s production of Oliver

FAREWELL

ELIZABETH NEVIEVE

After 22 years of outstanding service, we farewell Liz Nevieve as she takes up a new position as Principal of Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School in Bowral in 2024.

Liz’s connection with Glenaeon is longstanding. She was a Glenaeon student, then a High School Eurythmy teacher. Her role in performance evolved to include Musicals and the pioneering of the annual Year 10 Musical, which she produced and directed for many years. Liz’s leadership qualities resulted in her taking on key leadership roles including as Curriculum Coordinator and Director of Studies, before ultimately becoming Deputy Head of School (Years 7-12). Liz was

RETIREMENT

ANNE ROUSE

“Ibegan teaching at Glenaeon in 1981 with a wonderful Class 6. I was privileged to be guided by Miss Brose and a very devoted group of senior teachers and college members. I found great joy in teaching Steiner’s rich Main Lessons and to be entrusted and given the freedom to teach these lessons in a creative and artistic manner.

Although I have taught for over 42 years, it has been constantly dynamic with new roles, new teachers and changing curriculums.

I have enjoyed my many roles which has allowed me to develop new skills, new knowledge and passion. I have taught handcraft, movement, science, gardening, food technology, and most recently, I have specialised in geography in the high school.

Teaching the geography Main Lessons has been a wonderful opportunity to help students discover

instrumental to the success of many NESA school inspections, to the evolving High School curriculum and in ensuring high academic standards and quality teaching.

The School has benefitted from her deep knowledge of Steiner education and of anthroposophy.

Liz’s exemplary work ethic and her warm and personal approach with colleagues, parents and students, together with her unabridged commitment to Steiner Education have woven threads of gold throughout our School, for which we will remain forever grateful.   

the connection between people and the earth. I hope I have inspired them to value the connections and become active caretakers of this marvellous planet.

The highlights of my time at Glenaeon have been collaborating with such devoted and dedicated teachers and admin staff throughout the school. I loved the close sense of community, especially as a class teacher.

In 1996, we welcomed a second high school stream 7AA to Glenaeon, which I shared with my close friend Anne Kersch. The many outstanding plays that I have enjoyed from my first role as milk vendor in Oliver through the class plays, and now watching the Year 10s’ find new talent in their musical each year.

I have special memories of the uplifting school carol services in the city, and hearing the four part harmony created when the students join together. I will miss coming down the driveway, each day, observing the beauty of the land well nurtured by Lindsay and listening to the birds.

I look forward to great times with my family and grandchildren and the greater opportunity to travel and explore the world.”  

Anne Rouse

2023 STAFF MILESTONES

Glenaeon is a great place to learn, but it’s also an inspiring place to work. We thank our staff for their service and association and, celebrate these important milestones.

25 Years

» Lindsay Sherrott

15 Years

» Margaret Millikin

10 Years

» Eric Butler

» Jonas Stoebe

» Junko Nicholas

» Katherine Arconati

» Sarah David

5 Years

» Blaise Miller Hill

» Jason Walker

» Kristen Gardner

» Lucy Armstrong

» Mar y Goodrich

» Michelle Chambers

» Scott Henderson

» Soraya Garcia Gonzalez

» Stanley Tang

» Sylvie Pettersen

2023 CLASS PARENTS

Our sincere thanks to the wonderful parents and carers who have supported the school this year in the important role of Class Parent.

» Alexander Pampel

» Amanda Jones

» Angela Lakkis

» Anna Street

» Bodhi Fataar

» Charlotte Fayle

» Dawn Piebenga

» Deahne Moore

» Guiselle Vargas

» Holly Gibbons

» Julia Petkovich

» Lisa Taylor

» Maria Snell

» Michelle Cabena

» Mimi Butler

» Miranda Carter

» Nick Van-Bell

» Nicki Pittorino

» Nicola Price

» Peter Miles

» Rebecca Vagg

» Sabine Simmonds

» Sahar Manesh

» Sharne Fielder

» Sou Ewins

» Susanne Karlowatz

» Sylvia Robinson

» Vincent Chang

Anne Rouse

Sarah David

Jonas Stoebe

Katherine Arconati

Junko Nicholas

Eric Butler

Lindsay Sherrott

Margaret Millikin

Liz Nevieve

2024 COMING EVENTS

1 & 2 Spring Festival at Castlecrag Campus