3 minute read
housing the double-streamed classes 3 to
Roses Welcome Children
After a delayed start to the school year, it was a delight to welcome all the students back onto the campus at Samford Valley Steiner School. The school truly felt alive again with the excitement and energy of all the children as they greeted each other and welcomed new classmates.
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Schools all over the country faced many Covid challenges to ensure that they could open with enough staff to support student learning, and we were pleased that on 7 February, we had a smiling teacher in front of every class.
Over 100 children began in four separate kindergarten classes with picnics held prior to the start of the school year, so that children and families could meet the wonderful kindergarten team at our school.
A brand new 6 classroom building, housing the double-streamed classes 3 to 5, was opened in December last year and was ready and shiny for the new beginnings. The children have made it come alive this week, as have the teachers with their beautiful artwork, attention to detail and creating a welcoming learning space.
For the Class 1 children starting primary school for the very first time, a special, traditional ceremony awaited them. With a few nerves and a great amount of excitement, the children received a beautiful single stemmed rose from the Class 12s, as it is their ‘last first day’ of school. The rose, which often symbolises love, beauty and courage, is a fitting welcome gift for these young children starting their schooling journey. It is also a ‘rite of passage’ for the senior students to participate in the ceremony and to recall what their first primary school day looked like 12 years ago.
Carly Sheard, Primary School Director said, “The uprightness of the student leaders of our school shines as they welcome the new Class 1 children to the class teacher. It is an honour to be a part of a tradition that is then turned around on the last day of the year. The Class 1 children then say goodbye to the Class 12 graduates as they take their journey into the world and give the graduating students their final rose.”
Year 12 student, Oscar Percy, had been looking forward to the rose ceremony ever since his class began in high school. He remembers watching the ceremony last year, thinking that in one year’s time it would be him handing out the roses to welcome the Class 1s.
Oscar found this moment quite surreal and commented, “It was heart-warming to see all the Class 1s with their whole schooling life ahead of them, so keen to begin their journey. Now having done it, it feels that I have taken one of the first steps into my final year at Samford Valley Steiner School and I look forward to seeing the Class 1s at the end of the year when we receive our rose on our final day of school.”
For those parents keen to find out more about the school and Steiner education, there will be tours running on Saturday 26 February. Please contact the school on 3430 9600 for more information.
Tracey Taylor School Director
Discover nature’s healing power … join us in the outdoors!
Bush Kids nature based programs commencing term 1.
• After school - Tuesday 3-5pm (5-12yrs) • Home school - Thursday 9:30am-1:30pm (primary) • Playgroup - Tuesday 9:30-11am (bubs-5yrs)
Other Programs
• Weekly morning meditation in nature • Natural basket weaving workshops
