On Sunday we celebrated the Christmas season, coming together with our local Adelaide Hills community, to mark three decades of the Stirling Christmas Pageant. This year we embraced the theme of ‘Peace’, which in a world often shadowed by conflict and uncertainty, the theme reverberated profoundly. Thank you to all our families for their involvement, either by active participation in the pageant, to crafting symbolic paper doves and to those who helped in organisation on the day. Special thanks to school parent Lindsay Tootle who was our pageant organiser this year. 

This Wednesday we will hold the Year 6 (Cycle 3) Graduation Ceremony in the hall at Yultiwirra.  Graduates, their families and some staff  will listen to the graduates speak and recall the memories of their time in Cycles 1, 2 & 3, outlining their achievements and taking the opportunity to thank those people in their lives who have supported them along their journey thus far.  After the formal part of the evening, the graduates and a few staff will enjoy a meal at a local restaurant to celebrate the end of their primary schooling.  We thank the Year 6 students for being responsible and caring leaders at Yultiwirra this year.

This Friday the Middle School students will hold their Exhibition of Work and Learning during the day followed by the Year 9 (Cycle 4) Graduation in the early evening.  This is always a special event where parents, staff, families and friends come to celebrate the graduation of Year 9 students completing Cycle 4.  Following the graduation speeches the Wairoa students and staff will enjoy a sit-down dinner together at Wairoa and then a ‘party’ that the students organise themselves.

These graduation celebrations have become embedded in our school traditions and are a rite of passage for these students.  Thank you to Sam Cameron, Alex Blenkinsop & Christine Perry (Cycle 3 teachers) and Pippa Milroy, Dave Coulter , Ben Noble, Rom Evangelista, Doris Stangl Round & Riley Sabey (Wairoa teaching staff) for all of the wonderful programs and support they have offered these students throughout the year and the assistance they have provided in helping the graduating students prepare for the transition and next part of their educational journey.  

We acknowledge the following graduating students.

Cycle 3 – Year 6 Graduates

Amber Abrahams

Lachlan Barnett

Oliver Baryczka

Lukas Chau

Joseph Evangelista

Emily Fleming

Molly Green

Indigo Johns

Eliana Ng

Jules Reinke-Clarke

Hyla Scott

Audrey Taylor

Matilda Villegas

Oscar Were

Arana Wheaton

Parker Wray

Lucas Young

Cycle 4 – Year 9 Graduates

Lila Boyce

Jarrah Ferguson

Lily Goodwin

Tahlee Grantham

Jack Johnson

Lucy Moore

Oliver Musgrave-Evans

Holly Pope

Satine Richmond

Aiden Salmon

Sierra Schutz

Eden Stolarski

Blake West

Penelope White

This year alongside our Montessori practice we have enjoyed playing, experimenting and learning all about colour! We conclude the year with a festive feel, introducing shiny gold and silver colours, patterns and materials. Some examples of our gold and silver work have been polishing silver, making special gold and silver gift tags and special bells to use at home. 

Many children enjoyed a special introduction to sifting flour in the past weeks. It required great care to sift gently and when successful they were able to find some hidden beans in the flour! We all went home looking like bakers covered in flour, a sign of the practical life experience and fun.

Thank you to all the parents who have attended Infant Program this year it has been delightful to witness your children's milestones, growth and development throughout the year. Many great conversations about Montessori Philosophy, children's development and our beautiful school have been shared and it has been an absolute pleasure for me to be a part of it. 

The children have been immersed in exploring the last three classes of vertebrates - Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish. They engaged with x-rays of these animals, matching images, learning the anatomy of frogs and turtles, creating booklets, crafting artwork depicting rainbow fish, and discovering the life cycles of frogs, turtles, and crocodiles.

Quotes from the children echoed their newfound knowledge:

'Crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and fish all lay eggs,' shared Jasper. Eloise noted, 'Fish have scales,' while Harry F explained, 'Fish use gills to breathe underwater.' Axel added, 'Crocodiles carry their babies in their mouths'.

Part of our Montessori curriculum focuses on the Care of Animals, which daily involves our chickens and green tree frogs. During the Amphibians unit, children learned to care for delicate frogs - spraying them with water, preparing crickets for feeding, and handling them cautiously, sparking tremendous excitement.

We've also welcomed transitioning children from the Infant Program, witnessing our Preschoolers warmly embrace their new peers, caring for them and setting wonderful examples.

As the term hastens to a close, we're excited about our upcoming End of Year celebration events. Our concert will take place on Monday, December 11th, at 10 am - inviting all children to attend. Additionally, the Preschool's End of Year party is scheduled for Wednesday, December 13th, featuring a shared eating time and concluding at 12 pm. Look out for more details on both events in the forthcoming week.

This term in Cycle 1 Primary our Mondays have been filled with culinary adventures guided by Deb. We have immersed ourselves in the art of cooking and the children are not only mastering essential life skills but also cultivating a genuine appreciation for nutritious foods. These sessions emphasise independence and autonomy as they eagerly set tables and clean up after themselves. Through these shared culinary moments, a strong sense of responsibility and a delightful community spirit has blossomed within Cycle 1.

"This is a fancy lunch.” – Walter 

"I like cooking, we made crocodile bread." - Alex

 In addition to our culinary adventures, we've been nurturing our garden nestled in the bush area. Exploring the needs of plants and understanding our role in their growth and survival, we've discovered the profound connection between nature and our responsibility as stewards of the environment. This exploration extended to the importance of our waste systems within the classroom, prompting contemplation about the impact of our waste on the planet.

 Our discussions delved into the concept of "custodian," resonating with Aboriginal ways of being as we revisited our understanding of country. 

"Landfill all goes into a big mountain" - George 

"We can make the school money from the cans if we recycle them." - Vivienne 

"We can give the weeds to the chickens at preschool.”- Xavier

 In Cycle 1 Primary, these experiences not only foster practical skills but also install a profound sense of environmental awareness and communal responsibility among our young learners.

Cycle 2 has been busy working on research projects this term on Cultural Festivals and Celebrations around the world. Students have researched Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Cinco De Mayo, Bastille Day and Thanksgiving. The projects have included many sections with students selecting different ways of sharing their knowledge including making brochures, dioramas, advertisement videos, posters, pictures, see think wonders, predictions, questionnaires, and graphs. All students have had the opportunity to share their hard work with each other during class presentations.

"I found it really interesting to study Hanukkah" - Layla 

"I really liked the  different project sections" - Soraya 

"I made a diorama and a poster about Luna New Year" - Amber 

We also enjoyed a visit from Layla’s mum Lynsey who is a paramedic. She talked to our class about emergencies and how to call for an ambulance. Lynsey shared the DRSABCD emergency first aid acronym and recovery position with us. We then enjoyed a look through an ambulance and a closeup look at the tools that help paramedics check a patient's pulse and oxygen levels. Finally we got to see the ambulance lights and sirens.

"DRSABC, I learnt what all the words mean" - Matilda 

"There are so many different automatic buttons for the ambulance bed" - Tommy

"The ambulance thumper can buzz other cars in case they have their radio on" - Emilio 

"If someone rings 000, the radio tells Lynsey where to go if someone is hurt" - Tanush 

Cycle 3 embarked on an exciting journey to the Riverland for this year's camp. Nestled within the picturesque landscapes, Roonka Adventure Park became our home for three action-packed days along the tranquil Murray River. 

Amidst the myriad of activities including canoeing, fishing, raft making, swimming in the billabong, zipping along the flying fox and sliding down the water slide, our students embraced not only adventure but also responsibility. They actively participated in meal preparation, maintained the cleanliness of the camp, and honed their independence, gearing up for each day's unique challenges. 

This immersive experience instilled vital skills such as independence, resilience, confidence, social adeptness, and the courage to push beyond personal boundaries. Each student emerged with a sense of accomplishment and cherished memories, making this camp a success for all involved.

 “I liked being out in the wilderness… and the food was good too” - Xavier

“Camp was fun and I was sad to leave" - Hazel

“I enjoyed the activities and learning outside the classroom” Oscar S

“I am proud that I stepped outside of my comfort zone” - Chloe

“The best thing about camp was sharing a dorm with my friends and a good night sleep after a busy day” - Dani

Last week Cycle 4 trekked across to Port Vincent on the Yorke Peninsula for our Aquatic Camp. We camped in tents in a small caravan park near the ocean which we could see and hear from our campsite. We got to try a huge range of water sports such as sailing, stand-up paddling, kayaking and knee-boarding. We also made our way over to Berry Bay, a perfect beach for beginner surfers, where we tried surfing and body-boarding. 

Our meals were all catered by Monica and her teams of cooks, who were busy baking and preparing in the lead up to camp. One night was self-catered in the form of the Great Trangia Cook-off. In small groups, the students created a main and a dessert using a Trangia stove. There was an amazing assortment of meals, sushi, fresh yiros, pizza, homemade pasta and dumplings made from scratch. The delicious desserts included fruit dipped in chocolate, marshmallow wraps, hot cinnamon doughnuts, chocolate pudding and brownies!

We had an amazing trip with beach walks, fishing and night-walks. The group grew closer with stronger connections and an excellent community spirit with all aspects of our camp.

The learning focus in Preschool and Cycles 1 and 2 classes this term is about the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok. Younger students play games inspired by Sasak children’s games, using items collected from nature. They follow instructions to draw a traditional Sasak house and copy their weaving patterns to make a class poster with the slogan ‘Desa Senaru Seru’ (Senaru Village is exciting!) and are encouraged to make their own drawings of Sasak people in traditional dress, animals, and significant sites such as ancient mosques and temples. They wrote and shared their own opinion (in English) on whether they could live in a Sasak house or not and their reasons why. 

The older students work at a more advanced level in small groups to create their own nature-based games and write the ‘rules’ in English. They also create digital comic strips on ‘Pixton’ and write simple dialogs in Indonesian, English, and ‘Sasak’ language.  

Across all classes, the children are extremely excited about the upcoming ‘End of Year Concert’ and are enthusiastically practising their ‘party pieces’ by mastering an Indonesian item such as their favourite song or traditional dance from different regions of Indonesia. Hope you all can come along to support us and enjoy what promises to be a colourful and energetic performance. 

I would love to live in this (Sasak’s) house because it looks amazing!  - Alinta

I would not like to live in this (Sasak’s) house because it is too small. I like a big house - Albie

No, I wouldn’t (live in a Sasak’s house) because it doesn’t look the same like my house that is giant - Riley

I might live in this (Sasak’s) house because it looks like a cool house! - Walter

Both Cycle 3 and Cycle 4 have been exploring how Indonesians celebrate Christmas. They've embraced Indonesian Christmas traditions by creating batik-modified cards and learning various Christmas carols on the angklung, a traditional Indonesian instrument. These activities not only celebrate cultural diversity but also encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indonesian customs as we head towards the Christmas season.

One of our Indonesian teachers, Ellis Robb, was recently awarded the Education Explorer Award  presented by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy in collaboration with ‘Balai Budaya dan Bahasa Indonesia’ (Indonesian Language and Culture Centre) and University of Sydney. The award is given to selected Indonesian teachers and university students as an immersive language and cultural learning experience.  In September Ellis spent five days in Lombok learning the culture of the local Sasak people, which prioritises the importance of personal responsibility, shared values, mutual respect and contribution to family and the community we live in. Congratualtions Ellis! To read more about Ellis' trip, visit the link here Education Explorer Award. 

Head to the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), for The Studio: All Stars. This is a free event for all the family, where children can make their mark inspired by the work of Tarnanthi exhibiting artist Vincent Namatjira. 

Immortalise an All Star of your own and create a supersized trading card to add to the All Stars Wall of Fame. Young people can consider who is the superstar in their life. It might be a sportsperson, musician, actor, writer or even a family member or friend. Facilitators are on hand to assist children of all ages in creating their trading card which will then go on display in The Studio at AGSA. The workshops run in school holidays and on weekends from 10am-5pm and are open to children of all ages. 

“Australians are crazy about footy and this is especially true for young Indigenous people. I was a typical young fella … into footy, soccer, basketball, boxing, swimming – sport kept me occupied and out of trouble. Something I loved about sport was that it was somewhere you’d see Aboriginal people really celebrated. You could turn on the TV and see Indigenous heroes on the running track or on the footy field." Vincent Namatjira