No: 08 22 March 2019

THE FRIDAY FLIER KOTAHITANGA

Waikato Waldorf School, Kindergartens and Playcircle

Kia ora tatou

Earlier this week I sent out a message to all the parents in our community but today I would just like to repeat this message

from our school to all the community.

On behalf of Waikato Waldorf School, I would like to send our aroha (love) and extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected by the tragedy in Christchurch, especially families and friends of the victims and members of our own Muslim com-munity. As a school we will endeavour to support the children, staff and community over this difficult period. Our focus will be to effectively manage student’s emotions during this time. If your child is upset, our first action will be to contact you as par-ents. Below are two links which you may find helpful in supporting and managing your children’s emotions and curiosities that may be raised by these types of events:

https://goo.gl/DaatwL

https://www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/caring-for-someone/support-and-training/talking-about-traumatic-events/

I have been very proud of the way our older students have conducted themselves this week in the light of this tragedy

demonstrating maturity, responsibility and respect. I believe as a community we have been able to hold our children well.

Many thanks!

In the wake of the events in Christchurch on Friday 15th March, the National Executives of NZEI Te Riu Roa and PPTA

have made the decision to cancel the paid union meetings for teachers and principals. Therefore, the Paid Union

Meeting scheduled at Waikato Waldorf School on Thursday 28th

March has been cancelled and

the school will now finish at 3pm as usual.

Ngā mihi

Sue

UPCOMING EVENTS

Hello readers, 2 points for you:

Please see attached details for our speaker/art workshop event, 7pm this coming Sunday evening + additional

information. Bookings required. Van James is a highly commended anthroposophical speaker - my understand-

ing is that all can benefit from his insights and offering, not just professionals or those with an art interest: “This

lecture-demonstration-workshop is open to parents, professional educators, teachers in training, artists,

therapists, and counsellors. It will touch on the way children learn at the various stages of their develop-

ment from the art of picture-making and how drawing fosters visual intelligence.” See the contacts/

websites below for more understanding of his experience and work.

Star Wisdom Lectures given to the workers during construction of the Goetheanum.

Our next reading is this Monday 25th March at 7pm at Waikato Waldorf School – note room change im-

minent, probably in the community room, left of the hall, otherwise a classroom - follow the light and

chatter and I’ll be looking out for you. We continue with the lectures offered to the workers, which cover

a diversity of topics. Please join us at any time. We will read the second in the “Star Wisdom” trio as they lead in

to Easter.

Sarah Oliver, 027 8050850

Life is precious. To ensure your good health, be sure to dance, sing and listen to your enchanted stories!

TERM 1 DATES

Sunday 24 March Van James workshop for community 7pm

Week 9

Sunday 31 March MEDIEVAL CARNIVAL

Week 10

Monday 1st April School Closed – Teacher Only Day

Tuesday 2nd April KiVA meeting 3.15pm

Tuesday 9th April Autumn Festival

Week 11

Thursday 11th April BOT meeting 6pm

Friday 12th April Final day of term – school finishes 2pm

CLASS 8

Class 8 has completed two main lessons this term.

Our year began with a look at The Age of Revolution. We learned about Martin Luther, how he

shaped modern religion, and examined some of the causes and effects that came from Luther's

beliefs, such as the Spanish/Dutch war, and eventually moving onto Oliver Cromwell leading the

Roundheads against the Cavaliers in England. Later this year we will look into the Industrial Revolu-

tion...truly revolting times in Class 8.

We have just completed our second main lesson, a Science lesson where we looked at some of the

basic principles of Hydraulics and Aeromechanics. Various experiments were performed, many

around the concept of how force and surface area relate to generating different levels of pressure.

We discovered how air pressure fluctuates, and looked at Bernoulli's Principle and how velocity of

airflow effects pressure and how this relates to modern concepts such as aeroplane wing design and

learning how heavy aircraft stay in the air! We will take this new learning into the final main lesson of

the term, Climate and Meteorology.

Ngā mihi nui

Rob Shirlow

CLASSROOM CORNER

Scholastic Book Club

Changes have been made to how we administer the Scholastic Book Club catalogues.

For classes 1-5, parents can choose to pick up a catalogue from the office - they will not be sent to classrooms and be sent home with the children. For classes 6 - 9, a bundle of catalogues will be sent to classrooms, and the children can choose to take one home if they wish.

Parents can also view the latest catalogue online at https://www.scholastic.co.nz/toolkit/

Issue 2 is out now - I will close the ordering loop on Friday March 29th so please place orders before then.

Rob Shirlow

The Art of Education—The Education

of Art

100 years of Steiner/Waldorf Education

with Van James

Waikato Waldorf School (In Class 7)

Sunday, March 24, 2019 – 7pm Entry to workshop $10

Places still available.

Art as the Basis for Education

Children learn by means of concrete, then symbolic, and finally abstract knowing. All

three forms of understanding are important to be introduced at the appropriate stage of

childhood and can be greatly enhanced and unfolded by means of the arts.

Why is art important to education and how can education be an art? How can the visual art

of drawing teach children to see, learn, and know themselves and the world to the fullest?

Why do we need art, both for our children and for ourselves as adults? What are the real

capacities that art instills in us?

This lecture-demonstration-workshop is open to parents, professional educators, teachers

in training, artists, therapists, and counsellors. It will touch on the way children learn at

the various stages of their development from the art of picture-making and how drawing

fosters visual intelligence.

Van James is a Hawai’i based artist, author and educator; a graduate of the San Francisco

Art Institute (BFA), Emerson College in England (Dip.Art), and the Goetheanum School of

Painting in Switzerland (Dip.Art). He was a founding teacher of Tobias School of Art in

England and he has taught art at the Honolulu Waldorf High School for 35-years. He is a

regular guest instructor at numerous schools and colleges throughout Asia, America, Aus-

tralia and New Zealand. He is the editor of Pacifica Journal, chair of the Anthroposophical

Society in Hawai’i, council member of the Visual Arts Section of North America, as well as

an award-winning author of several books on art and culture including Drawing with

Hand, Head and Heart, Spirit and Art, and The Secret Language of Form.

Mindfulness practice has helped millions of adults learn a more resourceful response to the stresses

inherent in being human. Children too, who are under great pressure from peers, social conditioning, media

and the internet, can learn to protect themselves by using these well-researched tools, when those mindful-

ness tools are adapted to younger age groups.

When children learn how to be mindful, taking a few moments before responding to stressful situations, they

become more resilient, more thoughtful and more empathic. They also learn to understand the relationship

between thinking and feelings in the body.

We all know mindfulness is good for us. Mindfulness allows us to be present in our parenting, choosing a

skilful response, instead of succumbing to our visceral reactions. Mindfulness is also good for our children.

There is an emerging body of research, including some exciting new NZ research, which shows mindfulness

helps children improve their ability to pay attention, to calm down when they are upset and to make better

decisions. In short, it helps with emotional regulation and cognitive focus. Doesn't everyone want that for their

children?

A simple practice is to have the child sitting relaxed and breathing in their favourite colour in through their

nose down to their belly button then breath out through their mouth gently and slowly- if they are feeling anx-

ious they can also imaging blowing out through their mouth a rainbow. This simple exercise practiced before

pressures rise, can be quickly instigated to actively help a child re-establish their equilibrium.

Maree Smith RN, Anthroposophical RN 021 150 9443

85 Barrington Drive, Huntington, Hamilton Ph: 07 855 8710 email: office@waikatowaldorf.school.nz website: www.waikatowaldorf.school.nz www.facebook.com/WaikatoWaldorf School

These notices are published as a service to the school community. Publication is at the discretion of the Editor, and does not

necessarily reflect the opinion of the Faculty.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

We are a family of three (mother, daughter of 16 years and son Kei of 14 years--who attends the Waldorf School) plus a

dog, looking for a new place to live within the next couple months. We are selling our home in Hamilton so the timing is

a little uncertain as to exactly when we will need a new place but we want to investigate options now. We enjoy living

cooperatively if that opportunity arises and would be happy to share a home if there is a single person who needs help

with maintenance and upkeep of the property, help with cooking, cleaning, gardening, etc. Otherwise, we can rent a

place for just ourselves. We would like to stay in the same place until at least December 2020. If you have a property

or know of something suitable, please let me know. Thank you.

Samantha: 027-449-0422, ntabamama@gmail.com.

MAUI DOLPHIN DAY & RECYCLED RAFT RACE Come and enjoy a day out at the beach~

Sat 23rd March 11:30 - 4:30

PAPAHUA DOMAIN - RAGLAN

FREE EVENT

Stalls, Games, Music, Food, Beach, & Recycled Raft Race @12:30pm It's a collaborative community celebration highlighting the importance of our marine environment and an eco-friendly fundraiser raising awareness of the world's smallest dolphin. Brought to you by Whaingaroa Environment Centre and Xtreme Zero Waste. If there's one day to come out to the black sands & good vibes of Raglan this is it. Enjoy the Endless Summer that just keeps on giving!!!!!! http://whaingaroa.org.nz/events-and-projects/maui-dolphin-day/

CONCERT FOR CHRISTCHURCH

Fri 29 March - 7pm

'They are Us'

#CreateAroha

Waikato University students and staff and members of the Hamilton community are helping raise funds for the New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups. All funds will be used to provide resources to those af-fected by the Christchurch mosque shooting, and their families. We invite you to come along and show your

support, while helping make a difference!

Donations can also be made to Victim Support at http://givealittle.co.nz/cause/christchurch-shooting-victims-

fund If you need help or support as result of this event, you can contact Victim Support on 0800 042 846

Tickets: Price: $10, or larger donation if desired. A limited number of tickets will be available online, the rest can pay in cash at the door.

Early Christian Art and the founding of a cultural Renaissance

An illustrated lecture and artistic workshop

with Van James

Friday and Saturday, March 29-30, 2019

Rudolf Steiner House, Auckland

Art of the so-called Dark Ages radiates an incredible light that kindles a fire of birth and rebirth. From the cloistered monas-teries and cathedrals of Europe arises an cultural Renaissance. How is Christian visual art a continuation of the ancient pa-gan, pre-Christian mystery imagery and how has it actually shaped the way we perceive the world today? An illustrated Fri-day evening lecture (7pm) will be followed by an all-day (9am-3pm) pastel painting workshop together with further explora-tions into this remarkable art that had no small part in forming the direction of the Western World.

Van James is a Hawai’i based artist, author and educator who teaches art at the Honolulu Waldorf School and is a regular guest instructor at colleges and teacher training centers throughout Asia and America. He is chair of the Anthroposophical Society in Hawai’i, editor of Pacifica Journal, and the award-winning author of numerous books on art and culture including Spirit and Art: Pictures of the Transformation of Humanity, The Secret Language of Form: Visual Meaning in Art and Nature, and Drawing with Hand, Head and Heart: Learning the Natural Way to Draw.