Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School in Bowral, New South Wales | Primary School

Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School

Locality: Bowral, New South Wales

Phone: +61 2 4862 2300

Address: 15-17 Kirkham Rd 2576 Bowral, NSW, Australia

Website: http://aurorasteiner.nsw.edu.au

Likes: 901

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Primary School

25.01.2022 Have you ever heard of a Main Lesson? The Main Lesson lies at the heart of Steiner's methodology. It is an immersive unit of work stretching over three to four weeks and topics are carefully chosen to respond to the emerging needs and capabilities of young adults at their present developmental stage. Each main lesson incorporates literacy work as part of the overarching theme. If you want to find out more and see some examples of main lessons, visit our webpage.

25.01.2022 Our Cultural Educator, Rachel Buckley, explaining indigenous symbols to a group of kids from different classes.

25.01.2022 We love to share this article from the Steiner Education Australia website by our Lauren Ashwood. https://www.steinereducation.edu.au//aurora-southern-high/

25.01.2022 People see different things when they look at our Aurora Steiner logo, and that's a beautiful thing! Do you see a blossom, a mandala, or something else? Look closely, and you might glimpse a circle of eight little people with hands joined and arms lifted up to the heavens. These were first drawn to represent the eight founding students of the school - those children who joined us on the first day we opened our doors back early in 2013. Today indeed they represent every one of us who comes to take part in the Aurora Steiner community, reminding us day by day that together we're strong, and together we shine!

24.01.2022 Autumn turns our beautiful campus into a colourful wonderland. Please note our fabulous new yurt classroom waiting for our year 7/8 student to return.

24.01.2022 Due to Covid restrictions we couldn't hold the camp for Class 1/2. However, we didn't want to deprive them of this special event and organised a best of adventure with a BBQ, a twilight walk past the 'haunted' playground and of course singing around a camp fire with hot chocolate and marshmallows.

24.01.2022 Aunty Rachel, our Indigenous Culture Educator, worked with small groups of kids to develop their own special Acknowledgement of Country. We will post these special drawings and their own texts over the next couple of months. Lachie: Hello (wedao , wee-day-oh), my name is Lachie. I love bush (bawa, bah-wah) walking (yana, yah-nah), climbing trees, exploring caves and swimming in swimming holes. I love the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves on the trees (durudan, dat-...roo-dan) and the flowing sounds of the river (dulang , doo-lah-ng). The Wedge-tailed eagle (mullyang, mullee-ang) is my Spirit Animal. It has long feathers that look so beautiful in the shining sun. I watch the Wedge-tailed eagle fly round and round in circles way up high in the sky. I learn from the Wedge-tailed eagle (mullyang, mullee-ang) where the small animals are hiding in the bush (bawa, bah-wah) below when he shows his family where to find food. Thank you (didjarigura, di-cha-ree-goo-rah) Gundungarra people for taking care of the land so that my Spirit Animal can continue to thrive. I promise to do what I can to help look after the Earth (dooure, dah-our-re) as well as we walk and work together on this land (Ngununggula, nun-gung-nun-gula).

23.01.2022 Craft Kits for Aurora: felt ball necklace, 11 thread weaving, rock painting, rambling embroidery, apple elf story doll kit, wet felt pouch kit. Isolation is great for craft ideas and getting it all together. Repost from Instagram @shirleyabell2

23.01.2022 We continue our series of the student's own acknowledgement of country. Today you can read Jade's story: Hello (wedao, wee-day-oh) my name is Jade. What I love most about the bush (bawa, bah-wah) where I live are the beautiful butterflies. Butterflies like to land on my nose. It really tickles. I can see orange, white, brown, sparkly silvers and golds. I would like to say thank you (didjarigura, di-cha-ree-goo-rah) to the Gundungarra people for taking care of this ground (guard, goo-rahd) for the butterflies. I promise that I will help to take care of the ground (guard, goo-rahd) as well as we walk and work together on this land (Ngununggula, nun-gung-nun-gula).

23.01.2022 Have you ever noticed that nature is full of mathematical relations and patterns? Practicing and experiencing math with your child can be as simple as going on a nature walk. Let them count toadstools, find circles, spirals, ask them to draw a half circle in the wet soil with a stick and generally have a lot of fun. Photo credit: Instagram @kamikatie

23.01.2022 On this fourth Advent Sunday Aurora's teachers and staff want to wish you all a great relaxing Christmas with an Advent verse from Rudolf Steiner. 'The first light of Advent is the light of stones- The light that shines in seashells, in crystals and in our bones. The second light of Advent is the light of plants-... Plants that reach up to the sun, and in the breezes dance. The third light of Advent is the light of beasts- The light of faith that we may see in greatest and in least. The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind- The light of hope, of thoughts and deeds, The light of hand, heart and mind.' -Rudolf Steiner- See more

23.01.2022 Because it's that time of the year.

23.01.2022 Hail or shine, our kids enjoy their walk to the mysterious bamboo forest.

23.01.2022 Heaps of fresh vegetables on a cold morning. It must be Lentil Bolognese Day!

22.01.2022 All this week our kindy and 1/2 teachers have been busy putting together and delivering home learning packages with a weekly time table and craft materials for home schooling. The kids love these 'presents' and are very excited to open the big envelopes and see what the next week will bring.

21.01.2022 We asked our middle and high school students what they thought about our school and want to share their answers with you over the next couple of weeks.

21.01.2022 Have a great long weekend! We’re looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

20.01.2022 On Thursday 19th March, we will begin transitioning to an at-home learning program for those families who are wishing to and are able to remain at home while learning continues. Please find the letter of our principal with all information below: Dear Aurora Parents and Friends, Over the last few weeks, the risk of our school community being affected by Covid-19 has increased significantly. We have had mixed messages from a government level. It seems that the medical evidence ...Continue reading

19.01.2022 Check out the article published by The Fold - Southern Highlands about our school.

18.01.2022 Some kids got creative in After School Care and used the mud from recent rainfalls to build a mud hut village including an as yet unfinished village round house.

17.01.2022 As part of their building main lesson, Class 3/4 made some mud bricks from scratch. 1. They built the frames 2. They created the mud in a big cloth from which they then squeezed the water 3. They mixed the mud with some straw in a wheel barrow and filled it into the frames. 4. The finished mud bricks in the frame. Once properly dried, they will be taken out. Here a sneak peek.

17.01.2022 Driveway art: Ask you kids to write the alphabet or numbers and hopp along with them. You can create patterns or count in twos or even and uneven numbers. Let your imagination flow.

17.01.2022 The sun is shining, it's warm. The perfect day for Class3/4 to do their wet felting outside.

17.01.2022 Knitting and Crochet projects helps children develop sense of achievement in creating with their own skillful hands a thing of beauty. Repost from @shirleyabell2

16.01.2022 It’s festival time. Term three is already over. How time has flown past. Unfortunately, this year parents won’t be able to take part, but keep an eye on our stories and we’ll post images as we go through the day.

16.01.2022 Engagement with nature has always been a fundamental part of Steiner Education. Morning walks and camps are highlights for all our students. While we can’t do camps at the moment, Class 7/8 went on extended hikes in the Southern Highlands. The children learn to move in a different environment, learn self reliance and leadership skills. They also practice working together to overcome obstacles and challenges. While the students hike through the local bush they get a glimpse of the life of First Nations people in this area and learn about bush plants and wildlife.

16.01.2022 We are continuing with our remote learning program, while the school remains open for those kids whose parents have to go to work. Today the kids from year 1/2 went on a nature walk and we talked about the four elements and what roles they play in nature. In the morning some of the onsite kids participated in the conference roll call.

16.01.2022 We continue with our series featuring the Acknowledgement of Country written and designed by our students in Class 1 and 2. Wee-day-oh (Hello, Wedao) my name is Charli and I really love Gundungurra Country. I want to say di-cha-ree-goo-rah (thank you, didjarigura) to Gundungurra First Nations People and ancesters for showing ways of taking care of nature and each other. Ring Tailed Possums make me feel happy. I love their white bits on their fluffy long curly tails and their... cute little faces. I see them sometimes at night. They like to creep up on me, just like when I sneak up on my friends. I share my little apple snacks with them. I feel that they are my Spirit Animal. I called the boy one Pikey and the girl one Seaira. Dah-roo-dan (Trees, Durudan) are very important for my little possums survival, and all living things put together are important for the dah-roo-dan (trees, durudan) survival. I promise that I will do what I can to help them by taking care of nature too. I connect with the jirra (stars, jerra) I connect with the dah-our-re (Earth, Dooure) I connect with the hearts of the Gundungurra People, as we nun-gung-nun-gula - as we ‘walk and work together on the same land’. (Ngununggula) See more

16.01.2022 Class 3/4 had a fantastic time at their Yurt farm camp near Goulburn. They learned about farm life, milking cows, riding horses, grinding grain and collecting eggs to make pan cakes. They practiced their wood work skills building their own little boats sailing them over the big dam, or ventured down the obstacle course. All children participate in camps first starting on the school grounds in years 1 and 2 and move further away from the school and parents as they progress through their developmental stages towards adulthood.

16.01.2022 We love the creativity of our parents and teachers in this time of isolation. Leaf hammering is perfect for autumn, just don’t hit your finger.

15.01.2022 Sneak peak into the new yurt classroom for class 7/8. We're almost there. Watch this space for a video tour once the building is finished.

14.01.2022 The festival at the end of each term is very important for the kids and parents of Aurora. The term ends on a high note and the kids know their holidays are about to start. But how to do a harvest festival in times of self isolation? We decided to have a remote festival. We will hook up the entire primary and middle school for an all school conference call including a story and songs. We encouraged the families to prepare a harvest table and morning tea. We hope we will be a...ble to share some images. We have also prepared some holiday packs for all families to keep the routine going, they can be picked up from school tomorrow. Find the instructions for a corn husk doll as an example of some autumn craft below. Happy holidays everyone!

14.01.2022 Did you always wonder what makes Steiner Education special? Here is your chance to find out. Join us on one of the two times on 4 February and get your introduction to Steiner Education.

14.01.2022 Wee-day-oh (Hello, Wedao) my name is Tahj, I am a proud First Nations kid. I give respects to my Elders past and present and I learn from them the proper ways. The dah-roo-dan (trees, durudan) the doo-lah-ng (rivers, dulang) and the goo-rahd (ground, guard) tell me to look after her. I can hear her call. I have connections to the Red Belly Black Snake because I was born here on this land. Like him I am quite shy and I like to hide away from noisy people. I also feel that I ha...ve a deep connection to the land. I always seem to have a stick or a rock in my hand. Somehow it makes me feel complete. I would like to say di-cha-ree-go-rah (thank you, didjarigura) to Gundungurra First Nations People for always taking care of this place, I have become a part of this place too. I connect with the jirra (stars, jerra) I connect with the dah-our-re (earth, dooure) I connect with the hearts of the Gundungurra People, as we nun-gung-nun-gula - as we ‘walk and work together on the same land’. (Ngununggula) See more

14.01.2022 Here are some Easter egg ideas, if you’re looking for craft ideas this weekend.

14.01.2022 We are often asked what distinguishes us from other schools. In this blog post, Dr Virginia Moller, CEO of Steiner Education Australia, reflects on why it might be that we're seeing this wave of interest in Steiner education at the moment. Here at Aurora we now have multiple enquiries every day, and it's a joy to show people around our school and to welcome families who come to us because they're seeking a truly meaningful education for their children...

14.01.2022 Knowing about cyber safety is such an important part of growing up today. Yesterday, we had Gary, the Hume District Schools Liaison Officer visit with us. He talked with the students from Years 5-8 about social media pit falls and other internet threats and how to deal with tricky situations. We will also provide parents with further information and useful sites on this topic.

14.01.2022 Happy holidays everyone! We hope you all can get some well earned rest. It was a tough first term, but together as a community of parents, kids and teachers we can get through this. Remember to be kind to yourself, that you don’t have to be perfect and that help is never far away. Happy Easter!

13.01.2022 Geometry on the beach. As part of their geometry main lesson our Class 5/6 went on an excursion to Corrimal Beach. Using sticks, rakes, string, brooms or shovels they designed and decorated geometric shapes in the sand.

13.01.2022 Finally, the last day of school has arrived and Aurora’s community gathers for the final festival in this year. It has been challenging for teachers and students alike, but we hope that we managed those difficulties with grace and in the sense of the joint aim to provide a great education and learning experience for our children. After a -we hope- well earned rest, we will be busy getting new learning spaces ready for next year. Aurora wishes you all wonderful holidays. We can’t wait to hear about your adventures in the new year.

13.01.2022 We're a young and thriving Steiner School in the beautiful Southern Highlands town of Bowral. Our innovative high school program is tailored to meet the needs of young adults with inquiry based learning, which is tailored to the students' individual strengths. We focus on academic rigour and an ethic of excellence as well as on outdoor education and adventure. If you want to know more give us a ring or book a tour. http://ow.ly/fhk650C5HCp

13.01.2022 This year is a special year for Aurora: we have four new classrooms and our years 1-4 will now be single stream classes. Until term start we need to get them all ready and we have much to prepare. We consider ourselves lucky, because we can rely on our fabulous school community to help us out. Last Saturday parents from year 1 and 2 children joined our new class teachers Halina and Jenneth (pic 2) for a working bee to prepare the new classrooms and playground. With the help of the children we got the work quickly done and still had plenty of opportunity to meet old friends and new parents.

13.01.2022 Check out those amazing fabric designs made by Class 7/8 using tie dye. Repost by @shirleyabell2

12.01.2022 Class 3/4 enjoyed an afternoon outside cooking their own damper over the fire. Each child had to measure out a portion of flour and water and mix the dough. Cooking is an engaging form of applied mathematics combined with a valuable life skill and, of course, lots of fun.

12.01.2022 Check out this new study on screen time and academic performance: https://www.mcri.edu.au//heavy-tv-and-computer-use-impacts

12.01.2022 Happy holidays everyone!

12.01.2022 The lantern walk along a spiral path is a fundamental part of our Winter Festival and the students are always looking forward to it. They love the songs and showing off their beautiful lantern creations. You can see this year’s lanterns from Class 1/2- pic 1; Class 3/4-pic 2; Class 5/6 - pic 3 and Class 7/8 - pic 4). Aurora Steiner School Southern Highlands

11.01.2022 Music is an important part in our curriculum. Research studies prove the correlation between performing music and mathematical skills. In some ways music itself is mathematics, it is about beats, rhythms, formulaic progressions and fractions. Children who play an instrument are proven to be better at solving complex mathematical problems than their peers who do not play an instrument. It also teaches fine motor skills, patience and endurance. At Aurora our students learn the recorder from year one onwards with an addition of the violin in years 3 and 4. We are currently working on establishing a school ensemble.

10.01.2022 String ensemble practice in full swing. If you want to know more about our music program, come to our High School Orientation Day next week. http://fb.me/e/1RfgLx4f3

10.01.2022 Can you guess the the theme of the main lesson of Class 5/6? We love the elaborate blackboard drawing made by our Class 5/6 teacher.

09.01.2022 On this World Teachers Day we want to say Thank You! to all teachers for their hard work, dedication and passion. Especially this year has proven to be a tough one for all teachers, but particularly Steiner teachers who had to find new ways of teaching apart from their students while staying within the principles of the Steiner education we all hold so dear. In the image you see two teachers of Aurora Steiner School, Jenny and Jeddah. Jeddah has been a dedicated teacher in o...ur Primary School teaching Class 5/6 and has recently moved on to the role of Head of Teaching and Learning. Now she is working with her colleagues on developing their teaching and upholding our high standard. Jenny has been a backbone for Aurora for many years and has inspired cohorts of children with her passion and expertise in all things craft ranging from long stitch to building a lime kiln. Jeddah and Jenny are only two examples of the great group of teachers at Aurora and our gratitude goes out to them all. Happy World Teachers Day!

09.01.2022 A Steiner verse for an uncertain world. We must eradicate from the soul All fear and terror of what comes towards man out of the future. We must acquire serenity... In all feelings and sensations about the future. We must look forward with absolute equanimity To everything that may come. And we must think only that whatever comes Is given to us by a world-directive full of wisdom. It is part of what we must learn in this age, namely, to live out of pure trust, Without any security in existence. Trust in the ever present help Of the spiritual world. Truly, nothing else will do If our courage is not to fail us. And let us seek the awakening from within ourselves Every morning and every evening. -Rudolf Steiner See more

08.01.2022 Our kindy class children enjoy their Friday bush kindy in any weather with free play in nature and a morning tea picnic under the gazebo.

08.01.2022 We’re happy to welcome our students back today for Term 3. We also extend a warm welcome to our new students who join classes from Kindy to Year 8. We are looking forward to walking and working with you. Ngununggula.

08.01.2022 Have you ever heard of a main lesson? The Main Lesson lies at the heart of Steiner's methodology. It is an immersive unit of work stretching over three to four weeks and topics are carefully chosen to respond to the emerging needs and capabilities of young adults at their present developmental stage. Each main lesson incorporates literacy work as part of the overarching theme. If you want to find out more and see some examples of main lessons, visit our webpage. The link is in the bio.

08.01.2022 If you’re looking for some activities for your kids, you could try form drawing in your driveway.

08.01.2022 With the first frost, winter has truly arrived. We hope you enjoy a frosty winter wonderlands as much as we do. It's also time for beanies, warm coats and socks.

07.01.2022 Soup, story and songs. The three main ingredients for a successful Winter Festival at Playgroup.

07.01.2022 Steiner kindy teachers can't help themselves, even the home learning packs are laid out in a spiral.

07.01.2022 We're very happy to have Eva as one of our Primary teachers and the kids love her many skills she brings in addition to her teaching such as face painting and ukulele playing. #Repost @steiner_teacher_training Eva is a graduate of our Ad Dip Rudolf Steiner Ed and today is working as a teacher in a Steiner School. Here’s her story (you can read the complete account on our News and Events page on website):... There is such an advantage to having Steiner training as a part of your degree. For example, my school is relatively small and is growing at a fast rate, just as many Steiner schools around Australia are. We are moving from composite to single-stream next year to accommodate the influx of enrolments and thus will need new staff. The number one thing that we are looking for as a school community is teachers with Steiner training. Teachers with Steiner pedagogical knowledge and experience are invaluable and have a clear advantage in being employed by us, or any other Steiner schools. I would highly recommend taking the pathway of the Advanced Diploma. It gives you such personal understanding and professional opportunities. In my opinion, using your skills and efforts in a Steiner school contributes to children experiencing a deeply nourishing and vibrant education that truly meets the needs of the unfolding child. I would recommend to anyone who finds this resonates, or is simply looking for a way to teach outside of the current mainstream education system, enquire further into the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminar. See more

06.01.2022 Hello (wedao, wee-day-oh) my name his Ordhan. Most times that I venture out into the bush (bawa, bah-wah) I like to explore finding animals. I see black cockatoos (garrall, gah-rrr-rahl), I see ducks, I see ants and ant mounds and beautiful butterflies. I would love to spot a platypus one day. I have connections with the platypus. We are both shy and we can both hide really well. I love to sit quietly under a tree (durudan, dah-roo-dan) and listen to the sounds of wind blowing through the leaves. Thank you (didjarigura, di-cha-ree-goo-rah) Gundungurra people for taking care of this beautiful place. I promise to help care for the Earth (dooure, dah-our-re) too as we walk and work together on this land (Ngununggula, nun-gung-nun-gula).

05.01.2022 How to make your own lime kiln! Class 7/8 had a lot of fun making their own lime kiln stomping the mud into shape, mixing in the straw, building the structure, and gathering firewood. Once finished, oyster shells were burnt. The heat changed their chemical composition and they can be used to make render and mortar.

05.01.2022 Last year our Cultural Educator, Wiradjurri woman, Aunty Rachel Buckley taught our school community the word Ngununggula (nun-gung-nung-gulla). The local Gundungurra word means ‘walking and working together on the same land’. Ngununggula has given us a new lens to look at our stewardship and environmental activities, our storytelling practices, and our approach of learning through doing. This week, our Class 3/4 is in the midst of their First Nations Culture main lesson, where teacher Chris Trotter is bringing in First Nations community members to work with the students on language, instrument making and artwork. #NationalReconciliationweek2020

03.01.2022 As part of their Japanese class, our Class 7/8 students not only learn about important Japanese calendar events, they also learn how to cook Soba and at what event it is eaten. We heard that they particularly liked the cooking and eating part...

02.01.2022 Our new website is live! Come, check it out and let us know what you think.

02.01.2022 Tune into the free live talk of Lou Harvey-Zahra tomorrow evening. Lou will be talking about the 7-12 year old age group and how to support them at this time of uncertainty.

02.01.2022 The children learnt about how the first nations in Australia gathered bush foods and had a go at weaving their own baskets.

02.01.2022 Next to classic woodwork and craft these kids show an enterprising spirit in dismantling and reassembling a lawn mower.