Last week our Cycle 4 students held their annual Market Day at Wairoa where students offered a variety of goods and services.  It was a fantastic example of Montessori adolescent education and rich, interdisciplinary, meaningful work.  Stalls included a succulent and herb nursery; baked goods; printed tote bags, caps, aprons, pots, masks; and an eco-friendly drink trays and coasters' stall. 

The Occupation for older students in Term 1 was Production and Exchange.  As well as studying the principles of economics, they brainstormed, designed, and delivered their pop-up business ideas, considering saleability, deliverability and environmental sustainability.  There was a great turn out of parents, family and friends at the twilight autumn Market which was held alfresco style at Wairoa. 

In addition, the Year 7 students offered a large variety of food stalls which was the culminating event for their Term 1 Occupation, Feeding the Community.  A huge variety of food from around the world was on offer including food from Southern Africa, Italy, Thailand, Afghanistan and Vietnam. 

Dr Maria Montessori wrote about the importance of acknowledging and recognising students' work and particularly wrote about this in regard to the adolescent years.  Maria Montessori observed that young adolescents have a drive to work not only for the sake of the activity or the immediate outcome, but for external social recognition—Dr Montessori used the term ‘valorisation’ to describe the sense of worth one feels when one’s work has provided a recognised service to the community.  Adolescents not only want to know what they are good at, but what they are good for within the context of community appreciation.

Everyone likes recognition and acknowledgement when they have put in effort or when they achieve or learn something new.  It is important to provide encouragement and affirmation to students.  This should not be confused with rewards.  Dr Montessori believed that using rewards and punishment inhibits the development of self-discipline.  Rewards and punishment deny the young person the opportunity to make decisions and to be responsible for their own behaviour.  Rather than learning how to analyse a situation and make wise decisions, a young person may make decisions based on what an adult might do to 'punish' or 'reward' them.

Congratulations to all Wairoa students for showcasing their learning in such a real and relevant manner.  We certainly know that student learning is strengthened when connections to the real world are apparent.                                                                                                           

Cathy France 

Principal

This week the 2021 Annual Report will be distributed to our school community to read and share, it is a detailed overview of the 2021 school year.  We hope you enjoy reading all of the wonderful learning activities students, staff and families were engaged in throughout last year.  The Annual Report also details the general school operations highlighting the progress and growth that has been made in the twelve month period.  

 The Annual Report document can also be used to promote our school so please feel free to share the report with family, friends or anyone you know who is seeking more information about our school as a prospective family.  If you didn’t receive a copy please contact the school office.

The 2021 financial statements are not included in the annual report, however if any school community members would like to peruse the financial statements they are available at the office.

An abundance of thanks to Nicki Stewart (parent) for the many hours she has spent designing and curating the document. Thank you to Anthea Hagar for her input on the design, layout and content. Thanks also to Pete Kupniewski (parent) for his time in editing the document. We very much appreciate all of you generously sharing your skills.  

We're pleased to welcome David Simpfendorfer to the school as our new Performing Arts teacher. David has traded sunny Queensland for the 'crisp' Adelaide Hills, moving from the Sunshine Coast to Adelaide to join us at the primary school. 

David will be working with our Preschool and Primary students two days a week teaching music, movement, drama and singing.  If you see him around, please make him feel welcome (and feel free to pass on your tips for best winter coats and thermal options!). 

We are calling for members of our school community to join us in developing our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) aimed at developing an educational environment that fosters higher levels of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions. Through our RAP we will commit to strengthening relationships, respect, opportunities in the classroom and around the school, and with the wider community. 

Within our school community, there is unique knowledge and valuable experience that we would love to see reflected in the Actions that we commit to in our RAP. If you would like to be involved in any way with the development and ongoing implementation of our RAP, including being part of the RAP Working Group, please get in touch with Nat Costello via email: nat@montessori.sa.edu.au

To learn more about Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali program and RAP development process, you may also like to visit: 

Join Katy our Student Wellbeing Worker on Friday 10 June at 9.15am for a Parent Discussion Group around Managing Anxiety in Young People.  

Helping our kids through anxiety is challenging and finding strategies that work can feel overwhelming. Come along to discuss key strategies designed to help our young people, as well as connect with others who are parenting children who struggle with anxiety. 

The discussion group will take place in the Common Room at Yultiwirra. A booking form will be sent via Skoolbag closer to the time. Please ensure you wear a mask. 

Congratulations to Sid, one of our Cycle 4 students who represented the school in the Adelaide Hills team, as part of the SAPSASA Swimming State Championships held at Marion Aquatic Centre recently. Sid competed in the 50 metre freestyle relay, he swam first in the relay getting his team off to a fantastic start and took three-seconds off his personal best time. The relay team came away with a silver medal, a brilliant result! Well done Sid. 

Woodhouse Camp 2022 was postponed more than once, and so we finally set off on the second day back at school after the holidays. This of course took us into the coldest weather by far this year, but meant that a highlight was our continually burning campfire.

The hike to Woodhouse was a “Choose Your Own Adventure” including the choices: Social Nature Ramble, Puzzle Hunt and Action Miles. As the Wairoa tent village took shape on the green, it felt as though we had really got away from our usual setting.

On the first afternoon and evening, older Wairoa students ran lots of get-to-know-you games and prepared and hosted a beautiful welcome dinner of burrito bowls. This theme of welcome continued throughout camp with older students taking on the majority of meal prep and clean up, and strengthening new connections.

Thursday morning revolved around Advisory Groups - tackling Challenge Hill together and considering ourselves as young adolescents who are moving on from childhood. Both afternoons offered a diverse range of activities, both fun and physical, to choose from. Friday morning brought a new challenge as small groups worked together to safely support and lower one another on a series of ropes challenges - very high up in the pine forest. This experience very much built on one of the other themes - how trying and failing provides incentive for learning and growth.

The evenings were great - with the delicious food (a great barbie on the second night) and the wonderful fire. Each night had a high-energy feature - Spotlight in the forest and the legendary Night Maze Running - or the option of hot drinks and stories back by the fire. 

Overall it was a brilliant camp, especially since so much of it involved rain-dodging (or just putting your coat on and getting out into it). Some tents leaked, people were cold at times and we had our share of problems to solve. There were so many instances of kind, supportive and collaborative actions, and the reflections on the final afternoon were incredibly rich and varied.

Wairoa staff were brilliant, with all of the advisor guides sleeping at camp and daytime involvement from every single adult who works with our adolescent community. Woodhouse Camp 2022 really was a community building experience.

What students thought about camp:

"It was very fun!" Harper 

"I really liked walking back to basecamp from night activities in the dark." Lucy 

"I didn't like that it was very wet." Luca 

"The high ropes were really enjoyable."  Billy 

"Our tent leaked, so that wasn't very fun." Catlyn