Issue One June 2011

Bob Ellis on Glenaeon Our Story: Glenaeon, Castlecrag, Australia West Side Story AEON Issue One June 2011

1 Welcome to Aeon

lenaeon’s origin lies in the initiative of the Anthroposophical Aeon gives a glimpse into the Society to start a school in based on Dr Steiner’s rich learning community that G educational impulse. From the pioneering work of is Glenaeon, established as Lute Drummond, Marion Mahony Griffin, Eric Nicholls and Australia’s first school for Rudolf Bob Williams, the Society sent Sylvia Brose to Edinburgh in Steiner education. The magazine will be a record of school life, the early 1950’s to train in Steiner pedagogy: she returned to featuring people and events that Sydney after 4 years and the Glenaeon story began in 1957 are important in our community. with three students at Dalcross Kindergarten in Pymble. Glenaeon pioneered the vision of a creative and collaborative The school is a testament to Sylvia’s vision and dedication education in Sydney: we look over decades of striving to realize the ideals of Steiner education forward to a reinvigorated future in Sydney. The Sylvia Brose Hall at Middle Cove, a centerpiece where we can celebrate the of the campus, stands as a living memorial in her honour. unique community that has grown Glenaeon in 2011 is spread across three campuses, with around the school. Aeon will close to 400 students from Kindergarten to Year 12: be a voice and forum for the rich learning that remains the school’s – a 34 place Preschool in Sydney Street, Willoughby; core impulse. Whether currently – our Castlecrag campus housing Playgroups, Kindergarten involved with the school, or one and Classes 1 and 2; of our many alumni families and – our Middle Cove campus with Years 3 to 12. friends, we invite you to enjoy in the following pages the unique vision of a Glenaeon education.

1. Sylvia Brose with her first class (circa 1957). 2. Sylvia Brose OAM with Year 8 2 students in 2001.

Glenaeon Alumni and Friends is the new body bringing together our diverse community of present and former students, parents and friends of the school. We look forward to many events celebrating the Glenaeon community and our 54 year history. p14 Hannah MacGregor in Nikki Crow is our new Alumni Coordinator and she welcomes enquiries about Year 11's production of alumni activities and feedback about Aeon. For all details of alumni events, West Side Story which contacts and general information, including if you would like to receive Aeon played to two packed electronically, you can contact Nikki on: [email protected] houses in the Sylvia Brose Hall at the end of Term 1. AEON Editor: Andrew Hill Design: Campbell Van Venrooy (cvvdesign.com.au)

Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Ltd ABN 94 000 385 768 5a Glenroy Avenue, Middle Cove NSW 2068, Australia Phone: 9417 3193, Fax: 9417 5346, www.glenaeon.nsw.edu.au

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elcome to the first edition of Aeon Magazine on behalf of the Glenaeon School contents WCouncil. We feel we are at the beginning of a new era at Glenaeon, one with renewed energy and excitement about the future whilst holding a 04 Re-imagining strong respect for and impulse from our journey the word so far. To all members of our community, current »» on Glenaeon parents, students and teachers, we look forward to Aeon as a regular publication that will celebrate with you the rich and diverse life of the school. 06 Our story In addition, we have been keen for some time to »» Glenaeon Castlecrag Australia reconnect on a more formal and regular basis with Glenaeon's alumni and friends – former students 10 Our place and parents, staff and others with a connection to »» All these different ways the school – though it is only recently we have been of understanding... p10 able to dedicate real resources on an ongoing basis to this important aspect of our school community. 12 The power of I say quite deliberately that you are very important one (teacher) to us and we want you to feel connected to the school – in ways that suit you – and our plan 14 West Side Story is to facilitate and nourish that connection. It is with this objective in mind that we have recently established the Glenaeon Alumni and Friends Association and have hired staff to focus on reconnecting with you (you may have heard from us recently in this regard) on an ongoing basis. We are hoping this magazine, which we p6 plan to make a periodical, will assist you to understand what is going on at the school and 16 Glenaeon 2011 in the Alumni and Friends community so you can feel connected and choose how you wish 18 Where are they to be involved (even if it is simply reading, now? remembering and reminiscing). We want you to feel welcome to attend many school events Alumni and festivals, and we are also beginning to plan »» Luke Fischer for specific Alumni and Friends events – at a »» Paul Beasly class, era and general level and from casual »» Tamlyn Henderson get-togethers to more formal ‘happenings’. »» Jonathon Notley We are very excited about the future for »» Mia Westcott Glenaeon and equally keen to celebrate our »» Monique De Jong past – including all of you whose lives have been touched by the school and who have Teachers helped shape Glenaeon into what it is today. »» Ruth Purves We very much look forward »» Scott Henderson to reconnecting with you...

Ian Davis Chair, Glenaeon School Council

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The inaugural Glenaeon Art Show got off to a stirring start with a festive opening that featured a speech by former Glenaeon parent Bob Ellis, one of Australia’s leading writers and public intellectuals. Bob has written over 20 books, most recently Suddenly, Last Winter. His two children Jenny and Tom graduated from Glenaeon in 1997 and in 2002. Bob’s speech was warmly received by the large opening night crowd.

Re-imagining the Word: Bob Ellis on Glenaeon

Address to the opening evening of the inaugural Glenaeon Art Show

hen I first went to East The Dam Busters and Reach for Bill believed in reading, and soon Lismore Primary School in the Sky. We were God’s peculiar I was through David Copperfield, W1947 there were still bomb people, Pastor Breadon said and, Kidnapped, White Fang, The Dam shelters in backyards and a fear that boy, I felt that way pretty often, Busters, Boldness Be My Friend a new big war with the Russians sneaking out of the cinema and and The Sword and the Stone and, would soon break out. There were wondering who had seen me go on. as it were, on my way down the morning assemblies with oaths of I was saved, if that is the word road that goes ever on and on, loyalty to the King, rote-learning, I want, and civilised and made the life of the mind that, through rote-spelling, a national whole as a human being by the dreaming to order, nourishes our anthem, God Save the technological accident of radio sympathy and takes us through King, routine schoolyard which filled my mind with images lives not our own to the forks in bullying and a few sharp and stories I cast myself in as they the road of those lives and their thwacks of the cane each came by night into my crystal set, beautiful and terrible destinations. month – on the hand, and a microgroove record of the There were such teachers as not the bottom – which Marlon Brando-James Mason Julius Bill in those years, often men who we saw as a ritual of Caesar, which I can recite by heart had been in the war and in flapping manhood in those days. – As Caesar loved me, I weep for tents in monsoon rains had read As was being in the him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice Thucydides in the original Greek cadets, playing war at it; as he was valiant, I honour and Orwell in orange Penguin games away from home him – and a teacher, Bill Maiden, paperbacks, but the culture did at age eleven, which I, whom I still see once a month not favour them. The heroes of from a pacifist religion, at the Woy Woy fish restaurant my day prevailed at rugby, and could not do. War was to discuss the world’s news, the swimming races, and the Bob Ellis everywhere in our thoughts, and and our long, long memories. hundred yards sprints. It was the the atomic bomb, whose worst He taught me three times, for sissies like me who joined the effects we were trained to evade two weeks in 1951, for all of 1952, drama groups, and the debating by getting under the desk. and in Modern History classes at societies, and drew in charcoals I felt, as a Seventh Day Adventist, Lismore High in 1957 and ’58. He and wrote satirical poems, and an outsider. I could not play cricket made us sing, and write stories. were more or less reviled for it. on Saturday, nor go to the Saturday He got the class of ’52 to write I did not know that at that time matinees at the cinema with my a novel, A Journey to the South the first Steiner Schools were friends. I could not theoretically go Seas, in ten chapters, and read beginning in this country and the to the movies either – there the it out week after week to our kind of education I could barely Devil with heathen images tempted peers. Mine concerned surviving imagine, powered by hundreds you to sin – though I did sneak out dinosaurs on certain Pacific Islands, of teachers like Bill Maiden, once a week with my mother’s which Spielberg clearly stole was creeping into the leafier connivance on my bicycle to see at from me forty years later, and the suburbs and stirring to magical the Star Court, Vogue and Vanity esteem which this gained for an thinking children my age. Theatre Alec Guinness movies, otherwise tiny, bullied, frightened But every now and then I and The Ten Commandments nerd, set me on the course which glimpsed it. I had an eight millimetre and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, has made me a writer lifelong. projector, and some Chaplin films.

Page 4 I had a record of Orson Welles Thatcher on achieving office had and American hubris and American and Bing Crosby reading The not been to a play at the National vengefulness since Wall Street, Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde, and Theatre. All over our university shows a life ill-chosen by a brilliant a record of The Snow Goose, the system, cut courses in history young man with Michelangelo fable of Dunkirk, starring Herbert studies, and music studies, and possibilities who opted instead for Marshall as the hunchbacked hero fine arts and art history, and Latin, the remorseless pursuit of billions in his little boat. My mother drove and Greek and archaeology, and through an adult toy of no great me to Mullumbimby one night to even Persian though it was Persian worth called Facebook, a sort of see Laurence Olivier in Hamlet scholars who cracked the Ultra Code postcard brimming with trouble, and the Young Elizabethans came in World War 2 and won it, thinned when he might, had he been here, to town with Twelfth Night. the blood of our learning and drove had he studied here, have been It was a near-run thing. A good teachers, great teachers, a painter, or puppeteer, a song scholarship, narrowly discarded, into early drunken retirement writer, a set designer, a beloved bounced back to me, and I arrived in Queensland and unpleasant friend of good friends instead. a week late at Sydney University climaxes to once promising lives. I have two angelic children where Robert Hughes, , These are not small matters formed and shaped by the Steiner Germaine Greer, , because, as all here well know, system and its celebration, its , John Bell, a young person whose life is drawing out, its enhancement , Richard Wherrett, deprived of art, and participative and congratulation of human Richard Butler, Richard Bradshaw, art, or music or word music, or possibilities. And I know how close Richard Neville, Michael Kirby, dance or the explored past, may each came to destruction before Mary Gaudron, Graham Bond and end badly, in drug-pushing, or they arrived within its rooms and Geoffrey Robertson, were all in stalking, or real estates, or worse. corridors of love. I know how attendance, and soon, in the drama Adolf Hitler did not achieve the much I owe, and I stand on the societies and the newspapers and art scholarship he yearned for and dock observing the voyage out magazines, and the pub talk and would, I think, have been saved of a future generation in a time the philosophic wrangle I entered by, and found in World War I and more testing in its choices and its the world I had nearly missed. its lessons a different course for temptations than any before it, and It always happens in clusters, his life, and sixty million others. I toast it, and I wish it bon voyage. I learned then, as Glenaeon proves All teaching is the business of This exhibition is a measure every year. saving souls. But the business of of the great artistic diaspora of To say a life of the mind is a Steiner is greater than that. It is the the children of Glenaeon whose good thing to embrace and a useful summoning to a soul of its better homeward yearning far-off angel nourishment of your one life on earth angels who uplift to a high plane hearts remember from far Babylons is still not as universally accepted, of possibility that creative magic, of exile and longing how good it now, I think, as it was for a while that unstoppable glittering energy, was, for a time, and what a time in the nineteen sixties and early that may change the world. it was, it really was, in these seventies. Our current Prime Minister An extraordinary film now hallowed rooms with these magic has never read an adult novel. The showing, The Social Network, the weapons of brush and charcoal, last American President did not read best film about American greed canvas, easel and sketch-pad, a book after university. Margaret and American competitiveness re-imagining the word. 

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“Our story: Glenaeon,

Last year on Friday October 29th the school officially opened our new hall The Marion Mahony Griffin Hall and other facilities at Castlecrag.

e were delighted to host the This BER funded building Hon Peter Garrett, Minister represents a particularly important Wfor School Education, Early confluence of Glenaeon’s history Childhood and Youth, representing with that of our nation. In 1914 the Australian government, who Walter Burley Griffin and his wife performed the official opening. Marion Mahony arrived in Australia Interestingly enough we learned from from Chicago, having just won the Mr Garrett that his brother Matthew world-wide competition to design had attended Glenaeon from 1968, Australia’s new capital city Canberra. and he himself had almost enrolled Into that plan, Griffin poured his his daughter here before the family wide understanding of landscape moved to the southern highlands: a architecture based on his study happy connection that was reflected of the great ancient cities of the in his entertaining speech. Other world such as Athens and Rome. invited guests include the Mayor of After laying out the basic plan of 5 Willoughby, Cr Pat Reilly, and Mr the city, he left Canberra and settled James Fitzpatrick, the President of in Castlecrag, Sydney where he and the Castlecrag Progress Association, Marion worked to create a new kind who spoke of the new and growing of community, one that embedded 1/4. The Marion Mahony relationship between the school houses into Sydney bushland, where Griffin Hall. 2/3. New class rooms and the Castlecrag community. houses built of sustainable and at Castlecrag. local products were linked together 5. Marion Mahony Griffin with the environment rather than and Walter Burley Griffin, being on their separate quarter Sydney 1930. acre blocks. Ahead of their time, 6. Marion Mahony Griffin the Griffin’s established a new kind drawing of Castlecrag. of social community in Castlecrag: through the 1920’s and early 30’s

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Castlecrag, Australia

6 …the Griffin’s established a new kind of social community in Castlecrag: through the 1920’s and early 30’s… a diverse range of people interested in new and creative ideas… …When in 1994 the school was able to acquire the old Castlecrag Infants School… it was the realisation of Marion’s original vision…

of the last century, they brought It was not to be in her lifetime. together a diverse range of people After Walter’s death in 1937, she interested in new and creative ideas. returned to the US, but left behind In Castlecrag they also a vibrant group of people who discovered the work of Dr Rudolf actively championed the cause Steiner who was then still alive and of Steiner education. One of active in Europe: in Anthroposophy her friends and co-workers was they found a contemporary spiritual Lute Drummond who as Secretary path that inspired their own of the Anthroposophical Society explorations. Marion established introduced many people to Dr study groups on Dr Steiner’s work, Steiner’s work. One of these people and she became particularly active was Sylvia Brose, then a young in Dr Steiner’s ideas on education. woman involved with the Castlecrag There was a small kindergarten in group. She was so inspired that the Sunnyside Crescent with which Anthroposophical Society supported she worked, and her vision was her to go to Europe to train as a always that there would one Steiner teacher, and on her return day be a school for Dr Steiner’s she established the first Steiner education in Castlecrag. school in Australia at Pymble.

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Our story: Glenaeon, Castlecrag, Australia continued

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1. Inside the new hall. hen a bequest of land was providing an education for the 2. Christian Lillicrap directs the left to the Anthroposphical whole child and founded on spiritual Glenaeon Chamber Choir. Society, they sold the principles, was now in existence 3. Mr James Ftzpatrick, President of W Castlecrag Progress Association. land (believing it to be too far in her beloved Castlecrag. 4. Hugo Lee and Will Hoffman, from the population centres of Since 1994 we have used the Year 11 students. Sydney: how things change!) and original buildings of the old school. 5. L-R Collegiate Chair Andrew Hill, bought our site at Middle Cove. Now for the first time, and courtesy Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for The name of the property at the generous BER grant from the School Education, Mayor of Belrose was Glenaeon, so as was Commonwealth government, we Willoughby, Councillor Pat Reilly, and Ian Davis, Chair, Glenaeon custom at the time, the name was have been able to put our own School Council. transferred to the new property stamp on the property in the form 6. Class 2 welcome the Minister bought with the proceeds of the of a purpose designed and built while Mary Heard, Campus sale. The Kindergarten at Pymble hall, library and classroom, and Secretary, looks on. was sold and Glenaeon Rudolf admin facilities. And in honour Steiner School was consolidated of Marion’s founding vision and at 5a Glenroy Ave, Middle Cove. inspiration for both Glenaeon and Such is Glenaeon’s story. When Castlecrag, the new hall is named in 1994 the school was able to the Marion Mahony Griffin Hall. acquire the old Castlecrag Infants School for our own Kindergarten and early years, it was the realisation of Marion’s original vision. A school based on Dr Rudolf Steiner’s educational practice,

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Marion was a remarkable ...Since 1994 we have used the original buildings of the old school. woman in her own right. She was just the second woman to graduate Now for the first time, and courtesy the generous BER grant, …we have from Massachusetts Institute been able to put our own stamp on the property in the form of a purpose of Technology, and was the first designed and built hall, library and classroom, and admin facilities… woman to be registered as an architect in US history. She worked closely with Frank Lloyd Wright in his Chicago office, where in fact Marion’s life combined she met Walter. It is accepted by the elements that still inspire architectural authorities that she Glenaeon: reverence for Nature, was responsible for significant an artistic impulse, a commitment elements of Walter’s designs, to beauty in design, a realisation and that much of Walter’s of the classical ideals of provenance of work was in fact Goodness, Beauty and Truth, an a joint effort between the two of emphasis on balance of the whole them. Her outstanding drawings human being, a commitment to of the original plan of Canberra community. The story of Marion were important factors in their Mahony Griffin brings the stories winning the competition. She was of Glenaeon, Castlecrag and involved in the founding of our indeed Australia together: it is nation’s capital, in founding the one of which all members of our community of Castlecrag, and in community can be proud.  the founding of Glenaeon school.

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“Our Place: All these different ways of understanding...

A year or so ago the Good Weekend in the Sydney Morning Herald had as its guest in the regular Your Time Starts Now column someone called Adrian Keating. There is always one question which goes: Your earliest memory is… and Adrian’s answer was “Playing in the bush at Glenaeon”. What a pleasant surprise to find our school mentioned in the national press. I followed up and found that Adrian had been a student at Glenaeon in the 80’s and is now a professional violinist.

was reminded of Adrian’s note The children learn their first last week when teacher Catherine mapping skills and Lindsay Sherrott, IPilko showed me some of the our esteemed groundsman who writings from her class about their knows literally every tree on the current Main Lesson, Our Place: An site, takes them on guided walks introduction to the Geography of to introduce them to the secrets our local area. In this main lesson of the Glenaeon grounds. They the children are introduced to the see the three waterfalls that subject of Geography through a adorn our property, walk down study of the school grounds, then to Scotts Creek as it curves extending out to look at the local through mangroves out to Middle area of Willoughby. Harbour, and follow the foreshore Here is what student Julian around to both Castle Cove and Kopkas wrote describing his Castlecrag. There are many appreciation of the Glenaeon magnificent trees on the grounds, grounds… and some outstanding sandstone ‘Our little school is an amazing formations, including a number place… birds humming in the with indigenous significance. trees, brush turkeys tapping at There are birds and animals that the classroom door, blue tongue use the grounds as a corridor lizards scuttling around the rocks between adjacent bush areas. and kookaburras laughing for no The finale of this intensive study Lindsay Sherrott and Winki Chevalier, particular reason at all. But the really of our site is an overnight camp our long term bush regenerators and amazing thing about the school on the oval where some parents friends of the Middle Cove grounds. is the Bush… silent creeks, noisy join the class for the first step in waterfalls, damp grass, ticklish ferns the outdoor component of the and a clear blue sky. So it is the Active Wilderness Program which perfect place for a bushwalk…’ runs through the whole school.

Page 10 As the students grow older students, teachers and parents about we study the grounds in a more the special environment that is the sophisticated way, and their Middle Cove grounds. Generations appreciation deepens. Here is the of students have revelled in the comment from a Year 12 student. school’s bushland setting, a place “Since I started at Glenaeon in for games, play and wondering at Class 5, there have always been some of Nature’s many messages. particular spots in the school Adrian Keating’s comment in grounds where I love to be. One the Good Weekend speaks for of those spots is on the grass near many former students, in whose the oval bridge… I thought of all reminiscences’ “playing in the bush” the different ways I appreciated and almost always gets a mention as a understood this spot. When I was highlight of their time at Glenaeon. in primary school, the class took But our bush cannot be taken bushwalks through here to get to let for granted, for it was not always us get to know the land a bit better, so pristine. Vast tracts of lantana …‘Our little school is an amazing and to feel at home in the school’s choked the creeks, and all sorts place… birds humming in the trees, massive grounds. In early high of exotics were in competition brush turkeys tapping at the classroom school we were taken here for a with the natives. Over the past Botany main lesson and were taught twenty years, Lindsay Sherrott with door, blue tongue lizards scuttling around the names of the native plants co-worker Winki Chevalier have the rocks and kookaburras laughing and animals by Lindsay the school cleared the intruders and brought bush regenerator. Now in my final the bush back to some semblance for no particular reason at all … year, I was studying the biophysical of its former state. Such bush is a interactions and hydrological unique place to spend childhood and students learn how the Cameraygal processes of this dry sclerophyll adolescence, a piece of Australian people, the original owners, lived and scrub forest ecosystem for nature that is a beautiful and healthy connected with their land. We learn Geography. I sat there thinking about backdrop to school and learning. about the almost religious feeling how the school had provided me It is also a unique place to the first owners had for their land, with all of these different ways of learn about. Over their years at expressed through their creation understanding and appreciating the Glenaeon, we provide a range of stories, and try to build a sense of natural environment I was so lucky ways of learning about our grounds. reverence in how we treat the bush. to be in every day. Doing this gave Starting with play, then through The children produce a book of me the feeling of peace I needed to exploring, and on to scientific drawings, maps and written reports get through the next few hours…” awareness: as Georgia put it, about their experiences. The Main So wrote Georgia Van Toorn in “all of these different ways of Lesson lays a foundation for a her Year 12 major project thesis in understanding” this unique deeper connection with our grounds, 2005, describing how she prepared bushland setting for a school. one that builds respect and a sense to present a Forum to 150 people in It all starts in this Class 4 of stewardship for this particular part the school hall on the topic of The Geography Main Lesson. An of our native heritage. We hope that Environment in Modern Western important background is of course for the children, it will help make Thought. Her words speak for many the indigenous heritage, and the “our playground” into Our Place. 

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The power of one (teacher)

Sometime each year we say a goodbye to a Class Teacher who has come through a cycle with his or her class, and it’s always a moment to reflect on this most distinctive aspect of a Glenaeon education, and of Steiner education as a movement.

r Steiner suggested that as in the Class Teacher: a relationship we emerge from the sense of of care, guidance and support, D“oneness” of early childhood, over time. Dr Steiner describes we need a guide to take us into the class teacher’s relationship to the diverse world that lies before the growing child as one of “loving us. Around the age of 7 and 8, authority” which suggests the two as we step out of Kindergarten, aspects of warmth and form: the child has a real longing to »» warmth: providing a look up to an authority, a guide, a warm, secure relationship mentor. Naturally this need can be of trust and support; with us as individuals at different »» form: someone the child can times in life, but this moment at look up to and who provides a this particular age seems to be sense of direction and guidance. a general stage through which children pass. Many cultures As the children grow and change, take this step for granted in child the relationship changes as well over development, and have arranged the years. From the all-embracing, education accordingly. In many parts 3rd parent-like relationship of Class of Europe, Scandinavia in particular, 1 and 2, the child moves to a secure children traditionally stayed with the sense of someone to respect, one teacher for a significant period trust and look up to over a long of their primary schooling. The period. And there are many other master-apprentice relationship of the teachers: Craft, Languages and middle ages was also recognition Eurythmy, then Sport, Library and of the need for this authority. Music teachers as well. There is no The word “mentor” comes from sense of all the eggs being in one Homer’s The Odyssey of ancient basket, that the Class Teacher is the Greece: the hero Odysseus places sole authority through the primary his son Telemachus in the care of years: in fact we became a little his friend Mentor who guides the alarmed earlier this year when we growing boy while his father is away discovered that one class has nine on his adventures. This ancient different teachers for the variety of origin gives an indication of the subjects that we offer. Within this “mentor” qualities that we look for diversity the Class Teacher provides

Page 12 a secure and continuing focus to the maybe even everything. Now as ...the Class Teacher provides growing child, the “still centre of a we approach the teenage years in turning world” to quote T.S. Eliot. Class 6 there is more power in the a secure and continuing focus This “still centre” gives great child/young person questioning for to the growing child... security. We would never claim to himself or herself, and the teacher be the best teachers, let alone the models a questioning, open attitude. At the end of Term 2 last year best human beings: but we are Finally there comes closure to Sophie Forman said good bye to there, for the child, as a continuing the relationship: in years 7 and 8 Class 8, a class she had guided so presence, to begin each morning’s the Class Teacher steps back and admirably since Class 1 in 2003. work, and to conclude each subject teachers take charge of Her class community of students afternoon with a handshake and a their individual disciplines: each and parents gave her a beautiful farewell word. Most importantly subject in the high school is taught farewell, celebrating the journey we are there at the end of a school by a fully qualified specialist with a they had undertaken together. year, and the child knows we will degree in his or her discipline. But Sophie taught the class with a be there at the beginning of the the young person of 13 and 14 still wonderful combination of depth, next year. At Glenaeon there is needs a home base and the Class rigour and artistic richness: her not the insecurity about “next Teacher is there to be that bridge work with the Main Lessons was year’s” teacher. At a time in the into the burgeoning independence particularly painstaking in developing child’s life when that security is of of the adolescent world. imaginative perspectives that paramount importance, we provide Sometime in Year 8 there is a will provide inspirations for her just the right amount of continuity hand over: the Class Teacher passes students throughout their lives. while change is always coming. over to Guardians who take on Sophie took some well earned And change it does: around Class the pastoral care of the class from long service leave for the second 6 the Class Teacher moves from Year 9 up to Year 12. The Guardian half of 2010, and then met her new being seen by the children as the all- may not teach the class at all, but Class 1 on the first day of term 2011. knowing authority to be more a “tour they are there at the beginning The children said goodbye to their guide”. Instead of instructions that and end of the day, and they are Kindergarten teachers, then walked start “Now what we are going to do the main point of contact between through a tunnel of Class 2 children is…”, there is a move to “How about parent and school. The “one” singing a welcome song before we look at …?” The once infallible relationship of the Class Teacher greeting Sophie, their new teacher, authority becomes questioned: in and the child has metamorphosed at the door of their new classroom. the early years there is immense into many relationships with A new journey begins!  security for the child to have a sense teachers, each one now based on that our teacher “knows stuff”, and an authority as a subject specialist.

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West Side Story is one of the most enduring and popular of 20th century music theatre pieces. Challenging even for professionals, the show is a considerable challenge for a school to put on, and especially for a whole year group. But our Year 11 did it, with some help from Year 9, and did it magnificently.

est Side Story played to The Jets The Sharks Adults 2 packed houses in the Riff Jeremy Engel Bernado Alex Iping Doc Scott Henderson WSylvia Brose Hall at the end Tony Steffan Lazarevic Chino Jordan Taylor Schrank Dylan Barclay of Term 1. There was universal Action Sam Shaw Pepe Joshua Porteous Krupke Cody Sheridan acclaim for the level of singing, A-rab Angus Bratter Indio Tarran Webster Glad Hand Jake Heins dancing and acting from the Baby John Tom Sandberg Luis Zoot Mallon cast, and the production team of Snowboy Tiaan Mackenzie Production teachers and parents who worked Big Deal Joshua Pagni Sharks Girls Directors Scott Henderson so hard behind the scenes. Over Maria Taelor Hanley and Liz Chan the years Gleaneon has staged Jets Girls Anita Tatum Kenna Musical Director Christian Lillicrap some memorable pieces of theatre, Graziella Emily West Rosalia Faith Lewis Choreography Liz Chan with advice and the West Side Story of 2011 Velma Hannah Macgregor Consuela Charlotte Lehman from Jackie Rawlings will live long in the memory.  Anybodys Cency van den Dool Francisca Claire Brown and Betty Graham Ensemble Kate Boag, Ensemble Chelsea Mayer, Lily Penfold, Cleo Spears, Shanti Graham, Daphne van den Dool, Taylor Steele, Pia Hofstetter Johanna Evans

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Glenaeon 2011

Track and Field and Pool Over the past year Glenaeon has built sporting connections with many other schools. In Term 1 we held our inaugural Swimming Carnival for Years 7 to 10 with Lorien-Novalis, Linuwel and Central Coast Steiner Schools. The day event at Lane Cove pool was a huge success with swim heroes emerging from the water to the acclaim of the crowd. Indian Main Lesson At the start of Term 2 we held Class 5 brought their Ancient an Athletics carnival with the same India Main Lesson to a festive finale schools, this time travelling to the last term in sumptuous fashion with central coast for the event. We an Indian feast in the classroom. are also part of ISD, a sporting Class Teacher Catherine Pilko led the association of independent schools in children through Indian stories, songs Sydney that holds 6 events per year and culture culminating in a gathering to which we send teams: winners of that brought all these elements of events then move to representative the ancient Indian experience to events and then to state levels.  life. A bevy of parents cooked all morning, producing a magnificent feast that was enjoyed by all outside the classroom in Indian style. 

Page 16 A centrepiece of the school is the Sylvia Brose Hall, named in honour of Glenaeon’s founding teacher. Completed in 1985, the hall is a significant reminder of the powerful tradition established by this remarkable woman who pioneered Steiner education in Australia. In 2011 we are looking to revamp and refurbish this important place in the school’s tradition, the site of countless plays, concerts, assemblies, Sculpture in the Garden festivals, gatherings and important Year 9 have been carving large events in the life of the school. The limestone blocks as part of their Sylvia Brose Hall Building Appeal Artisan program: the results have will enable us to revitalise and uplift made an impressive addition to  our new biodynamic garden at this iconic building at Glenaeon. Middle Cove. Visual Arts teacher Nigel Hoffman has worked over the past semester with the students to produce sculptures All donations to our Building Fund are inspired by natural organic forms in tax deductible, and can be made by either Nature. The forms make a striking cheque or credit card. complement to the rich and verdant Please send contributions to: life of the garden plants.  The Sylvia Brose Hall Building Appeal, 5a Glenroy Avenue, Middle Cove NSW 2068 with cheques made out to: “Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Building Fund”. For credit card payments please phone Tim Ryan on (+61 2) 9932 2310. All contributions to the Appeal are gratefully accepted and will, if not otherwise indicated, be acknowledged in our Annual Report 2011.

Page 17 AEON Issue One June 2011

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where are they now 3 4 ? 1. Luke Fisher 2. Paul Beasly 3. Mia Westcott 4. Monique de Jong (Clark)

Alumni

Luke Fischer Tamlyn Henderson received significant acclaim for this Luke Fischer is back in Sydney Tamlyn Henderson, also Class of feat. Bliss N Eso also had 2 albums at the moment: Luke was in our 97, was in Edinburgh in 2010 with and 3 singles in the Urban charts Class of ‘96, before going to Sydney his show The Jinglists appearing during this week. The trio’s previous University where he gained First in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. album Flying Colours remains in the Class Honours in Philosophy. He After graduating from the West ARIA charts after 114 weeks.  went on to gain a Ph.D in philosophy, Australian Performing Arts Academy, and after time in Germany was Tam made a name for himself in Mia Westcott based in Philadelphia, USA where a number of major shows. The Mia was in our graduating Class his wife Dahlia taught at one of Jinglists was his own creation, and of 2005 and after travelling and the Universities there. Luke is in Edinburgh it was something of working for a gap year, started at preparing his Ph.D for publication a Glenaeon show: Stage Manager Sydney University before transferring as a book, and is also a published was Charlotte Grien (Class of 07), to Medicine at the University of poet. He is working on Post Tech Manager was James Collins Newcastle. She is now in her 4th Doctoral Scholarship application, (Class of 97) and Front of House year, having completed some and has been involved in marking was Angie Grien (Class of 09).  exciting elective terms in remote area our Year 12 student’s projects.  medicine in the far North West, and Jonathon Notley another in the Solomon Islands.  Paul Beasly Jonathon Notley (Class of 99) After completing an Advanced is getting to be widely know as Monique De Jong Science degree at University of the “Bliss” in highly successful (now Clark) NSW, Paul (Class of 97) went on hip-hop trio Bliss N Eso which Monique was one of our first work for the CSIRO in fibre optics, he formed with fellow former students to undertake the Major then to a US telecommunications Glenaeon student Max MacKinnon. Project option and spent a year company Mimix Broadband. The trio is now the biggest thing learning and performing Clown Paul was based for a time in the in Australian hip-hop, and last Doctoring at Westmead hospital. Houston, Texas head office where year were the first Australian Monique went on to study he completed an MBA at the hip-hop group to tour the USA. architecture at the University of University of Texas. He is now in Quoting directly from Wikipedia: Sydney, and worked in Canberra Denver, Colorado, married to Wendy On August 8, 2010 Bliss N on the new National Portrait and his step daughter attends Eso’s fourth studio album Running Gallery. Returning to Sydney she the Denver Waldorf School.  on Air debuted on the Australian is now working for a midsized ARIA charts at number one. It was architectural firm in the CBD, the first album to knock Eminem and married to Adrian.  off the top spot in 6 weeks and

Page 18 1 2

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Ruth Purves with The Many Faces of Scott Henderson students in the Middle Cove 1. Year 12 Formal 1994 Biodynamic garden 2. Rockclimbing 1995 3. Peer Gynt 4. Antarctica 2001 5. ‘Doc’, West Side Story 2011 Teachers

Ruth Purves Ruth networks with other A highlight of his time has uth Purves began as a Class schools, has hosted meetings of been outdoor education – Scott Teacher at Glenaeon in 1990, interested teachers from around pioneered the Year 10 cross- Rand took two classes through the local area and has even won country snow camp in 1994, and the 8 year cycle. Her three sons some first prizes from Rotary for he also used to run a Biology camp all attended Glenaeon. After a her garden work. She also has on the South Coast. However he time away in Bowral Ruth returned established a Friends of the Garden says the recent Year 11 camp to to the school in 2008 to work group for any parents or friends Central Australia was one of the with the current Class 6 when who are interested in working with most memorable of all his camps. they were in Classes 3 to 5. the garden. All are welcome!  Scott spent 4 months of sabbatical This year she has moved into a in 2001-02 doing a postgraduate new role in the school, turning her Scott Henderson certificate in Antarctic Studies passion for biodynamic gardening cott began as a Glenaeon at the University of Canterbury, into a new educational path. Ruth parent (of Tamlyn and Troy from Christchurch. The unforgettable was involved in the design and S1982 – 1997), and later Joined centrepiece was 2 weeks in building of our new garden in early the staff in 1992, teaching Science Antarctica, camping on the Ross 2009, and over the past two years (Biology in particular) and later Drama. Ice Shelf, and visiting Scott’s huts. she has spent countless hours in He is now on his 4th Guardian class Scott attended the Steiner World nurturing this new and beautiful currently in Year 11: others were Teachers’ Conference at Dornach, part of the Middle Cove campus. 93-96, 98-01, 03-06. He has also Switzerland in 2008, an extraordinary Adjacent to the Sylvia Brose been very involved in the broader gathering that really brought home Hall, the garden is based on Dr life of the school as a past member to him the international strength Rudolf Steiner’s advanced organic of College, School Council, and the and integrity of Steiner education. method of agriculture, known as former Executive Committee. Looking back over his time at Biodynamics. The results have Scott has a background as the school, Scott says he is very been profuse: the garden now both a Science teachers, and as fortunate to have spent most of his produces vegetables, flowers and a professional actor. In this latter working life at Glenaeon, surrounded fruit in abundance. Classes 3 to role he has contributed enormously by supportive and inspirational 6 spend time each week in the to the life of theatre at Glenaeon. colleagues, as well as vibrant young garden learning about all aspects He greatly enjoyed co-directing people who constantly surprise, of horticulture, and are the proud Fiddler on the Roof, Peer Gynt, Tale delight, challenge and don’t let you guardians of their own garden beds. of Two Cities and this year West grow old!  Side Story as well as many smaller scale productions including The Physicists, The Sport of My Mad Mother and The Good Doctor.

Page 19 AEON Issue One June 2011

Comin g Events We welcome all former students, parents and friends to join us for these key events later in the year.

 Mid Winter Festival 21-22 June  Les Miserables 27-29 July (Year 10 performance)  Spring Festival 9 September  Open Day 18 September  Family Fair 5 November  Carol Service 5 December

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