How wonderful is the change in weather? With the spring-like weather comes our attention on being outdoors and enjoying nature.
Watch an animal, a flower, a tree, and see how it rests in Being. You need nature as your teacher to help you re-connect with Being. But not only do you need nature, it also needs you. Allow nature to teach you stillness. – Eckhart Tolle
We are so fortunate to live and work where we have such access and opportunities to nature.
In Steiner education, nature is used in various ways to enhance the learning experience and promote holistic development. At Orana we incorporate nature into our curriculum in the following ways:
- Outdoor activities – spending time outdoors, feeling and engaging in activities that connect children with nature. This includes nature walks, gardening, outdoor play, building and creating, allowing children to explore and develop a sense of wonder about the natural world.
- Seasonal rhythms – our curriculum is aligned with the changing of seasons. Students learn about the cycles of nature, growth of plants, migration of animals, and the changing weather patterns. This helps them develop an understanding and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living things. We also align our festivals with the seasonal changes.
- Nature Observation – Observing, studying and questioning is a key aspect of our curriculum. They learn to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world, developing skills such as attention to detail, patience and curiosity.
- Nature- based arts and craft – Steiner education incorporates a range of artistic activities inspired by nature, such as painting, drawing and crafting with natural materials like wood, wool and clay. This allows creativity while deepening their connection to the natural environment.
- Environmental awareness- in our curriculum we promote environmental consciousness and encourage students to take responsibility for caring for the Earth. Students learn about sustainable practices, conservation, and the importance of protecting and preserving natural resources.
Overall, the use of nature in our curriculum helps foster a sense of awe, reverence, and respect for the natural world, while providing opportunities for hands- on learning, creativity and personal growth.
Child Safe Framework
The Senior Leadership Team have begun work on the development of a Child Safe Strategy for Orana, in line with new legislation that will take effect in the ACT in 2024. The Strategy (which will sit under a broader Child Safe Framework) is a requirement that has arisen from State and Commonwealth Royal Commissions into child protection matters and we will soon be asking you to have your say to help inform the work that we are undertaking in this space.
The school is committed to the effective implementation of a Child Safety Strategy and ensuring that it is appropriately reviewed and updated. The intent of the Strategy is to ensure that we have appropriate policies, systems of work, processes and practices in place for the School to respond to child safety matters and protect children from abuse. This includes ensuring that children are being heard and responded to when they bring concerns, especially around issues of safety and protection, from inappropriate behaviour. We will be adopting a risk management approach by identifying key risk indicators and assessing a range of factors that may play in child safety, including the nature of our School’s activities, physical and online environments and the characteristics of the student body.
It is important that we have input from all parts of our community as part of this process, so that we can understand where our strengths and weaknesses in child safety are and direct our focus to the areas where it is needed most. Further information will be sent to students, staff and parents later in the term, requesting your participation in a survey as part of the consultation process.
Kelly Armstrong
Acting Principal
