Year 12 Projects
This is a very special time of year at Orana Steiner School- our year is shaped by the rhythm of the seasons, and of the cycles of beginning and endings. Although it is always hard to farewell our Year 12 students, for many of us, this final stage of their journey, when they stand before us as young adults who are ready for the world, is also the best time of year. Last weekend, the Year 12 students stood before their beautiful displays at the front of the Overture Hall, and presented their final speeches to the community. So what is it that makes this so special?
The Year 12 Projects are the culmination of all the experience our students have gained throughout 12 or more years at Orana Steiner School. It is the moment of synthesis when it all comes together. At the end of Year 11, the students are asked to choose a topic to explore. As they have throughout their schooling, they need to engage their head (thinking), heart (feeling) and hands (will). This means not only engaging in a significant practical project, but also contributing in a meaningful way to the community, and completing an independent research inquiry on their topic. At the end of the year, they draw these elements together into a formal presentation, which they deliver to their parents, teachers, classmates and members of the wider community.
To me, it is always fascinating to see how differently the students approach this task. This year, the projects have ranged from sgraffito pottery to aviation lessons, from rural firefighting to the art of glassworking, and from long distance cycling to perfume-making. They have made music, they have painted portraits, and they have meditated on the meaning of life. They have run fundraising events, planted gardens, hosted workshops and coaching sessions for students from the Primary School to the Senior College.
But when we consider the projects as a whole, what’s perhaps even more interesting is the ways in which these diverse approaches to such a wide range of topics do indeed share common elements. Throughout the Presentations last weekend we could hear, time and again, the students asking these questions:
How does this affect us and shape us as humans?
What does this mean for our identity, and for how we connect to each other?
What does this mean for me – how am I going to stand in the world, and what am I going to do with my life?
Congratulations to our poised, articulate and accomplished Class 12 students on the amazing standard of work they presented this year. As Marie Steiner phrased it in the quote we often draw on, ‘our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.’ We have every faith that these students step out into the world to lead lives of purpose and direction. All the best, Year 12!
Jen (Year 12 Guardian)
Graduation and Formal
Congratulations to our Class 12 Graduates! Last Monday we farewelled our Graduates in an assembly where they were individually honoured by staff members and the Class 11 cohort. Class 1 delivered musical performances to the Class 12’s in celebration. The High School sang a beautiful farewell song and the students received handmade candles from Class 1 children, pens and the traditional gumnut babies made by our staff. These moments of reflection are invaluable for our Year 12 students, the teachers, parents and the guardians. Thank you to everyone in the community who contributes to the growth of these children. For the many stories, songs, poems, artistic opportunities, cultural, maths and science concepts, outdoor experiences and many more valuable cultural experiences, thank you.
Throughout their journey in school, as in life, students experience a mix of challenges and triumphs, excitement and monotony, as well as social, emotional, and physical hurdles that help shape their character. This variety is essential. In the safe environment of our school, our graduates develop resilience, creativity and critical thinking skills that will serve them well in the world. We are truly grateful to have had you with us and wish you all the best as you move forward.
Kelly Armstrong (Deputy Principal – High School & Senior College)
