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Contents
Q: At what age do children start at the school?
When they are 4, turning 5, sometime during that year they will begin part time in kindergarten.
Q: Why do you recommend that children do not regularly watch TV until late primary years?
Watching TV tends to stifle their imagination. For example, children who regularly watch TV, when they play 'dress-ups', are likely to pretend to be a TV character and when they are drawing, may draw what they see on TV. Without TV they foster their own creativity and imagination. Young children believe what they see is 'real'. They cannot distinguish between an image and reality. Whatever happens on the screen, happens. A small child needs to believe the world is 'true' and this builds trust. TV provides many images and experiences that do not foster this belief. It also affects the development of the senses, which is significant for the child under 7.
Q: Why don't they start formal education until the year they turn 7?
The purpose of 'creative play' as happens in the kindergarten is to:
Q: Why do they have the same teacher for 7 years in primary school?
During these 7 years a close bond forms between parent/teacher/child and fosters good communication between home and school. The teacher can monitor the child's progress as he/she develops. Differences have to be resolved as they're together for a long time. The Waldorf curriculum is spiral…teachers visit particular material a number of times throughout the whole 12 years of Waldorf School. Having only one teacher in primary school means that this teacher is cognizant of how this particular material has been presented before and can build on this. It has proved to be a beneficial and an effective approach for both the students and the teacher.
Q: What do you mean by a broad education?
We offer a holistic approach to education. For example, we foster the child's artistic abilities, musical abilities, cultural knowledge, his/her creativity with craftwork as well as his/her academic development. This is in order that every person who finishes at a Waldorf school will feel "at home" in the world - each child has had a wide range of experiences and mastered a variety of skills.
Q: Do you teach languages at the school?
Yes, all children learn Japanese and German from class 1 onwards. In class 10 the students then choose one of the languages. They continue with this language through to class 12.
Q: What is the criteria for acceptance into the school?
All of the following factors may be taken into consideration:
Other factors that are considered are:
Q: Can we come and see the school and talk to someone about the philosophy and curriculum?
"School Tours" are available on the last or second last Friday of the month during term time at 4pm. One of the teachers escorts a group on a tour of the school, giving parents of prospective students, and other interested parties, an opportunity to look at the school grounds, classrooms and some of the work that the students do. These tours also provide an opportunity for visitors to ask any questions that they may have about the curriculum, philosophy etc. of the school.
Q: What subjects are studied at High School level?
English, Maths, German/Japanese, Chemistry, Physics , History, Geography, Biology, Computing, Typing, Painting, Drawing, Physical Education, Music, Technical Studies, Clay Modelling, Gardening, plus shorter modules of various arts and crafts. Various camps take place, which are designed to complement the main lessons.
Q: How are Waldorf students accepted into university if they don't do SACE exams?
On the basis of a score arrived at via internal, continuous assessments during Year 12. This score is accepted by SATAC (South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre) and is used to gain entry into a wide variety of courses at universities and TAFE Colleges. All subjects are taken by all students even at Year 12 level. Students can apply to universities throughout Australia. The universities are very accepting of our students, as they have proven in the past to perform very well indeed at university level.
Q: What is the Year 12 Special Project?
A self-nominated, self regulated study of a specific topic for one year. Students have Wednesday off after Main Lesson to pursue a topic, or develop a skill, or undertake a project of their choice. They then write a thesis and present their project orally to the school community.
Q: What parent involvement is encouraged?
The parents organize an annual Spring Fair as the major fundraiser for the year Voluntary LAP (Learning Assistance Program) and listening to children reading etc is encouraged within the classroom situation. Parents are expected to attend Parent/Teacher meetings on a regular basis.
- At what age do children start at the school?
- Why do you recommend that children do not regularly watch TV until late primary years?
- Why don't they start formal education until the year they turn 7?
- Why do they have the same teacher for 7 years in primary school?
- What do you mean by a broad education?
- Do you teach languages at the school?
- What is the criteria for acceptance into the school?
- Can we come and see the school and talk to someone about the philosophy and curriculum?
- What subjects are studied at High School level?
- How are Waldorf students accepted into university if they don't do SACE exams?
- What is the Year 12 Special Project?
- What parent involvement is encouraged?
Q: At what age do children start at the school?
When they are 4, turning 5, sometime during that year they will begin part time in kindergarten.
Q: Why do you recommend that children do not regularly watch TV until late primary years?
Watching TV tends to stifle their imagination. For example, children who regularly watch TV, when they play 'dress-ups', are likely to pretend to be a TV character and when they are drawing, may draw what they see on TV. Without TV they foster their own creativity and imagination. Young children believe what they see is 'real'. They cannot distinguish between an image and reality. Whatever happens on the screen, happens. A small child needs to believe the world is 'true' and this builds trust. TV provides many images and experiences that do not foster this belief. It also affects the development of the senses, which is significant for the child under 7.
Q: Why don't they start formal education until the year they turn 7?
The purpose of 'creative play' as happens in the kindergarten is to:
- nurture the development of the senses
- build motor skills in readiness for writing
- "explore the world"
- to imitate "work"
Q: Why do they have the same teacher for 7 years in primary school?
During these 7 years a close bond forms between parent/teacher/child and fosters good communication between home and school. The teacher can monitor the child's progress as he/she develops. Differences have to be resolved as they're together for a long time. The Waldorf curriculum is spiral…teachers visit particular material a number of times throughout the whole 12 years of Waldorf School. Having only one teacher in primary school means that this teacher is cognizant of how this particular material has been presented before and can build on this. It has proved to be a beneficial and an effective approach for both the students and the teacher.
Q: What do you mean by a broad education?
We offer a holistic approach to education. For example, we foster the child's artistic abilities, musical abilities, cultural knowledge, his/her creativity with craftwork as well as his/her academic development. This is in order that every person who finishes at a Waldorf school will feel "at home" in the world - each child has had a wide range of experiences and mastered a variety of skills.
Q: Do you teach languages at the school?
Yes, all children learn Japanese and German from class 1 onwards. In class 10 the students then choose one of the languages. They continue with this language through to class 12.
Q: What is the criteria for acceptance into the school?
All of the following factors may be taken into consideration:
- Compatibility of the philosophy underlying Waldorf Education with the beliefs and practices of the adults in the child's home environment
- Children and grandchildren of teachers at Mt Barker Waldorf School
- Ex-students
- Children of past students
- Siblings of current students at the school
- Students transferring from other Waldorf schools
- Chronological position on the waiting list
- For young children, the family's home location will be considered in the sense that we discourage long distance travel
Other factors that are considered are:
- The special educational needs of other children in the class vis ŕ vis the needs of the applicant
- Behavioural challenges of the applicant vis ŕ vis duty of care in relation to other students
Q: Can we come and see the school and talk to someone about the philosophy and curriculum?
"School Tours" are available on the last or second last Friday of the month during term time at 4pm. One of the teachers escorts a group on a tour of the school, giving parents of prospective students, and other interested parties, an opportunity to look at the school grounds, classrooms and some of the work that the students do. These tours also provide an opportunity for visitors to ask any questions that they may have about the curriculum, philosophy etc. of the school.
Q: What subjects are studied at High School level?
English, Maths, German/Japanese, Chemistry, Physics , History, Geography, Biology, Computing, Typing, Painting, Drawing, Physical Education, Music, Technical Studies, Clay Modelling, Gardening, plus shorter modules of various arts and crafts. Various camps take place, which are designed to complement the main lessons.
Q: How are Waldorf students accepted into university if they don't do SACE exams?
On the basis of a score arrived at via internal, continuous assessments during Year 12. This score is accepted by SATAC (South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre) and is used to gain entry into a wide variety of courses at universities and TAFE Colleges. All subjects are taken by all students even at Year 12 level. Students can apply to universities throughout Australia. The universities are very accepting of our students, as they have proven in the past to perform very well indeed at university level.
Q: What is the Year 12 Special Project?
A self-nominated, self regulated study of a specific topic for one year. Students have Wednesday off after Main Lesson to pursue a topic, or develop a skill, or undertake a project of their choice. They then write a thesis and present their project orally to the school community.
Q: What parent involvement is encouraged?
The parents organize an annual Spring Fair as the major fundraiser for the year Voluntary LAP (Learning Assistance Program) and listening to children reading etc is encouraged within the classroom situation. Parents are expected to attend Parent/Teacher meetings on a regular basis.