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Mount Barker Waldorf School is one of the leading Steiner schools in Australia and offers a full Waldorf curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 12.
We are situated in expansive grounds in a peaceful, semi-rural environment on the outskirts of the Mt Barker township in the Adelaide Hills, just over half an hour‘s drive from the city.
Waldorf schools can be found across the globe and work independently to provide a rich artistic, academic and practical approach to educating the child.
Mount Barker Waldorf School's highest endeavour is to provide a transforming education which engenders a capacity for free ethical action, through clarity of thinking, refinement of feeling and strength of will. |
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Mount Barker Waldorf School aims to:
* provide a broad and integrated Waldorf curriculum based on the Australian Steiner Curriculum Framework https://www.steinereducation.edu.au/curriculum/steiner-curriculum/
*enable the students to become balanced adult individuals, inspired with a love of learning, a morality which strives for goodness and truth and an appreciation of beauty.
*inspire a sense of wonder and a healthy, positive connection to the world, arising from a knowledge of and responsibility toward themselves, each other and the environment.
*impart the knowledge, skills and means to work competently in the world and the values which will enable them to find meaning and purpose in their lives. |
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PLAYGROUP AND KINDERGARTEN
(up to 7 yrs)
Learning through imitation and play
Playgroup enables a gentle introduction to life outside of the home providing a place for children and parents to learn, grow and develop together. It supports their relationship to the environment and each other in a rhythmical and interactive way. It is an opportunity for social interaction, both for parents and children and facilitates the relationship with the natural world around us through life activities.
Playgroup sessions, which are attended by both child and parent, are available for children up to 4 years old. |
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The Waldorf/Steiner Kindergarten provides an environment where natural beauty and reverence for life abounds. At this age, children learn to know the world through doing. They use imitation and creative play to master skills in movement, communication (verbal and non-verbal) and social interaction. The Kindergarten teacher offers a stable and harmonious routine within a warm, secure, homely environment, providing a programme which supports social and physical development and resilience through constructive activity, and exploration of the world through the senses.
Throughout the two years of the kindergarten programme, children are supported to make the step from home into school life, in a warm, healthy and supportive way. Full time places available for children 5 years and up. |
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PRIMARY SCHOOL
(7-14 years)
Learning through engagement, imagination and creativity.
In the primary school, imagination is viewed as a powerful cognitive tool. Children’s learning is inspired and engaged through the imaginative and artistic presentation of lessons. An environment of visual and aural beauty is provided to support learning. Formal teaching of literacy and numeracy skills begins in the year that children turn seven. Because of the strong foundation of informal conceptual learning laid in the Kindergarten years, children generally master literacy and numeracy skills with greater speed and ease.
Thinking, feeling and doing are all incorporated into the learning process, nurturing a capacity for creative and innovative thinking, problem solving, and a gradually unfolding ability to make independent judgements.
The subject matter and teaching methodology employed in the primary school curriculum is designed to meet the developmental needs of children as these capacities develop.
https://www.steinereducation.edu.au/curriculum/steiner-curriculum/
The Class Teacher journeys with their class through the seven years of primary school, while specialist teachers teach some subjects, such as languages, music, Eurythmy, handwork, and gardening. The Class Teacher is the primary source of learning in the Main Lessons, literacy, numeracy, plays, outdoor and physical education. The strength and stability of the relationship that can potentially be formed over these seven years enhances the learning experience, through the teacher’s sound grasp of each individual child’s specific needs. A strong sense of social cohesion is also fostered within the class. |
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HIGH SCHOOL (14+ YEARS)
Learning through inspiration and the search for truth.
High School classes are supported by a Class Guardian, who provides a pastoral care role - as advocate, guide and mentor - supporting the needs of the student. At this level, students are taught by a range of specialist teachers as they are challenged to awaken their capacity for discernment and independent judgement.
The curriculum, building on and extending the subjects covered in the primary school, unfolds a rich panorama of world and life through the sciences, arts and humanities.
While the high school curriculum is highly academic, the curriculum continues to include the balance of the creative and practical subjects.
Upper School coursework is project based and broad in depth curriculum to graduation. Student achievement is based on their school coursework and independent project in Year 12.
https://www.steinereducation.edu.au/curriculum/steiner-curriculum/ |
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