Yallingup Steiner School
Yallingup Steiner School began in 1989 as a playgroup and opened on Caves Road as a kindergarten and primary school in 1994. The school has a ‘College of Teachers’ rather than a Principal, responsible for maintaining the Steiner educational philosophy.
The
school
provides a curriculum that “considers the
whole child, enabling the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual
natures to be developed in harmony” and offers beautiful grounds with
large creative outdoor play areas and architecture incorporating wood and
stained glass artwork.
Rudolf Steiner was a philosopher, scientist and artist, born in Austria in 1861, who said that “education is an art – it must speak to the child’s experience. To educate the whole child, his heart and will must be reached, as well as his mind.” The first Steiner (or Waldorf) school opened in Germany in 1919. There are now over 700 school’s worldwide.
It is mandatory that all WA schools achieve universal learning outcomes for students, and the Yallingup Steiner School integrates the Curriculum Council’s Curriculum Framework with the Steiner educational curriculum, teaching methods and programs to achieve the best outcomes for students.
Yallingup Steiner School aims to “develop fully functioning people
who respect themselves, others and the environment” and employs four
core teachers and five specialist teachers who instruct in German and French
language, Art and Craft, Music and Circus Skills.
Circus Skills are Yallingup Steiner School’s newest distinctive program, with expert tuition incorporating juggling, unicycle riding, rope climbing and trapeze work. The school offers in-term surfing instruction with the Yallingup Surf School at nearby Smiths Beach for students in years four to six.
In 2005 the school has 90 students enrolled from kindergarten to year six, with approximately 20 children per class. In addition the school opened a kindergarten in Margret River this year, located at the Organic Community Garden on Bussell Highway.
Yallingup Steiner School produces a magazine twice yearly (summer and winter editions) that showcases student’s art, poetry and short stories and includes articles about current issues affecting children and education.
The school is involved every year in a traditional Ancient Greek Olympic athletics carnival, with other Steiner schools in WA, featuring old world events including chariot races – this year held at the Perth Waldorf School in Bibra Lake.
In October, Yallingup Steiner School hosts a Spring Fair, which is the school’s major fundraising event of the year and receives fantastic support from the local community. The Fair features a huge community market, offering a variety of art, craft and homemade food stalls, student performances and shows by visiting buskers and street performers.
Yallingup Steiner School holds an Open Day in September and parents wishing to find out more about the school are encouraged to attend.
Address: Cnr Caves Rd & Wildwood Rd YALLINGUP 6282
PO Box 135 Yallingup
WA 6282
Phone: (08) 9755 2230
Fax: (08) 9755 2575
Email: yss@wn.com.au
To find out more about Steiner education visit www.steiner-australia.org/