Our school here in Cairns offers kindergarden, preschool and primary education using the nurturing, creative and wholesome principles of Rudolf Steiner.
The single stream school has a ceiling of
20 students in each class and will provide
a solid educational foundation based on the
works of Rudolf Steiner.


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In class 4 History they might act out a theme from ancient Greece or Egypt. Academic learning is never dry and abstract. Rather it is a living, breathing, creative process.

PRACTICAL SKILLS

The children are also given a grounding in practical skills. They are involved in gardening and cooking, furniture making and building, looking after animals and maintaining school grounds. In craft they make things they will need to use e.g. recorder bags and pencil cases. We aim to produce well rounded practical adults.

MUSIC

All children are involved in music and the arts. They may be involved in acapella singing groups, recorder ensembles, orchestra or drumming groups etc. From class one they all learn recorder and from class 3 or 4 the children are encouraged to take up a stringed instrument.

SPORTS

The sports program in our school is often linked to other work spheres.
In class 5 for example, the children study ancient China and in sport they will do a block of Tai Chi. They also study ancient Inda and would be offered yoga classes.
When ancient Greece is being studies, athletics is offered and this may culminate a classical Olympic games.
Australian history might be linked to horse riding etc. Survival skills such as swimming and orienteering are also offered. There is a strong emphasis placed on the non-competitive aspects of sporting achievement. Team work, individual effort and mateship are highlighted.

COMPUTING

Computers are not introduced in the primary years as they deaden the child's creative potentials. These can be introduced in secondary school.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Foreign language work is introduced from class 1 onwards and the classes are conducted in the target language. The younger children might develop proficiency by learning songs and nursery rhymes and by playing games etc. The older ones might learn how to cook a Japanese recipe in the Japanese language and so on.

Cairns Rudolf Steiner School - Entrance

ACADEMIC WORK

All academic work is taught in an artistic and holistic way.

In class 1, for example, the children learn the alphabet out of traditional tales in which strong images occur:

In class 6 Science they might paint the different types of galaxies, dance the different types of planets.
They are also involved with the dramatic arts, the classes performing one play each year. Other activities might include creative dance and eurythmy, an art form performed only in Steiner schools.

We seek to work with parents to help them overcome difficulties in the home environment which may impede the child's natural and wholesome development. Periodically, parent education classes may be offered that allow parents to develop their potentials as parents and individuals. We also like to draw on skills from the parent body that the children may benefit from.

The school is a community and we encourage parents to get involed in lots of ways e.g. doll making workshops, music classes, school working groups etc.

FESTIVALS

The year is enriched with a number of festivals. The Festival of Lights is followed by our arts festival where the children, family groups and adults perform for the school community. The harvest festival culminates in our bush dance and Term Four brings the excitment of our Rainbow Fair and Open Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cairns Rudolf Steiner School - Pool
Due to our geographical isolation, a Steiner teacher development program is in place to provide the school  with a pool of suitable local teachers to meet its ongoing requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

They may be involved in baking bread, working in the garden, washing dolls clothes, building cubbies, weaving, painting or claywork, singing and ring dancing etc.
Each day the children have story time where they are exposed to traditional folk and fairytales. The year is also enriched with the celebration of various festivals.
One class teacher guides the children's learning thoughout the primary years. The class teacher is supported by specialist teachers e.g. foreign language or sports teachers, music teachers etc. The classroom is therefore like a small country school in atmosphere and the teacher is more akin to a parent who is intimately connected to the class. They grow together over the years.

The teachers are involved in ongoing studies of Steiner education and philosophy. They have normal teaching qualifications and have ongoing specialist training through the school.

The day is divided into 3 teaching periods.

We seek to work along side parents to ensure that together we can offer the children the very best. School and home are seen as 2 elements that create a whole. Both must be working harmoniouly towards the same goals for a successful outcome.

Our school begins with a kinder/prep program for 4 and 5 years olds.

It is designed to encourage imaginative play. The children are not introduced to an academic program.

Rather they are free to play their own creative games, or join the teacher in a range of wholesome home based activities, artistic pursuits and music etc.

To find out more about the atmosphere of the school
please view our Open Day page!
You can also download the prospectus here (Word document) and the enrolment forms.