A Little Bit Magic….
This School is a little bit magic….from a handful of seeds scattered (as in Jack and the Beanstalk) one took root and from it, a village for children and young people grew. A village where everyone is schooled to be an artist, maker, dreamer, sculptor advocate and activist for a kinder, fairer world.
It is a School with roots deep into the beautiful Blue Mountains, its forests and creeks. It is nourished by the custodianship of Dharug and Gundungurra, and by trees and birds. And it spirals to the river of stars from which we all have our being and becoming.
Kindlehill’s little bit of magic, is premised on at least two things. It is handmade with love, and it is inspired by the dreams of the children. It also has a super-power. Its heart is deep as ocean, its vision is as wide as the sky and it has the power to turn a seed into a flower, a tree, a forest, a village for children and young people.
A Ceremony of Beauty and Connection
During our celebration to commemorate my vision and leadership over 23 years, John said: we think we do ceremony well at Kindlehill but the contribution of Lex, Corina and Venessa brought our celebration to one deeply grounded in place and community, in ways that only first nations custodians can gift!
As part of the ceremony to acknowledge my stepping away from the Principal role, Uncle Lex, Aunty Corina and Aunty Vanessa Possum came bearing gifts to myself and our School, of extraordinary resonance. Gifts woven, dyed, hand carved and resonant with story and connection. As part of this, we now have a hand-carved story “stick” that honours the passing along of vision and leadership to the new phase the School is entering in 2024, with a view that this is something to continue with successive leadership changes.
Thank you to the teaching staff and the children for the beautiful honouring ceremony and gifts. I felt so cherished. In 2024, I will be very much around the School, coordinating High School and leading the new Buran Nalgarra, Senior School into its inaugural year alongside my truly awesome colleagues. It is my hope that Erica is as well supported as she takes up the Principal role at the start of next year.
In my last newsletter as Principal, I wish for each and every family in the School, a festive summer season, and moments of deep cherishing of your family, friendships and this beautiful place we live in. In the words of Mary Oliver, “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it……. Don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb!”
Kindlehill School is a K-10 Steiner School that sits on a hill above the Wentworth Falls Lake, in the Blue Mountains, NSW. We are an independant school working creatively and in a contemporary way, out of the foundation of Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy for education.
