Kindlehill – Site Development Blog

I had the pleasure of being with both Kindy children aswell as the highschool group while they were entertained and taught by Jon Madin, all the while performing the most fun and enjoyable pieces of music. The kindy children were just glowing as they sat behind the echocellos, reaching their little arms down and dragging the bow to and fro all the while creating beautiful sounds. They laughed at Jon’s lyrics and happily told him all about different instruments and what they had done on the weekend. At the other end of the Kindlehill classes, when it was their time, the highschool group sauntered in, took their places casually behind the marimbas and proceeded to played (and sing) a song from the top 40. It was a sight to see and amazing to hear.

A high for me was playing the most recently made bass Echocello that added a special depth to the orchestra – I even got a solo!
S’haila – Kindlehill Parent & Teacher
“Weird homemade instruments, but really cool – the sounds were awesome. The songs were easy to remember but not boring at all” – Lemuel Class 6

Last year we established Greening the Blue as a broad focus for the school.  Living into our beautiful hand made school, we wanted to deepen and broaden our commitment to “touching the earth gently” and contributing to the shaping of a future for the earth and her inhabitants, that is sustainable, celebratory and fair.

Toward this goal, a number of pathways have emerged over the past year which we would like to continue and grow into 2012.  It is our hope that this focus is something that will resonate with parents and that together as a Kindlehill community we can elaborate and bring the focus into grounded reality.

Here are some of the developments of 2011 which we would like to continue in 2012 with “a little bit of help from our friends”.

• Community gardens -  S’haila has led the way to establish the roof top vegie garden this year, productive and creative in its plantings.  Flourishing gardens have also been established by the younger classes and kindy, outside their rooms, and the orchard is thriving.  We would love to see more people get involved with the gardens, planting, tending and harvesting.  While the classes  harvest from the gardens regularly, there is surplus of fresh organic produce that we are happy to share.  In the mountains there is a network of people whose aim it is to establish common gardens in every town!  Next year, we will continue to tend these gardens and hopefully add more plants that are bee food, as Duncan is keen to bring a hive to the school.  The straw from our animals is used to activate the compost which has been used to enliven the soil in our gardens.  We also have our biodynamic compost which we make in the autumn, primarily of fallen leaves from the neighbourhood.  Most of the fruit trees and seedlings have been gifted to the school.  We also have a healthy bush tucker garden.  In 2012 we will also set to the task of landscaping around the new buildings and carpark.  So there is lots to do!

• Welcome to country – The welcome to country given by Aunty Carol Cooper at our opening was an important event for us. We are hoping to grow our relationship with the indigenous people in our region out of respect for the traditional people of this land and also because we see this as integral to the creating of a sustainable and fair society. Last year, the children were involved in activities with indigenous people such as dance, bush walks and perspectives on colonisation.  In 2012 we will continue these pathways; we have also been invited to participate in an indigenous arts project for children.  We have invited Jo Clancy to use our performance space to develop her latest dance project: Dragonfly.

• The high school – the high school initiative takes as its inaugural theme; “think global and act local”.   We hope to address, in these high school years, the concerns of our times and how individuals and societies are shaping productive responses to these. We hope to enable young people to develop the capacities and vision to understand their world and contribute positively toward the good of all.  We take as a mandate the following:

Professor David Orr, an eminent environmental educator in the USA, says that….What is needed in our times is a paradigm shift comparable to the enlightenment… “A higher order of heroism, charity, wildness and the rights of children…a movement of hundreds of thousands of young people equipped with the vision, the moral stamina and the intellectual depth necessary to rebuild neighbourhoods, towns and communities around the planet…”

• Seasonal celebrations – in 2011 we celebrated World Harmony Day and at our Spring Celebration, the focus was turning and twirling for peace.  In 2012, we hope to continue to link our seasonal celebrations with the life engendering impulses in our wider community as well as with the earth’s cycles.

• Pathways into the community – 2011 saw our school engage with a number of community events such as the co-op 30^th birthday celebration.  In 2012, we will continue to look for opportunities to be involved in community events as well as to hosting these in our new performing arts space.  In 2013, it is the bicentennial of the crossing of the Blue Mountains and our school has been invited to be involved, the planning and preparation will happen in 2012.

• Handmade with love - Shelves, blackboards, furniture for classrooms, continue to be made by parents in the school out of beautiful timbers and where possible, recycled timbers.  We also make every effort to repair broken furniture and tools, and rely on parents at working bees to help us in this effort toward reducing, reusing and recycling.  The Craft Group meets regularly and produces high quality toys, clothing and accessories as a fundraiser for the school.  The craft items are handmade with natural materials and provide a beautiful alternative to mass produced products.  Michelle and Claudia have also set up a Kindlehill selection in the Nook in Leura.

• Kindlings quarterly – In 2011, we introduced a seasonal publication to be distributed into our school and regional community.  It provides a taste of the richness of life at Kindlehill and creates yet another pathway into the community.  Contributions from parents and students are welcome.

• Walk in Wednesday – (primary school children only) walking for health and well being; walking in once a week as a reminder to ourselves of how quickly we jump into our cars….We also encourage car pooling and train use as a means of transport to school where it is feasible.

• Kindling Community - Last year we sowed the seed of a mighty vision, resourced and grown locally, the greening of the blue.  In 2012 we will continue to tend to the life that is unfolding, deepening the roots and supporting its branching out.   We would love to see our families continue to support and celebrate this work .  There are so many ways to be involved.  We thank you for generous support and love in the past year.  In the words of a parent, it is a rewarding and nourishing experience to be involved in the school, “I want to live with my family, in a world where people ‘give a little’ generously, and ‘take a little’ with gratitude”.

In anticipation……and continuing to green the blue…..Lynn

Thank you to you and your energetic, creative and resourceful team of helpers – parents and students.  The sky blue and sun gold theme was the perfect frame  for our beautiful, family/community day with HEART!!

Jason Dash, thank you, not only for the entire building, but for the extra energy in the month leading up to the fair. The school looked just amazing!!!!

Many thanks to artists Anna Kling, Pam de Groot and Amy Jenkins for their most beautiful and unique pieces donated to the Forget Me Not Fair’s raffle. And to Jacqui Fae for the popular poster and postcard designs.

Many thanks to all the parents that made cakes, stapled raffle tickets, cleaned the school, made decorations, created amazing craft and toys, organised rosters, played music and entertained the crowds, worked on the children’s activities, the Forget Me Not Cafe and Chai tent (and Gaia who worked late into the night!). Thanks to the parents who coordinated the parents; Alison, Marsh, Bec, Rilka and Steve G. And to Rob, Lucy and Brian – the donators of many wonderful plants and seedlings.

Particular thanks to Steve A who managed parking all the morning cars and therefore missed the amazing official opening. Thanks to the teachers for preparing a wonderful opening ceremony and cleaning their rooms! And of course to all the students who laughed, danced, sang and made music all day long. Thank you to Class 6/7 who made an extra effort filling spaces in all the rosters. What a day to remember!

As we prepare for the official opening of Kindlehill’s new Kindy and Performance Space on Saturday at the Forget-Me-Not-Fair, it’s worth reflecting on the long and magnificent voyage, during which this edifice has arisen from the ground. Innumerable hands, and much contemplation and energy has been put into the many beautiful components. Do you remember what the land there looked like before any construction began? To celebrate, a short video has been made that captures moments along the path to completion.

Kindlehill: New Kindy & Performance Space

http://youtu.be/KenWMZiY3SM

Kindlehill’s Forget me not Spring Fair and official opening of our new building, Saturday 5 November 2011. See flyer for more……

2011 Forget Me Not Spring Fair

HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE

SMALL, FRIENDLY, FLEXIBLE LEARNING STYLE

Many young people can feel overwhelmed by the sheer size and anonymity of the typical high school, and  the test driven and weighted emphasis on classroom, academic style learning, can be counter productive to self esteem, independence and self directedness.  Some students, carrying a strong sense of individuality, look for the challenge in having more self direction in their learning environment and to the  connectedness with life in the community,  that is possible in this alternative approach. For others, they look forward to the challenges of mainstream education and they will take with them, from their years in Kindlehill, a motivation toward learning and a wealth of experience in every aspect of school life.

Our high school vision is to create a small, friendly and productive learning environment, which will introduce students to curriculum in a way that makes sense to them, engaging them in the real issues and concerns of our times.  Students will be challenged to think, feel and act in resourceful and creative ways, and to be participants in their ever widening spheres of community.

INSPIRATIONAL AND PRODUCTIVE TEACHERS

Productive and inspiring teachers and mentors, will guide students into diverse fields of endeavour, engaging the mind, heart, practical and social aspects of life for young people. A team of inspiring teachers and mentors is currently forming up for our high school class in 2012, including Lynn, Erica, Duncan, Pippita, S’haila (P.D.), Bec (earth science), John May (creating and  collaborating through rhythm), Paul Rummery (woodwork), Antonio Marques (English,History) , Verena Thurgood ((Visual Art), Marion (music ensemble), Georgia Page (drama), Stefan Jost(science).  There are a number of others who have offered support as mentors in a diverse field of interests.

WELL ROUNDED EDUCATION

There will be a balance of classroom learning and hands on experience, the intention being to equip young people with the capacities and skills for their future lives.  An extended network of friendships and social engagement will be provided through sport, artistic and practical activities in the wider community.

ORIENTATION MORNING

On Friday morning, 18^th November, there will be an opportunity for students and their parents, who are interested in finding out more about the 2012 year 7/8 class, to come for an orientation.   A selection of teachers and mentors will be present to provide a firsthand taste of our innovative approach to high school.  There will be something for the minds, hearts, hands and the social aspect of the young person’s development.

The orientation morning is also open to other parents in the school, who are interested in the high school, in regard to their children’s future.

Please R.S.V.P or direct enquiries to Lynn, kindlehill@yahoo.com.au

The newsletter of the Earth Building Association of Australia, “Dirt”, has a 3-page feature that focuses on the new Kindy and Performance Space. See the article here: DIRT Magazine April 2011

Pictures from the first Winters Night in Kindlehill’s new performance space.

Lantern light, colour, movement, joyful singing, and a warm and hearty collaborative drama involving the whole school, were the features of  Winter’s Night, held in the new performance space on Thursday 23rd June.

Within the cocoon of darkest night

Let the wings of light filled love, take flight

Let the flood of darkness, illumined be

A shimmering rainbow of harmony

Let the day star rise

Let the flame leap

Let sap and tide, find voice to speak

Radiant sun, without and within

To you we give thanks, and joyously sing…..

After the heralding of the new sun in the finale song, we walked into the darkness by lantern light, to the lake, where we were warm and filled in yet anther way, with chai and hot chocolate – thanks to Gaia.

Craft stall

A huge “Thank You” to all who helped at the Kindlehill Stall at the Co-op’s birthday. Parents swooned our rainbow-bright bountiful display, and children delighted in their artfully painted faces and colourful crafts.

Facepainting and the Craft Stall raised $600 in under 3 hours, before the rain washed us away!

Pam & Michelle wish to especially thank the craft group and parents who contribute their talents in creating beautiful toys and wares for the stall. Craft Group will resume fortnightly meetings, beginning Friday 25th March. All are welcome to come along and sup, socialise and share skills!

Singers

Many thanks to Gracia, Lylapearl, Peggy, Alia, Arliah, Lemuel, Macklan, Romini, Sashka and Tilda (from Pippita and Duncan’s classes). These students performed the song ‘My Island Home’ with Rachel Hore’s choirs. They have showed dedication and a love of singing over the past few weeks and were wonderful during the performance. Thanks S’haila for your dedication to creating this amazing group of singers. People who heard the performance said it was truly a heart warming experience.

Thank you so much to Jacqui Fae for the beautiful photos of the day.

Kindlehill opens it new Kindergarten, January 28th, 2011

The new kindergarten at Kindlehill is a beautiful spiral building with a sweeping curved roof.  It has been constructed with recycled and renewable materials, sourced locally where possible.  The design and construction is a showcase for earth buildings, and a regular destination for eco building tours.

But what makes it especially unique is the social collaboration that has literally sculpted and sweated this building into being.  The constellation of talent contributing the building of this kindergarten, includes architects and craftsmen, volunteers from the community (including artists), teachers and parents, as well as help exchange volunteers from all over the world.  The building is hand crafted, heart warmed, intelligent and resourceful in design and construction, artistically finished, and is a work of collaboration under the outstanding leadership of Jason Dash of Mud and Straw Concepts.

The children who attend this kindy garden, have around them, a building handmade with love.   It was blessed ceremonially with the creation of a mandala to Mother Earth in song, word and with flowers.