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One of the core goals of Steiner education is a fostering of wonder and reverence for the world around us.Our annual Winter Festival held at midwinter helps us to find the light within and begin the path outward, to share our light with the world. This is the journey represented by the lighting of the spiral and the lantern walk.
The lantern is a symbol of one's own individual light; they give protection to our own little ‘flame’ so that we may carry it safely through the dark winter months ahead.
The children make their lanterns in class, whilst parents are encouraged to bring their own from home, or make one at WCSSCA's Lantern Workshop.
Monday June 17 onwards
~Please bring greenery, ivy and flowers to school for the spirals and leave them in front of the Performance Room.
Wednesday June 19
School finishes at 12.30pm
Please do not linger at school but go home to rest and replenish, and so that the mood of the spiral can be set.
5.45pm
Please enter very quietly through the front gate (please note it will be quite dark; the way will be paved with tea lights and musicians will be playing softly). You will be directed to your child’s classroom or to the outdoor spiral, depending on your child’s year level.
Class Teachers will light the lanterns for Class 1-3 in classrooms and you will wait until you are called to walk the indoor spiral and then walk with your lanterns around the back oval.
Classes 4-6 should come with their lanterns, that the children have made in readiness for the festival, already lit. Parents please carry matches or a lighter and spare tealights in your pockets in case lanterns needs relighting over the night. Class 4- 6 will walk an outdoor spiral with their parents and teachers on arrival and then proceed to a lantern walk around the back oval.
After spirals and the oval have been walked, we will gather quietly in the front quadrangle on the verandas as the choir sings with perhaps some other guest performers for a Fire Blessing and Fire Dance performed by Class 6 students.
At the conclusion of this, Class 6 will light the bonfire and the whole school will sing Winter Festival songs. (Your child has already made a lantern in class and is learning the festival songs).
7:30pm Festival ends and everyone departs quietly for home. Please leave quietly straight after the festival to deepen the experience for your child and our community.
*This is a festival for the Primary School. The kindergarten has its own celebration and so on this evening, small children should be tucked up warm at home.
*Children must not bring glow-sticks, torches or other toys to the Festival.
*All children must be supervised at all times, and participating in the Festival. They absolutely may not play on the playground equipment or socialise.
*Please ensure that the children are dressed appropriately – warm clothing and enclosed footwear. Please no skirts, dresses or flowing type attire due to the fire risk.
*The Winter Festival is a festival of quiet and introspection. Please assist us by maintaining an atmosphere of reverence and awe. Silence and the absence of phones and cameras will ensure a special time for all.
Weather: This is a Winter Festival so it will run unless it is very stormy and there is lightning. If the weather is wet come prepared with raincoats and umbrellas. We are watching the weather forecast and if an electrical storm prevents our planned celebration, we will advise you of the changes during the day via text and email.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
West Coast Steiner School, 12A Mayfair St, Nollamara WA 6061, Australia,Perth, Western Australia