Our Primary School goes from Kindergarten to Year 6 and contains approximately 180 students. We operate a single stream Primary School.
Each class will usually take 28 students and the class teachers are provided with assistants based on the number of students enrolled.
At Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School, ideally the class teacher travels with the class from Class 1 to Class 6 and they follow a daily program similar to that noted below:
* Main lesson: one-and-a-half to two hours duration, integrated learning experiences (thinking-academic)
* Middle lesson: one to one-and-a-half hours duration, integrated learning experiences (feeling-artistic) and English/maths practice lessons.
*Afternoon block lessons: one to one-and-a-half hours duration, integrated learning experiences (willing-practical). Games and Sports and Creative Activities, Technology, and Practical Activities.
*Specialist Teaching Periods: Eurythmy, Music, French, Library, String Program, Choir, Orchestra
Music - The String Program
The aim of the music program at the Cape Byron Steiner School is to give all children the opportunity to explore their musical potential and to enjoy making music. The string program, which begins in year 3, is a vital part of this vision.
All children in class 3, 4 and 5 learn a string instrument. They choose either violin or cello.
Rudolf Steiner indicated the violin for class 3 because of the way that the violin is held and played. The bowing movement across the chest as the child plays this most emotive of instruments, helps stimulate and open the heart forces. This is important because the 9 and 10 year old child is in the middle of a period of education that is centered on developing their 'feeling' life.
String instruments also allow the child to acutely develop their sense of pitch because it is not a 'fixed pitch' instrument. They will experience minute differences in pitch by slightly different finger positions and learn to hear when the note is perfectly in tune. String instruments are very closely related to the voice in this way and can be seen as natural progression from singing.
The wonderful experience of playing together in a class orchestra is a unique part of this program. Because all of the children play instruments from the same family, the sound that is made when they play together is beautiful and unifying.
