AVA Whitehorn 

Ava is kind and thoughtful with an empathetic and grounded nature and natural leadership qualities. Ava has a talent for theatre and music and is dedicated to pursuing her passions. Her giving nature shines through in how she shares her gifts with the community. 

For my SRP I have chosen to explore how music can evoke emotions within the listener. I originally came up with my idea back in Class 8 and I knew I wanted to work with music, so I began to think about how I could make a piece of music more relatable to a wider audience of people. Emotions and music often go together but I tried to refine this down narrower and narrower pathways and started to explore how certain elements of music can bring up specific emotions within the individual, such as how a piano is played or the lyrics of a song. 

There are already quite a few studies completed on this and I was hoping to expand on what I found in my research. My results were mostly consistent with what I found, however there were some surprises. There is no one piece of music that will bring out the same emotions within everyone as humans are so complex. Some elements, such as rhythm, which corresponds to the heartbeat can make people drawn to it, but you can’t really manipulate the emotions through music. 

My main challenge was with collaboration. I’ve been working with some incredible artists, but it felt almost like I couldn’t completely call it mine because I didn’t write all the parts or play all the pieces.  

For me, being a Steiner student means being connected to nature. I previously went to a public school, and it felt like everything was concrete. Here, it’s like we built around it, not through it. We definitely appreciate our environment and get to spend more time within it.  

My favourite Main Lesson was Astronomy. I love space and we haven’t worked on astronomy much before that. Any of the practical Main Lessons that are more hands on are great too and I’ve enjoyed all the Drama Main Lessons. You get to spend more time with your classmates and interact more with each other. 

 My favourite camp was the Arts Camp in Class 10. Even though we stayed in Brisbane, it was fun to explore the city and seeing different plays and go to theatre classes. Camps are a great way of getting life experience from cooking your own meals, down to the budget. Getting to disconnect away from phones is great too. 

 A great experience for me was getting to go to the UQ Change Makers program last year. I got to learn a lot about university and go to events and I’m grateful to have been able to go.  

I feel like my time at SVSS has prepared me for almost every aspect of life outside of school, we learn so many valuable life skills. 

Nathaniel Park

With a strong inner compass, Nathaniel follows interests and passions with drive, willing to get in and get things done. A hard-worker with many talents, academic, musical and practical, Nathaniel is a dedicated, calm voice of leadership within our school community. 

My SRP has been on restoring and racing an old motorbike. Racing has always been something I’ve been into, my dad races and that got me started. When I got the opportunity to restore this bike, I thought it would be a great project that I knew would hold my interest throughout the year.  

Challenges have been the mechanical work. I didn’t have a lot of experience with mechanics, so I didn’t really know what I had gotten myself into! I also had never ridden a road bike before and it’s a very different style of riding than what I was used to – as well as learning to race at the same time – but I’ve ridden the bike a couple of times now and enjoyed it.  

 I’ve been surprised by how patient you need to be during racing. I thought it was just a case of going faster than the people you were racing against, but it’s more tactical than that. 

I’ve been here at SVSS since Pre-prep, for me being a Steiner student means having more freedom in how we communicate and interact with our peers and the teachers. I have mates that go to mainstream schools and it feels like they’re always talking about how strict it is. Here it feels like discussion is more encouraged.  

Farm Camp was my favourite Main Lesson and Camp. I liked how hands on it was and that we were learning in a different environment. The whole dynamic of waking up early and being active all day was something I enjoyed, even being without my phone – it’s nice. You learn a lot about processing of foods, including processing a cow.   

I have a lot of fond memories from primary school, playing in the playground and spending time with friends, but even academically. I felt like how we were taught was a great way of learning a topic. 

 I feel like I’ve had a very eventful and diverse experience at SVSS.  

JETTA WILSON CLARK

Jetta started at SVSS in Class 7, in 2019. It didn’t take her long to fit in with the class and become part of its social fabric. Throughout her high school years, she has grown in confidence, poise and formed strong friendships. She carries with her a quiet, yet strong inner sense of who she is and continues to grow into this. Jetta always has a smile, is willing to step confidently into new experiences and is someone who sets herself high standards and meets them. She is capable of many creative ideas, being passionate about them and most importantly is able to bring those ideas into action. 

My area of research is artistic activism, and my question is, “Exploring why artistic activism in important to social change.”

I have been exploring this question by researching the history of artistic activism, interviewing artistic activists and creating a documentary sharing their stories, art and messages. The documentary is the practical side of my SRP. I became interested in this topic when I was on holidays overseas where I saw powerful protest art on the street and went to an exhibition at the Tate on a group of art activists.

Through the process of the SRP I have gained a variety of skills. I have gained valuable interviewing, filming, and documentary-making skills, along with insight into the history of artistic activism. This experience has enhanced my planning abilities and built my confidence in approaching people for project participation. I’ve also improved my communication skills, learning to clearly convey my project needs through email and phone. Overall, I’ve developed the confidence to take on and successfully manage large projects.

I still feel relatively new to the Steiner School system, what I can see is that I have I have a deeper appreciation for nature and the world around me and this is my point of difference as a Steiner student.

The Main Lesson that I remember fondly is the Botany Main Lesson in Class 11. I enjoyed learning more in depth information about the plants, biodiversity and the animal life on K’gari Island. I also enjoyed the artistic part of this Main Lesson, drawing of what we saw on camp as well as other plants.

My favourite camp has been the Sailing camp in Class 11, I love sailing in general. Being out on the ocean is a calming place for me. As part of this camp, we got explore the small islands like Peel Island in Moreton Bay.

My experience at Samford Valley Steiner School is that I am free to explore whatever topics that I am interested in – there is freedom in what we can learn through the Main Lessons and specialist lessons. It feels calm and relaxed, yet we are still working.  SVSS has provided a holistic approach so that I can think practically and empathetically. It’s given me an inquisitive mind and the confidence that if I apply myself to think about a problem fully, I can come to an answer.

BELLA ROONEY

Bella is a charismatic and outgoing member of Class 12. Always one to rise to a challenge, Bella shows up to the world as herself unapologetically, with confidence, integrity and self-assurance. Bella has an artist’s heart and is gifted in music, art and drama.

My SRP was on the topic exploring animation and my own enjoyment of it. I completed work experience with Cosmic Dino Studio as a part of this. It has helped me get a well-rounded approach to what is involved with animation behind the scenes and see the work that is undertaken by the artists.

I expected to enjoy it more than I did and that was a surprise! While I found certain elements fun, especially the earlier stages of creating the story and drawing a rough outline of it, there is a lot of back-end repetition to animation that makes it hard to hold your interest and focus. I found the fleshing out of it afterwards a real challenge. It was also difficult to find a mentor in this area.

Originally, I intended to go into animation in university so this has been a valuable project for me to give me a taste of what it would be like and has allowed me to change directions regarding what my future looks like.

I came to SVSS in Class 4 from a state school. One thing I immediately liked about Steiner was the dress code. I came from a school that was very strict on what you could or couldn’t wear and coming to a school with almost no dress code was very freeing to my 9 year old self as it meant I could express myself more. Another thing I love about the school that is pretty much non existent in public school, is the relationship with both students and teachers. Everyone is much closer and it feels more like a community. People give me strange looks when I tell them I was hanging out with my Drama teacher.

A favourite Main Lesson was Farm Camp as it was fun and a different experience to a lot of the other camps. I also really enjoyed our recent Main Lesson in Optics. I definitely get more out of our practical Main Lessons that are a bit more hands on. The concept of Main Lessons is useful for me, learning in an intensive block period helps keep me focused and involved in what I’m learning.

My favourite camp was Moreton Camp in Class 7. I loved sledding on the sand dunes and going on a morning walk. We also got to stay in villas which was nice! Also, Girraween in Class 6 was really beautiful. You get a lot of life experiences out of the camps. How many people can say they’ve canoed the Brisbane River? How many people can say they’ve climbed Mount Warning?

A good experience was going on International Exchange and heading off into the world on my own. And also, back in Primary School playing Kick the Can in amongst the trees. Ava and I always won because we had similar hair back then and would swap our clothes and shoes and people would call out the wrong name.

I believe that my time at Steiner has really helped in shaping me into the confident, unique, compassionate person I am today, and I look forward to where this education will take me in the future.

soraya sirl

Soraya joined SVSS in the first year of preschool in 2011. She has a smile that is gentle and full of enthusiasm and warmth. Her kindness is always present and makes her a wonderful friend. If you have seen her in any of her performances during her enrolment at the school, you will know what an extraordinary talent she has for acting all the way through her Primary education right through to now, the latest being The Wizard of Oz. We know wherever she finds herself she will bring warmth, creativity, beauty and much more.  

For my SRP, I have the question, “How to evoke emotions through different mediums?” In my practical I am focusing on music and film. I have written, produced and directed my own music video that displays a particular emotion. I also have done a survey to see if that emotion comes across.  

I have developed strong project planning skills, including time management, collaboration, and maintaining a long-term vision. I’ve gained experience in music production and songwriting using GarageBand, as well as video camera operation and film editing. This journey has boosted my self-confidence in expressing my creative ideas through music and film, and I’ve also learned to collaborate effectively with other artists in a meaningful, artistic way. 

I have been here at SVSS since preschool. I have creativity in all curriculum areas, I love and appreciate the arts, and community is important to me which I have learnt from this school community.  

Favourite Main Lessons have been Ancient Egypt in Class 5 and making a coffin. I liked it because it was the first time we saw more insight into the dark history of ancient Egypt. I also enjoyed Romantic Poetry in Class 11. I love writing poetry as I get to express my emotions through a different form art, e.g. writing. Puzzle solving, following the rules and playing around with breaking them to create my own unique poetry.  

Class 3 Camp – Farming Camp was my favourite camp. It was the first camp without parents – we stayed in cabins and talked. I remember milking a cow and the food being really good.  

Favourite memories include the Spring festivals – joyful and happy…dance and wear flowers and be joyful.  

I have always felt a warm welcome and encouraged to be myself at SVSS.  A feeling of home.  SVSS supports individuality which is important in school and a workplace. You can get all the degrees, but it is about who you are as a person.   

mathis marten

Mathis started at SVSS in Pre-Prep in 2011. He has been part of the class group since the start of kindy through to Class 12, with a short period away at the end of Class 3 when his family returned to Germany. He has always displayed plenty of energy, enthusiasm and commitment for everything he sets his mind to. Mathis tackles and commits to many areas of the curriculum including Maths, Art, Handwork, Handcraft, PE, Music and Science – he is very diverse and well-rounded with his abilities. He has a smile that is warm and displays an underlying kindness and cheekiness. He has a strong sense of truth and justice and will stand up for his friends if needed. 

My question is: “The science of anterior cruciate ligament injuries: How does surgery and physical therapy influence an athlete’s ability to return to sport after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury?’

Over the Christmas school holidays, I spent 4 weeks in Austria doing work experience with a Physiotherapist and some Orthopaedic surgeons. While on work experience, I noticed that an ACL injury was the most common form of injury during the skiing season, and with this injury, I noticed the huge impact it had on people’s lives. This is how my project started. I am very interested in both the fields of physiotherapy and surgery, so it was a project that would keep me interested and engaged.

I am very lucky to have a Mentor who assisted me and guided me with what medical and science journals I should read and other research previously done. My main source of data has been gathering information from the journals.

While I was on work experience, I also kept my own journal on the clients that came in and my observations of the clients, their injuries and the impact on their lives. I have used this journal to assist me with reflecting on what I read in the medical journals and understanding some of this data.

I have gained many skills and knowledge through this project so far. I have gained the ability to remain focused on a task, to recognise where my interests lie and which way I would like my after-school life to progress. Other skills I have learnt are research skills, academic writing and critical thinking skills. It’s very good to have these skills before taking on any tertiary education.

During my work experience, I gained confidence in talking with and to the patients, something I had not learnt before. Also from my work experience, I think I have developed a beginner’s ability for observational skills i.e. movement, and judgement of correct movement, as well as emotional communication and physical judgement.

I know I am a Steiner student as I don’t currently have massive exam blocks that I am cramming for. I feel my overall education is balanced in terms of topics and diversity of the assessments we are able access.

The Main Lesson I remember fondly is Inner Organs with Rhanni in Class 10. This Main Lesson contributed to my interest in the human body and understanding it more.

My favourite camp was the Farm Camp in Class 9 though I did also enjoy the canoe camp (along the Brisbane River) and Surveying Camp in Class 10.

I have a few experiences that I have enjoyed strongly. Overall, the New Zealand Certificate of Steiner Education (NZCSE) has been a positive experience for me in the High School.  It provided purpose to my education and has something for everyone as part of the program. I am also really enjoying this project. My other favourite experience was going on exchange to Austria.

My experience at Samford Valley Steiner School is an education that is a complete education that I feel has set me up well for my future and being independent.  SVSS has prepared me by providing a broad curriculum and providing me with the opportunity to learn critical and independent thinking.