Ghilgai offers a joyful, caring, supportive environment with a maximum class size of 22.
- Encouragement of our students to strive for excellence in all areas of learning.
- a Code of Behaviour for the school community in order to provide for the well-being of all.
- Emphasis on a strong co-working between home and school.
- Strong structures to monitor student learning embedded in lessons in a non-intrusive way. (See our Performance Report for an overview.)
- Clear meaningful student profiles and varied opportunities to see and discuss student work.
- One on one remedial time by trained teachers available for students needing extra support in Literacy/Numeracy.
- A visiting Art Therapist.
- A School Guidance Counsellor who visits classes to nourish students in the class community. Available to children, teachers and parents for “helping conversations” as requested.
- Rich musical education via classroom community recorder playing and singing.
- Timetabled music-making sessions for all classes with a specialist music teacher coupled with music reading and writing sessions for upper classes.
- Percussion ensemble and singing groups
- Instrumental lessons with visiting teachers — guitar, piano, flute, violin, cello
- Artistic work that emerges from the Main Lesson fields and deepens all learning — painting, drawing, modeling constructions, paper work.
- A specialist craft teacher giving handwork lessons to each class.
- A LOTE program that fosters a love of language and provides a foundation for the study of another tongue at secondary school.
- Regular Physical Education with a specialist teacher.
- Many opportunities to develop via collaborative, co-operative group learning and team work.
- A structured approach to the teaching of individual research skills laying a solid platform for computer work which, on the continuum of the whole school Steiner Curriculum, is placed in the early secondary years.
- Strong emphasis on Projects and individual tasks that foster practicality, independence and initiative and creativity.
- Basic computer skills and guidance in cyber-safety in Class 6.
- Regular class plays that nourish and challenge individual potential, build class community and give joy to all.
- Whole school singing and sharing each week. Parents welcomed.
- Opportunity to give to others less fortunate. Ghilgai raises around $1000 each year for a chosen orphanage, donates winter and Christmas food and participates annually in Pyjama Day for Wesley Mission.
- Community celebrations
- The festivals are a highlight each year. At Easter, after a whole school gathering, paired classes meet together in a chosen classroom to share a story, offer each other a handmade gift, and break Easter bread together. At midwinter, a whole school gathering in the darkness becomes light with community singing before lanterns are lit and the community walks around the school. Spring is a festival of flowers, and Christmas takes place as a time of joyful sharing.
- A Winter Arts Festival for students. Visiting artists who will inspire and bring delight in the midst of the winter term.
- Our Open Day each year is a celebration of our community life. It is organized and run by the parents. The children’s music items enliven the day and the teachers transform each classroom into a rich world of experience manifesting the fruits of the year’s work. It is a nourishing point.