Upper School
We are very happy to announce that the Titirangi Rudolf Steiner Upper School (New Zealand’s fifth and only independent Steiner Waldorf Upper School) received provisional registration from the Ministry of Education from 8th June 2010 as its preliminary step toward full registration at a later date.
It has been part of the School’s long held vision to be able to provide a Kindergarten to Class 12 education and now, this vision is becoming a reality. Initially spearheaded by parents in the community, this development is a whole school initiative supported by the School’s Trust, College of Teachers and a group of enthusiastic and dedicated parents.
It is an exciting development, not only for our own school, but also for the Waldorf movement in New Zealand and worldwide.
The prospect of a Steiner/Waldorf Upper School has received much interest from current parents, as well as from newcomers to the school. Both are looking for secure pathways to Steiner/Waldorf Upper School Education and are especially excited about a full Nursery-Class 12 school on one site.
We have a small committed group who have begun their upper school journey here. Although it is highly likely that more students will join this foundation high school class once it becomes more established, these initial years will reflect an embryonic stage for the greater numbers of students who have already indicated the wish to attend in the forthcoming years.
For enrolment enquiries please contact the school office 817-4386 or email trss.enquiries@gmail.com
What happens in a Steiner Upper School?
A central aim of Steiner education is to enable the individual to develop their full potential, and this sense for development informs the whole educational approach.
The world is changing at an ever increasing rate. Futurists predict that 65% of jobs in 20 years time do not yet exist. To meet this challenge, individuals need to develop competencies for life. The aim is to provide young people with opportunities to develop their creativity, initiative, flexibility, interest in the world and the ability to communicate their ideas. Empathy, social competence and self-motivation are as important today as practical problem-solving capabilities and formal academic skills.
Steiner education aims to enable students to enjoy learning, to learn how to learn and to always question, why? A key feature is that all students study all subjects – practical, artistic and academic. Students learn an extensive range of subjects.
This gives students a far broader experience base from which to choose their future specialised tertiary study or work. Rare are the students who really know what they want to do at the age of 14/15. Our curriculum allows them to experience a multitude of disciplines for short intensive periods building up a broad knowledge of sciences, crafts and technologies, humanities and arts.
The curriculum is designed to give a general knowledge of the world we live in and when combined with how the curriculum is taught develops the lateral, creative and flexible thinking needed across disciplines today and even more so in the future. Our curriculum allows for a rounded development by paying equal attention to heads, hearts and hands. Also, by paying special attention to how the day is balanced between academic, practical and artistic subjects, a healthy complementary effect on body and mind is made possible.
Main Lessons are taught in blocks – every morning for 2 hours for a period of 3-4 weeks. This continuous concentrated study of one subject allows for more in-depth learning than the equivalent hours spread over period timetabling.
The curriculum is also designed to be in harmony with the inner development of the students as they move through adolescence and into early adulthood. For Class 9, it mirrors the inner struggle of opposition that students feel. For instance, in physics, they study the opposition of heat and cold; in chemistry, the expansion and contraction of gases; in history, the French Revolution, and in literature, comedy and tragedy.
"Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives" Rudolf Steiner
Welcome to Titirangi Rudolf Steiner Upper School Initiative Fund
The High School Group has been putting in much effort towards establishing a Titirangi Rudolf Steiner Upper School.
Now the time has come when you, too, can show your support for the Initiative.
Donations can made at the school office or directly to the Upper School Initiative Fund Account: 12-3100-0056734-56
If you make donations electronically, please enter your name as a reference so we can issue a receipt. All donations are eligible for 33% tax rebate for NZ taxpayers.
Your extended family can contribute towards your child's educational future too - and if they write their address as well as their name in the reference/particular fields, we will send out receipts.
Credit card payments not only from NZ but from 57 other countries can also be accepted.
Simply visit www.paymate.com click on buyers section 'pay now' button and enter the email address trsshighschool@gmail.com where it requests seller's email address. No order number required. You can also choose to make regular monthly payments. Receipts issued automatically. There is a 50 cent + 3% service fee deducted from the full amount donated - so if you live in NZ it is preferable to donate directly to the fund bank account where possible.
No matter how large or small the contribution, if you believe that the provision of a full Steiner Education is critical in our times to develop individuals capable of fulfilling their own potential and bringing much needed capacities to the world we would like to live in – we encourage you to utilise this opportunity. Every dollar counts.
Do it today -
Best Wishes
High School Group
