With the deep blue sky and the warm spring sun reminding everyone that summer is just around the corner, Orana Steiner School celebrated its annual Spring Fair on Sunday 19 November.

The Spring Fair is a major event on Orana’s calendar each year and it is a special time where both the school and local communities come together to celebrate the hope that Spring brings, the connection with the natural world around us, experience the joy of creativity, and find value in connection with each other.

Held on the beautiful Orana campus in Weston, the Spring Fair gave everyone who attended the opportunity to enjoy a multitude of stalls run by class groups that ranged from handmade natural items such as toys, clothes, soaps, pottery and candles, to the book shop, silent auction, plant stall, and many delicious foods and treats.

Children explored their creativity with various thoughtful and natural craft activities and tested their grip strength on the rock-climbing wall.

There were performances by students and community members as well as local performers and musicians, including string ensembles and jazz solos, drum workshops, folk dancing sessions, and puppet shows. Accompanied by the school band, the maypole dance was performed by Class 4 which demonstrated their ability to remember complex physical routines and movements to create intricate patterns, all to the beat of the music.

The highlight of the Spring Fair was seeing the school and local community members coming together to celebrate and enjoy the occasion. While Orana’s primary purpose is to educate and inspire students to achieve their best work, work creatively, and become aware of themselves as individuals who will contribute positively to global social change, the sense of community and involvement from parents and carers is invaluable in helping them reach their full potential in their journey through life and as a positive functioning member of society.

Festivals are a vital part of any Steiner school community, where people of all walks of life come together to celebrate the changing of the seasons and connect to the world around us. In our modern and often busy daily lives, these festivals help us to press pause on the hustle and bustle of our usual days and weeks. They allow us to take time to create a deliberate anchor point in the cycle of the year to strengthen each child’s connection to the world, their community, and their own place in it. It also provides an avenue of anticipation as they look forward to these festivals and get excited about the part they play within them.

Orana would like to thank their wonderful P&F, and all those who put in a huge effort to help organise and run the fair leading up to and on the day. They would also like to thank all the businesses, individuals and families who donated items toward the stalls and silent auction for their contribution to the Spring Fair.

If you would like more information about Orana Steiner School, visit www.oranaschool.com or call (02) 6288 4283.