Sophia Mundi Steiner School
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Sophia Mundi Steiner School is a school located in Abbotsford, Victoria,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, that follows Rudolf Steiner's
educational philosophy The philosophy of education is the branch of applied philosophy that investigates the nature of education as well as its aims and problems. It includes the examination of educational theories, the presuppositions present in them, and the arguments ...
. Schools which follow Rudolf Steiner's theories are known as Steiner schools, or Waldorf schools. Sophia Mundi was founded in 1985 by a group of parents. Classes Prep to Year 12 are based in the St. Mary's building of the
Abbotsford Convent The Abbotsford Convent is located in Abbotsford, Victoria, an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The Convent is in a bend of the Yarra River west of Yarra Bend Park, with the Collingwood Children's Farm to its north and east, the river a ...
complex. A Playgroup is also offered on site.


Name

The name "Sophia Mundi" ("Wisdom of the World") is a combination of the Greek word "sophia" (wisdom) and the Latin word "mundus" (world).


Facilities

The school is located in the Heritage listed St Marys building of the
Abbotsford Convent The Abbotsford Convent is located in Abbotsford, Victoria, an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The Convent is in a bend of the Yarra River west of Yarra Bend Park, with the Collingwood Children's Farm to its north and east, the river a ...
artistic and historic precinct and overlooks a bend of the Yarra River and the
Collingwood Children's Farm Collingwood Children's Farm is a not-for-profit, inner city working farm situated on the Yarra River in the Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford, Australia. It is located within Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung country. It is adjacent to the Abbotsford Convent ...
. The School site is located approximately 4 km from the Melbourne City Centre and is well served by public transport (Bus and Train) and is on the main Yarra Bike Path. In December 2011 the School was granted approval to build four classrooms and to convert a disused swimming pool into a playground and meeting area. These improvements were to replace facilities lost in the sale of the old St Joseph's Technical School, Abbotsford site in Nicholoson Street, Abbotsford by the Catholic Diocese in Oct 2010. The old site had previously been used by the schools senior school classes. These classrooms, and the associated community meeting area and playground were opened in August 2012.


Curriculum

Key subjects are taught in concentrated, progressive, three-week blocks (main lessons) so that the subject matter can be fully enjoyed, consolidated and digested. Drama, Art, Craft and Music are an integral part of the curriculum. Every child from Class Three onwards learns a musical instrument from the string family and participates in ensembles. The school supports the approach o
Steiner Education Australia
to create a
ACARA
endorsed Steiner curriculum for years 1-10 as an alternative to the Australian Curriculum, and plans to offer this curriculum now that it has been approved.


Senior School Curriculum up to 2010

Up until 2010 the school offered a combined, ungraded VCE with a Steiner course for students in Years 11 and 12 which included a year-long research project of their choosing. The senior curriculum was changed due to reduced demand for this Steiner/Ungraded VCE combined offering and to recognise the desire from Students and parents for a more predictable tertiary pathway than a case by case negotiated pathway.


Senior School Curriculum from 2012

The school was grante
World School
Status in October 2011 by the
International Baccalaureate Organisation The International Baccalaureate (IB), formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Dip ...
to offer the IB Diploma from 2012 for Years 11 and 12. The school became the third school to offer a combined Steiner and IB offering. The other two ar
Waldorfschoul Letzebuerg
in Luxembourg an
Colegio Internacional Rudolf Steiner
in Ecuador. The first cohort of students graduated from the IB Diploma program in 2013. Following this the school also plans to offer a Vocational program as an alternative to the IB Diploma for senior students. This will be designed to provide a flexible learning framework tailored by the school to meet the individual needs of students, the local community and the world beyond.


Notable alumni

*
Jessica Hart (model) Jessica Rae Hart (born 26 March 1986) is an Australian model and founder of LUMABeauty. She was discovered in Melbourne and has appeared on the cover of Australian ''Vogue''. Early life and discovery Hart was born in Sydney, Australia and atten ...
* Ashley Hart (model)


Notes and references


See also

* Waldorf education *
Curriculum of the Waldorf schools In the curriculum of the Waldorf schools, much of the education in academic subjects takes place in blocks, generally of 3–5 weeks duration. Each pupil generally writes and illustrates a self-created textbook representing the material learned ...
* IB Diploma Programme *
Abbotsford Convent The Abbotsford Convent is located in Abbotsford, Victoria, an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The Convent is in a bend of the Yarra River west of Yarra Bend Park, with the Collingwood Children's Farm to its north and east, the river a ...


External links

* {{official website
Steiner Education Australia

Abbotsford Convent

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO)

IBO Registration for Sophia Mundi
Waldorf schools in Australia Private secondary schools in Melbourne Alternative schools International Baccalaureate schools in Australia Educational institutions established in 1985 1985 establishments in Australia Private primary schools in Melbourne Buildings and structures in the City of Yarra