Helping our children take ownership of their learning
At St Stephen’s School, we believe that fostering a sense of responsibility and ownership in a child’s learning journey is essential for their growth and success. Encouraging students to take initiative, set goals, and reflect on their progress not only builds confidence but also helps develop essential life skills such as perseverance, independence, and accountability.
As parents, you play a vital role in this process. Small, age-appropriate actions at home can reinforce these values:
- For younger children: encourage them to pack their own school bag, take responsibility for their belongings, and complete small tasks like setting the table or tidying up their toys.
- For older children:support them in setting a simple homework routine, ask open-ended questions about their day, encourage them to problem-solve before stepping in to help and support them to learn from their mistakes.
By guiding our children in these small but impactful ways, we empower them to become independent learners who take pride in their efforts.
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful parent community for your continued support in helping us raise responsible students. We also extend our gratitude to all parents who attended our “Meet and Greet” appointments last week. Your presence and engagement are a testament to the strong home-school partnership we cherish so much at our school.
As we approach the halfway mark of Term 1, we take a moment to reflect on the amazing work achieved so far and look forward to keep working together to support our students in becoming responsible, motivated, and lifelong learners.
With gratitude
The Primary Leadership Team
Running Club
WEEK 4 Running Club House Points: (drum roll please…)
|
CHARIS |
MAKARIA | PARRESIA |
| 44 | 92 |
134 |
100 LAPS CLUB
Congratulations to James Finkelstein (year 1) for completing 200 laps on his running club card!
Congratulations to PARRESIA for running the most laps in Week 4!
Swimming Carnival
FRIENDLY REMINDERS…
Can I take photos/videos at the Swimming Carnival?
Parents/guardians may take photo or video recordings of their own child/children (provided other students are not identifiable and the images are not shared on social media). No photo or video recording is to be used as evidence for results or appeal. The judge’s decision is final. Disputing with officials sets a poor example for children and undermines the spirit of fair play.
Can I purchase food/drink for my child from the Café?
Spectators are welcome to purchase food/drink from the indoor café throughout the day, however we kindly request that you do not purchase food/drink for your child. Students will need to bring a packed lunch with all food/drink they require for the day. Water fountains will be available to fill up water bottles throughout the day.
Does my child have to wear a swimming cap?
No, the House coloured swimming caps are optional for students to borrow on the day if they wish. We recommend you equip your child with an appropriate pair of goggles for the day however.
What if my child has not yet learnt Breaststroke or frog kick?
We understand that some swim schools teach the frog kick and breaststroke techniques at a later stage in their swimming program. Children who are confident swimming 25m freestyle and 25m backstroke are welcome and encouraged to participate in the 25m deep end events, however they will have the option of using a kickboard or noodle under their arms for the 25m breaststroke event in the deep end. If your child has not yet learnt the frog kick technique, they will have the option of using a kickboard and doing freestyle kick.
Does my child have to dive into the pool?
No. Students in shallow end events will start in the water (in the middle of the pool with the assistance of our secondary student helpers). Students in the 25m deep end events and 50m events will have the option of starting in the water, diving off the edge of the pool (next to the blocks) or diving off the blocks.
How does the House Point and ribbon system work at the swimming carnival?
- All students who participate in a 25m shallow end event will receive 4 house points.
- All students who participate in a 25m deep end event will receive 6 house points.
- All students who participate in a 25m shallow end or deep end event will receive a participation ribbon (if they wish) to recognise and celebrate their efforts in the water.
- Students who participate in the 50m events and Butterfly events will receive house points and individual points based on their overall placing and time.
(1stplace: 20 points, 2nd place: 18 points, 3rd place: 16 points, 4th place: 14 points, 5th place: 12 points, 6th place: 10 points, 7th and 8thplace: 8 points). - It is important to note and explain to your child that some year groups will have multiple heats for each 50m event. House points and place ribbons will be allocated and handed out to students after all 50m heats for that category have been swum. For example– there may be three 50m heats for the Year 6 boys category. If a student in Heat 3 swims the fastest time overall out of all swimmers in Heat 1, 2 and 3, then the student from Heat 3 will be awarded with 20 house points and the 1st place ribbon.
- We recognise that it is a huge effort and achievement to swim in a 50m event regardless of the result, so students who swim in the 50m events will be rewarded with more house points than the 25m categories. Students who do not receive a place ribbon in a 50m event will be offered a participation ribbon for their efforts as well.
Why are place ribbons not handed out in the 25m events?
Students participating in the 25m events are in a wide range of different swimming levels and abilities. Most children in these events are still in the process of developing the correct and efficient technique for freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. Hence, children in these events should not be encouraged to ‘race’. The 25m events provide students with an opportunity to build their confidence in the water and participate to the best of their ability. The 25m events are also a non-competitive option for students who do not wish to participate in the 50m events.
Departing the venue and signing your child out:
If wanting to take your child home from the venue, please ensure you find your child’s classroom teacher to sign your child out. Each classroom teacher will have a sign out sheet. Once your child is signed out with the classroom teacher, you can then take them home from the venue.
When is the Interschool Swimming Carnival?
The Year 3 – 6 NIPSSA Interschool Swimming Carnival will take place on Friday the 4th of April. The Interschool Swimming Team will be selected from the overall 50m results at our Interhouse Swimming Carnival. More information about the carnival will be sent out via Consent2Go once the team has been selected.
First Parent Series event for 2025 – one not to miss!
We are pleased to welcome Kirra Pendergast, founder of Safe on Social to share practical, valuable knowledge and advice on how to keep ourselves and our children safe from online dangers. Kirra will focus on sexting, deep fakes, fraud prevention, cyber-bullying and online hate as well as how we as parents can coach and guide our young people to manage themselves safely online.
Kirra Pendergast is a leading international expert in online safety, with a career spanning over three decades. Her extensive experience includes leading groundbreaking projects such as whole-of-Queensland government cybersecurity initiatives and post-9/11 counter-terrorism strategies. Kirra’s pioneering work in cybersecurity since 1995, social media risk management since 2008, and her development of industry-first policies and training programs highlight her deep expertise and innovative approach. You can read more about Kirra on the Safe on Social website or on her own website
This event is recommended to parents with children in Years 6 – 9. Tickets are $5 and are strictly limited so please book early to secure your place. Book online here https://events.humanitix.com/ps2025-t1
