This week’s worship, centred around the theme of Christmas carols, has been a beautiful reminder of the joy and hope that this season brings. As we sing familiar tunes and reflect on the story of Jesus’ birth, we’re reminded of the significance of this upcoming event in the Christian calendar: a time of celebration, gratitude, and togetherness.

It’s also a time when our school community begins to embrace the many end-of-year festivities; instrumental recitals, the Year 3 Drama Afternoon, the Nativity, the Year 6 Graduation, to name just a few. There is so much to rejoice in, and we are deeply grateful for the spirit of celebration that fills our school.

However, it’s important to remember that we still have six weeks of school ahead, filled with rich learning experiences. This is a crucial time for our students as we enter the season of assessments and reporting. Staying focused, engaged, and respectful in both behaviour and attitude will help ensure we finish the year on a high.

We encourage families to continue having conversations at home about the importance of maintaining effort and positivity right through to the end of term. Your support makes a real difference, and we thank you for partnering with us in nurturing your child’s growth.

Let’s embrace this season with joy, purpose, and a shared commitment to finishing well.

 

Final day of Term

For planning purposes, we would like to inform you that school will finish at 12:00pm on Friday 5 December. A detailed program outlining the morning’s activities will be shared with you in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your support as we prepare for this special day.

 

Cards That Count – Online Ordering closes tomorrow, 29 October!

There is still time to purchase special keepsakes featuring your child’s artwork (for those who submitted it) as part of The Cards That Count Appeal.

This initiative supports Uniting WA in their vital work with people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It’s a meaningful way to give back to the community while also celebrating your child’s creativity.

Personalised items make beautiful Christmas gifts for loved ones or treasured keepsakes for years to come. Every purchase helps make a difference.

Thank you for your support!

 

2025 Evening on the Green

 

 

Book Fair

 

2026 Carramar Resource Lists (Kindy – Year 6)

Students are supplied with a list of essential items and texts which are to be purchased for school. This is coordinated by Campion Education WA.

Resource lists will be available online through the Campion website from Friday 17 October to Friday 14 November 2025.

If you order between the above dates it will be delivered to your home for a cost $8. Orders placed after the cut-off date will incur additional charges. Delivery of these orders cannot be guaranteed prior to the commencement of the school year.

Order online at www.campion.com.au

• Click on ‘Parents order here’
• Enter in Parents email address and click ‘Validate’
• Click Add Student
• Click on ‘Order Now’
• Search for St Stephen’s School – Carramar
• Enter in the students name and  the Resource List code VK3G
• Click on ‘Validate’
• Click on ‘New Order’
• Select the year level and then choose the items you wish to purchase

The Campion Parent Hub includes How to Order video and How to Order PDFs in 11 languages https://campion.com.au/parents/how-to-order/

Family help:  FAQs: https://campion.com.au/support-help/support/      Email help@campion.com.au

Please note that items ticked as ‘Item Reqd’ on your child’s booklist need to be purchased directly from Campion.  Resources under the headings of ‘Personal Items for Student Use’ and ‘Parents to Supply’ can be purchased from Campion or from your preferred stationery supplier, but we do ask that you supply all the items on the list.

We are very mindful that returning to school for a new academic year can be an expensive cost to families and therefore our staff have made a conscious effort to keep the cost to a minimum.

Date of delivery is the week ending Friday 23 January 2026  (only for orders placed prior to the cut-off date).

PLEASE NOTE: The online ordering dates for Primary and Secondary School are different. Secondary School lists will open on Friday 7 November.

Campion is located in Malaga (Monday – Friday) on telephone 6240 2778

 

 

WEEK 2 Running Club House Points

CHARIS	MAKARIA	PARRESIA
52	156	133

Congratulations to MAKARIA for running the most laps in Week 2!

Congratulations also to Kaval Sandhu (Year 2) who completed 200 laps on her running club card. Well done!

 

Children’s University

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the 14 students who qualified for this year’s graduation.  I hope you have enjoyed all you have learned so far this year.  We have new students graduating with Bronze Awards all the way up to seasoned CU members graduating with a Silver Masters Degree.

Although, the deadline for accruing hours for 2025 graduation has passed, any hours you do this term and over the summer holidays contribute towards your 2026 graduation.  A few students are only a couple of hours away from qualifying for their next level of achievement and that could be achieved before this year even ends.

With that in mind, don’t let the learning stop.  Check out the CU portal for many activities and learning destinations to visit.  Below is an activity I found on the CU portal this morning which could earn you 1 hour of learning stamped in your passport.

One Health Day is on 3 November 2025

Did you know that the health of people, animals and the planet are all connected?  If something changes in nature, like pollution or animals getting sick, it can affect humans too.  One Health, means doctors, vets and scientists all work together to keep everyone healthy.

In this activity your challenge is to create a One Health Farm.

1. Build and decorate your farm base, using a shoebox or tray for example.
2. Add animals to your farm.  You could add toys, cut out or draw animal images.
3. Plant a garden on your farm. Draw or cut out images of plants to add to the farm base or make your own out of materials at home.
4. Include pictures of the people who will care for the animals and plants.

To learn more information about One Health, visit OneHealth@AdelaideUniversity.

A reminder that I will continue to be in the primary forum on Thursday mornings before school to stamp passports.

 

 

🎶 Enrol Now for the 2026 Instrumental Tuition Program! 🎶

St Stephen’s School is proud to offer a comprehensive Instrumental Music Program for students from Year 1 to Year 12.

Whether your child is continuing their musical journey or just starting out, this program provides a wonderful opportunity to learn from experienced Instrumental Music Tutors, with lessons held during school hours on school premises.

🧠 Why Music Matters

Research by Dr Anita Collins, a leading Australian educator and neuroscientist, shows that learning a musical instrument is one of the most powerful ways to support brain development in children. It strengthens memory, boosts language and literacy skills, enhances coordination, and improves focus and emotional regulation, all while being incredibly fun and rewarding!

Lesson times are scheduled into the school day, and vary from week to week to ensure students aren’t missing the same class, helping them balance their academic and musical development.

🎺🎹🎻 Instruments offered include:

• Piano
• Orchestral Percussion
• Guitar
• Bass Guitar
• Voice
• Flute
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Violin
• Viola
• Double Bass

Please note: As this program is optional, fees are charged in addition to the standard School Fees.

Year Level Programs
Students in Year 3 and Year 5 have the opportunity to participate in their year level instrumental programs, which offer free small-group tuition:

• 🎻 Year 3s learn a string instrument (violin, viola, or cello) for at least one term.
• 🎷 Year 5s can apply to learn a woodwind or brass instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or orchestral percussion) for one semester.

Ready to enrol or want to know more? Click here: https://ststephens.jotform.com/form/230857434607864

 

Australian Girls Choir Open Day

Congratulations to students who recently took part in the AGC assessment workshop at school. Everyone is welcome to come along to Open Days on Saturday November 15 and Sunday November 16, which will give you the opportunity to try a free class and attend an information session. Visit the AGC website to confirm your booking for Open Day – www.ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc/.

Yesterday morning, our whole school came together to start the week with a time of worship centred on a simple yet powerful theme: gratitude. It was a gentle reminder for all of us, staff and students alike, that thankfulness is not just a feeling, but a practice that shapes our hearts, our homes and our world.

Here in Australia, we are incredibly privileged. We have clean water, safe homes, quality education, access to healthcare, freedom of choice and so much more. These everyday realities are luxuries in many parts of the world. And yet, when life is comfortable, it becomes easy, especially for our little ones, to take these blessings for granted.

Gratitude isn’t always natural. It’s something that needs to be nurtured, encouraged and most importantly, modelled. Our children watch us closely. When they see us pause to give thanks for a meal, for the sunshine, for a friend or even for a challenge that helped us grow, they learn to look for the good in their own lives too.

We encourage you as parents and carers to take moments throughout your week to express thanks aloud in front of your children. It might be as simple as, “I’m so grateful we have fresh fruit in the fridge,” or “Aren’t we lucky to have books to read at bedtime?”. These small, intentional moments send a powerful message; what we have should not be assumed, it should be appreciated.

Let’s raise children who understand that gratitude is more than good manners. It’s a way of seeing the world, one that leads to joy, compassion and generosity. May we never overlook the abundance we’ve been given and may we teach our children to see it too.

With a thankful heart

Madame Pilote and Mrs Langley

 

Farewell to Mr Sloan

It is with a mix of gratitude and sadness that we share the news that our much-loved Mr Sloan will be retiring at the end of this term, after more than 20 years of dedicated service to our school community.

Mr Sloan has made an incredible impact on the lives of so many students and families over the years and we know he will be remembered with deep respect, admiration and affection. While we will officially celebrate Mr Sloan and his amazing contribution later this year, we wanted to let our community know in advance and give you the chance to join us in thanking him for everything he has given.

Mr Sloan will be greatly missed, but we are absolutely thrilled for him as he steps into this exciting new chapter of a well-earned retirement.

With heartfelt thanks

The Primary Team

 

Thank you for supporting Loud Shirt Day!

We want to extend a huge thank you to our wonderful school community for your incredible support of Loud Shirt Day last Friday. The enthusiasm shown by both our students and staff was truly inspiring!

We’re thrilled to share that, together we have raised an astonishing $570. These funds will be donated to TSH to help support their amazing work.

Thank you once again for joining us in making a positive difference. Your generosity and spirit mean so much!

 

Cards That Count – Artwork keepsakes available from 15 October to 29 October!

There is still time to purchase special keepsakes featuring your child’s artwork (for those who submitted it) as part of The Cards That Count Appeal.

This initiative supports Uniting WA in their vital work with people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It’s a meaningful way to give back to the community while also celebrating your child’s creativity.

Personalised items make beautiful Christmas gifts for loved ones or treasured keepsakes for years to come. Every purchase helps make a difference.

Thank you for your support!

 

Sunset Cinema

 

A note about sticks from home 

We love seeing our students engaging with nature and making the most of our beautiful outdoor spaces here at school. Sticks are a fantastic natural resource for imaginative and active play and we encourage their use right here on campus.

However, we kindly ask that children do not bring sticks from home. We have plenty available in our nature play areas and for environmental reasons, we want to avoid removing natural materials from other spaces.

We also encourage students to leave sticks at school after play, so they remain available for others to enjoy and to help keep our grounds safe and tidy.

Thank you for your support in helping us care for both our students and the environment.

Madame Pilote and Mrs Langley

 

2026 Carramar Resource Lists (Kindy – Year 6)

Students are supplied with a list of essential items and texts which are to be purchased for school. This is coordinated by Campion Education WA.

Resource lists will be available online through the Campion website from Friday 17 October to Friday 14 November 2025.

If you order between the above dates it will be delivered to your home for a cost $8. Orders placed after the cut-off date will incur additional charges. Delivery of these orders cannot be guaranteed prior to the commencement of the school year.

Order online at www.campion.com.au

• Click on ‘Parents order here’
• Enter in Parents email address and click ‘Validate’
• Click Add Student
• Click on ‘Order Now’
• Search for St Stephen’s School – Carramar
• Enter in the students name and  the Resource List code VK3G
• Click on ‘Validate’
• Click on ‘New Order’
• Select the year level and then choose the items you wish to purchase

The Campion Parent Hub includes How to Order video and How to Order PDFs in 11 languages https://campion.com.au/parents/how-to-order/

Family help:  FAQs: https://campion.com.au/support-help/support/      Email help@campion.com.au

Please note that items ticked as ‘Item Reqd’ on your child’s booklist need to be purchased directly from Campion.  Resources under the headings of ‘Personal Items for Student Use’ and ‘Parents to Supply’ can be purchased from Campion or from your preferred stationery supplier, but we do ask that you supply all the items on the list.

We are very mindful that returning to school for a new academic year can be an expensive cost to families and therefore our staff have made a conscious effort to keep the cost to a minimum.

Date of delivery is the week ending Friday 23 January 2026  (only for orders placed prior to the cut-off date).

PLEASE NOTE: The online ordering dates for Primary and Secondary School are different. Secondary School lists will open on Friday 7 November.

Campion is located in Malaga (Monday – Friday) on telephone 6240 2778

 

Scholastic Book Fair

 

Scholastic Book Club

Scholastic Book Club orders are due by Tuesday 28 October

Loud Shirt Day – Reminder

A friendly reminder that tomorrow is Loud Shirt Day! We’re looking forward to seeing our students in their loudest, brightest shirts as we show our support for Telethon Speech & Hearing (TSH).

Please remember to send your child with a $2 gold coin donation on arrival in the morning.

Thank you for your continued support!

 

After School Clubs – Term 4 update

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We’d like to let you know that the link to register for Term 4 After School Clubs will go live tomorrow Friday 17 October at 6pm. Due to the short length of the term and the many exciting end-of-year activities currently being planned, we will only be offering the After School Sports Club this term. This particular club is supported through a grant, allowing us to continue running it despite the limited timeframe.

Please note this activity is for PP-YR 2 only. Details of the club will be available at:

https://portal.ststephens.wa.edu.au/parent-and-student/plan-the-day/after-school-clubs.html

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to a fun and active Term 4!

Warm regards

Madame Pilote

Running Club

All students in Kindy to Year 6 and their families are encouraged to join Miss Nicol, Mrs Bartels and Mr Simms on the Primary Green every Thursday morning to run as many laps around the Green as you can! First run club will start next Thursday 23 October. No matter what your ability is, come on down to earn House points, improve your fitness, build your confidence and run your way towards a healthier lifestyle. Each participating individual will be given their own Running Club lapathon card to count their laps every week. Runners will earn 1 Running Club House Point for every lap they complete around the Primary Green. Running Club lapathon cards must be placed in the lapathon bin after students have finished running their laps.

Students – come dressed in your sport uniform or normal school uniform and running shoes. Students who do not have PE on a Thursday will need to change into their formal school uniform/shoes after running club.

Osh Club Runners

Students who attend OSH Club on Thursday morning are welcome to come along to Running Club too. Please advise the OSH staff if your child would like to attend running club and a staff member will walk them to our club on the green. Thank you.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions – kaliah.nicol@ststephens.wa.edu.au

Dear Families,

Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful break and found time to rest, recharge, and enjoy some special moments with your loved ones.

This morning, we kicked off the final term of the year with a whole-school assembly that carried an inspiring message:

“Dream big, aim high, invent, create, and touch the sky!”

It was a powerful reminder to our students that the possibilities ahead of them are endless. As we begin Term 4, we are encouraging every child to set meaningful goals, challenge themselves, and believe in their potential, whether that’s in their learning, friendships, or creative pursuits.

We would love your support at home as well. Please take a moment this week to talk with your child about what they’d like to achieve this term. It might be something academic, something personal, or something completely new and imaginative. Together, let’s help them set their sights high and take confident steps toward “touching the sky”.

Here is the closing prayer that was shared at our assembly this morning:

Dear God,
Thank You for bringing us safely to the start of Term 4.
As we begin this new chapter, help us to dream big,
To believe in ourselves, to aim high, and to never give up.

Give us courage when things feel hard,
Kindness in our hearts for others,
And joy in the little moments each day.

May we lift each other up,
Celebrate our efforts,
And finish this year strong together.

Amen.

We’re excited for all that this term holds and look forward to sharing it with you.

Madame Pilote         Mrs Langley             Mr Andrews

 

Thank you to our amazing Parent Reps!

A huge thank you to the wonderful parent representatives who helped organise last term’s incredibly successful Bingo Night! Their time, effort, and enthusiasm created such a fun-filled evening that truly showcased the strong community spirit we’re so lucky to have.

We’re thrilled to share that the event raised close to $1000, which will go directly towards our 2026 Evening on The Green. What an incredible achievement, well done!

Thank you again for your support and energy. We couldn’t do it without you!

 

Cards That Count – Artwork keepsakes available from 15 October to 29 October!

We’re excited to let you know that families can purchase special keepsakes featuring their child’s artwork (for those who submitted it) as part of The Cards That Count Appeal.

This initiative supports Uniting WA in their vital work with people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It’s a meaningful way to give back to the community while also celebrating your child’s creativity.

Personalised items make beautiful Christmas gifts for loved ones or treasured keepsakes for years to come. Every purchase helps make a difference.

Thank you for your support!

Loud Shirt Day

 

Hello High School – A helpful resource for teens (and future teens!)

Earlier this year, we had the privilege of welcoming Claire Eaton as a guest speaker, and we’re excited to share that her fantastic book, Hello High School, is available and highly recommended for both High School and Upper Primary students.

Packed with 85 practical “how-to” tips, this book supports young people in boosting their friendships, mindset, productivity, and overall success as they navigate the High School journey and even begin preparing for it.

It’s a valuable resource for students who are about to transition to High School, offering easy-to-read advice that helps build confidence and resilience.

A great addition to your child’s bookshelf as they get ready for their next chapter!

2026 Resources List

Year 6 Market Day

The Year 6 Market Day will be taking place on Monday 20 October on the grass area near the Year 6 classrooms during recess.

All students are invited to bring in money to purchase some amazing craft and food items.

The Year 6 House Captains will select a charity for this fundraiser at a later date.

 

Sunset Cinema