In this Newsletter:
- Principal’s message,
- A message from Ms Dunn,
- A moment of appreciation for parents,
- Highlights from around the campus,
- Dates for your diary,
Principal’s Message
We’ve had a beautiful start to our 40th anniversary year, with such a lot happening in every part of our school.
I’m delighted to see our students settling in positively in a new academic year, and some wonderful inter-House spirit alive and well in our swimming carnivals. Congratulations to all our swimmers who put in such a fantastic effort for their Houses, to our staff who organised and ran the carnivals and to everyone who was able to come along and support them.
Our music staff and students are busily rehearsing for our Night of Giving Thanks which is coming up on Tuesday 26 March. If you haven’t already done so, please book your free tickets. This is one of the most beautiful events of the School year as we celebrate and give thanks which is especially apt in our anniversary year. I hope to see you there.
We’re also looking forward to our Guinness World Record attempt which has been re-scheduled for Friday 19 April – the end of the first week of Term 2. The schedule will be the same as our original date, with some additional reminders coming out in the first week of term. If you have any questions, though, please reach out to our Community Relations team
We’re now just one week away from Easter which is one of the most important seasons of the year for my family, and I am very much looking forward to an opportunity to pause and reflect on the true meaning of Easter. No matter how you celebrate, may it be a time of rest, relaxation, peace and stillness.
Take care and God bless,
Donella Beare
Ms Dunn’s Digest
Wishing you all a Happy Easter
I hope you and your family enjoy a lovely Easter and holiday break.
Below are some articles and discussions you may like to have with your child/ren over the break while you are sharing some valuable time together.
During adolescence friends matter and staying connected with them is essential to a young person’s health and wellbeing. It is at this time of their life when they are more attuned to social status and eager to gain peer acceptance, far more than when they were children or later when they become adults. Not being able to socially connect with their friends is likely to be much more distressing for them than any other age group. Fortunately, the online or digital world has provided them with a place to interact with their peers and although ‘staying connected online’ is not the same as ‘staying connected in person’, most experts believe that online contact can still be helpful. Unfortunately, increased use of social media also has some negatives.
Without guidance, they may:
- fall into the trap of saying things online they would not normally say to someone’s face.
- not understand that there is nothing ‘private’ once it is shared online. Just because they are chatting in a private group, doesn’t mean the information can’t be copied and shared to others.
- that talking about one individual negatively with a group online is a form of bullying behaviour.
Within the I.G.N.I.T.E wellbeing program Homeroom teachers work with the students to address friendship dynamics, emotional and social maturity, and social media usage out of school. It is important that family, other parents and the school environment support and guide the students’ changing social world as they learn to navigate and make good choices as they become more independent.
Justin Coulson suggests ‘5 Better Conversations to Have About Screens’ and his tips regarding screen time and our teens .
If anything, adolescents need your help in establishing boundaries as they traverse their teenage years. While they want more privacy, total independence and privacy is not such a good idea. Whether it is creating a safe and attractive place in your home where your child and her friends can hang out or creating a network of parents to supervise a group. As parents we all encourage our daughters to understand that we are there for them and their friends when they need a responsible adult. Justin Coulson has some good tips about navigating your teens quest for independence.
Helping a teenager manage friendships is tricky, and sometimes very hard. With communication, boundaries, and supervision, your child can develop and maintain healthy relationships.
The beginning of Term 2
Term 2 commences on Tuesday 16 April, all students should be wearing their winter uniform. Now is a good time to check all garments are clean and in good order and give the shoes an extra special polish.
I look forward to seeing you all when school recommences.
Take care,
Rosemarie Dunn – Head of Campus
A moment in appreciation of parents
As parents and carers, we often find ourselves making sacrifices for our children. Driving the kids to football or netball training, an extra music concert or drama performance may arise, perhaps it is spending extra time helping our kids with their homework or supporting their learning. The list of sacrifices is never ending and whilst we do these things because we care, they do come at a cost. A sacrifice of time, of finance or perhaps to our own opportunity to find rest and recoup ourselves from our own daily grind.
Young people don’t always know how to express their appreciation for all that parents do as an expression of their love and whilst we don’t sacrifice for the accolades, be encouraged that they do appreciate your efforts and hopefully one day, they too will understand the importance of sacrifice for the sake of others.
Finally, as Easter draws near, I am reminded of the incredible sacrifice Christ made for each one of us. He made himself nothing so that you and I might spend eternity with Him in heaven if only we would ask Him into our lives. Happy Easter!
All the best,
Russell Gilchrist, Deputy Head of Secondary – Care
Study and Regular Physical Exercise 
Regular exercise is beneficial for our students for several reasons, impacting both their physical and mental well-being, and helping them become better learners. Exercise can make a difference, especially as a brain-boosting activity. It assists with cognitive function such as memory and learning, plus stimulates the release of chemicals good for brain health. Obviously physical benefits are achieved such as cardiovascular health and better sleeping patterns. And the important benefits to mental health cannot be overlooked. Exercise is known to reduce stress by increasing the production of endorphins, and to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving overall mental health. Our students are supported with study skills through Forum and Education Plus and we encourage parents to access the Study Skills Website also.
In good health,
Liz Criddle, Deputy Head of Secondary – Teaching & Learning
SECONDARY HIGHLIGHTS
DEBATING UPDATE – Mr Howie Jakeway
This year, we have six teams competing in the WADL Schools’ Debating Competition, three in each division (Novice, Junior and Senior). Each Tuesday, the school runs a ‘WADL Workshop’ which is lead by Jacob Atkinson and Victoria Hill. The idea behind these workshops is to train the students up on how to build their case, how to effectively rebut, points of information and how to work as a team. It’s worth noting that Victoria Hill has been selected for the WA State Debating Team and will travel to Adelaide to compete at the end of this term. She is the first St Stephen’s student to be selected in a state debating team. Following a restructuring of host schools by WADL, the debates this year will be held at Shenton College. It is amazing to see how alive and well public speaking is at St Stephen’s School.
THE RITE JOURNEY CALLING AND DEPARTURE – Ms Sian Freeman
The Rite Journey calling and departure event was held at Sorrento beach at the beginning of March and was a truly memorable experience! It’s heart warming to see families coming together and students expressing their gratitude to their parents through their handwritten letters. The presence of school staff underscores the significance of this journey for the students. The students were embarking on their first challenge, which was a walk from Sorrento to City Beach along the ocean, it was exhilarating. The beautiful weather added to the enjoyment of the experience. It was wonderful to hear that the students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and shared plenty of fun stories along the way. The spontaneous swim and indulgence in cold ice cream reflected the joy and camaraderie of the occasion. It’s events like these that create lasting memories and strengthen bonds within the school community.
A Note from the Canteen
The canteen for the last week of the term will have:
- normal menu on Monday and Tuesday
- limited menu of drinks, sushi, snacks only on Wednesday and Thursday
Dates for your diary
Remember you can always visit the St Stephen’s School calendar for key dates
- Tuesday 26 March – St Stephen’s School Night of Giving Thanks
- Thursday 28 March – last day of Term 1
- Tuesday 16 April – students return for Term 2 – Winter uniform
- Tuesday 16 April – Rookie Debating Workshop (Year 6/7 students and parents)
- Friday 19 April – Guinness World Record attempt
- Wednesday 24 April – Senior Music Concert