In this Newsletter:

• Principal’s message,
• A message from Ms Dunn,
• Secondary Highlights,
• Parental Guidance,
• Notice Board,

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Principal’s Message

The best part of my job is acknowledging student endeavors, and this term we have had an extraordinary number of opportunities to recognise and celebrate the skills, achievements and commitment of our students. We have honoured the contributions of our athletes and our artists, our musicians, our actors, our film makers and our student leaders. I look forward to celebrating the year’s academic achievements at our various Presentation Evenings next term. I may be accused of bias, but I am constantly amazed and impressed by the strength of character, humility and sheer talent of our young people. 

It is an especially poignant week as we say goodbye to the Class of 2023. I am so proud to see how each of them has grown and developed over the years and look forward to learning of their progress as they go on to the next stage in their lives. For now, we wish all our 12s well as they complete exams, assessments and their certificate training requirements. As ever, our thoughts and prayers are with you all.   

God Bless,
Donella Beare

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Ms Dunn’s Digest

You know that feeling, particularly at the end of a busy term, when there’s a storm brewing. Tempers feel fragile and ready to shatter with a wrong look or word or when you take a deep breath out instead of a deep breath in. 

Teens read emotion from the amygdala. The amygdala is the fight or flight response part of the brain and when it’s on, it will tend to interpret neutral emotion more often as negative. When it reads a threat, it will organise to fight it (argue) or flee it (ignore, be silent). 

 In that space, there will be little to do but wait until they’re ready to step out of the ring. To do this, let them know you’re there, without trying to change them in that moment, ‘I know you’re really angry at me/sad/scared. I want to understand what’s happening for you, but I can’t do that while you’re …. I’m here for you when you’re ready to talk.’ 

 When we respond with empathy it helps big emotions become more manageable and safer to let go of.  When we are open, often without realising it, we have one hand on the amygdala, soothing it gently to calm and maintain that safe presence – eventually.   

That’s not to say not joining in the fight or waiting it out is easy. Both will take the strength of a warrior.  It’s a time of learning and growth and patience for all of us.   Please take the time to refresh, recharge and reconnect over the school break. 

Take care,

Rosemarie Dunn – Head of Campus

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Farewell to Pippa Travaglione, Head of Learning Area – The Arts

At the end of Term 3 we say a fond goodbye to Pippa Travaglione as she moves to Scotch College in Term 4. Thanks to Drama teacher, Teegan Dean, for sharing an excerpt from her poetic farewell here.

In the realm of arts, she held the reins,
A visionary leader with creative gains.
Head of Department, she guided with grace,
leaving a mark none can erase.

So, let’s raise a toast to journeys anew,
to horizons uncharted, skies so blue.
Your time here, etched in stories we tell,
Farewell, dear leader, in arts you’ve cast a spell. 

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Secondary Highlights

Term 3 has been an incredibly busy one!
After some fantastic individual and team performances Carana came through as the stand-out winners of the Inter-House Music Festival. We’re incredibly proud of our athletics team for coming second overall in the ACC B Division with the boys taking out the overall shield! Swingin’ at St Stephen’s in partnership with WAYJO was a tear-away success with our Swing Band blowing everyone away with their soulful performances. 

Our Cert IV Business students impressed with a variety of products including next-gen fitness tracking rings, GPS-enabled golf balls and sleek solar powered camp kitchens at the Marketing Expo. We also recognised a huge number of students for their personal achievements and contribution to sport and the arts during the Sport and Arts Assemblies.

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Parental Guidance 

Graduations, Challenges and an Exciting Future 

Our Year 12s have just celebrated the amazing achievement of completing 13 years of schooling.  Well done! Finishing school is an outstanding accomplishment and provides an opportunity for us to reflect on not only the past successes but also, the times where students have overcome challenges and displayed high levels of resilience from good old hard work. 

School can be a challenging environment. It’s a place where people are faced with studying in a specific learning  environment, constantly learning new content, mixing with a wide variety of people with differing attitudes, values  and beliefs and dealing with the challenges of peer pressure, all whilst dealing with hormones running wild in a growing body.  

 Equally, however, schools like St Stephen’s are also wonderful places for building lifelong friendships. They provide us each  with an appreciation for people, where we learn to respect difference and are encouraged to be our true selves. Graduation  from St Stephen’s is not the end but the beginning of an exciting adventure of change, challenge and possibility. We  want our students to move forward with confidence in who they are and what they can achieve. Class of 2023, all the  best for an exciting future. Share who you are and your talents with all those people whom you will meet. 

Russell Gilchrist, Deputy Head of Secondary (Care)

Notice Board

In this Newsletter:

• Principal’s message,
• A message from Ms Dunn,
• Secondary Highlights,
• Parental Guidance,
• Notice Board,

---

Principal’s Message

At St Stephen’s School we believe in the phrase ‘lifelong learning’ and so staff began this term with our annual whole school StaffExpo. Two days of professional development underpinned with the philosophy of professional development and personal growth. This year our theme for StaffExpo was on Stewardship – A Global, Professional, Personal Perspective.

A range of guest speakers addressed topics including sustainability, environmental building design, wellness, nutrition and resilience. Our staff spent time in learning areas across the School developing curriculum, addressing changes in educational practices and looking at ways to improve teaching and learning for our students.

There have been many events for our students to embrace over the first half of this term beginning with the exciting HASS tour for 50 Year 9 students from our Carramar and Duncraig campuses. Thank you to all the staff involved in providing our students with these experiences. The Term 3 Newsletter has more on this event.

Some of our secondary students have enjoyed volunteering to help our younger students succeed. Including assisting with the Duncraig primary musical Seussical, as part of the backstage crew and the Year 12 students at Carramar who helped with the inaugural Kindergarten athletics carnival.

This is a snapshot of the variety of events and opportunities that our St Stephen’s School staff and students have taken part in during the term. As we look towards the end of term and the upcoming break our focus moves to Year 12 exams, completion of VET certificates, final assignments and Year 12 graduation. Good luck to everyone.

God Bless,

Donella Beare

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Ms Dunn’s Digest

Term 3 has been abuzz with activities, events and opportunities for our students to explore their passions and showcase their learnings and talents.  A highlight for me were the NAIDOC assemblies in week 1 where our  Year 7 – 10’s were treated to live music and a talk on Indigenous History whilst our Year 11 & 12’s enjoyed a wonderful talk looking at the history behind why Australia will be hosting a referendum this year.  

Throughout the term our students have been participating in a myriad of activities including Interhouse Athletics, swimming lessons, Book Week, Interhouse Music Festival and the highly anticipated Primary Musical, Seussical the Musical, which was an absolute joy, with our senior drama students assisting back stage. There is still so much more to come to conclude the term!

I have enjoyed sharing many of these experiences with the students and hearing about their learnings and reflections.  

As parents, alongside learning we want our children to be resilient and have the toolkit to overcome challenges and difficulties.  This link provides some elements to support resilience and emotional regulation at home – Resilience and Emotional Regulation

Take care,

Rosemarie Dunn – Head of Campus

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Secondary Highlights

Term 3 has been very busy so far, NAIDOC Week events in week 1, the House Athletics Carnival, ABODA Band Festival, Science Week, Book Week and our talented debaters made it to the WADL Debating finals.

Some photo highlights include the mocktail party organised by Year 11 hospitality students for the top readers in Year 7 as part of book week, our inter-hour Choir competition and our inter-house Music festival. Thanks to all staff and students who have helped to make these wonderful events a success.

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Parental Guidance 

On Friday 25 August the Duncraig Year 11 students shared together in a River Cruise. The theme for the evening was “A Night at the Movies” and I’m our students did not disappoint with their creative costumes, and masks. This wonderful highlight of a Year 11’s school year reminded me that sometimes as people, we too can put on masks that hide our identity in our everyday life, masks that allow us to fit in with the crowd or simply be someone who we are not.

God has given us each our own gifts and talents, He wants us to share these gifts with others.

In 1 Peter 4:10-11 it says “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in  all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

As parents and influencers of young people, may we always encourage our children to be their true and best self. 

Russell Gilchrist, Deputy Head of Secondary (Care)

Notice Board

In this Newsletter:

• A message from Ms Dunn,
• Secondary Highlights,
• Parental Guidance,
• Notice Board,

---

Ms Dunn’s Digest

As Term 2 draws to a close, all students are encouraged to be kind to themselves over the next few weeks by eating sensibly, enjoying nature and sleeping well.  This is also a time to take the opportunity to reflect on their progress to date. Their reports complement the assessment results and comments to date. I would encourage students to reflect on their strengths and areas in which they can improve.  It is an opportunity as a family to discuss where and how they think they can continue to improve and thrive.   

For families with younger children, we understand the importance of providing our young ones a safe environment, caring and loving relationships for our child’s development and good mental health through their formative years. When I read the caption for the TED talk by seven-year-old Molly Wright from Queensland. “What if I was to tell you that a game of peek-a-boo could change the world?” I was hooked.  

 This outstanding young person clearly breaks down the research-backed ways parents and caregivers can support children’s healthy brain development. She highlights the benefits of play on lifelong learning, behaviour and well-being, sharing effective strategies to help all kids thrive by the age of five. Molly illustrates her big ideas about brain science.  

Molly’s Ted Talk 

(This TED Talk was produced in collaboration with Minderoo Foundation as an educational tool for parents and caregivers around the world and is supported by UNICEF.) 

Rosemarie Dunn – Head of Campus

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Secondary Highlights

The final weeks of Term 2 have seen considerable activity with both the Year 11 and 12 Retreats taking our Upper School  students off campus.  

The Year 12s attended the annual retreat at Swan Valley Adventure Centre during Week 8 . Students engaged in thought-provoking discussions on topics ranging from the impact of fame to persistence and the lengths parents go to to support their children. On Day 2, alumni speakers included: Tara Jeisman (2016), Simon Newton (1999) and Tim Barnes (1997).  Their insights on life and willingness to share their stories were particularly inspiring for our Year 12 students, as they consider life post-school. Staff provided a great combination of workshops including volleyball, knitting and a very popular, live-action version of the computer game “Among Us” expertly run by Teegan Dean. 

Well-deserved thanks to Mr Boyd Herewini, Miss Stef Ntoumenopoulos and the staff who facilitated this event which is a much-loved, school tradition. 

Sincere thanks also to Mrs Sarah Cooke and the staff who attended the Year 11 Retreat at Fairbridge, Pinjarra over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Week 9. The focus of this retreat is on students’ growing  awareness of significant social issues, including homelessness, and a comparative appreciation for their own  context as students at St Stephen’s who are prompted to “Serve God. Serve One Another.” 

The Year 10 students didn’t miss out at the conclusion of Term 2 either, with the annual LIFT Week in action.  This series of tertiary tours, excursions and workshops encourages students’ independence and decision-making as they  approach Year 11. Students visited UWA, TAFE, Notre Dame, Curtin University, Murdoch University, ECU, AGWA,  WA Museum Boola Bardip and The Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS). Students also completed the Keys4Life  pre-driver education program to help them start their journey towards becoming safe drivers.    

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Parental Guidance 

Reward, Recharge and Reflect

At the end of a busy term it is time to have a well earned break. Hopefully Semester 1 was a successful one for each of our students. Whether it was in your academics, sport, music drama, arts, the list goes on, I pray that there has been moments of joy and pride in what you have achieved.

Over the next 3 weeks I would like to encourage students and their families to Reward, Recharge and Reflect.

Reward – take the time over the break to reward yourself by doing something you love. Many have worked hard to  achieve personal bests at school and this involves hard work, sacrifice and time. As a result, activities that you might otherwise engage with have been put on hold. Take the time to reward yourself and do them now!

Recharge – For many student the holidays will simply be a time where you need to recharge the batteries. Recharge and replenish your energy stores as this time is yours to use as you will. Not being at school from 8.25am – 3.20pm or CAS sport or band practice or simply study pressures. Recharge for the new semester so you are fresh and ready for the next challenges that come your way.

Reflect – Finally with the end of a semester you will soon have access to all your subject grades. Does your mark reflect your ability or could you have done more? How did you use your class time? Did you make the most of your teacher’s expertise? Did you organise yourself well to prepare appropriately for your assessments? If the answer is yes, well done! If the answer is perhaps not then reflect on what needs to change to ensure you achieve your potential in Semester 2.

Happy holidays,

Russell Gilchrist, Deputy Head of Secondary (Care)

Notice Board

In this Newsletter:

• A message from Ms Dunn,
• Secondary Highlights,
• Parental Guidance,
• Notice Board,

Ms Dunn’s Digest

Term 2 has so far been a hive of activity with Mother’s Day celebrated at the ELC, clubs, camps and the Interhouse Cross Country which brought an energetic air through all the events. These fabulous opportunities provide all students a time to connect and participate with peers and staff are always on hand to encourage and guide our students to ‘give it a go and dare to be their best self’. 

Many of our students will have started preparing for upcoming tests, assessments and exams. Managing workloads can be tricky at times as the amount of work due varies across the term. How students think and act at these times can transform or hinder their experience of stress. The TED talk by Kelly McGonigal on How to Make Stress Your Friend provides food for thought in all we do and the impact it can have on our wellbeing and performance. When you choose to view your stress response as helpful, you create the biology of courage. When you choose to connect to others under stress, you can create resilience.

To watch this TED talk with your child (or for your own wellbeing) simply follow this link – Ted Talk – Kelly McGonigal 

Rosemarie Dunn – Head of Campus

Secondary Highlights

Arts Tour

Over the April school holidays our Senior Arts students went on the trip of a lifetime to Sydney and Melbourne to be completely immersed in the Arts. Students had a great time together and are sure to remember this trip for the rest of their lives. Thanks to the staff who went along for the ride!

Year 10 Careers Expo

On Wednesday, 17th May our Year 10 students across both campuses, engaged in the 2023 Careers Expo on the Carramar campus.

Thanks to Sarah Cooke and Rob Crewe for their coordination of this annual event which connects St Stephen’s School students with workplace and tertiary providers. The opportunity to gain information and ask questions ahead of subject selection for upper school was invaluable for students’ decision making.  

Look out for more information about our upcoming Subject Selection Information evening in the Duncraig campus theatre on Monday, 19 June 2023 at 6:45pm.    

Exam and assessment preparation

Our Year 11 and 12 students have been hitting the books; revising for and sitting Externally Set Tasks (ESTs) and exams this term. In Education Plus, students have covered exam taking strategies and deconstructing exam questions in preparation. Exams can be a very stressful time for your child (you might even remember how you felt back in high school), as a parent you can help by providing a peaceful home study environment, ensure your child is eating nutritious meals and be conscious of how long your child spends studying. Encourage them to take breaks where they go for a walk and get away from their study space. We wish all our students the best of luck during exam time!

Parental Guidance 

IMADE – I Make A Difference Everyday

In a world highly influenced by digital media and other technologies, we often find ourselves wondering whether the messages we are presenting to our children are getting through and question, does that which we say and do, make a difference?

Access to the latest iPhone, iPad, apple watch, Macbook Pro or various android devices, means our young people have access to knowledge from around the world at their fingertips. Those influencing our children, both good and bad, come from all around the world. Despite this access, it is essential that we as parents and educators never underestimate the significant impact, we have on our kids every single moment, of every single day.  

Every day we all make a difference to the lives of the people we meet. The words we say, the jobs we perform, the attitude in which we “do life”, is noticed. Most importantly, our young people learn from and are guided by the principles they see exhibited by significant people in their lives.

My encouragement to parents, family members and significant others, is for us to each to recognise that

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY

 you are significant. Never underestimate how much you are needed. 

Russell Gilchrist – Deputy Head of Secondary Care

Notice Board

Our co-curricular offerings have recently been updated. If your child is interested in additional tutoring or extra-curricular activities you can find the timetable via the Parent Portal under “Plan the Day – After School Clubs”

Subject Selection Information evening for Year 10’s will be held in the Duncraig campus theatre on Monday, 19 June 2023 at 6:45pm

Wishing Your Family a Safe and Happy Festive Season

It is always a pleasure to join together with our partners in learning, the parents, to acknowledge important milestones for our students and to celebrate their successes. The presentation evenings provide us an opportunity to look back over the achievements of the year with a sense of pride in goals met, challenges surmounted, and optimism; as well as enjoy the performances through the night.  Many thanks go to the large number of staff who worked tirelessly throughout the year to guide and support our students and much appreciation to the staff who helped organise and assist through the Evening Presentations.

As the holidays begin and Christmas approaches, we wish all parents and students a restful holiday and well-earned break, with time spent enjoying family and friends and the blessings bestowed upon us through the year.

Rosemarie Dunn

Head of Campus – Duncraig

 

The Arts dates for 2023

Please click the link to view all the Art dates for 2023

The Arts Learning Area Dates 2023

 

Music & Community Excellence Scholarships

 

Scholarships

Year 9 Mentor Pen Friends

The Year 9 mentors  receiving and reading the letters from their Year 2 buddies.

Nicola Ross

Teacher – Science

Year 11 Biology Camp

The Y11 ATAR Biology students from Duncraig campus went down South for 3 days to explore its amazing biodiversity! Within our time we studied 6 different ecosystems to truly appreciate the world around us. We explored the deep by visiting the underwater jetty, studied the human impacts on our bushland and beaches as well as going underground to see a slice of ecological history with cave formations older than the current human race!

Nicola Ross

Teacher – Science

Art opportunities – Community Art Exhibition and The Sketchbook Project

2023 Community Art Exhibition

Calling all local artists

Entries for next year’s Community Art Exhibition competition will open on Monday 12 December – Monday 13 February 2023. Consider this an early heads-up to start thinking about your entry, or even a chance to get started on creating your artwork.

There is a prize of $750 for the Student Award (ages 12 to 18), as well as six other monetary and commission prizes up for grabs.

The Community Art Exhibition is set to take place at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre from Sunday 26 March – Sunday 16 April 2023.

More information and how to enter can be found here https://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/kb/resident/community-art-exhibition-13 or contact visualarts@joondalup.wa.gov.au

 

The Sketchbook Project

Please let your students know that Whitford Library is a going to be a library hub for Propel Youth Arts WA Sketchbook Project.

The Sketchbook Project is a collaborative and visual experience that provides an opportunity for young people to share their own personal stories and passions with the wider community across Western Australia.

Sketchbooks have provided a space for the greatest works and stories of our time to grow. Tell your own story using a sketchbook provided free of charge by Propel Youth Arts WA!

https://www.propel.org.au/sketchbook-project-2022 – Information about the project, Key dates, and link to the Info Sheet
https://form.jotform.com/221768939049875 – Direct link to register.

After registering, students can collect a blank sketchbook from Whitford Library in January. They will be contacted when their book is ready to collect.

They have 2 months to unleash their creativity and fill their sketchbook with their art, poetry – however they want to express themselves – before returning it to Whitford Library by the end of March.The Sketchbooks will be displayed in a micro-exhibition at Whitford Library, before being displayed at the Sketchbook Exhibition at the State Library after the KickstART Festival. Once that has wrapped up, the books go on a travelling tour around the state, visiting libraries all over WA.

The sketchbooks will be returned to students in Feb 2024.

Anita Cheetham
Youth and Children’s Services Officer (Mon, Wed am)
School Liaison Officer (Tues, Wed pm, Thu, Fri)
City of Joondalup

Funk Band rehearsal at Superfreak Studios

The Funk Band had a wonderful four hour rehearsal at Superfreak Rehearsal Studios on Saturday in preparation for their gig at the Carramar “A Night on the Green” this weekend.

The use of the studio was provided by Duncraig Parent Graham Hamilton and the students absolutely loved the opportunity. In addition to rehearsing with their director, Mr Bell, Mr Foster – our Jazz Piano tutor kindly filled in on piano as our regular pianist is unavailable for the gig!

As is tradition, copious amounts of pizza was also consumed!

Andrea Stimson

Director of Music – The Arts

Maths Empowering Girls Day

A group of Year 9 girls attended the Maths Empowering Girls day at Curtin University. The purpose of this day is to expose girls to the opportunities that are available from studying higher maths. The girls used VR Headsets to take measurements in space, they investigated how to pack a spaceship given the parameters of a weight limit of 80kg vs the benefits that each object would have, they used code to create patterns on Arduino and investigated the maths that was involved in fashion design. Most importantly they got to explore where Maths is used outside of the classroom. They all had an enjoyable day and are excited about all of the different possibilities ahead.

Laura Manley

Head of Learning Area – Mathematics

STUDY SKILLS

A reminder that our school subscribes to the Study Skills Handbook, and Education Plus students are regularly encouraged to access the activities at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au

Please find attached an article from the most recent update to the Handbook.

CriticalThinking

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Critical Thinking Skills

There are many things you can do to develop your critical thinking skills before you come back to school next year.  Critical thinking is your ability to think clearly and rationally, reflecting and developing your thoughts. Sometimes we can get a bit lazy with our thinking and we only consider things at a superficial level. Here are some things you can do to enhance your critical thinking.

1. CLARIFY YOUR THOUGHTS: The best way to clarify your thoughts is to try and explain your thinking to someone else. Even if you are talking to an imaginary person, you will find that explaining your thinking out loud helps you to see the flaws in your argument.
2. QUESTION ASSUMPTIONS: Don’t take your thoughts for granted, every now and then think about why you believe a certain thought or how you know things to be true. Get in the habit of pausing and looking at what you are thinking and questioning what thoughts underlie your assumptions. Don’t just conform and accept a view because it is the popular one, instead pause and reflect on the arguments for and against that viewpoint and the strengths of each argument.
3. LOOK FOR OTHER PERSPECTIVES: When you are presenting an argument, imagine yourself in a debate and think about what the opposing side might say. What would someone with a completely opposite view to you believe? Can you understand why they might think that way? Can you see some validity in their viewpoint?
4. KEEP AN OPEN MIND: In order to look for other perspectives keep an open mind. If you immediately dismiss any thought that does not fit into the way you see the world, you will never be able to expand and develop your viewpoints, you will have a very fixed and limited view of the world.
5. BE CURIOUS: Start to look outside the things you normally read and watch and think about. Learn more about things you know nothing about and were not previously interested in. Listen more to what people say, we learn so much more when we really listen rather than spend time planning what we will say next.
6. MAKE INFORMED JUDGEMENTS: It is ok to not have an opinion about something because you don’t have enough information yet. Avoid rushing to judgements, take your time to gather information and evidence and assess it before making a decision. Try not to let yourself be swayed by emotion as this can affect your ability to assess information intellectually.

 

CAREERS AND PATHWAYS

The Careers Newsletter is updated on a regular basis to keep our community informed of the changes that are constantly occurring in post-school pathways:

https://www.ststephenscareersduncraig.com/

There are many different pathways for students to embark on as they transition to life beyond our school community, and these are discussed frequently at school events, in classes with students, and also with our staff.

One of the most recent updates for example, has been UWA’s announcement of a pilot program to enable a broader range of students to apply for entry to a select number of degrees from Semester 1, 2023. Experience-based entry is recognised by many universities and recognises there are many ways to measure a student’s potential to succeed at university taking into consideration a range of backgrounds and circumstances when assessing applications.

Exam FAQ

 Exam time can be a stressful time for the whole family. We wanted to provide a simple explanation about some of the Frequently Asked Questions we receive around results and the meaning behind some of the commonly used acronyms and phrases.

We would like to firstly note that League Tables, which have become widely used as a simple measurement of results in the media, rank schools based upon single measure metrics.

However, schools provide a range of opportunities that are not reflected in many of these tables including service learning, work experience, tours, camps and the like. Different practices between schools regarding scholarships, pathways and subject selections also mean that results are not comparing like for like.

As St Stephen’s believes in the holistic education of a child with both academic achievement and student wellbeing being central to what “success” looks like for a Year 12 graduate, perhaps a more accurate table or statistic to look at for university-bound students is what percentage of students got into university. 

• What are the league tables?

While some find merit in the single metric measurements of league tables, at St Stephen’s, we find they only provide a limited snapshot of achievements and do not reflect all students who undertake Year 12 studies in different areas.

Since 2016, the three tables commonly reported on are: the percentage of students obtaining a WACE, the median ATAR and schools’ performance in VET (this is the percentage of students who achieve a Certificate II or higher compared to those who attempted it is the metric – in the last few years St Stephen’s has been achieving a 100% rating in this space).

• What is the WASSA?

All students receive a Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement (WASSA) when they complete Year 12. The WASSA was introduced to WA in recent years to bring the State’s reporting in line with the rest of the country. It formally records a student’s achievement in every course, qualification and program completed in senior secondary schooling and provides evidence of achievement.

• What is the WACE?

The West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is awarded to students who have successfully completed senior secondary schooling and have met specific WACE requirements.These include either a direct entry ATAR pathway studying four or more ATAR courses; completing a Certificate II or higher VET qualification with a combination of other courses; or selecting five General courses or a combination of General and ATAR courses. In addition requirements around literacy and numeracy standards, grade standards and studying a breadth of subjects must be met. More information about the requirements can be found on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website at senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au.

• What is ATAR and how is it calculated?

ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. It is used to rank students who wish to enter public universities in Australia relative to one another. Find more at www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/atar-about.tisc.

The ATAR is calculated by averaging moderated school marks and examination marks to determine a combined course mark. These scores are then standardised and then scaled.

The top 4 scaled scores of appropriate course combinations are added together to produce the School Leaver Tertiary Entrance Aggregate, this is then converted into an ATAR score. Find more here: www.tisc.edu.au/static-fixed/statistics/misc/marks-adjustment-process.pdf

• Why is calculating the ATAR so complicated?

The statistical processes used are done in the interests of fairness for all.

Moderation of school marks occurs to ensure that students are neither advantaged or disadvantaged as a result of differences in the standards of assessment and marking that occurs within different schools.

Standardising marks is to compensate for variations that may occur in the difficulty of particular examinations from year to year.

Scaling takes account of the ability of students undertaking different courses to ensure that students taking difficult courses are not disadvantaged or advantaged if they take an easier one.

• What is VET?

VET stands for Vocational Education and Training. It provides students with qualifications recognised nationally by industry and training organisations. At senior school level, the qualifications offered are usually Certificate I, II, III, or IV courses. More at senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/vet/faqs.

Study Skills Handbook Newsletter Item for December

STUDY SKILLS HANDBOOK NEWSLETTER ITEM FOR DECEMBER

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

 

Critical Thinking Skills

 

There are many things you can do to develop your critical thinking skills before you come back to school next year.  Critical thinking is your ability to think clearly and rationally, reflecting and developing your thoughts. Sometimes we can get a bit lazy with our thinking and we only consider things at a superficial level. Here are some things you can do to enhance your critical thinking.

 

1. CLARIFY YOUR THOUGHTS: The best way to clarify your thoughts is to try and explain your thinking to someone else. Even if you are talking to an imaginary person, you will find that explaining your thinking out loud helps you to see the flaws in your argument.
2. QUESTION ASSUMPTIONS: Don’t take your thoughts for granted, every now and then think about why you believe a certain thought or how you know things to be true. Get in the habit of pausing and looking at what you are thinking and questioning what thoughts underlie your assumptions. Don’t just conform and accept a view because it is the popular one, instead pause and reflect on the arguments for and against that viewpoint and the strengths of each argument.
3. LOOK FOR OTHER PERSPECTIVES: When you are presenting an argument, imagine yourself in a debate and think about what the opposing side might say. What would someone with a completely opposite view to you believe? Can you understand why they might think that way? Can you see some validity in their viewpoint?
4. KEEP AN OPEN MIND: In order to look for other perspectives keep an open mind. If you immediately dismiss any thought that does not fit into the way you see the world, you will never be able to expand and develop your viewpoints, you will have a very fixed and limited view of the world.
5. BE CURIOUS: Start to look outside the things you normally read and watch and think about. Learn more about things you know nothing about and were not previously interested in. Listen more to what people say, we learn so much more when we really listen rather than spend time planning what we will say next.
6. MAKE INFORMED JUDGEMENTS: It is ok to not have an opinion about something because you don’t have enough information yet. Avoid rushing to judgements, take your time to gather information and evidence and assess it before making a decision. Try not to let yourself be swayed by emotion as this can affect your ability to assess information intellectually.

You and your parents can learn more about thinking skills at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

Username: ststephens

Password: 100success

CriticalThinking

Funk Band Perform @ A Night on the Green – Carramar Campus

The Duncraig Funk Band performed a full set of music to entertain the crowds at Carramar’s “A Night on the Green”!

 

Duncraig WAYJO NC Jazz Musicians @ WAYJO A Night at the Quarry 

The Duncraig Jazz students who are in WAYJO enjoy a night under the stars listening to other WAYJO Big Bands

 

Final Rehearsal of WAYJO NC for Parents

Our Duncraig jazz students performed a Big Band set for the final rehearsal of the WAYJO NC 2022 Band. Many of them have been busy auditioning for WAYJO and WAAPA programmes in 2023

 

Dress Rehearsal for Presentation Night

Our musicians and Music staff travelled up to Carramar to bump in and rehearse the Swing Band, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra, Marching Band and St Stephen’s Singers for Presentation Night 2023

Andrea Stimson – Director of Music The Arts

 

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

In 2023, similar to 2022, Parents / Guardians will not be required to re-select a preferred payment method and frequency at the start of the school year.

The payment method (direct debit, or credit card, or BPAY) and frequency of payment (weekly, fortnightly, monthly, three or four instalments or annual upfront) that you had in place in 2022 will continue automatically in 2023.

The dates to note for payments (based on frequency) next year are:

1 upfront payment due on 31 January 2023 (2% discount); or

43 weekly payments starting on 2 February 2023; or

22 fortnightly payments starting on 2 February 2023; or

22 fortnightly payments starting on 9 February 2023; or

10 monthly payments starting on 2 February 2023; or

10 monthly payments starting on 17 February 2023; or

3 instalments on 18 February 2023, 18 May 2023 and 18 August 2023; or

4 instalments on 2 February 2023, 2 April 2023, 2 July 2023 and 2 October 2023.

 

You will not be required to take any action, unless you would like to change the method of payment or frequency of payments. In which case, please contact the Accounts Receivable team on 9243 2103 or email accountsreceivable@ststephens.wa.edu.au as soon as possible. Please note that there will be a surcharge of 0.9% on all credit card payments.

If you wish to change your credit card, or bank account details, you are able to do this at any time throughout the year via the Parent Portal. Click on the ‘School Payments’ tab and select login under Manage stored cards and direct debits to bank accounts or use the following link https://edinfo.ststephens.wa.edu.au/ManageStoredCards.aspx

In January 2023 your annual fee invoice will be available for you to view on the Parent Portal in the ‘School Payments’ tab by logging into Statements and receipt history or use the following link https://edinfo.ststephens.wa.edu.au/fin.aspx

 

All the best for the holidays and wishing you a Happy Christmas,

From the Accounts Receivable Team

World Kindness Day reminds us every November of how we as a community can make a difference to someone’s life. Making an intentional effort, even though it should not be the only day gives us pause for thought to think about how we communicate and act. If each one of us, did one act of kindness every day, the statistics for Australian alone would equate to 9.1 Billion acts of kindness a year.  There are also personal benefits from being kind. Research suggests that higher levels of kindness is associated with greater optimism, compassion, forgiveness, and goal mastery, as well as lower rates of anxiety as well as having a ripple effect on those around you. (Neimiec, 2017).

I read this week that ‘It’s not a thought or a feeling, kindness is actually when our feeling or thought is actually put into action.

 

Rosemarie Dunn

Head of Campus – Duncraig

“Light Painting” with the Year 9s yesterday. Students use a slow shutterspeed on their camera and a torch to then “paint” a picture using light. They have to move quick in order to not appear in the photo themselves.

James Hummerston

Teacher – Media

 

North Beach Baptist Church are hosting our annual Community Carols, sponsored by City of Stirling, again this year at North Beach Primary School Oval with a free funfair for the kids at 5pm and carol singing from 7:30pm.

On Saturday the 12^th of November, Duncraig Secondary competed in the First Lego League Competition. It involved building and coding Lego Robots to solve pre-set missions and developing and presenting an Innovation Project.

The theme for this year was Renewable Energy and the team’s project was a sustainable water fountain that could cool and filter the water by using hydro and solar power.  The team presented their project with a prototype (which they created using sustainable parts) and with a PowerPoint.

The missions consisted of Lego Models which represented Renewable Energy.  The team had three rounds of two and a half minutes each, to run code on a Lego Robot that would solve as many missions as possible.

A major part of the competition was to display Core Values in all aspects, which involved team work and good sportsmanship.  Part of our Core Values display was to build and give little Lego Monsters to the other teams, to show our support and encouragement.

The team has put a lot of extra time and effort into their preparations and with limited time available, still managed to deliver an exceptional performance to be proud of.

Retha Malan

Teacher – Secondary