Dear Parents,

Last Friday 16th, we were delighted to have a focus day around kindness in our school.  Our Kindness Club leaders and House Cadets at the ELC shared with the students about what kindness may look, sound and feel like within our community.  At 3-6, our Kindness Club came up with strategies for showing kindness out in the playground and we even had some Year 4 students launch a Friendship Colouring in competition.  We are so very proud of our students and the incredible ways that they are trying to spread kindness in our community.

As Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

We look forward to seeing you all at the Thanksgiving Service at the end of the term.

Vee & Richard

100% Kindness: Let’s raise the bar!

 I don’t know about you but every time I turn on the TV, look at the Newspaper or look on Social Media there is bad news, negative news, sad news and news about people being cruel and unkind to each other and I wonder how we can create a world that is positive and kind.  I am a great believer that we are either, part of the problem or we are part of the solution and I want to be part of the solution and I am sure you do too.  So how do we make a change and raise the bar on positivity and kindness for the sake of our children?

We need to demonstrate positivity and kindness in all we do, say and how we treat others.
Positivity and kindness looks like:

1. Saying kind things about people 
2. Looking for the positive in every situation 
3. Looking for ways to encourage, inspire and help others 

Positivity and kindness doesn’t look like:

1. Being mean or unkind to people through words and actions 
2. Saying hurtful or unkind comments on social media 
3. Being negative and gossiping 

What you can do to make a difference:

1. Role model kind behaviour in front of your children through your words and actions. 
2. Pause before responding when using social media – show your children what positive online behaviour looks like. 
3. Use and model the ‘THINK’ strategy before interacting face-to-face or online.  It stands for;

Is it TRUE
Is it HELPFUL
Is it INSPIRING
Is it NECESSARY
Is it KIND

Every one of us can make a positive difference. My belief is that there is a school community that can make the most difference and that is St Stephen’s School!

So here’s a call to action for every child, parent and staff member; raise the bar, show 100% kindness, make this world a better place and bring Glory to God. 

God bless,

Tracey Gray

Just a reminder that there are no staff on duty in the playgrounds before 8.10 am.  Students who arrive between 8 am and 8.10 am may sit quietly in the Library.

If at all possible, we would appreciate students arriving at school after 8.10am as we are unable to offer duty of care until then.

In the afternoon, staff are on duty from 3.10 pm – 3.30 pm.  Whilst we encourage families to stay after school and enjoy being in community, we are unable to provide duty of care after 3.30 pm.  To ensure the safety and well-being of our children, we ask that parents are present after 3.30 pm to provide supervision.

OSH Club is available for all Primary students at the ELC, for before school and after school care.  Their website is www.oshclub.com.au

Thank you for your kind consideration in this regard.