Monthly Archives: April 2018

Welcoming Swiss Exchange Student

April 30, 2018

St Stephen’s School is excited to welcome Rotary youth exchange student Chloe Aeschlimann from Switzerland to our School community later this year.

Chloe will study as a St Stephen’s School for a year. She will be studying as Year 11 student in Semester 2, 2018, then as a Year 12 student in Semester 1, 2019.

Hillarys Rotary Club is inviting St Stephen’s School families to host Chloe while she lives in Australia. Chloe will need two host families for the following periods:

  • 23rd January to 24th April, 2019
  • 25th April to approximately mid-July 2019, as students start to return home in the first or second week in July, 2019.

Chloe has already been placed with host families from July 2018 to 22nd January, 2019.

If you would like further information on hosting or if you would like to offer your support as a host family, please contact Linda Sweeney from Hillarys Rotary Club on 9305 9240 / 0449 101 720 or email linda.sweeney@hotmail.com. Linda is more than willing to meet with any family interested in hosting a Rotary youth exchange student.

We are looking forward to Chloe joining our community in just a few short months.

 

Indonesia Service Tour Returns

April 30, 2018

The following 12 students from Duncraig participated in one week of service learning on St Stephen’s inaugural tour to Indonesia during the school holidays.

Tamzen Paine

Cambell Boutle

Portia Smulders

Abigail Barrowman

Emily Bartlett

Emily Hunter

Abbey Daly

Sarah Affendi

Amy Gaunt

Chelsea Jack

Olivia Barton

Isabella Beech

Kyle Siegl

Matthew Roper

Zayne Gray

They worked closely with Bali Life Foundation to provide fun, play-based English language activities for underprivileged children.

Our students also shopped for and distributed hygiene packs to families in need.

The trip included a visit to the Suwung Community Centre at the foot of a rubbish tip in southern Denpasar, a visit to the Street Centre in Denpasar, a visit to the Children’s Home in Jimbaran, working in the Bali Life Community Garden and many other relational service activities.

Our students raised nearly $10 000 collectively for Bali Life Foundation and they were outstanding ambassador’s of Christ’s love to the people they served there.

It was a pleasure and a privilege to be involved in such a successful tour. Special mention must be given to Steve Meagher and Donna Lund who put in many hours behind the scenes carefully planning the tour.

Please check out our blog – https://blogs.ststephens.wa.edu.au/indonesiaservicetour18/

As well as the Bali Life Foundation website – www.balilife.org

Ms Andrea Tinney

Biblical Studies Teacher

 

ACCLAIMED INNOVATION

April 30, 2018

The Abydos app, developed by St Stephen’s School and Edith Cowan University, has been named a finalist in the Western Australian Information Technology and Telecommunication Awards (WAITTA) INCITE Awards for the Most Transformative Impact on Education.
The gamification app uses the theme of ancient Egypt to teach primary students about fractions, and research has shown a group of Year 6 students who used the app scored 10.5 per cent higher than those who didn’t after just two sessions a week for four weeks using the app.

Abydos has been integrated into classroom teaching for Year 6s at St Stephen’s.

The finalists were announced on Friday, with the winners to be named in June.

Congrats to all involved – such a coup for our innovative School! Best of luck for the June announcement.

ACC Swimming – Inter-School Competition

April 30, 2018

Dear Parents of Swimmers competing in the Inter-School Competition

At the ACC Council of Principals meeting on the 5th April , we were presented with some background and history on the time frame of the ACC A Division Swimming Carnival. The carnival was originally held on a Friday evening and then in the early 1980’s was moved to an “in school” time model. During the 1980’s and early 1990’s student spectator numbers were very high with the stands usually full, but with very few parents at the carnivals. From the mid 1990’s to the current day, there has been a steady decline in student spectator numbers to the point that most ACC swimming carnivals have few or no student spectators. During the same time period the number of Parent spectators has increased and the overall standard of the meets has improved in terms of swimming and event management.

The ACC Council was then asked to consider undertaking some research with the ACC schools and community to ascertain if the general consensus is that we should consider moving the A Division Swimming Carnival back to a twilight/evening event. The purpose being to increase the opportunity for families to attend the carnival and to raise the community profile of our top swimming division.  At this point in time there is no suggestion to move the other carnival divisions. The move would also allow other divisions opportunity to swim indoors.

Community Survey

The ACC is conducting a “Have Your Say!” survey through social media channels. This is simply to provide a snapshot of community thinking on the suggestion and a rough gauge of interest in making the change. The community survey will be open to anyone to complete. Schools have a part to play in helping the ACC gauge community thoughts on this matter. Should you wish to voice your thoughts, the link to the public survey is below.

ACC Social Media Survey – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KMH9GVZ

Bruce Titlestad

Head of Secondary School

ACCLAIMED INNOVATION

April 17, 2018

The Abydos app, developed by St Stephen’s School and Edith Cowan University, has been named a finalist in the Western Australian Information Technology and Telecommunication Awards (WAITTA) INCITE Awards for the Most Transformative Impact on Education.

The gamification app uses the theme of ancient Egypt to teach primary students about fractions, and research has shown a group of Year 6 students who used the app scored 10.5 per cent higher than those who didn’t after just two sessions a week for four weeks using the app.

Abydos has been integrated into classroom teaching for Year 6s at St Stephen’s.

The finalists were announced on Friday, with the winners to be named in June.

Congrats to all involved – such a coup for our innovative School!

That’s A Wrap

April 12, 2018

Year 8 students have been learning about John’s Gospel in a creative way – making their own iMovies as they act out scenes from the Gospel around campus.

 

Grease Lightning

April 12, 2018

The Automotive Engineering & Technology students are getting to live out their own Grease Lightning scene as they get to work on the ‘before’ car that’s part of the upcoming Grease production. Thanks to parent Bert Bennet for the loan – it’s set to be a stand-out!

Friendly Competition

April 12, 2018
 The Year 7s got a taste of the CAS competition last week, with round robin games of touch rugby, basketball, soccer, cricket and volleyball played against other CAS schools at the Lightning Carnival. Each school hosted a sport and there was lots of fun and healthy competition, with Year 11s completing their Cert II in Sport and Recreation also given opportunity to coach the Year 7 teams.

Swanky Jackets

April 12, 2018

There’s a sense of pride among our 2018 Year 12 students as they don their Leaver’s Jackets around School. Students  have now received the coveted and well-earned symbol that marks the last year of their studies.

Law & Order

April 12, 2018

As part of their Civics and Citizenship studies, theYear 7s have been learning about the Australian legal system, concepts of justice and the rule of law. Luckily enough Mr Graeme Slattery, who is a Year 7 father, is also a lawyer for an international law firm. Mr Slattery kindly offered to speak to the students, providing a real-world example of what it’s like to work in the legal system!