Category: Secondary

We Remember Them…

May 2, 2018

Anzac Day, 25 April, is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

Yesterday Duncraig held a Anzac Day Service on the Quad.

It was attended by the whole school.

“This is a day not of celebration but of national memory. It’s a day when we learn, and learn again, of the horror of purposeless war. It is a day for looking after your mates, cherishing your home, your neighbourhood and family. It’s a day for realising how rare this wonderful country of ours is and how precious it is.” – Unknown

Work Experience at Black Swan State Theatre Company

May 1, 2018

Congratulations to Adam Snyman who has been selected to take part in the highly-regarded Black Swan Theatre Company’s 2018 Work Experience Program this month.

Black Swan is a theatre company of national significance, creating exceptional theatre that nurtures Western Australian audiences and artists, and promotes artists within the state, nationally and internationally. Founded in 1991, Black Swan has earned both critical and popular acclaim for its world premiere productions and highly distinctive reinterpretations of international theatre classics – all of which are infused with the unique culture of Western Australia.

Adam will spend two intensive days with the Company’s artists and staff members, see a performance and a dress rehearsal, experience a theatre tour, devise a theatre piece and more.

 

Investigating DNA

May 1, 2018

Before the break the Year 8 Science class investigated the structure of DNA by extracting it from a kiwi. They were amazed at what they saw!! Good job everyone.

Nicola Ross

Science Teacher

“There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere.” Isaac Asimov

Musculoskeletal System

May 1, 2018

The ATAR Y11 Human Biology students performed a chicken wing dissection to help associate the musculoskeletal system in humans. They discovered that pulling on the tendons would flap the wings.

Nicola Ross

Science Teacher

“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” Thomas Berger

Building Muscle

May 1, 2018

The Year 11 ATAR Human Biology class were building muscles and learning all parts of their structure.

Nicola Ross

Science Teacher

“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” Immanuel Kant

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!