Tour of Service – Bethany Home

November 3, 2017

Ms Ntoumenopoulos and Mr Lance Owen accompanied eight Year 11 students from across our campuses on the St Stephen’s Global Programs visit to Bethany Home in Malaysia. The life-changing trip saw the group live and work at Bethany Home – a school for students with various disabilities – helping with daily tasks and leaving their mark with a beautiful mural on the buildings.

“It’s a privilege to leave a part of ourselves at such a beautiful place, although the etchings Bethany Home has left on us cut far deeper and will no doubt last much longer,” Duncraig English and Drama Teacher Ms Stefani Ntoumenopoulos reflected.

See more about their adventure at Bethany October 2017 Tour

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

A7 Service Learning

November 2, 2017

Today as part of their Service Learning,  A7 and Mr Jakeway visited CATA at Warwick Community Centre.

CATA, Creative and Therapy Activities, provides innovative services and creative opportunities that promote people’s lifelong well-being in a safe, enjoyable and supportive environment.

The students involved were:

Thomas Garnett

Tiana Rasdien

Emma Cornelius

Lee Ditmanas

Nataya Naumovski

“And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16

Presentation Evening

November 2, 2017

Our 2017 Presentation Evening will take place on 5 December from 6:45 pm at the Carramar Sports & Learning Centre.

As well as being able to collect awards and celebrate achievements during the night, Presentation Evening is a chance for students and ex-students to catch up with friends and teachers and celebrate in each other’s successes.

 

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” – Jeremiah 17:7

Connecting in Conversation

November 1, 2017

Join us for a meaningful conversation about the school.

Meet Chair of Council Kevin Smout, Principal Donella Beare and the leadership team.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” – Hebrews 10:24

St Stephens meets the Governor General of Australia

October 31, 2017

A wonderful time was had by all on the recent HASS Canberra Tour.  This tour was made possible due to the funding and support of the Australian government.  The financial support provided through the PACER contribution alleviated financial stress and allowed more students to participate in this excellent learning experience.

Students were privileged to have a personal meeting with the Governor General of Australia, His Excellency, the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove.  Immediately after, Sean MacMillian played a beautiful piece of music in the Drawing Room. Recent guests to this room include former President, Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II.  Our students then lost themselves in the Australian War Memorial and followed this with a visit to New and Old Parliaments. Other Canberra highlights included CSIRO, Anzac Walk, Mount Ainslie, Australian Institute of Sport and Questacon.

Students then travelled to Melbourne and after a night walk in central Melbourne and Federation Square, woke up early to visit the Islamic Museum.  Students were given the opportunity to see the contributions of the Islamic community and were interested to find Muslims have been in Australia before Federation (1.1.1901).  Students asked engaging questions which dispelled many myths they had about the Muslim community.  Students then went to the Melbourne Gaol to experience the grim history of the colonial prison system.  Students were then impressed by the lights of Melbourne via the Eureka Skydeck.  Our second last day involved a visit to Sovereign Hill where students saw gold poured and went down an old mine.  They were also excited to see see the original Eureka Stockade Flag.  We ended our trip with a tour to the MCG and shopping at the Victorian Markets.

Verity Palmer and Matt English both agreed that they felt privileged to be involved on this tour and enjoyed themselves due to the excellent behaviour of our students. The students were joyous, courteous and an excellent representation of St Stephens. I hope parents and the school are as proud of their behaviour and care shown to each other on this trip as I was.

Leeanne Shanks

Humanities and Social Sciences

“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” – Proverbs 18:15

Service Learning Excursion for C5

October 27, 2017

On Thursday C5 went on a Service Learning Excursion to St Nicolas Anglican Church in Warwick.

What is Service Learning you may ask? Its a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students. . . seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves. In the process, students link personal and social development with academic and cognitive development. . . experience enhances understanding; understanding leads to more effective action.

Student Benefits of Community Engagement

Learning Outcomes

  • Positive impact on students’ academic learning
  • Improves students’ ability to apply what they have learned in “the real world”
  • Positive impact on academic outcomes such as demonstrated complexity of understanding, problem analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, and cognitive development
  • Improved ability to understand complexity and ambiguity

Personal Outcomes

  • Greater sense of personal efficacy, personal identity, spiritual growth, and moral development
  • Greater interpersonal development, particularly the ability to work well with others, and build leadership and communication skills

 

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

Tour Morning

October 26, 2017

Selecting a school is a major decision. It is less about predicting the sort of person your child will become and more about providing them with a diverse range of possibilities which will enable them to experience success within a safe and secure learning community.

To develop an understanding of St Stephen’s, we warmly encourage families to attend one of our Tour Mornings. These mornings give families the opportunity to see the School ‘in action’. Many families comment that these tours have allowed them to experience the intangible qualities of St Stephen’s educational offering, beginning a valuable and long-lasting partnership between home and school.

Families are welcome to attend both the Primary Campus, and Secondary Campus. Prospective students are very welcome to attend with their parents or guardians. Places at these Open Mornings are limited, so bookings are essential.

Even though the weather was wild and windy it didn’t stop perspective families coming along. Parents were greeted by Principal Donella Beare and Registrar Gayle Pieterse, School Executive were introduced followed by a short briefing from the Primary School Head, Mrs Tracey Gray, and then Head of Secondary, Mr Bruce Titlestad.

This was followed by a walking tour of the campus, concluding with morning tea. Our Registrar and other key staff members were available to answer any specific questions the families may have.

For more information: Admissions Information

Courage to Care

October 26, 2017

St Stephen’s students showed their Courage to Care by attending an exhibition at ECU.  Students were instructed how a closed mind and a closed society led to the Holocaust and the murder of six million Jews and 5 million ‘undesirables’.  Students completed practical and engaging activities which challenged their concept of being an upstander instead of a bystander. The concept of being an upstanding citizen is an idea which Australian’s have often expressed as many believe everyone should get a ‘fair go’. Student realised that by becoming a bystander, horrible and irreversible damage can be caused within a society. As Edmund Burke stated ‘the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’.

Leeanne Shanks

Humanities and Social Sciences

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

Bike Safety

October 26, 2017

 

As we edge towards finer weather, we are sure to come across more bicycles on the roads around St Stephen’s. Please remind your children of the importance of obeying road rules, particularly around local, busy intersections. Students riding to and from school should be encouraged, but also reminded that standard road rules applying to motorists also apply to cyclists using or crossing a road.

 

Mr. Andrews

“God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

Indonesia Bali Life Foundation Service Tour 2018

October 26, 2017

St Stephen’s School would like to announce its inaugural Indonesia: Bali Life Foundation Service Tour 2018 open to students currently studying in Years 9 and 10 (Years 10 and 11 2018). Bali Life Foundation is a small charity based in Jimbaran, Bali where they care for and educate young disadvantaged children and youth.

Our students will engage in volunteer work at the orphanage as well as the Bali Life support services within the locality of central and southwest Bali. These services include Suwung Community School, Bali Life Sustainable Community Garden, Kuta Street Kids and Mothers Program, and the Training and Education Community Centre.

The tour will consist of 16 students and 3 staff from across both campuses and will be departing 17 April, returning 24 April, 2018 (first week of the April holidays). The approximate cost of the tour will be $1200.

We will be seeking expressions of interest from students in October 2017.

Ms Donna Lund, Coordinator of Service Learning

 

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