Week 4, Term 3 2021

As Term 3 progresses, we enter a phase in which students in Yrs. 9-12 begin to select courses of study for next year and beyond. Subject selection advice and career counselling are pushed to the forefront of school activities. It is an unusual phase in which students begin to look to their future studies whilst having to remain grounded in the work requiring completion today.

In particular, students in Yr. 12 are making career-defining decisions about their post-school destination. It is a period during which many discussions between students, parents and teachers turn to choices around career aspirations.

In the last decade the workplace has undergone significant changes. It is increasingly digital and mobile, as well, there has been a significant shift to working from home. Many traditional jobs have transitioned to automation and digital integration. Increasingly, career pathways are adaptable and fluid. In the recent McCrindle Report on the “Future of Education” it was observed that “with an average tenure of two years and nine months, it is projected that today’s students will have 18 jobs across six careers in their lifetime.”

The challenge for schools is evident. How do educational institutions prepare students for unknown careers? What are the ‘essentials’ we should be developing in our students to ensure success?

In recent years, educational institutions have begun to talk about the balance required between core competencies and character qualities. In discussions around equipping students for success, schools must keep their focus on core competencies such as literacy, numeracy and digital skills, as well as character traits such as initiative, adaptability and persistence. There is a tension between skills development and character development. What is more important for success, skills or character? The answer is: both are of utmost importance.

How is this balance achieved? For students, the task remains the same: focus on classroom work and the development of sound academic skills; and connect with one or more of the co-curricular opportunities on offer (sport teams, drama productions, debating, Service Learning). In the middle of discussions around subject combinations and career options, doing the basic job in front of you is the best way to success.

Stephen Meagher (Deputy Head of Secondary)

YEAR 12 GEOGRAPHY FIELDWORK

The Year 12 Geography class (minus a couple who couldn’t make the trip) took part in some fieldwork last week. We explored Subiaco and Joondalup as part of their study of Transit Oriented Developments and also visited Suez’s Resource Recovery Facility in Neerabup where they got to see the behind the scenes process of sorting organic material from the actual rubbish that finds its way into landfill. As you can see from some of the pics, some of the components are very large.

Mark Batten

HAVE SUM FUN MATHS COMPETITION

Once again, St Stephen’s School Carramar hosted the Frank Drysdale Secondary Interschool Numero® Challenge Northern heats. The competition involves competing against schools across the Perth and Bunbury region in the problem solving game of Numero. The game Numero involves using all sorts of mathematical operations (including fractions and indices) to create a chosen number and win as many cards as possible. The competition ranges from completing a best take (getting the most cards) individually and as a team, then includes some very intense one on one games. The competition ends with a ‘Scramble’ which involves completing a top take move but also tag teaming to run and get their moves on the board for everyone to see. Our students smashed the heats, with St Stephen’s School Carramar qualifying two teams (The max we are allowed). Even though we didn’t win the finals, the students had a ball and were complemented highly on their attitudes and manners. Well done to all involved!

Mrs Ashley Bell