Children’s Week WA runs from October 22nd to the 30th. The theme of Children’s Week 2022 is, ‘All children have the right to a standard of living that supports their healthy development and wellbeing’. Healthy development can only occur when we understand why students behave the way they do.
So, what is the definition of ‘behaviour?’ The answer is perhaps an obvious one but consider this – a child’s behaviour is their story. In psychology, this theory is called narrative identity. It is the integration of a reconstructed past, a perceived present, and an imagined future.
When students ‘act-out,’ when they show kindness or when they feel as if we want to retreat, this is the telling of their personal stories. When we stop questioning the logic of a child’s behaviour and start to examine the story that brought it about, we develop empathy for each other.
This notion helps understand why students need each other and the significant adults in their lives. Each year at St Stephen’s School, we are privileged to see positive student stories acted out in class, on school camps, through student mentoring, when moving from Primary to High school and on the first day of Kindy through to the splendour of the year 12 ball. Our students tell their stories through active community service and when voicing their House or School spirit through their united performances on the field, in the pool, in the heat of debating or in musical harmony.
The extension of this notion that our stories are being played out in behaviour, is that we can all work to shape our narratives and improve our conduct and responses. In this way we can learn efficacy, cultivate empathy and grow human capacity, both in ourselves and in others. We pride ourselves on how we listen to the stories that our students tell about themselves and how we support them to shape a positive vision of themselves in the future.
For more information and resources on National Children’s Week, please follow this link.
Bennet Andrews
Head of Campus
YEAR 11 OUTDOOR ED CAMP TO KALBARRI
Last week 18 students and 3 staff took on the challenge of hiking for three days through the magnificent Kalbarri gorges. Students had to be self-sufficient, carrying all of their supplies and equipment as they scrambled over rock ledges, along river beds, and across water crossings. After thirty challenging kilometres over three days, students were rewarded with a meal at a local restaurant. Hopefully, the sore muscles and blisters will pass shortly, but the memories will last a lifetime!
Craig Thomas
STUDENT ABSENCES/LATE ARRIVAL
It is the responsibility of all parents/guardians to notify the school of any absences or lateness of arrival to school. This can be done via email to absenteecarramar@ststephens.wa.edu.au, phone 9306 7100 or SMS to 0428 863 144. If for any reason a student must leave school during the day, parents must advise Student Services by one of the above methods or a note presented to Student Services at the beginning of the school day. All students whether arriving late, departing early or attending an appointment and returning to school must sign in/out at Student Services. Further information on absences can be found on page 32 of the parent handbook.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!
PRESENTATION EVENINGS 2022
Join us as we celebrate the talents and achievements of our students at our annual Presentation Evenings in December. Bookings are now open for each event via events.humanitix.com/tours/pe2022
NEW BUS ROUTE
FUSION 2022
STRENGTHENING CHILDREN AND TEENS AGAINST ANXIETY
TRANSPERTH SCHOOL BUS SERVICE 2023
MARITIME DAY 2022
St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.