In this newsletter:

Principal’s message,
A message from Mr Andrews,
A moment of appreciation for parents
Dates for your diary,

Principal’s Message

We’ve had a beautiful start to our 40th anniversary year, with such a lot happening in every part of our school.

I’m delighted to see our students settling in positively in a new academic year, and some wonderful inter-House spirit alive and well in our swimming carnivals. Congratulations to all our swimmers who put in such a fantastic effort for their Houses, to our staff who organised and ran the carnivals and to everyone who was able to come along and support them.

Our music staff and students are busily rehearsing for our Night of Giving Thanks which is coming up on Tuesday 26 March. If you haven’t already done so, please book your free tickets. This is one of the most beautiful events of the School year as we celebrate and give thanks which is especially apt in our anniversary year. I hope to see you there.

We’re also looking forward to our Guinness World Record attempt which has been re-scheduled for Friday 19 April – the end of the first week of Term 2. The schedule will be the same as our original date, with some additional reminders coming out in the first week of term. If you have any questions, though, please reach out to our Community Relations team

We’re now just one week away from Easter which is one of the most important seasons of the year for my family, and I am very much looking forward to an opportunity to pause and reflect on the true meaning of Easter. No matter how you celebrate, may it be a time of rest, relaxation, peace and stillness.

Take care and God bless,
Donella Beare

Mr Andrews’ Almanac

As parents, each year we bear witness to the cycle of House school carnivals – swimming, cross-country and athletics – and everything that comes with that. We celebrate success in many forms and encourage participation in turn, depending on the abilities and various proclivities of our children. I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the true nature of these events. It is a common thread and collective goal that the real victory lies not in the winner’s circle but in the shared experiences of participation.

All schools work to protect the qualities of their carnivals. They are not just about races and competitions; they are celebrations of camaraderie, personal growth, and the joy of movement. Embracing the value of participation reinforces a culture where every student, regardless of skill level, finds a place on the podium of personal growth.

At St Stephen’s School, our strengths are that we run events that build on a foundation of House spirit, teamwork, inclusivity and sportsmanship in a fun and low-pressure environment. Our carnivals are more about active participation and safe risk-taking than it is about achievement in general and yet we still devote significant effort towards recognising achievement, skill development and personal improvement. For many of our students, the House carnivals are the launch-pad on to School representation… and perhaps further.

For both students and parents, it is easy to forget the broader aims amongst the spirit of healthy competition. Beyond the thrill of competition, the carnival experience teaches invaluable life skills. Students learn the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and embracing challenges with a positive mindset. For some, medals and trophies come naturally with the territory. For others, the mere idea of attending an event like this is anxiety inducing. As in every facet of the student experience, we continue to recognise the diverse skills and talents amongst our students whilst always working to extend students beyond their comfort zones.

Bennet Andrews, Head of Campus

A moment of appreciation for parents

As parents and carers, we often find ourselves making sacrifices for our children. Driving the kids to football or netball training, an extra music concert or drama performance may arise, perhaps it is spending extra time helping our kids with their homework or supporting their learning. The list of sacrifices is never ending and whilst we do these things because we care, they do come at a cost. A sacrifice of time, of finance or perhaps to our own opportunity to find rest and recoup ourselves from our own daily grind.

Young people don’t always know how to express their appreciation for all that parents do as an expression of their love and whilst we don’t sacrifice for the accolades, be encouraged that they do appreciate your efforts and hopefully one day, they too will understand the importance of sacrifice for the sake of others.

Finally, as Easter draws near, I am reminded of the incredible sacrifice Christ made for each one of us. He made himself nothing so that you and I might spend eternity with Him in heaven if only we would ask Him into our lives. Happy Easter!

All the best,
Russell Gilchrist, Deputy Head of Secondary – Care (Duncraig Campus)

Secondary photo highlights

Art excursions, pancake day, interhouse swimming carnivals, camps, Harmony Day bake sales and so much more, we’ve packed a lot into this short 9 week term!