In this newsletter:
- Principal’s message,
- A message from Mr Andrews,
- Upcoming events with Mrs Stockton-Rice,
- Parenting tip from Mr Gilchrist,
- Highlights from around the campus,
- Dates for your diary,
Principal’s Message
While Term 4 is something of a whirlwind with a lot of events and activities in every part of our school, it is a time of year which I genuinely appreciate.
The term provides us with the opportunity to look back and reflect on how much our young people have accomplished and grown over the course of the year. This year we have also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the humble beginnings of St Stephen’s School, and how much we’ve achieved together as a community over this time.
Term 4 brings our community together to celebrate the things that unite us, a belief in the value of serving others and a connection to God.
It is also a time which triggers anticipation of warm weather, family fun, relaxation and holidays after another busy and satisfying year of school!
Planning is well underway for our end of year Presentation Evenings, and in our 40th year we look forward to welcoming you all to be part of our celebrations so please make sure you book your free tickets via the link below.
I hope, like me, you can enjoy Term 4 for all the opportunities it presents. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Take care and God bless,
Donella Beare
Tickets for Presentation Evenings 2024 are now available
We are delighted to present the 2024 St Stephen’s School Presentation Evenings. Please join us to celebrate all that our students have accomplished in 2024. Bookings are essential but tickets are all free of charge.
All attendees, including guests, staff, awardees and performers must book a ticket. Parking will be provided on the oval.
Book online here https://ticketing.humanitix.com/tours/presentation-evenings-2024
Mr Andrews’ Almanac
Few people would disagree that our St Stephen’s School Kindergarten is a genuinely special place to visit. Many of our current year 10 students are the first cohort that were lucky enough to attend the inaugural year of our Kindergarten. In the 12 years that has elapsed since then, our Kindy staff have fashioned what is truly a ‘child’s garden’ that impacts the lives of all who pass through. Although I am writing this for a secondary school audience, it is important to cast back and celebrate the foundation stones in the educational experience of so many of our students.
A quality kindergarten experience is crucial as the foundation for a successful school experience. This formative stage sets the tone for a child’s entire academic journey, influencing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Our skilled kindergarten teachers play a pivotal role in this process, cultivating a nurturing and stimulating environment that fosters a love for learning. They make an enormous difference in the lives of these students.
Kindergarten, (and Pre-Kindy), is often a child’s first structured educational experience. Here, children learn essential foundation skills such as literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking through play-based activities. These early experiences are designed to be age-appropriate and relevant, harnessing the natural curiosity of young minds. By designing intentional play-based learning experiences, our staff help children develop an enthusiasm about education, which can last a lifetime.
Without stating the obvious, our kindergarten teachers and learning assistants are not just caregivers – they are highly trained professionals with expertise in early childhood education. They understand the developmental milestones of young children and tailor their teaching strategies to meet each student’s unique needs. Without a bank of prior knowledge from previous years as students, they are often the first to unearth the learning needs and strengths in these children. What is more, their engagement with the families of our ‘Kindy kids’ sets the scene for trusting parenting partnerships that will endure throughout their time at St Stephen’s School.
In addition to academic skills, kindergarten also places an enormous emphasis on social and emotional learning. Children learn to interact with their peers, share, take turns, and resolve conflicts. These social skills are just as important as academic ones, as they lay the groundwork for effective communication and collaboration in later years. Teachers model and reinforce positive behaviours and language, helping children build self-confidence and resilience.
The impact of a quality kindergarten experience extends beyond the classroom. Studies have shown that children who attend high-quality early education programs are more likely to perform well in school, graduate, and pursue higher education. Publications such as this one from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University support this idea and remind us of the important fact that brains are built over time, from the bottom up.
I am so proud of our Kindergarten and am lucky to be able to see how important it is in the context of our early primary school years and beyond. I am taking this opportunity to thank the dedicated staff who cultivate this special place.
Bennet Andrews, Head of Campus
What’s coming up at Carramar
with Mrs Sarah Stockton-Rice, Deputy Head of Secondary
Term 4 is jam packed with events for every year group. Our 2025 Year 7s will attend their Induction Day. This is a really important day where we welcome our new Year 7 students with an orientation to help them settle into secondary school life. The 2025 House Captains are preparing games and other activities for our new Year 7s.
Year 8 Camp to Rottnest. An exciting adventure where students will explore the natural beauty of Rottnest Island, engage in team-building activities, and learn about the local environment.
Year 9 students will attend their camp, designed to foster camaraderie and personal growth among Year 9 students through various outdoor activities and challenges.
Year 10 are looking forward to the Spring Soiree at Mindarie Marina. A beautiful dinner dance and a night to remember for the students.
Our Year 11s undertaking exams are in the final stages of exam prep. We wish them well for these assessments. After exams, the Year 11s will enjoy their Year 11 Retreat. A time for reflection and personal development, where students can focus on their goals and build stronger connections with their peers.
Our newly elected House Captains will be commissioned at our upcoming Awards Assembly. These young leaders are making preparations for the Captain’s Challenge, a time for team building, kayaking and hiking.
In Week 5, our Fusion Art Exhibition opens. This showcase of creative talents is a spectacular event, displaying the work of our youngest students all the way through to Year 12.
This term is packed with exciting and enriching activities for all year groups!
Parenting tip
Thanks to Mr Russell Gilchrist, Deputy Head of Secondary – Care (Duncraig) for this piece.
Looking after yourself
Looking after your emotional wellbeing can help you navigate some of the challenges of raising teenagers. The following ideas are taken from https://raisingchildren.net.au/ The Australian Parenting website. This site suggests ways to help you to Look after your own wellbeing while parenting teenagers. Consider the following.
- Keeping things in perspective can help with this. For example, if you’re having an argument with your child, you could try asking yourself, ‘Do we really need to fight about this? Can I let this one go?’ When you let go of small issues, you save your energy for more important issues like your child’s health, safety and wellbeing.
- Looking for positives can help with your emotional wellbeing too. For example, if your child offers to help someone out, you might say to yourself, ‘Nice – I’m glad I’ve taught my child to think about others like that’. It’s time to congratulate yourself on all the good work you’ve done to get your child to this stage.
- Activities like mindfulness, muscle relaxation and breathing exercises can help you learn to calm down and relax. This is good for your wellbeing generally, and it can also be useful in challenging situations. For example, these strategies can help you manage natural and common emotions like stress, anxiety and even anger in healthy ways.
- Family rituals can build family togetherness and wellbeing. They can help you all feel positive about your family relationships. And rituals help teenagers feel loved and part of the family. No matter how bored they might seem, teenagers find rituals comforting. Examples might include a regular Sunday night dinner, regular family outings or religious ceremonies.
- Self-compassion helps you be kind to yourself as you navigate the challenges of raising teenagers. Self-compassion is good for you, because it reduces stress and anxiety. And it’s good for your child, because you can better support your child when you’re feeling good yourself. Self-compassion also sets a great example for your child.
Campus highlights
Mr Lilly’s Year 10 Outdoor Education students hitting the bulls eye …. well, nearly!
Winners are grinners, clearly! Congratulations to all our award winners!
Dates for your diary
Remember you can always visit the St Stephen’s School calendar for key dates and full details of the below events.
Join us for a wonderful evening of family-friendly fun!
– Food trucks
– market stalls
– live entertainment
– face painting, and
– a cuddly animal farm!
Opening night – Tuesday 5 November
Please join us at 6.30pm in the Primary Forum for the official opening before we all make our way to the Tech Hub to enjoy the vast array of amazing student works on display!
If you can’t make it to Opening Night then make sure you drop in before Tuesday 12 November, any school day between 8am and 4pm.