Carramar Secondary Snapshot

IT’S ALMOST HOLIDAYS – HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN! As we approach the end of another busy term, I am reminded of the importance rest, to relax and revitalise. The bible reminds us in Isaiah 40:28-31“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” God understands that we do tire and sometimes even burn out. In these times, we can be assured that God is there to support and uphold us.

The July holidays allow both students and staff to re-energise for the second half of the academic year. It is important that we each take the opportunity to do what brings us happiness, joy and brings a sense of purpose and value. Catching up with friends, going to the movies, visiting the local skate park or simply “hanging out” and connecting, is a vital aspect of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

So, these holidays I encourage all our families to celebrate a well-earned rest. Reports will soon be released, and early next term parent interviews will provide opportunity for families to discuss their academic progress with teachers. Semester 2 provides an opportunity for a fresh start and I encourage all students to refocus and set new goals for Semester 2.

So, on behalf of St Stephen’s Carramar, may I wish all families a wonderful rest. Enjoy the break and we look forward to seeing you soon.

God bless.

Russell Gilchrist (Dean of Parresia)

YEAR 9 OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMP

The Year 9 Outdoor Education group attended Kaadadjan on the 9 and 10 of June as part of their Semester 1 assessment. They hiked from Dwellingup into the campground, carrying all their equipment they needed for the two days. Despite the weather forecast, the students were blessed with blue skies and were able to sit back and appreciate all that Kaadadjan has to offer. Using the skills they learnt during class, they set up their tents and cooked themselves a nutritious meal with their trangias and played some camp games. The following day the group hiked back out of the campsite and returned to Dwellingup. The camp was extremely successful and all students have made some lifelong memories.

Stephanie Ransom – Health & Physical Education

FRENCH IMMERSION DAY

On Friday 24^th June, students of French in Years 9 to 12 took part in the first ever Carramar French Immersion Day.

The language and culture of France and the French speaking world was top of the menu for the day as students enjoyed a variety of activities to build cultural and linguistic understanding.

After a delicious French breakfast of les croissants and la confiture maison (home made jam) washed down with le jus de pomme (apple juice) and le jus d’orange (orange juice), students worked together to create posters to answer the question ‘pourquoi apprendre le français ?’ (why learn French?). Much discussion and ideas were flowing, and all done just using French with one another.

La cuisine was next on the menu as students prepared a French lunch with baguettes, du jambon (ham) and du fromage (cheese) followed by freshly cooked crêpes.

After lunch in a local park, and a fiercely fought pétanque party, the students played a board game which kept their linguistic skills sharp with questions such as ‘ give 3 pieces of advice when going on holiday, and name 5 fruits in French’.

The day concluded with a viewing of the award winning French film ‘Les Choristes’ (the Chorus).

It was wonderful to see students deepening their cultural and linguistic understanding and working across year levels to celebrate and strengthen their knowledge of France and the French language.

Merci Madame Kuntz for creating this day of immersion which was a learning experience the students will never forget.

Nicola Harris and Laurence Kuntz – Teachers of French

SSWA SNR VOLLEYBALL

St Stephen’s Carramar competed in the N/E division of the SSWA volleyball championships on Friday 24 June. It was a great day and all our teams competed really hard and came away with some great results. Both the boys and girls A division teams finished in 4^th place.

Adam Dwyer – Health & Physical Education

ART WORK IN PROGRESS

St Stephen’s alumnus and current Art Technician, Tessa Dorotich, is at it again – leaving her creative mark on the St Stephen’s landscape. This time in Science.

Tessa has created an innovative underwater scene, incorporating surprising elements from a range of Science disciplines.

Come up to Science and have a look at her amazing work.

Elizabeth Kirby – HOLA Science

COUNTDOWN TO CREATE

There’s just a few days left to register your interest in entering the St Stephen’s School Alumni Exhibition! If you are an Alumni and budding artist or professional, we would love to hear from you and include your piece in the exhibition. Contact Tessa Dorotich (Carramar ’15) to express your interest or find out more about sponsorship opportunities – tessa.dorotich@ststephens.wa.edu.au

MAKURU MUSIC

Carramar musicians celebrated the change of seasons at the Makuru Music Showcase, delighting the audience with wonderful performances throughout the evening. From classical instrumental pieces, to captivating vocal ensembles and a rocking rendition of ‘Life is a Highway’ our Primary and Secondary musicians showcased their amazingly diverse talents on stage.

SSWA JNR NETBALL

St Stephen’s School had two Year 8-10 netball teams make it through to the elimination finals at the Fremantle Netball Centre. It was a challenging day with some great displays of netball. Both teams had a win but fell short to make it through to the next round. Well done girls!

Stephanie Ransom – Health & Physical Education

AI SEMINAR FOR FEMALE ATHLETES

We are very fortunate to be able to host Professor Sophia Nimphius PhD at Athletic Institute.
Professor Sophia will discuss the menstrual cycle and how it can be seen as a barometer for health.
This important seminar is highly valuable for all females who will benefit from the science and psychology behind the menstrual cycle and how to control it to your benefit.
This one-off special event is free for AI members and only $20 for non-members.

To book, visit https://athleticinstitute.com.au/product/sophia_nimphius_seminar/

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

SCHOOL BASED IMMUNISATION PROGRAM

School Based Immunisation Program – using VaccinateWA

The School Based Immunisation Program (SBIP) is a well-established service that offers National Immunisation Program immunisations to students in Years 7 and 10.

This year, the SBIP will also offer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible students in Years 7 through to 12 at selected schools as part of the regular schedule of immunisations based within schools.

The VaccinateWA system is now to be used by parents/carers to complete the vaccination consent form in order to consent to their children/dependents receiving vaccinations whilst at school. (Note: VaccinateWA is not being used to book appointments for the School Based Immunisation Program).

To provide consent for vaccination, the first step is to register the child/dependant on VaccinateWA. Log into your VaccinateWA account and follow the steps to “Add or manage dependants”. If you do not have a VaccinateWA account, you will need to create one for yourself first.

Step by step information for using VaccinateWA is available on the HealthyWA website. Please call 13 COVID (13 26843) if you have any technical issues with VaccinateWA.

If you are unable to complete the online consent form – and you have not already handed in a paper consent form – the school will have forms available for you to use. If the information you provide needs to be clarified, you may be contacted by a staff member from the vaccination team.

If you have already completed and returned a paper consent form, the SBIP team are currently uploading the information into the VaccinateWA system. This process may take several weeks, and you will receive an email confirming once it has been done.

In writing this short blog, my encouragement to students and families is to establish in your home and life, a culture of “deep reading”. In today’s world, it is so easy to slip into a world of digital information and social media that specialise in short grabs of information, as we click from page to page and screen to screen. It is a current culture that is a recipe for quick, shallow reading. On the other hand, entering into the world of a substantial book facilitates “deep reading”. Deep reading, the immersion of one’s self in a complex narrative story, will develop empathy, critical thinking, inferential thinking and an exploration of personal identity amongst a diversity of ethics and values.

Over the years, educational research has emphasised that time spent reading books—in other words, reading practice—has an exaggerated “pay-off” with regards to overall academic achievement. Indeed, time spent reading is a more accurate predictor of academic progress than either socioeconomic status or ethnicity. Studies show that students who reported reading more pages daily in school and for homework had higher average scale scores than students who reported reading fewer pages daily.

Developing the skill of deep reading will require purpose and practise. Practice is generally recognized as an essential component of any learning process and emphasizing the role of practice and hard work (rather than fixed intelligence) in academic accomplishment should be a primary goal. Purposeful, practiced reading builds vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, writing, and higher-order thinking skills. This in turn, builds motivation and increases performance.

It is for these reasons that we continue to promote Accelerated Reader as an essential component in our lower school curriculum. In this programme, students are presented with a structured framework that encourages “deep reading” and holds them accountable for setting a goal with regard to their reading accomplishments and progress. Teaching staff report increased skills of analysis, interpretation and analysis in student work samples.

So, lets follow the literary research. Perhaps, as the holidays approach, encourage your child to visit the school library, approach their friendly librarian for some guidance and embark further, on the journey of ‘deep reading” with a selection of holiday reading material. Encouragement today, to establish a daily habit of reading habit, will provide a lifetime of benefits.

Stephen Meagher (Deputy Head of Secondary)

YEAR 12 RETREAT

The Year 12’s took part in their Retreat last week at the Swan Valley Adventure Centre. Students participated in a variety of activities which included canoeing, the flying fox, disc golf and a variety of group challenges.  There were a variety of presentations (including some alumni) and time for reflection on their school journey. The Retreat culminated in the students taking part in an ‘Amazing Race’ through the city and Leederville before heading back to school.

Mark Batten (Dean of Makaria)

YEAR 9 ART GALLERY EXCURSION

The Year 9 Art students were taken to the Perth CBD today on a half day excursion. The first half of the trip was spent at Van Gogh Alive – the Vincent Van Gogh experience.  Students could put themselves into Van Gogh’s most iconic artworks, from his bedroom in St Remy, to the twinkling lights of Starry Night.

The experience features over 20 large screens that takes you on a journey of the artist’s works. From his darker more unknown early Dutch works to his vast collection of self-portraits, to the vast and open landscapes of the south of France.

We then travelled to the Art Gallery of WA, where we viewed the 2022 Pulse Perspectives, as well as the current contemporary indigenous exhibitions.

A wonderful visual adventure! Year 10s will be going on Monday 20 June  but will also part take in a workshop at the gallery.

Lesley Nation (HOLA – The Arts)

P.A.R.T.Y PROGRAM

On Wednesday 8 June a group of 20 Year 10 students attended The P.A.R.T.Y (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) Program at Royal Perth Hospital (R.P.H). The ultimate goal of the P.A.R.T.Y Program is to reduce the number of youth who suffer traumatic injury because of poor choices with regards to taking risks. The P.A.R.T.Y Program seeks to increase knowledge and change attitudes and behaviours. It aims to promote injury prevention through reality education, enabling youth to recognise risk and make informed choices about certain activities and behaviours.

The students spent a full day following what happens to an injury survivor at R.P.H. During the day the students met the people that care for them. Doctors, Nurses and Physiotherapists described the painful journey of a trauma patient. The students were also taken though the Intensive Care Unit and to view the helipad. They learnt about head and spinal injuries and had hands-on experience with some of the equipment used in trauma care and rehabilitation. The students also got to meet to 2 injury survivors who spoke about the choices and events that led to their injury and what their lives are like now.

Parts of the day were very confronting and the students managed this with maturity and respect and hopefully took away some very important life lessons.

Katie Farmer (Nurse)

Stephanie Ransom (Teacher – Health & PE)

SCIENCE

In Science the Year 8’s have been learning about the cardiovascular system. In their journey of discovery the students dissected and examined sheep heart’s.

Elizabeth Kirby (HOLA – Science)

ACC CROSS COUNTRY 

On Thursday 2 June approximately 60 students represented the school at the ACC Cross Country carnival. Mr Dwyer  sent the entire team the following message.

Congratulations on your effort yesterday. It was awesome to see all of you representing the school in the pursuit of a common goal, to make qualification for the final standings ladder. I am very happy to announce that we did it!!!! It is an amazing achievement that less than a third of the competing schools were able to achieve. It is even more incredible when you take into consideration the size of our school and the amount of you who were asked to compete outside of your age group. To see all of you showing the determination to not give up and the smiles on your faces after it was all done was a treat. I am very proud to announce that of the 77 schools competing yesterday we finished in 24th position. A truly remarkable result.

I recently had the opportunity to run a polling booth for the recent Federal election. It was an intense day and at times stressful, but I must admit that being part of the whole democratic process was meaningful. Whilst there were and always will be those who choose not to engage and who don’t want to vote, I witnessed many people in the lead up to the this election who were passionate and who could articulate clear reasons for their choices.

As a HASS teacher, I have had the privilege to teach civics and citizenship and something that makes me feel positive about our future, is that today’s students strike me as more informed, aware and worldly than any generation before them. Their access to information is better now than it has ever been before.

Today’s students are navigating a world that is arguably more volatile than at any point since the end of the second world war. They are enduring a pandemic, worsening effects of climate change and a potential war between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. So, it’s no wonder they’re eager to have more of a say in how these crises and the future of their world is managed.

Our job as teachers, parents, and the wider community, is to continue to foster such engagement; to encourage them to actively participate in decision making processes where possible, to question the status quo when required and to know that they can change the world in positive ways.

All changes begin when an individual or a group believe in their own agency. Let us do what we can to develop that.

Mark Batten (Dean of Makaria)

LESS WASTE, FEED MORE

St Stephen’s School food cart collects surplus food from retailers at Lakeside Shopping Centre at the end of the trading day to provide to those in our community that are suffering from financial hardship. We are seeking volunteers in our community to join our team and give a couple of hours weekly, fortnightly, or whatever suits your availability. Email donna.lund@ststephens.wa.edu.au  for further details.

NETBALL NEWS

Congratulations to the Carramar Year 7-10 girls who recently competed in the High School Netball Competition at the Perth Netball Association Centre. All five teams were extremely successful on the day, with two teams qualifying for the championship round. Great job girls!

MAKURU MUSIC SHOWCASE

SPOTLIGHT ON READING

Dr Judith Seaboyer, a Senior Lecturer in Literary Studies at the University of Queensland was surprised that even with people living such busy lives, Australians read regularly and a lot of people read as many as 10 books in a year.

From ‘Adults Engaging in Reading for Pleasure’ Teacher Magazine (03.07.2022)

THAT WINNING FEELING

Well done to both our Senior and Junior AFL teams both having wins in their recent games. The Seniors had a convincing 50 point win over Greenwood SHS and the Juniors had a 10 point win over Wanneroo SHS

Adam Dwyer

AUSTRALIAN GIRLS CHOIR

Look no further than the Australian Girls Choir (AGC) because we encourage, challenge and inspire girls as they learn to sing, dance and perform. School aged girls are invited to come along to our Open Day on Saturday June 18 to try our fun and inclusive classes and learn more about being part of the AGC! Please visit our website to register to attend our free Open Day: https://ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAY ATHLETICS CLINIC

School Holiday Athletics Clinic for boys and girls aged 8 to 16 years. Tues 5th & Wed 6^th July 2022 . WA Athletics Stadium. 9am-3pm. $95 per day. Or $170 for both days. Includes a T-Shirt or Shoe Bag or Cap and also a certificate. CHOOSE ANY 4 EVENTS PER DAY! More Info: http://sprintingfast.com/

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

Music

Music has always been a huge part of my life. As a child of the 70’s and 80’s, family road trips were defined by music; first ABBA, then Madness, then Duran Duran. However as I’ve grown older, my taste in music has changed. Today my playlist consists mainly of rock music (who doesn’t enjoy the Foo Fighters) with a smattering of Bieber (don’t judge!)

A love of music is something my husband and I have passed on to our children. Both play instruments and this year, our son graduated from WAAPA with a degree in Contemporary Music. Music is always played in our house and the volume is always loud. Our children are grown adults and their musical taste reflects who they are as individuals but our influence as parents can definitely be recognised.

Music brings back so many memories. The first few notes of a song or an awesome guitar riff can instantly take me back in time and generates very powerful memories and emotions. This past weekend we were painting our kitchen and as always, the music was loud. Our son came in and commented, “this is the soundtrack of my childhood”.

When we moved to Perth 11 years ago with two teenagers in tow, we knew that the teenage years in a new country would bring some challenges. What we didn’t foresee was the number of concerts we would have the opportunity to go to with our children. We have been fortunate enough to go as a family to see so many favourite artists, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Whatever else was going on in our lives would be put on hold for a few hours, bringing an escape we were all grateful for. We have a ‘concert selfie collage’ on our kitchen wall. I see these pictures every day and I am grateful for the time we spent together, sharing our love of music.

I encourage you to put on some of your favourite music. Where does it take you?

Sarah Stockton-Rice ( Dean of Charis)

YEAR 10 HUMAN MOVEMENT

The Year 10 Human Movement class have begun their golf lessons under the tutelage of club professional Jim Danas at Sun City Golf Club. The students are progressing along nicely on the driving range with a round of golf to happen in a couple of weeks. This gives the students a great chance to take some of the concepts from Exercise Physiology, Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics that are learnt in the classroom and put them into a practical setting.

Adadm Dwyer (Sports Coordinator)

YEAR 8 HOME ECONOMICS

It’s back to Kindy for our Year 8 Home Economics Students.

The Secondary students are observing what a four year old can learn through play. Their next task will be to make an ‘I Spy Bag’ then take their product back to Kindy and test the effectiveness of their toy.

Our Kindy students loved having the ‘big kids’ play with them, whilst the Secondary students certainly enjoyed interacting with the littlies.

Kerry Cross (Home Economics)

SCHOOL BASED IMMUNISATION PROGRAM

The School Based Immunisation Program (SBIP) will be offering the COVID-19 vaccine from Monday, 23 May 2022. This will be for school years 7 to 12.

Dates for this offer have yet to be confirmed but in anticipation, the SBIP team have requested you register your child or dependent on VaccinateWA. Information regarding how to register is below

Registering for a child or dependant on VaccinateWA

How do I register my dependant for the School Based Immunisation Program?

1. Log in to your VaccinateWA (external site) account. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one first. From your landing page, click on the ‘Manage dependants’ button.
2. Click ‘Register Dependant’ to create a new account for your dependant.
3. The ‘Personal information’ screen will be displayed, and you will be required to answer questions regarding personal demographic details of the dependant.
4. You will then be taken to your dependant’s VaccinateWA landing page, where all the vaccination programs the dependant is eligible for will be displayed, which may include School Based Immunisation Programs.
5. You will be able to click the “Apply now” link against the vaccination program you wish to apply for. Upon clicking this, your dependant’s dashboard for that vaccination program will be displayed, outlining the 3 steps that need to be completed.
6. Complete Step 1: ‘About me’, which requires you to enter the school name and year group. Start typing in the name of your dependant’s school and select it from a drop-down list. Select ‘Save and continue’ once details have been completed. Note: If your dependant is home schooled they will not be eligible for the School Based Immunisation Program.
7. Complete Step 2: ‘Health Questionnaire’. Once complete, click ‘Save and continue’.
8. Complete Step 3: ‘Consent’. This step will ask you to select a Vaccination Plan, outlining the details of the vaccines you consent to your dependant receiving. Once you have selected a plan, please click ‘Submit’ which concludes the registration process.

Katie Farmer (School Nurse)

FUNDRAISING WITH ENTERTAINMENT

‍Support our fundraising and enjoy 100s of everyday savings!

ST STEPHEN’S SCHOOL WINTER BALL

We are excited to officially launch the St Stephen’s School Winter  Ball for 2022!

Time: 7:00pm to 12:00am

Book now: https://loom.ly/h1x9WB8

ARTS ASSEMBLY MAKURU

SPOTLIGHT ON READING

According to research Dr Judith Seaboyer advises that what deep reading does for us is it helps to keep those neural pathways working well and it helps us to keep learning more about the world. It keeps us open-minded, it makes us hospitable to other ideas and so on

From ‘Adults Engaging in reading for Pleasure’ Teacher Magazine  (03.07.2022)

Amanda Roberts

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAY ATHLETICS CLINIC

School Holiday Athletics Clinic for boys and girls aged 8 to 16 years. Tues 5th & Wed 6^th July 2022 . WA Athletics Stadium. 9am-3pm. $95 per day. Or $170 for both days. Includes a T-Shirt or Shoe Bag or Cap and also a certificate. CHOOSE ANY 4 EVENTS PER DAY! More Info: http://sprintingfast.com/

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

Last week I had the privilege of being involved in the ANZAC service in the Perth CBD. This day is one that brings so much pride to so many, a day where we reflect on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It is a day where we acknowledge the fallen and remember how blessed we are to live in a country like Australia. A country where we appreciate the freedoms and privilege of a democratic country. The freedom to vote for our country’s leaders, the privilege of living in a place where medical care is accessible to all and the security of living in safe environment. Our country is far from perfect, but we are indeed very blessed to live in Australia and of course one of our greatest privileges, is the access to excellent education for our children.

So, Term 2 is well and truly here, and with a new term comes new opportunities to reset and reflect on how the academic year is progressing. For many, Term 2 is both a busy and significant time of the year. For our senior students in Year 11 & 12, Term 2 is a time of examinations. Our Year 7 & 9 students begin NAPLAN testing, whilst the Year 8s & 10s must continue to work at their very best, as they plan for appropriate subject choices in 2023! Amongst all this and many, many more academic activities, with COVID restrictions easing, camps, service-learning activities, sporting competitions and many other activities are returning to our normal school routine! Yes Term 2 promises to be a busy term – they all are – but I want to encourage all our students and the St Stephen’s community at large, to embrace the busyness as an opportunity. The ANZAC spirit of mateship, of giving of your best for others, is a great example for us each and a reminder that we should make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.

I for one am very thankful for every freedom that has been forwarded to me by those who sacrificed their own lives so that we could live and thrive in our country today. I pray that we each make the most of the opportunities provided for us by those who fought for our freedom.

Russell Gilchrist (Dean of Parresia)

STEM DESIGN CHALLENGE – YEAR 7 SCIENCE

In the final week of Term 1, Year 7 students tackled a design challenge in Science. Working in pairs, students were given 10 marshmallows and 40 sticks of spaghetti, and, using only these materials, they had to build the tallest tower they could in 20 minutes. The tallest tower was built by Noah Hancock and Eishan Patel. Well done, boys.

Elizabeth Kirby

SPOTLIGHT ON READING

Researcher, Dr Judith Seaboyer says that unless the cognitive skills required for deep reading are developed and nurtured, new generations of readers may not learn to venture beyond the shallows of the reading experience.

Seaboyer adds that adult readers can be easily distracted by the availability of digital information, consuming media in short grabs as they click from page to page. Deep reading, in contrast, is a learned skill that requires the development of particular neural networks.

From ‘Adults Engaging in reading for Pleasure’ Teacher Magazine  (03.07.2022)

Amanda Roberts

ANZAC DAY 2022

Silence rang through the grounds of the Carramar campus during the ANZAC Day commemorative service held on Friday of last week.

Lest we forget.

 

MOVING ON

Alumnus and Carramar Music Tutor Gina Craven (Gina Bella on stage, class of 2014) released an EP last weekend called ‘Moving On’ (found on all music platforms). It’s an engaging mix of genres which highlights Gina’s multi-faceted skill, and she has written, recorded and mixed it all herself! Congratulations Gina!

More info is on her Facebook or Instagram under Gina Bella Music.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Sfu6BuOkCuFxuBpbY6Im2…

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/album/moving-on-ep/1616915809

Bandcamp:  https://ginabella.bandcamp.com/album/moving-on-ep

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist…

ST STEPHEN’S SCHOOL WINTER BALL

We are excited to officially launch the St Stephen’s School Winter  Ball for 2022!

Time: 7:00pm to 12:00am

Book now: https://loom.ly/h1x9WB8

MOTHER’S DAY

To all our St Stephens mother’s we wish you a special Mother’s Day

Our student community is to be commended for maintaining a focussed and dedicated approach toward their studies in the midst of an unsettled wider community. Despite the imposition of Covid-related protocols, increased awareness of international conflict and general social unrest, students have exhibited wonderful resilience, maintaining a focussed and steady approach to their life at school.

As Term One comes to completion and our school community heads into the holiday period, it is an opportunity for each student to pause for a time of reflection on their Term One efforts, and then, to plan with purpose for the term that lies ahead. Self-reflection is a prime skill and simple but effective questions that can be asked include:

• In Term One, did I set realistic goals?
• Did I keep my goals in focus?
• Did I work my hardest?
• What have I learnt about myself in Term One?
• What do I need to change for Term Two?
• What do I want to achieve in Term Two?
• What was my contribution to my School community this term?

A mindset that practises reflection and self-examination will facilitate personal growth and success. Time taken to affirm existing aspirations or to establish a new direction or set of goals will be time well spent.

As well, during the holidays, take time to consider Easter and its affirming message for each of us. This message is summarised for us in our St. Stephen’s School crest which incorporates the symbols of The Uniting Church in Australia.

• The Cross speaks of Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of our sin and bears witness to the limitless love of God for each of us.
• The Thorns of our Lord speak of Christ’s willingness to suffer derision and martyrdom.
• The Bowl speaks of service to the world.
• The Sunrise represents the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life.
• The Dove reminds us that because of Jesus, we have peace with God.
• The Flames of Pentecostal fire indicate the active presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of our School.

It is hoped, that as we reflect upon these symbols of God’s love toward us, we will continue to live out our school motto to “Serve God, Serve One Another”.

Stephen Meagher (Deputy Head of Secondary)

SPOTLIGHT ON READING

Researcher, Dr Judith Seaboyer says that unless the cognitive skills required for deep reading are developed and nurtured, new generations of readers may not learn to venture beyond the shallows of the reading experience.

‘When you immerse yourself in a book, the neuroscience tells us that what happens in the brain is a little bit like what happens when you meditate. It actually helps us to relax and to think and to move into some kind of other space. It’s not an escapist space, but it’s an enriching space.’

From ‘Adults Engaging in Reading for Pleasure’ Teacher Magazine (03.07.2022)

Amanda Roberts

PROPEL PROGRAM

Carramar’s Propel Program launched with Year 11 students taking part in sessions with Principal Donella Beare and Head of Campus Brett Roberts about effective leadership, culture and legacy. They also spent time with former Propel participants who discussed how the program prepared them for their leadership roles in Year 12. The launch was the start of the program’s workshop sessions across Term 2 and 3 which will focus on communication, group dynamics, conflict negotiation and event planning.

Craig Thomas

ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Last week the Yr 7 and Yr 8 Athlete Development program students had their first session with Athletic Institute instructors. A series of functional movement tests were conducted that will provide the basis for their upcoming training programs.  Next term will see the students venture out to the AI facility where they will begin learning about how to condition their bodies for the demands of their sports.

Craig Thomas

COOKING FOR THE SALVOS

The delicious smell of home-cooked spaghetti bolognese wafted through Carramar’s Tech Hub last week when Year 9s took to the kitchen to cook up meals for The Salvation Army WA Doorways Program. A big thank you to SecondBite for donating the ingredients!

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Resilience is one of those commonly used terms and I often hear people make the statement, ‘kids these days don’t seem to have any resilience!’. Whilst this is quite the sweeping statement, what I do know, is that we all go through difficult circumstances and stressful life events. Whilst I would hope that as adults, we have developed strategies to cope, our kids are still in the thick of developing these as they navigate their way through adolescence. Many of these strategies can be learned and modelled by us as adults.

Whilst we would all like to know what the instant fix is, the truth is that the solutions implemented need to be given time to have the desired effect. Consistency is key.

The link below is a short video on some background on the topic of resilience and importantly, some practical strategies to help our kids implement and use ourselves, to both improve our resilience and wellbeing.

This is the first in a series of parent seminars that the Carramar Leadership team would like to offer as a resource for our parent and student community. Other topics to follow include:

• Responsible use of IT
• On-line gambling
• Brain development and organisation
• Drugs and Alcohol
• Sexualisation of women
• The need to move and
• Managing stress

Link to Resilience Seminar: https://www.loom.com/share/dc1ff678403543e9851fe84657022a8a?sharedAppSource=personal_library 

Mark Batten ( Dean of Makaria)

COMPASS DAY

Compass Day marked the official start of the Compass Program for Year 9 Carramar students on campus last week. Students took part in sessions with former Hockeyroos player Rachael Lynch and Ed Surry from CRU West about resilience, thankfulness and goal setting. Rock climbing, team strategy games and solo time in the second half of the day helped students grow and reflect physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Compass Program will continue to run throughout the year, focusing on the journey to adulthood for Year 9’s.

SPOTLIGHT ON READING

Reading is a benefit at any age for a wide variety of reasons. Some specifics about why reading really is good for you are: reading strengthens your brain, extends vocabulary, enhances knowledge, develops analytical skills, reduces stress, develops focus and strengthens empathy by opening our eyes to other lives and perspectives.

Reading is a marker of lifelong learning. The School supports reading with well-resourced libraries and specific reading programs across all year groups. As part of our support for reading we are spotlighting the reading of our School leaders.

Amanda Roberts

STEM ONE-DAY WORKSHOP

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

Motivation & Commitment

I have been a gym member for most of my life. I’ve been one of the many people who paid their gym membership but did not use the facilities. I’ve been frustrated with myself for ‘paying for nothing’. But when I dig deeper into this comment, I wasn’t committed. I had the motivation to join the gym and set goals for myself, but I was not committing to the plan. I was breaking the promises I had made to myself.

It’s easy to set goals for ourselves and be inspired after witnessing the accomplishment of others. We may be motivated in the beginning and that motivation may see us through the first few weeks. But what happens when motivation wanes and getting up with a 5am alarm turns into hitting the snooze button several times. That’s when we have a choice to make and that’s where commitment comes in.

Commitment goes beyond motivation. Motivation may have started you on the path, but commitment will lead to choices that can help you reach a goal. Commitment is the action it takes to reach the goals set by motivation. Commitment keeps us going past distractions, past failures until we achieve success.

In a culture where we hear stories of people achieving sporting, academic or career-based goals, we often want to “skip to the good part”, the success. But by doing this, we are skipping past the hard work, the sacrifices, and the reality of what it actually takes to reach a goal. We are skipping the valuable lessons learned along the way, of committing to an action and seeing it through to fruition without giving up.

“Commitment is what transforms a promise into a reality. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over scepticism” Abraham Lincoln

Sarah Stockton-Rice (Dean of Charis)

SPOTLIGHT ON READING

Reading is a benefit at any age for a wide variety of reasons. Some specifics about why reading really is good for you are: reading strengthens your brain, extends vocabulary, enhances knowledge, develops analytical skills, reduces stress, develops focus and strengthens empathy by opening our eyes to other lives and perspectives.

Reading is a marker of lifelong learning. The School supports reading with well-resourced libraries and specific reading programs across all year groups. As part of our support for reading we are spotlighting the reading of our School leaders.

Amanda Roberts

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN SCIENCE

In recent weeks, Year 7 and Year 8 Science students have been learning about the wonders of Chemistry.

Year 7’s made ooblek – a non-Newtonian fluid known for its dual personality. Prod it gently and it will flow like a fluid; give it a whack and it will feel like a solid surface.

Year 8 students are learning about physical and chemical change. Students witnessed some exciting (even magical!) Chemistry during class this week.

Year 7’s are learning about the states of matter and saw condensation in action when they made a cloud in a jar in their Science lesson.

SEEKING DONATIONS

Can you help the Mowamjum Aboriginal Community make hill trolleys??

We are seeking donations of old bike helmets, knee and elbow pads to assist the students in Mowamjum community to experience the thrill of hill trolleys.

No hills in Mowamjum!! It doesn’t matter, they have that covered, all they need is the resources.

Please donate if you have any of the above items at home and you are no longer using them. Donations can be given to your teacher for collection.

Donna Lund – Service Learning Coordinator

 SECONDARY ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The State Government through the Western Australian Department of Education provides an allowance to assist eligible families with secondary schooling costs.
Parents/guardians must apply for the Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS) each school year (annually) – applications do not carry forward to future years.
To be eligible for the allowance the parent/guardian must hold a Services Australia (Centrelink) or Veterans’ Affairs card that represents a statement of income for the family.

The allowance consists of two components:
 $115 Clothing Allowance paid directly to the parent/guardian.
 $235 Educational Program Allowance paid directly to the school.
Application is made by the parent or guardian for student/s enrolled in Years 7–12 studying a full-time secondary course at a Western Australian non government (private) school.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Parent or Guardian must hold one of the following cards:
 Centrelink Health Care Card
 Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
 Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

PLEASE NOTE: The only Veterans’ Affairs Card that meets the criteria is a blue card that is issued each year and expires in December each year. This card is income means tested.

Further Information and application forms can be obtained from Reception.

Applications close: 8 April 2022

STEM ONE DAY WORKSHOP

St Stephen’s School has no affiliation with this company and the post is simply an ad for their services if required.

Doing a Bradbury” – an unexpected or unusual success –

2022 Winter Olympics Reflections

Sunday night saw the completion of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Sixteen days of competition, including times of heartache & pain, incredible achievements, pride and at times pure joy. Throughout the past 2 weeks, secondary students have been reflecting on the value of competition and giving your best – accepting challenges as opportunity for growth, rather than being boxed in by fear of failure.

Australia has never been a Winter Olympic powerhouse, but we have seen some wonderful achievements at these Olympics – 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze, our best medal tally ever! For me, these Olympics have reminded me of one particularly amazing achievement by a former Australian Speedskater, Steven Bradbury way back in 2002.

Steven Bradbury won a gold medal in Speed Skating (1000m) in the most amazing circumstances. He won his heat, then in the quarter finals only the first 2 skaters  progress – Bradbury came 3^rd but progressed as the 2^nd skater was disqualified! In the semi-final, only the first 2 skaters progress to the final and during the last lap with Bradbury a long way back, 3 of the other 4 skaters fell over, so Bradbury progressed to the gold medal race. In the final, Bradbury while dead last, well behind the leading 4 skaters by at least 10m, watched in amazement as a collision of skates saw all 4 skaters in front of him fall. Only Bradbury remained, skating on past the disaster zone to win the gold medal. The vision is in the youtube clip below should you wish to remind yourself.

https://youtu.be/vN7ih576VYM

There are many life lessons we can learn from Steven Bradbury’s experience, but I have taken the following lessons from our unexpected Winter Olympic gold medallist.

1. It takes hard work to be successful.

Bradbury spent hours and hours training, over and over and over again just to qualify for the Olympic games.

2. In every adventure, as in everyday living, we all need to overcome different obstacles.

Bradbury overcame many serious injuries and pain. 3 Olympics of heartache were part of his journey. Facing challenges and hard work builds resilience – it doesn’t need to defeat us.

3. You impact others every day with the attitude and effort you bring.

• Bradbury won Australia’s 1^st Gold ever (2002), now 6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze
• From Bradbury’s success others saw possibilities in themselves

4. You can’t win a race, a competition, an audition or a job if you’re not in the event!

Yes – Bradbury was lucky – but he made it to the start line. He said I’ll give it a go and see what happens. Don’t let “what if’s” or the “if only” dictate your life experience. Substitute these statements with “why not” and “absolutely, you bet”

As the 2022 school year is still so very new. I encourage every St Stephen’s student to take every opportunity, to challenge yourself to be involved in every aspect of school life. Invest in your School, in your House, in your Homeroom and in the lives of others within our school. Give of yourself. Your talents. Your skills and have an attitude that says “I will”. With this mindset, I have no doubt that you will be “doing a Bradbury”, that is you will achieve an unexpected or unusual success in much more than you could have possibly imagined.

 Mr Russell Gilchrist (Dean of Parresia)

WINTER OLYMPICS

WORKS OF ART

Carramar Year 11 and 12 Visual Art students have been learning new techniques from the professionals. Last week, they were delighted to attend a practical workshop hosted by award-winning WA visual artist Camilla Loveridge on encaustic wax transfer.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Carramar Secondary students made waves at HBF Arena during the Interhouse Swimming Carnival last week.  Although the carnival had to be run over three separate time slots during the day due to covid restrictions it was an exciting day with students actively participating and showing great sportsmanship. There were great competitive races and plenty of  laughs all round in the novelty races. Parresia lived up to their polar bear mascot taking out the top spot with 2732 points, followed by Makaria (2603) and Charis (2540).

AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT

Over the Christmas break some dedicated students from the Senior Guitar Ensemble were involved in an exciting music project. Year 10 student Nathaniel Walker arranged the theme to the movie ‘Interstellar’ for the ensemble and selected students recorded the work in a professional studio under the direction of their director Mr Darryn Santana. The session was filmed and edited by our Music Tutor and alumnus Ms Gina Craven. This is the product of inspired and motivated students, facilitated by dedicated staff.

Congratulations and thanks to Nathaniel Walker, Charlie Schoeman, Damon Mansfield, Aaron Popich, Liam Gordon, Megan Van Reenen and Noah Carter.

Please click the link below to see the wonderful things our students get up to in their free time, and do congratulate them next time you pass them in the halls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypwPohGDpIU

Michelle Williams (Music teacher)

SECONDARY ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The State Government through the Western Australian Department of Education provides an allowance to assist eligible families with secondary schooling costs.
Parents/guardians must apply for the Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS) each school year (annually) – applications do not carry forward to future years.
To be eligible for the allowance the parent/guardian must hold a Services Australia (Centrelink) or Veterans’ Affairs card that represents a statement of income for the family.

The allowance consists of two components:
 $115 Clothing Allowance paid directly to the parent/guardian.
 $235 Educational Program Allowance paid directly to the school.
Application is made by the parent or guardian for student/s enrolled in Years 7–12 studying a full-time secondary course at a Western Australian non government (private) school.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Parent or Guardian must hold one of the following cards:
 Centrelink Health Care Card
 Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
 Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

PLEASE NOTE: The only Veterans’ Affairs Card that meets the criteria is a blue card that is issued each year and expires in December each year. This card is income means tested.

Further Information and application forms can be obtained from Reception.

Applications close: 8 April 2022

Dear Families, Parents and Carers,

Welcome to 2022!

A new academic year has begun and, with this new year, comes the opportunity to set a new direction; a new course, for 2022. It is a short period during which goals and aspirations can be set to facilitate a healthy outcome for the school year ahead.

Recently, I read an article entitled, “Things I Wish I Knew Sooner”. The article had a list of habits, attitudes and practices that, if adopted, would lead to greater success in the future. The advice that most grabbed my attention was this: “Attach yourself to a mission, a future, and a set of values.” In 2022, this will be our encouragement to each St Stephen’s School student.

To this end, we will encourage students to devote themselves to strong academic progress and mastery in their course of study. We will challenge them to commit to engage with the co-curricular life at St Stephen’s School including, carnivals, Service-Learning, theatre productions, sporting teams, music ensembles and choirs, as well as a variety of academic clubs and competitions. Involvement in these aspects of school life will increase their capacity and their appreciation for community values. Also, in 2022, students will be encouraged to explore their future pursuits in life. A clearly defined, long-term goal can have a significant, positive effect on achievement and well-being.

The school year has begun in a richly diverse manner.  Already, there has been a number of significant events that have occurred. These include:

• The Year 12 School Ball
• The Year 12 Commissioning Service
• 90’s Club / VET High Achievers Assembly
• “Welcome Back” House Assembly
• Year 7 Orientation Day
• School Photos
• Parent Information Evenings for Years 10, 11 and 12

Whilst Covid-related repercussions may impact the school’s agenda, we will continue to focus on our intended and planned quality educational programme for all students and their families. Should adjustments be required, the school will communicate such changes to families in good time.

We embark on 2022 with enthusiasm and good expectation, as we seek to grow young men and women of faith with the capacity and confidence to change the world.  We look to foster maturity, independence, a commitment to purpose and achievement, as well as a heart to Serve God, Serve One Another.

Stephen Meagher (Deputy Head of Secondary)

YEAR 12 BALL

Last Friday night our Year 12 students enjoyed a fabulous evening at the 2022 School Ball. It was a perfect night filled with good food and even better company. Dressed in their suits and glittering ballgowns, they danced the night away at Fraser’s, King’s Park. A truly memorable night.

Sarah Stockton-Rice

CROSS-CURRICULAR PRIMARY-SECONDARY SCIENCE COLLABORATION

Last week, Year 6 students visited the Secondary Science building, in the first of many cross-curricular learning activities facilitated by Mrs Smoker in S2. Year 6’s are learning about Earth and Space this term and, in last week’s activity, created a model of the layers of the Earth using Oreo biscuits, chocolate sauce and M&M’s. Year 6’s had lots of fun with this activity. In fact, one might say, they ate it up!

TOUR OUR SCHOOL

See what St Stephen’s School has to offer your family at our Twilight Tours. We welcome the wider community to register for the tour to explore the campus and facilities. Register here: https://loom.ly/lbXwnvw

AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS

YEAR 8-11 ST STEPHENS SCHOOL DIARIES – DELAYED

There has been a supply chain issue which has led to the diaries being delayed. It is hoped they will arrive by the end of this week.

If you have any further queries please contact Sarah Stockton-Rice.

TRAFFIC CROSSING WARDEN

The WA Police Force Children’s Crossing Unit have advised they have a shortage of Traffic Wardens which has left quite a few crossings being unattended. If any parent/grandparents etc are interested in becoming a Traffic Warden they can contact the Children’s Crossings Unit direct on 6274 8731 for an application pack.  If successful in applying for the position and passing the training, you may be placed at the school crossing, if it is one of the unmanned crossings only. It is also a paid position . It would be highly recommended that any potential candidate on a pension contact Centrelink to discuss.  The current pay rate is around $25.58 per hour – two hours per day/five days per week.

SECONDARY ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The State Government through the Western Australian Department of Education provides an allowance to assist eligible families with secondary schooling costs.
Parents/guardians must apply for the Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS) each school year (annually) – applications do not carry forward to future years.
To be eligible for the allowance the parent/guardian must hold a Services Australia (Centrelink) or Veterans’ Affairs card that represents a statement of income for the family.

The allowance consists of two components:
 $115 Clothing Allowance paid directly to the parent/guardian.
 $235 Educational Program Allowance paid directly to the school.
Application is made by the parent or guardian for student/s enrolled in Years 7–12 studying a full-time secondary course at a Western Australian non government (private) school.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Parent or Guardian must hold one of the following cards:
 Centrelink Health Care Card
 Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
 Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

PLEASE NOTE: The only Veterans’ Affairs Card that meets the criteria is a blue card that is issued each year and expires in December each year. This card is income means tested.

Further Information and application forms can be obtained from Reception.

Applications close: 8 April 2022

MASKS

Please ensure students carry spare masks in their school bags as back up for broken or misplaced masks.