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Plenty to celebrate at St Stephen’s School

Lucy RutherfordSponsored

IT has been a year of celebration at St Stephen’s School.

“This year the school celebrated its 35th year since welcoming our first students on campus and it has been one of reflection, taking stock and looking forward to the future,” principal Donella Beare said.

Among the many celebrations has been that of the Class of 2019.

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“We have had a great cohort of students just graduate from St Stephen’s and they are all set for an exciting future,” Mrs Beare said.

“Some students completed the VET pathway with several already scoring apprenticeships in their chosen field and others securing jobs straight after graduation.

“All of our students worked really hard to round out their schooling, particularly those completing WACE at the end of the year who have just received their results and we are very proud of their determination, resilience and focus.”

St Stephen’s School’s two campuses had a combined ATAR of 82.35, above the reported State average of 81.05.

Twenty-Nine Year 12 students achieved ATAR scores above 90, which sees them ranked inside the top 10 per cent of academic performers in the state. Of these, 10 students achieved ATAR scores above 95.

Carramar student Riva Shah was the top performing student cross-campus, scoring a remarkable ATAR of 98.95 as Amy Pepper topped the list of Duncraig students with a score of 98.65.

“This year’s ATAR results reflect not only the outstanding effort of students, but the ongoing support and guidance provided by teachers and parents and we congratulate our community on another wonderful year of learning,” Mrs Beare said, also acknowledging students from the primary and secondary areas whose various talents were celebrated throughout the year.

Some of the highlights included Space Camp in the USA where Year 9s Aaron Popich, Ben Flanagan and Natasha Anderson joined Duncraig Head of Science on a two-week trip that included simulated space experiences and dining with NASA employees.

“They also visited Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactica and The Northrop Grumman facilities in California and were one of the first school groups in the world to see the commercial space vehicle in the final stages of construction and the James Webb telescope being tested with shields deployed,” Mrs Beare said.

Carramar Year 11 student Naomi Velterop took out the runner-up award for Most Outstanding School-Based Apprentice of the Year at the Hospitality Group Training WA Awards while Duncraig Year 12 Abi Kemp joined apprentice chefs to plate up a five-course meal for 300 people.

The School again hosted the LEGO League competition with three of its four teams winning awards on the day and two invited to the state competition where the Carramar secondary team achieved some new personal bests and the Duncraig Primary team won first prize in the Presentation category.

Duncraig Year 8 Thomas McIntyre won a gold medal at the 2019 Philosothon, Year 10 Logan McCormick won two gold medals at the Oceania Sailing Championships for kiteboarding and Carramar Year 11 Brooke Hurst has been invited to train with the WAIS hockey program and attend national camps and tournaments.

Creativity was on show at the annual Fusion and Synthesis Arts and Technologies Exhibitions.

Primary students wowed audiences in their colourful production of The Wizard of Oz and the inaugural St Stephen’s Dance Company have also showed off their skills on stage.

“In addition to these recognitions, our Service Learning arm has seen our St Stephen’s community help those less fortunate both close to home and abroad,” Mrs Beare said.

“Our staff and students have taken part in various local service opportunities to help others this year – one of the highlights has been our brand-new Food Rescue Cart at Lakeside Joondalup in partnership with Rotary and UnitingCare West.

“It is, as always, so wonderful to see our community come together for the greater good.”