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The first day at St Stephen’s School

In 2024, St Stephen’s School is proud to be celebrating 40 wonderful years of education! 

This year’s celebrations recognise the first day of school at the Duncraig campus – Wednesday 8 February 1984 – where we began humbly with a group of Year 8s.  

We are proud to be the first school established by the Uniting Church after its inception in 1977, with our first Council formed in 1981, and our founding Principal, John Allen-Williams, appointed when building began in 1983.  

St Stephen’s School as we are today – Kindergarten to Year 12 across two campuses – is a product of the ongoing dedication of so many people. From staff to members of the Council and Uniting Church, parents and the broader community we thank you for all that you have done over the last 40 years.  

Hopefully you’ve seen our beautiful 40th anniversary logo, intentionally crafted by our in-house Graphic Designer, Rhett Connell, as a focal point for our celebrations.  

At the heart of the design is a ruby, a precious stone traditionally associated with 40th anniversaries, symbolising longevity, wisdom, strength and passion. Our colour scheme is anchored in a vibrant red which aligns with our aesthetic heritage and captures the dynamic and spirited essence of the community. Rhett has also delicately integrated a heart shape within the design which symbolises the unwavering care, love and support that form the foundation of our student journey. It is a tribute to the values imparted in every classroom and interaction within our walls, reminding us of the strong bonds and nurturing environment that define St Stephen’s School.

This logo is not just a symbol of our 40 years of excellence, but a testament to the values and vision that drive us forward. It stands as a beacon of our enduring commitment to nurturing minds and hearts, as we continue to shape a future as bright and enduring as the ruby at its centre.

We have planned a series of events over the year to mark this milestone in our history. 

Our Night of Giving Thanks on 26 March is an opportunity for us to come together as a community in gratitude for the many graces we continue to receive as a school. Formerly named Thanksgiving this is a long-standing annual worship engrained in the history of the School, only briefly interrupted in 2020 and 2022 during COVID. Please reserve your seat to join us.

In Term 2 we look forward to our Guinness World Record attempt which was delayed due to the extreme heatwave we’ve experienced this February. On April 19 we will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “most people setting off confetti cannons simultaneously”.  

The St Stephen’s School Foundation event for our 40th year will be the Ruby Gala Ball on 31 August in the Astral Ballroom of Crown. Join us to celebrate with live music, a historic student art exhibition and so much more. Tickets are limited and we expect to sell out so don’t miss yours, book now.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of St Stephen’s School, as part of our 40th festivities, we are running a special give away of “Staying True – a history of St Stephen’s School, the first 30 years” by former staff member, Dr Phil Ridden. Just drop us a line at communications@ststephens.wa.edu.au before the end of Term 1 and tell us what you love about St Stephen’s School. We will send copies to the top submissions.  

Today we held the “Calling and departure” ceremony at Sorrento Beach for our Year 9 students embarking on The Rite Journey in 2024. It is the beginning of a year-long rite of passage that can be profoundly transformational for students and their families.

It is well known that nearly all cultures have traditionally transitioned community members from one role to another, or from one phase of life to another through ‘rites of passage’. This is a way for the community to both recognise and support the individuals making the transition, but sadly most of these rites have been stripped from our way of life in Australia today. 

At St Stephen’s School we have introduced The Rite Journey for Year 9s at the Duncraig campus, which involves seven stages staggered over the course of the year. 

Rite Journey Coordinator, Sian Freeman, can testify to the power of the program, having seen many students following the path over the years. 

A core part of the program is the relationship between each student and their mentor. 

“The mentor is someone that the students select for themselves. It can be a family friend, someone in the community or a member of their extended family. It’s about building a relationship with another adult other than their parents,” said Sian. 

“The mentor works side-by-side with the students on a project over the course of the year. The project is chosen by the student and can be anything they’re interested in. It could be fundraising, building something for the community or learning a new skill. Anything that engages them.” 

 “The whole philosophy behind the project is that it gives them a reason to spend time with their mentor,” Sian explains. “During catchups about their project, conversations about all sorts of topics can happen, and mentors can give support and guidance.”  

Willow speaking at the Homecoming.

Despite some early reservations, student Willow Potter (now in Year 10), thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities presented through The Rite Journey and courageously shared her thoughts in the Homecoming ceremony at the end of 2023.

“I’ve got to admit I wasn’t super excited of the idea of the Rite Journey course, and I’m sure a lot of other Year 9s were the same. I remember a conversation I had with my folks about it. ‘Mum and Dad, the teachers are making us do a class where we have to talk about our feelings, and share our personal thoughts, and make us do long bush walks’ What a crime! But my views changed over the year. I thought this class would be a waste of time, but it became the class I looked forward to the most,” said Willow. 

This class was not just about feelings, it was about discovering who we are, and being able to say ‘I’m confident with who I am’. I don’t know if that was the goal of this class. But it was the outcome. It taught us that it’s okay to stand out and it’s okay to laugh. And yes, we learnt that we had to let go of childhood habits, but we learnt that was okay, that we had to challenge ourselves, and that we can do anything if we put our mind to it,” said Willow. 

Movingly, Willow acknowledged her teachers for the experience of The Rite Journey. 

“Thank you, teachers, for making it a safe place. Thank you for telling us it’s okay. Thank you for telling us that our opinions matter and that we are beautiful. Thank you for challenging us. Thank you for being our mentors. I can confidently say that we have made it through to end of childhood and we are now ready to being the next chapter in our lives, the right way. Thank you.” 

Eva Chahal is in Year 9 this year and read the Student Pledge which is an important part of today’s “Calling and departure” ceremony as it aligns the students for the year ahead. 

“To start off with when I looked through the book, I was really nervous because I felt that it would be uncomfortable talking about myself. My teacher, Mrs Sargeant is absolutely delightful. Each time I leave the room I am looking forward to the next Rite Journey class,” said Eva.  

“During the class we watch videos and do fun stuff. We work in teams with people that we wouldn’t normally work with, which is a new experience.” 

When asked about her aspirations for The Rite Journey, Eva shared, “I’m hoping that over time I get to know each and every girl in my class and we get closer. I want to walk out of the last class feeling less insecure and understanding more of what it means to be a teenager.” 

Eva’s also looking forward to her project. “My mentor is my sister’s teacher, and my project will be working with Year 2 students at a local primary, helping in the classroom. I’m really excited to have a full week with them during the July school holidays. I just love working with younger students.” 

We’ll follow Eva’s progress, and share her stories as well as some other Year 9s as their Rite Journey progresses. 

Year 9 students at the Carramar campus undertake a similar program called “Compass”, and we look forward to sharing their stories with you in a future edition of In Focus. 

The rolling school-wide program of improvements is continuing at Duncraig and Carramar in 2024, and we’ve got some fascinating time-lapse footage of two projects to share with you.

The most recent program to kick off is the new Carramar Primary playground project, which began in the hottest part of February with the demolition of the existing playground. 

Carramar Head of Campus, Bennet Andrews has been involved in the project since its inception and has had a close hand in the design of the new play space. 

The old playground was a focal point for both Primary and Secondary students for over 20 years. As with everything, there is an expiry date. It was time for something new that met the needs of our students,” said Bennet. 

“The new location was better suited to the ‘ninja warrior’ inspired endeavour circuit, set out across flatter terrain. The old space will remain as a shaded, green play space and the new circuit will also be shaded.”  

 The new design is the result of extensive consultation with students. 

“Students of all ages wanted some things to stay. The flying fox and slide were the ‘non-negotiables’ for them. Teachers across upper primary wanted apparatus with good proximity and sightlines to classrooms that allowed for mini ‘brain-breaks.’ The circuit orientation allows for them to limit or challenge students with one ‘circuit’ to be a potential unit of measure. In consultation with PE staff, they felt that the design should encourage the development of gross motor skills, core strength and balance. The Endeavour circuit, (with a slide and a flying fox included), caters for all of these needs,” said Bennet.  

 “We are excitedly watching rapid progress and are confident that the playground will be open for use in the next two to three weeks.”

Bennet and the Carramar staff are looking forward to the new space being ready for students. 

 

“My hope is that students will engage with the new playground in many ways. I hope it is an arena of competition, imagination and a setting for incremental personal challenge. I hope it is a backdrop for shared moments of friendship. I hope it is a place where parents will say “just five more minutes” to their children as they drag them home for dinner and I hope that it rings with laughter and is teeming with students every day.”  

The largest construction project we’ve undertaken in recent times, the new Science building at the Duncraig campus, is almost at completion as you can see from the footage shot on site. 

You can see the construction team repurposing the existing Science building into the new space, minimising our carbon footprint, reusing materials and retaining infrastructure in a way that honours the architectural history of our school.

Head of Science at Duncraig, Andrew Bacon and the whole Science staff are delighted to soon be moving into the new building.  

“The new Science spaces are purpose-built to suit each Science discipline, with an incredible space for aquariums for our Biological Sciences and Marine and Maritime Studies students. We are very much looking forward to moving in, with the full knowledge that these new spaces will inspire and engage all our students,” said Andrew. 

These two projects form part of the whole school improvement plan that aims to maintain the high standards of facilities available to all our students. 

Director of Finance and Administration, Rob Gotti commented, “Our building maintenance and capital investment programs are essential to ensure we provide safe, stimulating environments conducive to learning and student interaction”. 

 

After travelling to 15 different countries and years of study, we’re delighted that Matthew Meinema, Carramar Class of 2012, has joined us as a Science teacher at the Duncraig campus! 

After graduation, Matthew initially took six months off to focus on swimming, and then went on to study a Bachelor of Science and Dip Ed in Secondary Teaching at Edith Cowan University. 

“From there, I worked as a swim coach and IGSSA coach at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls and before joining St Stephen’s School this year, I was teaching Science and Physical Education at Joseph Banks Secondary College,” said Matthew.  

Matthew initially had his sights set on becoming a high-performance athlete physiotherapist and rehabilitation therapist. 

“Through coaching and undertaking some teaching electives in my undergraduate degree I figured out that what I really wanted was to become a secondary school teacher.” 

“I love seeing the progress of all my students and knowing that teaching is one of the most rewarding careers out there. I love that I can connect with students about my journey and hopefully be a role model and influence on their future pathways”.

“I have had some incredible teachers and mentors both as a student and as a teacher that there are too many to name. I think still having connection with some of my past teachers and knowing that I have their support allows me to strive to be better as an educator and role model to my students.” 

After just a few short years into his teaching career, Matthew was a finalist and awarded a certificate of excellence at the Australian Teachers Awards as a Secondary Teacher (Government) in 2023. 

Swimming has always been a passion for Matthew, and it’s one that he’s continued to excel at long after school.  

“I have completed multiple Rottnest Channel Swims, solo and as part of teams. I was also part of the four-person male relay team that broke the team record for the Port to Pub swim in 2023”.  

The fact that Matthew has returned to St Stephen’s School speaks volumes about his time as a student. 

“St Stephen’s helped me to develop a sense of confidence in myself and gave me the tools to be successful at university. Having the connections with my peers and teachers, both back then and now, really shows how close the St Stephen’s community really is”. 

“I’ve had a great time since I graduated and have especially enjoyed travelling. I would definitely encourage current students to make sure they give themselves the opportunity to travel around the world while they can. Find something that you love and work hard for it”. 

As part of our Service Learning program, we are always on the lookout for local community groups who need an extra helping hand, and in 2024 we are proud to begin working with the Warwick Branch of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRGWA). 

“As a natural evolution of Service Learning, in recent years we have been helping out grandparents we’ve contacted through local churches. It was clear that our students can make a real difference to the lives of local grandparents, so we’ve sought out other ways to connect to people who could use some extra help around their homes,” said Service Learning Coordinator, Stephen Meagher. 

“I discovered the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group in 2023 and found the local branch was in real need of help, and after contacting Branch President, Loryn Cummings we’ve been able to set up a working relationship beginning in 2024.”  

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is a peer-led organisation, established by volunteers in 1998 to support grandparent carers to provide an environment that nurtures their grandchildren. Sometimes children are unable to live with their parents for a variety of reasons so many grandparents take on the role of primary carers. 

We were fortunate to catch Loryn and her colleague, Warwick Branch Vice President Carolyn Sackville for their thoughts about our new partnership. 

“Grandchildren living with family is very important to give a sense of belonging and GRGWA allows children to realise there’s lots of kids living with Nan and Pop,” said Carolyn. 

But it’s not always easy for grandparents to step back into the role of parent. 

“There are many challenges for our members. For some, health issues crop up and parenting takes a lot of energy! Then there’s also the issue of income as many are retired or have to give up full time employment,”  

“There’s also social isolation as well as a lack of knowledge of technology,” added Loryn.  

GRGWA membership is growing weekly with more than 300 Grandcarers and at least 600 children in their full-time care. 

“We’re looking forward to welcoming students from St Stephen’s School to GRGWA. This service will allow Grandcarers to have a treat, given to them by students from St Stephen’s,” said Carolyn.  

Year 10 student, Olivia Robinson, is looking forward to helping out with GRGWA.

Olivia with Service Learning Coordinator, Stephen Meagher

“As a student interested in Service Learning, I am extremely excited to work with Grandparents Raising Grandkids. This partnership makes it easy to help many more people around our community, which is, of course, amazing, and could also do a lot in teaching the students here about compassion towards the elderly, as well as the best ways to help their own grandparents and the older people in their own lives. It truly is very inspirational, and I cannot wait to see the effect of GRGWA on the community with my own eyes, as well as the effect on my own peers,” said Olivia. 

“GRGWA is a cause that, personally, speaks to me a lot, and as a Service Learning student, I believe that this is a brilliant opportunity to get into the community and be a bit more practical with helping the people around us. This could help or somehow positively affect so many people, whether they be the “Grandparent” or the “Grandkid”. I am both interested, and invested, and cannot wait for the opportunity to work with this organisation.” 

Our Service Learning program is quite clearly core to Oliva’s experience of school. 

“Service Learning is full of wonderful opportunities to help and to learn. I consider myself very privileged to be part of the Service Learning program and am constantly excited for whatever could happen next. There are such a variety in things you can do to help, from sandwich-making in homeroom, to going to Salvos in Year 7 and the various activities you can complete throughout the year, the “Serving One Another” aspect of our motto has never been truer,” said Olivia. 

We’re excited to begin what we hope will be a long-term working relationship with GRGWA and look forward to sharing some stories of our students in the coming months. 

 

Two of your classmates – Taylor Watson and Justin Pereira – have made a start on planning your 10-year reunion and are looking for some additional alumni to help plan the fun. We caught up with Taylor and Justin to hear what they’ve been doing since graduating from St Stephen’s School. 

After completing a Bachelor of Arts, followed by the Juris Doctor to gain her law degree, today Taylor is working in Perth as a solicitor at Allens – a large commercial law firm with offices throughout Australia and Asia – while Justin has re-located to Canberra to take up a role as Policy Officer as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Graduate Program in Canberra. 

“I work in a team that acts in complex, high-value and often reputationally significant commercial disputes and investigations within the Australian market. I am also the Pro Bono Coordinator for our practice in Perth, which involves meeting prospective clients that cannot afford legal representation and connecting them to lawyers within Allens who are best placed to assist,” says Taylor.

On why she loves her job Taylor says, “I am often faced with complex legal issues that always keep me on my toes – there is never a dull day when you are problem solving for some of the biggest companies in the region! I also enjoy working in a large team of lawyers and support staff that encourage me to be the best I can be, and are always there offering guidance and friendship.” 

My proudest achievement to date is getting admitted as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of WA in August 2021. After many years of tertiary study, it was the culmination of a lot of hard work and patience. Sharing the day with my family and closest friends was a memory I will cherish forever.”
 

After high school, Justin completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), with a Double Major in Political Science and International Relations; Anthropology and Sociology and went on to complete a Master of International Relations. 

As part of the DFAT grad program, Justin has had a number of rotations including in the AUKUS Taskforce and Africa and Middle East Division, and was selected to be part of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction  and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Taskforces.

“I love having the ability to help shape Australia’s foreign policy and work on whole-of-Government initiatives,” said Justin. “It can be a very dynamic workplace as we respond to international events as they happen, and I enjoy being able  to assist Australians overseas who find themselves in trouble. It is also very exciting to have opportunities to work overseas at our Embassies and High Commissions all around the world.”

Justin has been exposed to many high-profile events during his time in Canberra.

Some of his highlight of his time in DFAT so far include working on the AUKUS optimal pathway announcement, the Gender Equality Symposium at FIFA Women’s World Cup, and organising  incoming Parliamentary visits, including from the President of the Thai Senate and and former Japanese Prime Minister Aso, during his secondment to the International and Parliamentary Relations Office at Parliament House.

Taylor and Justin have remained close friends over the past 10 years and although they now live more than 3, 500km apart, they are collaborating on plans for the Duncraig Class of 2014 ten-year reunion.  

They are currently planning an event for the second week of September and looking at local venues where the cohort can enjoy some food, a drink or two and catch up on what everyone has been up to since 2014.

Justin and Taylor agree “It would be great to see as many of our Class of 2014 as possible join us in planning the reunion so that we can make it the night we all want it to be!  We are really looking forward to reconnecting with everyone and hope to have as many of the cohort there as possible.”

If you are interested in working with Taylor and Justin on the reunion event, or just want to stay in the loop so you don’t miss out on the revelry, please reach out directly to Taylor (watsontaylor95@gmail.com) and Justin (justin.pereira19@gmail.com) or feel free to contact alumni@ststephens.wa.edu.au

 

It seems that Madeleine Cross, (Duncraig, Class of 2013) has always had a way with words, and today she’s using her talents to share other people’s stories on the Gold Coast. 

Straight from school Madeleine went to university and studied a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Marketing. 

“Following my undergraduate studies, I wanted some more practical experience, so undertook ECU’s postgraduate in broadcasting. That was where I really found my feet and realised my passion for news and media,” says Madeleine.  

In 2019, while still at Edith Cowan University, Madeleine was awarded the Charmaine Dragun Memorial Award which recognises outstanding journalists or media contributors under the age of 25 who are committed to fair and balanced reporting on young people or youth issues. 

“I was really honoured to receive this award for a story I produced on young males’ mental health. In the same year I was also nominated for the Outstanding Student Journalism Award at the MEAA WA Awards. This really spurred me on in my passion for journalism,” Madeleine says.  

“When I finished my broadcasting studies at ECU, I was awarded an internship at the West Australian.” 

Madeleine was also awarded the Paul Lockyer Internship at the ABC News Channel in Sydney, so, in February 2020 she made the move to Sydney to work at the ABC’s headquarters. 

 “This was such an exciting experience. I was there for two years and was able to gain experience in multiple areas, including producing their 24-hour news channel and working night shift for nine months straight as the overnight radio reporter!” 

 This gruelling schedule didn’t diminish Madeleine’s passion for journalism, though. From Sydney, she took a leap to regional reporting. 

 “I moved to the ABC’s bureau in Port Macquarie, a lovely coastal town on the NSW Mid North Coast. I spent around 1.5 years there reading the radio news bulletins, and telling the community’s stories for TV, radio and online platforms.”

 “Telling stories in a regional community has definitely been a highlight for me, I was able to meet so many people with important stories – and you never knew what the workday would bring!”

 Today Madeleine is still with the ABC but has moved to the Gold Coast where she is producing a daily radio show.  

 “My current role as a radio producer involves solo producing the daily three-hour Drive show. It’s such a fast-paced role with very tight deadlines, and every day is different, but it makes the role exciting.” 

 During her time at St Stephen’s School, journalism was always as a potential career for Madeleine. 

 “I loved the creative subjects – English, Drama, and Design for example. I had always loved writing, but thanks to some amazing teachers it definitely became one of my strengths during my time at St Stephens. So, I always had journalism in the back of my mind.” 

 “I love meeting new people every day. I feel very lucky when someone trusts me to tell their stories. No two days are the same. Sometimes you will be covering a natural disaster or breaking story, and other days you will be covering a hopeful story with an interesting character.” 

 Madeleine’s advice to the Class of 2024, and other St Stephen’s School students thinking about their futures? 

 “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to find your “passion” straight away and say yes to opportunities even if they might seem scary at the time. And if you can, living in a different state or city is both fun and challenging, but you’ll learn heaps of life lessons along the way.” 

 Read one of Madeleine’s most moving online news stories, about a local vocational education initiative in her area 

 

We’re delighted to introduce our new Head of the Arts at the Duncraig campus, Lee Whitmarsh who joined us at the beginning of Term 1. 

Lee came to Western Australia five years ago with his wife, son and dog from the UK where he had been teaching for 13 years. 

“I started my career back in 2006 and I’ve been a Head of the Arts at schools across the UK and Australia”, said Lee. For Lee, teaching is, in part, a natural expression of his innate curiosity.

“I have a genuine interest in understanding how people communicate.  I’ve always loved the way the Arts can bring people together and shine a light on the way we think and feel about our community.  I enjoy being creative and exploring different ways of combining the Arts and I wanted to be part of a working community that does this.  The work students and staff produce across the Arts has always inspired me and I wanted to be a teacher to support and guide students and staff on their own creative journey”. 

 Lee brings extensive international educational experience to his role at St Stephen’s School. 

 “I completed my Master of Arts in Art Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and my undergraduate degree at Napier University in Edinburgh.  I have also worked for the Edinburgh Film Festival at an independent cinema, and I was lucky enough to be selected to teach on the Cheshire Schools Italian Residential Tour in Florence Italy.  I have also worked with Microsoft Education which has enabled me to travel to Hungary and London as part of the Microsoft Educator Community and I love developing the use of technology in Arts education”.   

Since coming to Perth, Lee has also been part of the Fogarty Foundation which is a WA-based not-for-profit, committed to giving all young people in WA access to a high-quality education. 

“I was involved with the Fogarty Foundation in my previous school and enjoyed developing and building a new school and making connections with the great team at Perth Festival School Partnership”.

 The Arts learning area includes Dance, Drama, Media, Music and Visual Art, but Lee’s personal background is in visual arts, illustration, film and photography.   

“I loved my time at art college where I could work across different endorsements and take a hybrid approach to the arts.  I love being an Arts teacher, it is a privilege to work with students and to give staff and students opportunities to explore the Arts in and out of the classroom.  My favourite artist is Robert Rauschenberg, and I was able to see the last major UK retrospective of his work at TATE Modern London before we moved to Perth.  I also love film and I am fan of the films of Wes Anderson and the Coen Brothers”. 

Reassuringly, Lee believes that we can all be creative.

“If students feel they are not ‘good at art’ I would say that they need to believe in and trust their own interpretation of the world.  Everyone can draw, everyone can create, it’s all about communication and the beauty of the Arts is that we can support and guide all students to find their home and express their ideas be it as a musician, performer or visual artist.  We can develop skills and techniques, but you need to believe that you can communicate how you feel in your own style and way”. 

 We’re delighted that Lee has come to WA and joined us at St Stephen’s School, and we’re looking forward to sharing in his passion for the Arts at our many events in the school calendar. 

“We love living in Perth, it is exceptional and a wonderful place to raise a family and to explore.  We feel very lucky to call WA our home and I am proud to be part of the St Stephen’s School story in our 40th year,” said Lee. 

Hannah Uglow is exactly the kind of human being any of us would want to have teaching their children physical education! In both her personal and professional life she embodies a love of sport and passion for staying active. That’s why we’re delighted that Hannah joined our Carramar Primary campus in 2017, as our Primary Physical Education Specialist.

 “My first ever group of Pre-primary students are currently in Year 7! Time flies when you’re having fun!” said Hannah. 

 Hannah completed her Bachelor of Sport Science, Exercise and Health at the University of Western Australia in 2015, and a Diploma of Education in 2016, majoring in Health and Physical Education and minoring in Special Education.   

 Even while studying, Hannah’s passion for education was evident.  “Prior to teaching I worked as a swimming instructor, support worker and movement specialist at UWA’s Unigym and Thriving exercise programs for kids.” 

“In my current role, I help children develop their physical literacy and social skills, with the aim of cultivating a lifelong appreciation for physical activity and well-being. I like to keep my learning environment fresh and exciting, so I’m always introducing fun new activities that cater for a wide range of abilities and interests. I plan all our Primary sports carnivals and try my best to ensure every child has an opportunity to have a go! I also work closely with a group of Primary PE specialists from seven other schools to organise and run our NIPSSA Interschool Carnivals”.

 “Every day I get to inspire and empower my students to lead active, healthy lives. I love working outdoors and sharing my passion and enthusiasm for physical activity with the students I’m lucky enough to teach. Knowing that I’m helping my students grow and understand the importance of regular physical activity to create lifelong healthy habits makes my job very rewarding!” said Hannah. 

 In addition to her busy role at St Stephen’s School, Hannah has been in training for her fourth Rottnest Channel Swim!

 “The Rottnest Channel Swim was something I had always aspired to do as I love swimming in the ocean and pool, and a few years ago I decided to participate in the event as a team of four. It’s now one of my favourite days of the year!” 

“I swim all year round at my local club – North Coast Masters. In the months leading up to the swim I up my training to four or five times a week, with lots of 5am alarms! After having knee surgery in October last year, swimming has been one of the best forms of rehabilitation”. 

As you can imagine, Hannah was one of the many swimmers disappointed when this year’s Swim was cancelled due to rough weather.   

“Unfortunately the conditions were not in our favour this year and the swim was called off part way through the race due to the extreme weather. It was disappointing but very understandable as safety is always number one. I will most definitely be back again next year though!”

 Like many keen Rotto Swim participants, Hannah is WA girl, born and bred. 

 “I grew up in Perth and have two younger brothers who both love their sport just as much as me. From a young age our wonderful parents nurtured our enthusiasm for sport and provided us with many opportunities to have a go. To this day my Dad is still my number one supporter at footy games, and my Mum is always snapping photos on the Rotto Swim finish line”.  

 2024 is a big year for Hannah! Right now she shares life with a two-year-old Australian Shepherd who has as much energy as she does, and Hannah is also looking forward to getting married at the end of the year. 

 Hannah would recommend being a Primary PE specialist to anyone who is thinking about their future career prospects.  

 “Knowing that you’re contributing to a child’s well-being and future health makes being this an incredibly rewarding career. It’s such a blessing to be able to form connections and watch students grow and succeed in Physical Education. Like all jobs, being a Primary PE specialist has its challenges, like the weather, but being able to share my passion for physical activity with the St Stephen’s School community is something I am forever grateful for!”  

The last 12 months have seen Carramar Year 10 student, Lucas Ryan, achieving some extraordinary success in the pool, and he’s now on the cusp of an exciting new challenge in 2024! 

It seems that Lucas has always been very much at home in the water.  

I first started swimming when I was nine years old, but I was about 13 when I realised that I really had the potential to swim competitively,” said Lucas.

“I’ve always loved being around the water, and now I have a lot of fun racing and seeing myself improve week to week.” 

Of course, it takes discipline and consistency to turn natural skill into competition results.  

“I train 6-8 times a week in the pool and started going to the gym this year. I do three sessions a week with one conditioning and two strength sessions. My diet wasn’t the best until mid-last year when I started working on it. Now I eat a lot of protein, carbs and focus on nutrients. Stuff that will fill me up and keep me energised.” 

Lucas is very modest about his achievements, but we know that he had an especially successful 2023 State Swimming Championships.  He entered seven events, including 50m and 100m freestyle and the 50m backstroke, making the final for all events and placing second in the 50m backstroke.  He also achieved two national qualifying times during the meet. 

Right now, Lucas is focussing on the 2024 Age National Championships in April where he will be one of the youngest swimmers in his age group because his birthday is just two weeks before the event.

 

“I’m hoping to get into the top 15 in the 50m backstroke and potentially get into the final for the 50m freestyle.” 

It’s not easy balancing school and elite level sport, and Lucas, like many other St Stephen’s School students, is part of the Elite Athlete Program, managed at Carramar by Adam Dwyer, Head of Health and Physical Education.

“We’re really happy to help athletes like Lucas to negotiate with their classroom teachers so they can keep up their rigorous training schedule without missing out on learning and assessments”, said Adam. 

Lucas and Adam Dwyer, Head of Health & PE

“It’s great to have the support of Mr Dwyer and my teachers so I can stay focussed on my swimming goals. Now that I’m preparing for the nationals I’m really pushing hard in training, asking my coach where I can improve and working on those areas,” said Lucas.

 We wish Lucas every success in his preparation and especially for the national competition in April. We will definitely keep you updated on his achievements!