Assistant Principal Students
Mrs Jayarani Salerno, Assistant Principal Students
As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding term, I would like to sincerely thank our students for their efforts, enthusiasm, and commitment to learning. This term has been packed with both academic learning and a wide range of extra-curricular activities, and it has been wonderful to see so many students getting involved and giving their best.
Mr Conwell and I had the opportunity earlier in Term 2 to visit several colleges in Brisbane to observe the Vertical Home Form structure in action. During our visits, we spoke with leadership teams, Home Form teachers, and students, and explored the various ways colleges have successfully implemented this model, including their processes and procedures. It was an insightful and valuable experience, and we look forward to sharing these learnings with staff in Term 3.
Our College Captains have already begun contributing to this process by sharing feedback gathered from Brisbane students with our Student Agency Team. This has sparked many productive discussions about the future implementation of Vertical Home Forms at our college in 2027. While change can feel challenging and the unknown may seem daunting, we are confident that our students will adapt, grow, and benefit from this new structure. We recognise that the transition may not be easy, but we believe it will ultimately be rewarding.
Looking ahead, we are also exploring opportunities to connect some of our Year 10 and 11 students with peers from other schools who are already part of Vertical Home Form systems. This will allow our students to ask questions, gain first-hand insights, and better understand both the benefits and challenges of the transition.
Our Year 12 student leaders recently met with Year 11 students interested in leadership roles for next year. This was a valuable opportunity for aspiring leaders to gain insight into the expectations, responsibilities, and balance required in managing both Year 12 studies and leadership commitments. There will be further opportunities next term for these important conversations to continue.
As always, we encourage all students to uphold the expectations of St Stephen’s, as outlined in the Student Record Book (SRB) and on our College website. We thank those students who consistently demonstrate pride in their uniform and grooming, including wearing the new regulation pastoral shorts correctly. Adhering to uniform and grooming expectations is an important part of our school culture, and we appreciate the many students who continue to lead by example.
It has also been a fantastic athletics season, and it has been inspiring to see so many students participating, challenging themselves, and striving to do their best. Our students truly are remarkable.
Finally, we wish all families a safe, restful, and enjoyable winter break. We look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready for a strong start to Semester 2.
Kind regards,
Jayarani Salerno