Principal
Mr Gary Conwell, Principal
This coming Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost. It is one of the most significant moments in our faith, marking the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Through this gift, they were strengthened with courage, wisdom and a deep sense of responsibility for others.
Pentecost reminds us that we are called to live with purpose. The Holy Spirit guides us in how we act, how we speak, and how we respond to others. It calls each of us to take responsibility for our choices and to contribute positively to the communities we are part of.
For our students, this is lived in practical ways each day. It is reflected in how they treat one another, how they engage in their learning, and how they make decisions both at school and beyond.
In recent weeks, the College has been working through a number of student behaviour matters. While these involve a minority of students, they provide an important opportunity to reaffirm our expectations as a community.
At St Stephen’s, our expectations are grounded in our values of Faith, Service and Courage. Students are expected to act with respect, take responsibility for their actions, engage positively in school life, and use technology in a safe and appropriate way. These expectations apply equally to interactions in person and online.
We are also conscious of the growing influence of social media in young people’s lives, and the importance of guidance and supervision in this space. When students navigate these environments without appropriate support, it can affect both their decision-making and their relationships at school.
Our approach, through our Whole School Behaviour Support Plan, is to continue to work alongside students—teaching, guiding and supporting them to make positive choices and build respectful relationships.
We value the strong partnership we share with families in this work, and thank you for your continued support.
Parent Feedback Surveys – Term 2
Feedback Surveys will be conducted during Weeks 6–8 of Term 2 (May 25 – June 12). These surveys provide important information that supports our school improvement and annual planning processes.
All parents, staff and selected student cohorts (Years 8 and 11) will receive an email invitation from Cairns Catholic Education to complete the survey. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Please note:
- Surveys are anonymous
- Each participant will receive an individual link via email – please do not share the link
- Reminder emails will be sent to support participation
The Feedback Survey is an important tool that provides valuable data to help refine our practices at both the school and system level, and contributes to our required reporting.
We strongly encourage all parents to take the opportunity to provide feedback. Your input is valued and plays an important role in shaping the future direction of the College.
Gary Conwell