Principal
Mr Gary Conwell, Principal
Celebration of Excellence - 16 October 2024
We were honoured to welcome our new Bishop of Cairns, Joe Caddy, and Mr Bill Dixon, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service to Cairns Catholic Education, to our Celebration of Excellence. This event was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, showcasing their achievements and commitment to education. It is also a testament to Mr Simon Vaughan and his team for their fine organisation and commitment to our students’ achievements.
The Celebration of Excellence showcases how education plays a transformative role in our lives, impacting employment, income, health, life satisfaction, and civic engagement. At St Stephen’s, we are committed to meeting the education needs of all our students to help them develop the necessary skills to navigate the challenges of technological change, globalisation, and automation.
Congratulations to all awardees for their hard work, grit, and determination. Our students’ achievements are a result of their efforts and the support of their teachers and families. Thank you to all families, especially parents and carers, for their vital role in our mission.
Year 12 Graduation - 2024
The Year 12 Graduation was an equally significant event, marking a transition in the lives of our Year 12 graduating students. I want to thank Ms Janai Sugars for organising a wonderful liturgy and graduation ceremony and all the staff who participated and helped organise the event. The morning showed just how important teachers, parents and carers are in the lives of our students, and the gratitude shown by the students in this regard was heartfelt and gracious. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of the whole community in the education of our children.
Our graduates are well-prepared for the path ahead. Their critical thinking skills, intelligence, self-awareness and self-regulation, empathy, and effective communication skills will be challenged and honed. As they take control of their lives, they step into a phase of profound change. Challenges and disappointments will be part of their journey, but they offer opportunities for growth and self-improvement.
Bernard Haring, the great German theologian, offers our Year 12s the "goal commandments”—to love yourself and your neighbour, focus on achieving good, and grow into a better person.
We wish our Year 12 graduates all the best as they embark on their new journeys. May they carry our blessings, best wishes, and hopes for their future.
Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God bless,
Gary Conwell