Meet 3 Generations of a St Stephen’s School Family
By Marnie Adams, Contributor @ Kids In Perth | In Collaboration with St Stephen's School 29 Jul 2024
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Katy Stewart’s family connection with St Stephen's School goes right back to its founding.
With Theo, her son, currently in Year 7...
There is hope for these family legacy links to continue for many more generations!
Katy's father, Emeritus Professor, Mark Hackling played a pivotal role in the founding of St Stephen's School, acting as a School Council member from 1982 to 1992. He helped establish St Stephen’s School from the roots of its philosophy, through to, recruiting the first Principal!
Also, he did the interviewing of prospective parents and helped with designing the buildings that supported the School’s ethos.
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Katy Hackling, as she was known then, graduated from the Duncraig campus in 1997.
Her two older brothers George and Matthew also attended St Stephen’s School. It’s clear that Katy enjoyed her time here.
“The education I received set me up to love learning. My favourite subjects were Science especially Chemistry and Physics,” said Katy.
“That’s why we decided to send Theo to St Stephen’s even before he was born. We put him on the waitlist when he was a baby and bought a house with a short commute. I have been a part of the Uniting Church community of Beldon (now Northways) my whole life and wanted to give our children the same experience.”
Katy's great love of music was nurtured during high school.
“I was desperate to learn the saxophone and play like Lisa Simpson. I started in 1994 in Year 9 on the Alto Sax. By the time I was good enough to join the band, the only spot available was to play the Baritone Sax. It was almost as big as me and very hard to carry but I enjoyed the challenge,” said Katy.
“I played in the Junior and Senior Bands, Swing Band and also sang in Junior and Senior Choir. I also played in a small ensemble with Angela Colom and Aaron Spowart and also with Angela Davies and Nick as a small Saxophone Ensemble. We entered a few school competitions which was lots of fun. I also remember we travelled to Kalgoorlie for a competition. I made lots of different friends in these bands. My friend Kerry played the Clarinet and even though she was a year older we became great friends.”
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“Playing music, especially in the Band, is a great way to meet kids with similar interests. I also passed my Grade 5 AMEB exams while I was in high school and became a teacher. I started teaching when I was 15 and charged $15 for a half hour lesson. Teaching Music can be a great part time job too.”
Katy has fostered a love of music in her son, Theo, who is also in a number of St Stephen’s School ensembles.
“It’s cool going to the same school as my mum because I know a lot about the school before I came here,” said Theo.
“I play Trombone and I am in the Wind Band and Jazz Band. I like music because it’s very relaxing and it’s cool because you can listen to your music and say, ‘I like that song’ or ‘that song sounds very good’.”
Whilst music was a passion for Katy in school, based on the recommendation of her St Stephen’s School careers counsellor, she went in a very different direction!
“I originally wanted to be a psychologist, but was convinced by the career guidance teacher to try Speech Language Pathology.
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“I went to Curtin University and studied a Bachelor of Science, Human Communication Science (Speech Pathology) and graduated in 2001. Later, I went back to do a Masters by Research at ECU in 2013/14 and wrote my thesis on working with Therapy Assistants.”
“I’m glad my career counsellor suggested speech therapy as a career. I can happily say I still work as a clinical Speech Pathologist today. I’ve worked in Port Hedland, Busselton and the UK before returning to WA and working at Royal Perth Hospital and the Health Department. I now run my own business and assess and manage adult acquired and neuro-degenerative communication and swallowing disorders.”
“I work from home two days a week offering Telehealth services and two days a week I visit clients with conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, traumatic brain injury and stroke. Almost every day I provide voice therapy which involves singing with my clients. I love it because every day is different. I have worked on hospital wards, in private clinics, in nursing homes doing swallowing assessments and I also lecture at Edith Cowan University. My clients are so fascinating and every day we aim to have the best conversations possible.”
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Principal's Welcome | Mrs Donna Beare
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to St Stephen’s School.
We are a Christ-centred, student-focused and community-based School. Our personalised approach to learning and strong tradition of high-quality teaching encourage St Stephen’s School students to lay foundations for their chosen pathways.
Students flourish when values are aligned and the relationship between home and school is strong.
We welcome not just students but their whole families into our close-knit community. Together we cultivate success and produce mature and balanced young men and women.
The School’s motto to Serve God, Serve One Another is supported by our Service Learning program where St Stephen’s School students work with groups and communities on a local, national and international scale, to make their world a better place. These service opportunities, combined with our mission to inspire learning that transforms lives, shape our students into well-rounded graduates, ready to take their next step into the world.
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Academic results provide a great foundation, and are encouraged at St Stephen’s School. However, it’s qualities like flexibility, teamwork, service, leadership and humility – all acquired from a St Stephen’s School education – that prove most attractive and sought-after by employers in this constantly-changing world.
As a parent of two wonderful girls myself, our goal is to provide your child with a place where they belong to a community that gives them the best platform for their future.
I encourage you to attend one of our School tours where you can meet staff, talk to students and see the facilities and talents of our community.
I hope to see you soon.
Mrs Donella Beare
Principal
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50 St Stephens Crs Tapping WA 6065
9306 7100
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100 Doveridge Drive Duncraig WA 6023
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