STAGE MAJOR TASK COMMENCE COMPLETE. ONE Find a mentor Nov 2016 Jan TWO Choose a project Jan 2017 Jan 2017

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2 EBA AND YOUR SENSE OF BECOMING Eba is a Zulu word meaning becoming. The choice of this word is significant as you undertake The Rite Journey, a rite of passage for all Year 9 students at St Stephen s School. Whether you are becoming a young woman or a young man, our school context remains the same. St Stephen s School is a Christian community and therefore believes that growing young men and women with strong values is an essential part of providing a complete education. The Eba Project is aimed at allowing you to expand your understanding of who you are and where you fit within society as a global citizen. Of course we don t expect you to know all the answers, but we do hope that through investing your time and energy in this project, you will gain a deeper understanding of yourself as you begin to mature through adolescence. THE EBA PROJECT The Eba Project is aligned with the mentoring component of The Rite Journey, the course all students complete over three terms in Year 9 Biblical Studies. The project itself will span the entire academic year, culminating in a display of all projects at the Homecoming Ceremony in September The following table provides an overview of the timeframes for each stage of the Eba Project that will need to be completed throughout the year: STAGE MAJOR TASK COMMENCE COMPLETE ONE Find a mentor Nov 2016 Jan 2017 TWO Choose a project Jan 2017 Jan 2017 THREE Design the project Feb 2017 Feb 2017 FOUR FIVE Undertake project with mentor Submit report and exhibit project Feb 2017 Aug 2017 Aug 2017 Sept

3 STAGE ONE - MENTOR SELECTION (NOV JAN) Your first task is to find a mentor to work with you to help complete your Eba Project. Your mentor will need to be a responsible and caring adult who you are able to spend time with on a regular basis. Your parents and teacher will need to be involved in the important task of deciding who your mentor will be. Finding a mentor will be easy for some of you, whilst for others it may be extremely difficult, especially if your family has not been living in Perth for very long. Please do not let yourself become stressed or anxious about this task. Your teachers and parents are here to help, as are members of our wider school community and local churches. What exactly is a mentor? This is a very difficult question to answer in a short sentence, because a mentor has a combination of many different qualities. A mentor should be someone who inspires you, someone who is a good role model in your life, not just someone who is popular, as sometimes people are popular for the wrong reasons. No matter what their qualities, remember the primary role of the mentor is to support you in achieving your goals and growing as a person. In this sense the mentor will need to be part teacher, part student, part coach and part listener. Your Biblical Studies teacher will help you to explore your understanding of what a mentor is, and help you think about who your mentor could be. Your mentor cannot be your teacher or one of your parents, but there are many other places to find a mentor, including adults you know through sport, hobbies, church, community organisations, your friends parents, your parents friends, neighbours, grandparents, extended family or even an older (25+) sibling. What is my mentor committing to? Your mentor will be asked to: Build a positive relationship with you Talk to you about issues raised in class Attend the Calling and Departure Ceremony at Sorrento Beach on Thursday the 9 th of February. Attend the Homecoming Ceremony and EBA exhibition at St Stephen s School after school on 18 th September, includes dinner Spend about 5 hours per school term providing guidance as you work on your Eba Project how this is arranged will depend entirely on your mentor s personal circumstances 2

4 STAGE TWO PROJECT SELECTION (DEC JAN) I have come to learn that life wouldn t be as enjoyable if it was always easy, and that personal growth comes from having to move out of your comfort zone. What I didn t know was that it is the challenge itself that provides the environment in which you can fight and struggle and ultimately prevail. Steve Waugh Australian Test Cricket Captain Your Eba Project should be challenging and help you to extend your understanding of who you are. It is an opportunity for you to work outside of your comfort zone, knowing that you will receive the necessary support from your mentor and parents in order for you to succeed. What kind of project should I choose? There are two factors that must receive high priority when choosing your Eba Project: Firstly, think about how much the Project will cost you and your mentor. In your considerations of cost, not only should you think about the dollars you will be required to spend, but also the hours of time you will need to spend. Make sure you can afford to complete your project, and as a guide, the project should be able to be completed in around 15 hours. Secondly, your Project needs to be presentable at the end of the year. This means there needs to be a way of documenting and recording your progress throughout the year, including any outcomes you achieve. Some of you might like to consider undertaking a Project with a clear community service aspect. These types of projects are often extremely rewarding, don t cost much and are very flexible in terms of timeframes. Examples might be making items for an organisation that cares for homeless people, providing care for the sick or elderly in a community you are part of. If you think about how to serve the community, the opportunities are endless! When you return to school after the summer holidays, you will be required to present your ideas to your Rite Journey teacher. Once your Project has been approved you will need to complete Stage Three as quickly as possible. As your mentor will be your primary support, ensure you include them in the selection process. 3

5 STAGE THREE PROJECT DESIGN (JAN FEB) Once your Eba Project has been approved by your teacher, complete the following questions to help you formulate an action plan that you can follow for the remainder of the year. What is the aim of your Eba Project? What are the main personal values embedded in your Eba Project? What finances (itemised) are required for you to complete your Eba Project? How much time is required for you to complete your Eba Project? 4

6 Who do you need to contact in order to undertake your Eba Project? Where will your Eba Project be carried out? What qualities do you think are needed to complete your Eba Project and why? How will you document, record and exhibit your Eba Project to Year 9 in September? What do you hope to gain out of completing your Eba Project? 5

7 STAGE FOUR ACTION (FEB AUG) With your Eba Project approved it is time to get underway. As you undertake your project, keep a diary or journal to enable you to reflect on your progress. Ensure you include the following aspects of your project in your journal: 1. Your planning stages, including the proposed timeline of events. 2. Your personal growth what are you learning about yourself? The journal can be electronic or hand written (video diary is probably the most simple form). The journal is an important component of your project, as it will enable you to look back at your journey and write an accurate final reflection once completed. Your teacher will ask you to bring your journal to school at various stages throughout the year. The journal needs to provide evidence of the work you have been completing, show your teacher that you are engaged with your project, and that you are on track to finish on time. If you are not producing something as part of your project that can be displayed at the exhibition you will need to present a report instead. This means that you will need to collect enough evidence (diary, photos, reflections etc) throughout the year to create a meaningful report that people can browse through as they walk around the exhibition in September. Example: Peter has fixed the signage at his local beach. He phoned the council and received approval to create new signs out of wood. He then erected these signs at the beach. His exhibition was a video that followed the process that he undertook to make the signs and erect them at the beach. People at the exhibition were able to see what Peter did for his project, and they are also able to read his planning documents and journals from the entire year. STAGE FIVE EXHIBITION ( SEPT) You should aim to have your Eba project completed by the end of August. You will each be given an area to display your project at The Rite Journey Homecoming Ceremony. You will need to make sure that all your material is spectator friendly. The exhibition will be open to all Year 9 students and their mentors, as well as their families and anyone else who attends the Ceremony. Example Photo Timeline: 6

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