From the Principal

The start of term 4 has seen us welcome back Ash Brook as the mathematician leader.

This term signals a number of lasts. On 27 October were the last formal lessons for year 12 students. They celebrated with a lunch and gathered on the senior floor at the end of the day to hear the last siren that they have to pay attention to.

On 28 October our 2026 incoming School Captains and Vice Captains lead the whole school assembly formally farewelling our year 12 students. The gym, at the back, was a sea of colour with year 12's dressed up in a respectful tradition of the school. 

Finalisation of academic studies for our year 12's sees completion of assessment tasks and examinations. Year 12 results will be released on 15 December. There will be staff at school who are able to field any questions that the results may bring. Our final year 12 event will be on 26 November at the Adelaide Town Hall. The evening will see award winners in academic, sports and leadership.

Year 7 to 11 students need to remain focused and motivated. They need to see each day as a new opportunity to do their best, support each other and look back over 2025 with a sense of pride that they gave it their best - setting clear goals, seeking feedback, managing their time, seeking help and assistance and taking care of themselves.

Communication about arrangements for each year level between now and the end of the school year will be sent home. End of semester 2 reports will be available in the last week of school.

Celebrating World Teachers’ Day and the remarkable impact of educators across South Australia

On 31 October, educators from across South Australia gathered at the esteemed World Teachers’ Day Awards Ceremony at Adelaide Oval. 

This special occasion honoured 70 outstanding teachers and leaders who have gone above and beyond in supporting the learning, wellbeing and growth of students in our state.

We are delighted to share that our very own Ms Suriya Down, Director of Music and The Arts, was recognised at this event. Ms Down received the Public Sector Secondary Minister’s Art Award, which celebrates her exceptional contribution to music and the arts, at Aberfoyle Park High School, as well as the broader South Australian community.

On behalf of the entire school community, we extend our warmest congratulations to Ms Down. Her dedication, innovation and passion for the arts continue to inspire students and colleagues alike. Through her leadership, our school’s creative programs have flourished, providing students with enriching opportunities to develop their talents and express themselves through music and performance.

World Teachers’ Day offers a unique opportunity to recognise the pivotal role educators play in shaping the future. We thank all teachers for their unwavering commitment, care and enthusiasm. Their incredible impact reaches well beyond the classroom and into the heart of our communities.

Ms Down and all award recipients embody the very best of education in South Australia.

On 10 December, our school is transitioning to the Department of Education's Education Management System (EMS). 

We anticipate that parent and caregiver access to Daymap will not be available for a time during 10 December. 

Currently, we are in the process of finalising the 2026 school timetable. Families will be receiving confirmation of the subject their child or children will be allocated in the forthcoming month.

Thursday 4 December will see us welcome the 2026 incoming year 7 students in preparation for their transition from primary to high school.

Please take time to read below how you can support your child(ren) with the imminent social media ban for young people.

Social media ban

In a recent article in Generation Next information was provided about the social media ban that takes effect from 10 December 2025. 

The social media ban impacts on young people under 16 and applies to certain social media platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X, Reddit and YouTube.

Social media platforms must take reasonable steps to delete the accounts of minors before or on December 10 and stop them from creating new accounts through age verification software.

Parents will not be able to give their consent to allow under-16s to use these platforms.

Within the community, there are varying points of view about this decision that has been made as there are potential benefits and risks of this ban on young Australians.

Regardless, the ban is here. Cutting back on screen time and social media will be challenging for many young people.

Research indicates that social media allows 

• young people to express themselves, 

• develop their identity and seek social connection. 

   

Equally, social media can be addictive and the fear of missing out (FOMO) can see young people engage more intensely on these platforms.

Five things' parents and caregivers can do to prepare children and young people for the 10 December ban include:

1. Don’t wait until 10 December

   The sudden removal of social media could be a shock to young people. So start the    conversation as early as possible with your child and work together to create a plan

   on how to manage the ban.

    

   Talk to your child about why the ban is being implemented and how it will affect both their friendships and their daily routines. This can help children feel informed, supported and importantly, heard.

    

   Conversations could include gentle curiosity around the role of social media in their life, seeking their views on an impending ban, acknowledgement of the anxiety this might cause, as well as online safety. Revisiting the topic in a series of smaller chats might also be helpful.

    

2. Fade out social media

   Gradually reducing your child’s time on social media rather than suddenly stopping it will help them to adjust slowly and prevent feelings of withdrawal and frustration.

    

   You could try reducing time spent on social media by a quarter each week and completely stop after one month. Families might opt to do this faster or slower.

    

   By planning this approach together, your child can understand and accept it, making the removal of social media smoother and less stressful for the whole family.

    

3. Replace, rather than remove

   Social media meets young people’s needs to socially connect with others, develop their identity, and belong to a community. These needs will not disappear when the ban is introduced.

    

   You could consider signing up to some other activities for regular social connection and a sense of belonging. These might include sporting teams, group hobbies, or volunteering. 

    

   Consider creative pursuits such as art, music, or handicrafts so your child can express their identity.

    

4. Start offline connections

   Normalise and encourage engagement within your communities that isn’t reliant on social media.

    

   The ban presents an opportunity for parents to encourage and support children to build supportive offline groups together, where children can regularly connect in person. These could be connected to existing friends or newly established groups of like-minded families.

    

   These groups can stick to the social media ban together and use alternative means of communication such as by phone, text or email.

    

5. Do it yourself

   Children and young people develop the behaviours and attitudes that are modelled to them in the home.

    

   So, this means parents can help by managing their own screen time, prioritising face-to-face connections with friends and family, and setting aside regular time for hobbies and activities.

    

   This reinforces the importance of balancing digital and offline experiences. Modelling these behaviours consistently will help your child feel supported in the upcoming ban.

The link original that article in The Conversation. The original article also has links to further information within it.