Dear St John's Community,

It is a rare moment when I step outside my role as principal of the school to present more than a neutral face in respect to significant matters affecting the wider community. However, over the weekend we saw the wider community saying they have had enough of violence in general but also violence against women, perpetrated by men. I have four boys of my own, close friends have five girls and we have often over the years discussed the different ways they are treated, the different opportunities they receive, the different difficulties they face when out in public or at a bar or a nightclub.

As this is coming to a head in the wider community, myself and staff at St John's are also growing increasingly concerned over the level of disrespect a number of students across the school are demonstrating towards each other, towards staff and even parents or visitors to the school. (Sadly, this is being seen in most schools right now!) And yes, also between boys and girls, and, dare I say it, girls are mostly on the receiving end. We can only do so much at school, we only have the children for a portion of the time it takes to raise them and if the messages we are giving them are not being backed up at home, I worry about how they will ever learn to be respectful, appropriate, supportive and to care for anyone other than themselves.

How can we all support your children (boys or girls) to be sensitive and respectful, compassionate, and kind?

Model Respect - Show how or act respectfully - to them, to others, listen, don't talk over others or cut them off when they are talking. Respectful conversations allow for one person to speak and then another to speak, simply having the opportunity to listen, consider and respond.
Speak kindly - Children learn what they see and hear, especially from family - yelling, swearing, hurling abuse, teasing are going to be copied and repeated. Manners cost you nothing to use and yet they make such a difference!
Monitor their media - Violent media is increasingly normal and is undeniably desensitising the impact on those who view it. Children are accessing programs and media their brains are not ready for and it is affecting their social development and their social cognition. They are using the language they are seeing and hearing in ways they have no idea about and if they do know, that's even more worrying!
Violence - Don't condone wanton violence or aggression. If you see something and ignore it, you are accepting it as normal. Wanton violence should never be acceptable or normalised for anyone.
Consent - No means no, stop means stop, how much simpler can it be?
Be a good person - there are enough people in the world already willing to do others harm in any way they can. Don't be one of them.

These are all lessons we need to be reaching our children. More so than ever. I had said to others before that when my boys go out on the town I don't worry about them but I do worry what someone might do to them. We should not have to worry about our children in that way and it starts from the day they are born. Let's all do our part for their sakes.

Technology, Internet, BYOD, Brain Development, Social Cognition

What do all these have in common?

We teach with and use them every day at St John's. However, in a recent newsletter, I talked about a number of research papers that have come out recently in relation to children using social media and the internet from a young age and the impact it is having on their metacognition (how they think) and their social cognition (how they interact with others, how they view themselves in the world, etc). Overwhelmingly, the research is telling us what we are already starting to see in our children.

Since the first day the internet was switched on it has taken off - and been taken over - as one researcher says in a report to the US Senate 'We let the genie out of the bottle and now we can't put it back but we have to find a way to reduce its impact.'

I have already been in discussion with staff, students and the members of the School Advisory Council in relation to this and also about winding back the 3-6 BYOD (Chromebook) program to only cater for 4-6 or even 5-6 only. There are a number of reasons for this;

We have a significant amount of digital technology equipment available for students to use across the school from Ipads, Chromebooks, robotics, coding programs, etc
Increasingly students are trying to circumvent security protocols on devices to access inappropriate content on school monitored devices
Despite our constant message that they are a tool to enhance your learning and not a toy to distract you from your learning, children are finding it hard to separate them
A modern Chromebook's shelf life is narrowing as technology speeds up. About 3 years is long enough for most Chromebooks before they are heading 'out of date'
Many parents are doing it tough in the current cost of living circumstances and we are receiving more requests to borrow or purchase second-hand devices
Our own data indicates that a Chromebook in the hand of a Grade 3 student does not have much of an impact on their learning development

Over the next few weeks I will be putting out a survey to all parents on this topic to gain your insights and feedback before we make any definitive decisions.

School Review

For those following the progress of this somewhat time-consuming but essential process, I can happily (and with some relief) announce that we passed the first stage of that process today with flying colours. This is the VRQA (Victorian Registration & Qualification Authority) component which decides whether we keep our registration status as a school and explores how good we are at our paperwork, administration and following system processes in Child Safety and Student Wellbeing.

Next Thursday and Friday begins the overall assessment of everything else the school does. It is a two day process because of the volume of material that has to be covered from teaching and learning to school community to everything else that happens at St John's. The outcomes from this process highlight the school's focus and direction for the next 4 years.

Mother's Day Brekky & Mass

Our celebrations for the significant women in our lives is coming up very quickly.

Friday 10th May - from 7.15am to 8.30am - Mother's Day Brekky

The School will be open for you to tour, food in the hall and the Mother's day Photo Booth will be up.

Mother's Day Mass - 9am at St John's Church

Mother's Day Stall - after Mass in the school for the kids (No peeking!)

Make sure you completed the Operoo to let us know how many are coming!

A Prayer for our Communion Candidates

This term sees a number of our students prepare and receive their First Holy Communion. I ask that we remember them in our prayers this term.

Loving God,

You are the giver of all we possess, the source of all of our blessings. We thank and praise you. Thank you for the gift of our children. Help us to set boundaries for them, and yet encourage them to explore.

Give us the strength and courage to treat each day as a fresh start. May our children come to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love, so they may know peace, truth, and goodness.

May their ears hear your voice.

May their eyes see your presence in all things. May their lips proclaim your word.

May their hearts be your dwelling place.

May their hands do works of charity.

May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.

Amen

Production 2024

Lots of applications for auditions! They start soon!

We're gearing up for our School Production which will be presented in the John Paul College Ngargee Theatre in Term 4. Read all about it!!

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!

Kind regards,

Derek Bruitzman

Principal

Helping your child understand traumatic events in the media

Mr B's Fun Facts & Trivia

For the first time ever, scientists at SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) have had a real conversation with a whale called Twain using AI technology. That's exciting!
There are over 1500 types of spiders in Australia
Swimming on public beaches during daylight hours in Australia was illegal until 1905
If you loitered on a beach in NSW before 1920 you would face severe fines or even be locked up!

Something funny!

Q: What's a crocodile's favourite game?

A: Snap!

Q: What's small, furry and bright purple?

A: A koala holding its breath!

Q: Why did the emu cross the road?

A: To prove he wasn't chicken

Prep 2025

Enrolments are open now for 2025! Forms are available from the office or download through the link below.