Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we wrap up this term, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support and partnership. Your involvement and encouragement have made a significant impact on our students’ growth and achievements and it is clear to me how blessed you all are to have the community that you do.

I have had a wonderful time in my first few weeks here and am excited to continue this journey with you and look forward to what next term will bring!

Throughout the school holidays there will be many requests for screen time and I'd like to take this opprtunity to share with you a very insightful speech written about this topic by one of our very own students. I encourage you to read this and also take note of the many activities mentioned in my section of the newsletter last week, none of them being extra screen time.

Round 3 Speech - Should Governments regulate screen time?

By Stevie Kosta

Should Governments regulate screen time?

Today, we live in a world where screens dominate every aspect of our daily lives. From phones and iPads to TVs and laptops, technology has transformed how we work, learn, and communicate. But while screens have brought many benefits, they also come with significant risks.

To prove why governments should regulate screen time, let me take you through a day in the life of a technology-obsessed person - Derek, the Tech Enthusiast.

6:02 AM. The alarm goes off… ERRR! I wonder how my Snapchat messages went last night? Where’s my phone? Oh, it’s still in my hand - I fell asleep with it. Why did my last video only get four likes? Are my friends getting over my posts? Maybe I should post more content to keep up!

Next, a quick selfie to boost my snap score, done! How are the Sharkies doing? Check the score - oh YEAH, we’re winning! A quick weather check… another Snapchat post. The day is still young; plenty of time for more.

Suddenly, there’s a cheer behind me. My brother had just taken his first steps. Oh NO! How could I have missed that. No big deal - he’ll walk again, right?

Time to head to Shazza’s party! I have no idea how to get there - I was too busy taking selfies all morning. I’ll use Google Maps. BEEEEP! Woah! I almost got hit by a car while glued to my phone figuring out directions.

After a few missed turns, I actually arrived early! Awesome time to kill - time to scroll Instagram Reels, laughing at memes and videos. 30 MINUTES LATER… the party’s over, and I missed the chocolate cake, again.

Everyone’s gone already? No worries… REEL… HAHA… REEEEEL. 20 minutes later, I’m still glued to my screen.

I am too young to know when enough is enough. Government, please help me regulate my screen time.

Derek’s story may sound exaggerated, but it’s closer to reality than we’d like to admit. He wakes up exhausted and is obsessed with who liked his posts. His fixation on social media is affecting his physical and mental well being, his social interactions, and even his safety.

While our digital world offers countless benefits, it also promotes serious risks: mental and physical health issues, impaired thinking and social skills, and addictions that are hard to break, especially for kids and teens.

In conclusion, Derek, and many like him - clearly need guidance. Regulation can set healthy boundaries, protect our mental health, and protect our social connections. The time has come for governments to step in and ensure our screens don’t control us. Thank you!

I hope you all have a restful break and take some time to soak up the joy and presence of family and friends. I look forward to seeing you on Day 1 of Term 4, Monday 14th October.

Mrs Maria Rose

Acting Principal  

'Never see a need without doing something about it'. Mary MacKillop