Assistant 

Principal Report 

Electives for 2024

As strange as it seems, planning for 2024 is underway. Current Year 8 and 9 students have looked at the potential offerings for 2024, and have chosen their top six nominations. Whilst this does not determine if we can offer the subjects it does enable us to look at blocking the subjects to maximise the ability to meet the needs of all students.

For your awareness staff will showcase electives at the beginning of Term 3 to enable students to gain a greater understanding of each subject to make an informed decision about what they are choosing. Students and parents/carers will be able to discuss their options before making their selections. It is critical we get this done early to assist with timetabling and staffing moving forward.

Social Media

All parents are aware that most teens and many preteens use some form of social media and have a profile on a social networking sites, such as Facebook and Tik Tok. Many visit these sites multiple times, every day. There is debate about what an appropriate age is for your child to use social media (Tik Tok says 13+), but we know that many younger children are accessing and posting on social media so it is important to understand the risks and potential pitfalls of their use. Whilst there are good things about social media there are many risks and things kids and teens should avoid. They don't always make good choices when they post something to a site, and this can lead to problems for a number of people.

The obvious risks are potential distractions, disruptions of sleep, exposure to bullying, rumour spreading, and peer pressure. Experts are now saying that the risks might be related to how much social media teens use, which has obviously increased since the start of the pandemic. A study of more than 6,500 12 - to 15-year-olds in the U.S. found that those who spent more than three hours a day using social media might be at a heightened risk for mental health problems. With another 2019 study of more than 12,000 13 - to 16-year-olds in England found that using social media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens. Other studies also have observed links between high levels of social media use and depression or anxiety symptoms.

This isn’t meant to frighten anyone, it is about finding a balance and having a conversation with your child about using social media safely. Generation Next have fantastic resources that help facilitate discussions around social media use in children. It is so important to know what your child is up to online as their footprint stays online and what they share, screenshot and post may never go away. https://www.generationnext.com.au/

Chad Frost

Assistant Principal