From the Assistant Principal

A Better Game Worth Playing

Lately, in quiet, reflective moments, I’ve been thinking about the role our generation (Millennials and Gen X alike) has played in shaping the world in which our children are growing up. While every generation faces its challenges, today’s kids are navigating an increasingly complex landscape, with online influences, social pressures, and evolving ideas about identity, all shaping how they see themselves and others.

I remember being at a house party back in 2008 when a friend told me about a best-selling book called The Game. It was part of a bigger culture that celebrated hyper-masculinity in ways that, looking back, weren’t particularly healthy (remember that show Entourage? We’ve come a long way). Fast forward to today, and many of those ideas still linger in different forms online. It’s no wonder our kids - especially boys - sometimes get caught up in confusing or unhelpful messages about what it means to be ‘a man’.

At Newport Lakes Primary School, we see the effects of this in small but telling ways. Sometimes it’s boys repeating something they’ve heard online, or looking up to public figures whose values don’t align with respect and equality. Our student survey data backs this up: while our girls are thriving in many areas of school life, our boys often report feeling less connected, less engaged, and less motivated.

2025 Attitudes to School Survey (Years 4–6)

These numbers tell us that we have more work to do - but the good news is, we’ve already seen positive movement between 2023 and 2025, thanks to Respectful Relationships, our wellbeing programs, stronger teacher-student connections, and more engaging break-time activities (which is very tricky with our limited yard space). 

And just as importantly, we know we can’t do it alone.

This is where our parents - and especially our dads - make an enormous difference. Research from GenWest shows that fathers want to be more involved in their children’s lives, but sometimes work pressures and old expectations get in the way. Yet when dads lean in - whether that’s at school events, at pick-up, or around the kitchen table - it has a huge impact. Kids notice, and it shapes how they see themselves and others.

And the best part? Many dads in our NLPS community are already leading the way. 

We see it in the dads who stop for a chat with teachers at drop-off, celebrate their child’s achievements at the Art Show and pitch in with lunches, homework, and bedtime routines. These everyday actions challenge outdated ideas about masculinity and show our kids that respect, empathy, and equality are strengths.

That’s why we want to celebrate and encourage all dads in our community to keep leaning in. Your involvement - big or small - makes a real difference in your child’s life. So, to our dads, please continue to:

• Be present. Your time matters more than you think.
• Be curious. Ask about your child’s friends, their interests, their online world.
• Be informed. Check Compass, read their reports, stay connected.
• Be equal. Share the load at home - kids notice who’s stepping up.

If we want our boys to thrive, then it starts with the game they’re playing. The rules they absorb don’t come from one book or influencer; they come from what they see every day at home and at school. And that means we have the power to show them there’s a better game worth playing.

Mat Williamson

Assistant Principal (and advocate for our boys)