Pastoral Care

6 Things Worth Arguing for at the Beginning of the School Year

The beginning of the school year is exciting for all and can be challenging despite age after spending weeks at home and adjusting to routines that may have been left behind over the summer break.

Whether your child is new to the College, returning or in their final year, below are six things we believe are worth addressing and setting expectations early on to ensure they are making the most of the opportunities given daily. By communicating these early on these non-negotiables make a happier and healthier home for all concerned.

Argue for Sleep

Sleep is essential for development, mental and physical health. It cannot be overrated and many of our children are suffering from sleep deprivation; in fact, recent studies have found that a quarter of 12-15 year olds and half of 16-17 year olds don’t get enough sleep on school nights. Lack of sleep impacts a person’s ability to concentrate, manage relationships and regulate their emotions.

Simple strategies to assist your child develop a sleep routine and prepare for a restful night include turning off screens an hour before the agreed time, have a nice warm shower, read in bed, and finally reduce caffeine and sugar intake.

Argue for School Attendance

Ensuring that your child attends school as often as their health allows is important. Consider this…if your child misses one day a fortnight, they will miss a whole year of education over the course of their twelve years of education. It is not just a year of educational opportunities, but also a year of socialisation, community connection, self-management, and the support of staff who have been employed to help you nurture your child.

While we understand the need to occasionally arrive late and depart early, we ask that parents limit this as much as possible as part-time absenteeism teaches that we can opt out of the parts of life we don’t enjoy or find hard. 

Argue for Family Time

As children get older, they want to spend more time with their peers to learn who they are socially. However, this shouldn’t encroach on the need for family time as your family is your child’s base, it fosters connection, and trusted adults give better advice and assist better decision making. 

Argue for Honesty

One of the biggest challenges we face is accepting that our children may not always be honest to avoid conflict and difficulty. Role model and practice having difficult conversations earlier on rather than later when the topics become more challenging. Your children need to know that even if they tell you something you really don’t want to hear, you will listen and support them. This doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences, but trust is essential.

Argue for ‘sky time’

Humans need a connection to the natural world. Time under the sky, to feel the earth under your feet, the sun on your face, and soaking up blue and green spaces increases a person’s self-worth and has significant impact on wellbeing and resilience. Reconnecting with nature, even for short periods, nourishes and nurtures, and it generally feels good. 

Argue for Kindness

The need to fit in socially can sometimes lead to thoughtless, selfish acts. This is especially true in a technological world where it’s increasingly easy to do and say things online that you would never consider in person. 

Remind your children to stand up for their values, sit with the child having lunch alone, and don’t judge others in moments of weakness but celebrate and congratulate their successes.

Monitor your child’s social media regularly and ensure that they understand the importance of protecting their personal information. Establish clear rules regarding sharing images, the types of content they can post and how often, as well as how privacy settings on social media platforms work. If you make the decision to allow your child to have social media profiles insist that you are ‘friends’ with them so you have a clear view of what they are sharing, as well as when and who with. 

A final though…

Navigating teenage years can be daunting for many families BUT…it doesn’t have to be. As your child begins the new year take the opportunity to reconnect and set clear boundaries early on to support them as they navigate their educational journey in 2024.

For information regarding age appropriateness on social media visit https://kentesafety.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/esafetyageguidelinestable26516.png

The following video is a wonderful resource for families on protecting your children online https://www.esafety.gov.au/media/protecting-each-other-online

The Pastoral Care Team