Deputy Principal's Report

Parenting in the 2020's: A Whole New Ball Game

For most of us who grew up in the '80s (or somewhere close), parenting today feels like stepping into a whole new world. Back then, “research” meant asking your mum’s friend down the street, and “screen time” was whatever we managed to catch on Saturday morning TV before someone sent us outside to play. Now, parenting feels a bit like a science experiment, with more analysis than a school science fair! So, have our kids’ challenges really changed, or just the way we react and manage them?

Family life looks very different these days. The rise of social media, gaming, and the internet has opened up challenges we’d never have imagined as kids! Our Parent PD session back in Term One was a great chance to dive into some if these issues. We discussed ways to protect our kids in this new digital age and learned that removing devices wasn’t always the best solution. Communication and education (for ourselves and our kids) were key takeaways.

While we naturally want to protect our kids, are we sometimes stepping in too soon, getting in the way of valuable learning opportunities? Can we let them go out and “scrape a knee” (literally or figuratively), work out how to get back up, and have the adventures we still cherish?

So, here are the big questions: How do we find balance? What do we prevent or remove, what do we encourage, and what do we let them navigate on their own while still being supportive? There’s no single right answer here, but open communication and a moment of reflection before jumping in can go a long way.

Of course, there are non-negotiables: online safety, bullying, and any situations that could cause genuine physical or emotional harm. Beyond that, how do we measure success? If our child doesn’t hit every mark on a test, are they not successful? Shifting our mindset from focusing only on the “problems” to noticing what’s working well can change the game.

Changing our culture to view failure as a learning opportunity—much like our great athletes and inspirational leaders—is powerful. Research even shows that kids who solve their own problems experience boosts in confidence and happiness. Each little success is a quiet “You’ve got this!” 

So, here’s to parenting in the 2020s—a world of Wi-Fi worries and social media mysteries, but also a unique chance to watch our kids grow into strong, happy, and resilient individuals, one little win at a time. Please know that you are not alone. Some days we feel like we have got this, and others we wonder if we are getting it right. We are here to help navigate any of this with you, so please reach out at any time.

If you would like a laugh, check out a blog piece here on some parenting differences from the 80s to today - with some likely or not so likely comparisions :)

Year 6 2025 Leavers Jumpers

The results are in, and by a big margin, the following style has been chosen for the Year 6 2025 Leavers jumper. All students and families voted on the design with the results posted below

Thanks for all your support,

Peggy McDonald & Steele Anderson

Deputy Principals