Assistant Principals
We are now halfway through the term, and it has been fantastic to see the strong start our students have made to the year. Each learning community continues to share their own newsletter updates, and it is wonderful to see snapshots of the learning taking place across the school.
We encourage families to take a moment to read beyond their child’s year level. There are many exciting learning experiences, events and opportunities happening across the school throughout the year. It is a great way to stay connected to our broader school community and see the journey of learning from Foundation through to the senior years.
Homework at Grayling Primary School: Why Reading Comes First
At Grayling Primary School, we believe that reading is the foundation for success in every learning area. While homework may look different across year levels, one priority remains consistent: regular reading at home.
Reading is not just part of English, it underpins learning in all subjects. When students become confident readers, they are better able to:
- Understand maths word problems
- Learn new concepts in science and inquiry
- Follow instructions in health, art and technology
- Build vocabulary and general knowledge
Develop strong writing skills
In short, strong readers become strong learners.
We are also mindful that students spend a full day engaged in structured learning. Children need downtime, family connection, outdoor play and rest. Reading is a meaningful, high-impact way to reinforce learning without overwhelming students. Just 10–20 minutes of daily reading can make a significant difference over time.
Supporting Our Students: Social Media and Wellbeing
Since returning to school, we have noticed an increasing number of students speaking about issues they are experiencing on social media. These include friendship fallouts in group chats, exposure to inappropriate content, unkind comments, and worries about being left out of online interactions.
For primary-aged children, these online challenges can quickly spill into the classroom and playground, affecting friendships, concentration and overall wellbeing.
This is why we support the recent legislation introduced by the Australian Government to restrict social media access for children under 16. The intention is to better protect young people from digital environments that can be difficult to navigate without strong emotional maturity and adult guidance.
Children in primary school are still developing:
- Emotional regulation skills
- Conflict resolution strategies
- Perspective-taking and empathy
The ability to manage peer pressure
Social media platforms are designed for older users and often require levels of judgement and resilience that young children are still building. When challenges arise online, students often need adult support to understand and resolve situations safely.
At school, we will continue to explicitly teach digital technologies and respectful relationships. However, our strong preference is that primary-aged children are protected from accessing social media platforms altogether.
By working together, we can reduce unnecessary social stress and allow children to focus on learning, play, friendships and healthy development.
Our Mobile Phone Policy
To further support student wellbeing and minimise distractions, our school has a clear mobile phone policy:
- All student mobile phones must be handed into the school office by 8:40am.
- Phones are securely stored during the school day.
Phones can be collected from the office at 3:00pm at the end of the day.
This approach ensures students can focus fully on learning, build positive peer relationships, and engage in school life without the pressures of online communication during the day.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are building strong foundations for a successful year ahead.
Have a great fortnight everyone,
Assistant Principals
Lach Clydesdale and Meagan Lindberg.