Junior School

As a Junior School, we have been encouraged by the significant support we continue to receive from many of our families who recognise the efforts that go into providing for their son/s daily, whether they are learning from school or home.

Parents/carers are reminded that if your son is unwell, he should not be accessing online learning. Some parents/carers are requesting that their sons, who are clearly unwell, complete various forms of classwork for the day, and we ask you to please not expect this of your child. Of course, boys who are close contacts or have very mild symptoms are encouraged to access the online material each day.

As always, our staff are continuing to work hard behind the scenes to ensure that the boys are engaged in their learning. All the Junior School teachers are appreciative of the gracious support and understanding shown by parents and carers in this regard.

On another note, it has recently come to light that many students in the Junior School currently have a profile on at least one social networking site. As part of their privacy policies, social networking organisations such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube specify that users must be at least 13 years of age to have an account. I would ask that parents/carers please reinforce this message with their son/s at home. As parents/carers, it is important to be aware of what your children do online. However, ‘snooping’ can alienate them and damage the trust that has been built together. The key is to stay involved in a way that makes your children understand that you respect their privacy, but also want to make sure they are safe.

The KidsHealth organisation outlines several steps that parents and carers can take to assist students in navigating the digital world whilst online.

Be kind – students must understand that mean behaviour is not acceptable. Make it clear that you expect your children to treat others with respect, and to never post hurtful or embarrassing messages. Ask them to always tell you about any harassing or bullying messages that others post.
Think twice before hitting "enter" – remind children that what they post can be used against them. For example, letting the world know that you're off on a holiday or posting your home address provides would-be thieves with a chance to strike. Students should also avoid posting specific locations of parties or events, as well as phone numbers.
Follow the "WWGS?" (What Would Grandma Say?) rule – teach children not to share anything on social media that they wouldn't want their family (including grandma!), teachers or even future employers to see.
Use privacy settings – these settings are incredibly important and time should be spent going through them together to make sure your children understand each one. Also, explain that passwords are there to protect them against things like identity theft and they should therefore never be shared with anyone.
Don't "friend" strangers – quite simply, children should follow the rule, "if you don't know them, then don't friend them." This is a plain, simple, and safe rule of thumb.
Consider making a "social media agreement" with your children – this is in the form of a real contract that they can sign. In it, they agree to protect their own privacy, consider their reputation, and not give out personal information. They also agree not to use technology to hurt anyone else through bullying or gossip. In turn, parents agree to respect their child’s privacy. This means you can "friend" and observe them, but not post embarrassing comments or rants about messy rooms!
Limit screen time – parents/carers can help keep kids grounded in the real world by putting limits on screen usage. Additionally, computers could be kept in public areas in the house, whilst avoiding laptops and smartphones in bedrooms, and some rules could be set on the use of technology during particular occasions (such as no devices at the dinner table).

Finally, as a Junior School, we are continually examining the elements of best-practice across all areas of school operations. In the past, Interim Reports have been sent to parents/carers towards the end of Term 1. However, after a review of our processes and an analysis of how to maximise the value of a ‘check-in’ opportunity between school and home at this time of the year, it has been decided that teachers will instead communicate with parents/carers regarding their son’s progress via a different method. All classroom teachers are currently taking the time to personally contact each parent/carer/family to discuss the specific needs of their son. In most cases, a brief phone call will take place to ensure the line of communication remains open, whilst in other situations, a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) meeting may be organised. Furthermore, all specialist teachers will send a ‘Term 1 Overview’ email to parents/carers outlining a summary of their specific subject and what the boys have been working on over the course of the past term. Where necessary, specialist teachers will also contact parents/carers via a phone call if there are any concerns about the achievement and/or behaviour of their son during their lessons.

Please note that every student will still receive a formal Semester 1 report at the end of Term 2, as well as a Semester 2 report at the end of Term 4.

It is my sincere hope that parents/carers will appreciate the additional time and effort that all teachers are committed to providing because of this change in process. Ultimately, we would like to convey the message that ongoing communication between teachers and parents/carers should become the new norm; as it is only by working together that we will be able to reach the shared goals your son is striving to achieve.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our parents for their continued partnership in the educational journey of your son/s, as we all work together to benefit the overall development of every boy in the Junior School throughout 2022.

As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (glenn.stephenson@spc.nsw.edu.au) or phone (8705 9247) and I will endeavour to assist you in any way that I can.

May God bless you,

Glenn Stephenson

Director of Junior School