Junior School

Term 3 Holiday Break

With the holidays due to commence on Friday after another eventful 10-week term, the following serves as a timely reminder to parents/carers about the dangers of boys spending long periods of time unsupervised online; either gaming, on YouTube or exploring all that the internet offers at their fingertips. Even with a high level of security incorporated into the internet and devices in your home, I’ve known many 10–12-year-old boys who were capable of working their way around these measures! Furthermore, if your son has a smartphone, then he almost certainly has access to every site the internet has to offer, all within a few taps of his device.

I recently read an article where a parent was aghast at the fact that invitees to a party were being encouraged to ‘bring their own device’. Surely birthday celebrations, playdates and gatherings of school friends can be device free! Instead of long hours spent online, I would strongly encourage parents/carers to plan playdates for their son/s with no devices on offer. Time spent playing outdoors, in its many forms, can entertain boys during the holidays for hours on end. For many students, it’s also a great time of year to practise their swimming skills after the winter hiatus, in readiness for a hot summer ahead.

Communication Challenge

Many parents/carers sometimes find communicating with their pre-adolescent children to be an increasingly uphill battle. The growing desire for independence and freedom during the pre-teenage years can result in boys seeking help or advice from their peers or by accessing online forums, rather than from their own parents/carers. With regular advancements in technology and students spending more time on their phones and devices than ever before, it can feel like parents/carers are constantly competing for face-to-face communication. Yet, we know that the power of positive parent-child relationships can have a significant impact on a child’s wellbeing and development. Furthermore, research shows that starting and ending our days with digital influences instead of our real and immediate connections, can alter our perspective and values.  

David Kobler’s ‘face-to-face challenge’ encourages parents/carers and children to remove devices from their bedrooms, choosing to instead end each day with a face-to-face conversation. I strongly encourage all families to consider adopting this challenge as part of their daily routine, especially during the holiday period!

I would like to wish you all a lovely break from the usual structures associated with the school term over the next two weeks. We have many very tired boys (and teachers) who all need a break! If you can avoid over-scheduling their time during the holiday period, then I’m sure that the boys will come back rested and ready to tackle all that lies ahead in Term 4, a short 8-week sprint to the 2022 finish line!

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