From the Principal

The beginning of the school year has such positive energy about it. Despite nerves all round, students and staff alike are happy to be back and keen to get stuck into the year. I do hope you had some lovely family time over the break and things were a little less hectic. Thank you for everything you have done to prepare your child or children for school. I hope it is a happy year for them.

The great thing about schools is our chance to start over, every year. With children and young people, now is a great time to set some new habits in place – begin as we mean to continue. 

One of the biggest issues facing children from about Year 5 upwards is connectivity via devices, whether it is social media or messaging. Children and young people need really tight parenting around their device usage. 

Firstly, delay allowing children to have phones as long as possible. There are always 'dumb phones' available which will give them access to be able to call you if needed. 

Secondly, set a time when there are is no more device use each evening. It should be at least half an hour before bed time to allow the brain to switch off from the blue light. Lots of families have a no-devices-in-bedrooms policy. This helps with supervision and also ensuring children and young people mentally disconnect from being available. 

There are many websites that would assist you to make a family agreement. The Government website suggests children aged from three years up should make a technology agreement. Sometimes you don’t get a lot of thanks for tough parenting, but that is par for the course. If you have a child who doesn’t like brushing their teeth or going to swimming lessons or wearing a seatbelt, you’ll know what that push back looks like. Putting boundaries around technology is totally worth the fight, because it keeps children and young people safe and healthy. 

It is also a good time to make some habits around reading. Children and young people should be reading each day. It doesn’t really matter what they are reading as long as they are, and perhaps to assist with the technology issue, reading books or magazines on paper is preferable!

A prayer for the year ahead:

Loving God

Thank you for the gift of summer and all that is wonderful about it. Thank you for bringing us back to St Mary’s College safely. May we revel in the joy of community and thrive in a spirit of learning.

May our College be a place of wonder and discovery, a place where we bring peace and find peace, and a place where the learning of today prepares us for the challenges of tomorrow.

Guide our footsteps as we embark on the new school year together. Help us be people of hope and open to new possibilities.

This prayer we make in faith, knowing you love us.

Amen

Helen Spencer

Principal