From the Deputy Principal
Throughout my career there have always been curriculum and assessment strategies, evolving pedagogical practice and programs to support and enhance student learning and wellbeing. I am not naïve to the influence government policy and economic markets have on the educational focus. I have witnessed governments leaning into particular agenda i.e. STEM skills may be the flavour supported by government grants, health strategies and relationships inserted into the H&PE curriculum; then the emphasis changes to the critical thinking skills of Humanities as we move to a workplace that requires clear distinction between human skills and artificial intelligence. All these programs give benefit to the education of young people and it is hoped the new policy restricting social media platforms will improve student mental health and increase Cybersafety for our young and vulnerable children.
The changes and development in digital communication and the virtual world for our young people have little to no predictability. AI informs what we read, what we see and hear from our digital devices. As an adult it is becoming more difficult to discern reality from fake, truth from propaganda, so imagine a young person navigating this world as the only one they know.
Some parents may remember phone brands of 20 years ago – Nokia, Motorola where the functionality was predominantly phone calls and text messages. Our children see phones in a very different way, an extension of themselves connecting one foot into a virtual world at exactly the same time the other foot steps onto the bus to take them home at the end of the day. Social media is the way our young people connect. However, young brains are still developing and at times can have a distorted understanding of how a message in a group chat is received even if the message was well-intentioned. Exposure to undesirable people, ideologies, uncensored images that are too easily accessible can potentially put our students at a risk level that teachers and parents cannot imagine. Our version of ‘switching off’ was merely the TV. Now government policy will limit and restrict online action for our younger teens from December 10 this year. Like parents and carers, schools are awaiting information, and when we more clearly understand the implications on implementing these restrictions, we will promptly share this information with our community.
Last term we presented an online webinar presented by our College Psychologist, Cate Rushan, “School Anxiety” which gave a clearer understanding of not only the causes and symptoms but some strategies. Online social challenges were mentioned which extend outside of the school grounds due to social media. The Cybersafety Project presented a webinar earlier in the year giving advice to parents/carers regarding online safety for young people. Psychologist Jocelyn Brewer spoke to our community last year about balance for our young people in the digital world. This year Jocelyn Brewer will be presenting a public webinar on November 6th which may have greater insight into what online platforms are restricted to our young people and the possible impacts. Bookings can be made here.
Celebration Evening
It is compulsory for all Year 7-11 students to attend this year’s Celebration Evening, Monday 17th November. The event will commence promptly at 6.45pm and information of venue and registration for tickets has already been shared with our parents and carers via ‘Engage’.
Please note, parents are limited to booking two tickets, not including students as they will be seated separately to families. Highlights from Frayne Festival, this year’s musical production, “Grease”, music items, displays of student artwork, sports awards, debating highlights as well as acknowledgement of academic and social justice achievement from individuals will be formally celebrated.
Following Celebration Evening, Farewell Day is the opportunity to celebrate academic endeavour from a Year Level perspective. These presentations occur just before these 2025 students progress to Years 8-12, 2026 in the Step Ahead program. Year 11&12 Step Ahead program commences November 24 with the Year 8-10 version commencing December 1st.
Ad Altiora
Rachel Valentine
Deputy Principal