From the Deputy Principal
Term 2, like every term, the activities and learning opportunities continue at a busy pace. This term students benefit positively from co-curricular events, House Athletics Carnival and other House competitions, commencing this week and in a couple of months the special festivities of St Aloysius Day. Broader community celebrations have been acknowledged such as ANZAC Day Liturgy, with a solemn assembly reminding us to never ignore past tragedies and pray for peace in our future.
Schools have a warm way of bringing people together with St Aloysius students forming the connection. We welcome our community to share in term 2 highlights such as the annual Mother’s Day Breakfast, May 8, and the College Musical Production of ‘Mama Mia’, Jun18-20. Tickets on sale to the public this week - it is sure to be a sell-out!
Each generation believes they had it ‘tougher’ when parenting teenagers. Not so for me. When my own children were teenagers, compared to today’s environment, I believe I ‘had it easy’. Mobile phones merely made it simpler to secure the whereabouts of children. When I think of parents of teenagers today there is a bigger cyberworld to navigate. The same brain training to create an addictive, influential habit as smoking, is adopted by the algorithmic ‘feed’ designed to negatively influence a young person’s thinking and opinions. Parents would never condone a smoking habit for their children; how can parents combat this influential invasion? When do teenagers switch off and enjoy life for themselves?
Regardless of the decade or generation, we know teenagers are keen to explore the world as independently as possible. As parents, staff and as a College community it is important to keep abreast of our young people’s online activity. A technology schedule or parent/teen contract can be a useful formality. The College has taken measures to increase the stringency of our Student ICT Policy to support Child Safety and no mobile phones are to be used on campus during school hours. I encourage parents to keep talking with their teens and access the webinars offered by the eSafety Commissioner. Please be diligent with gaming sites, an environment too often infiltrated by adults grooming young people, and contact the College if any disrespectful, racist, sexist commentary has occurred in student group chats involving St Aloysius students.
Ad Altiora
Rachel Valentine
Deputy Principal