21 November 2024
From the Deputy, Head of Preparatory Schools & ELC
Controlling Screen Time and Smart Phone Use
In his book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt discusses in great detail how limiting cell phone use during school hours and promoting unstructured play can help kids’ mental health. This article is a practical way to think about the issues surrounding technology use in your own context with your own children. There is a link at the bottom to the original article, which is long but extremely interesting.
Author and researcher Catherine Price suggests 10 ideas for parents as they grapple with their children’s devices and screen time:
1. Have a family talk about the negative effects of phones, social media, and screen time.
‘Too often, I see parents try to impose limits on their children’s screen time without first educating their children on why this is important, getting input from their kids or reflecting on their own screen habits,’ says Price. It’s important to focus on how devices are designed to be irresistible and how children feel about their parents’ phone use.
2. Choose devices that are as basic as possible.
Instead of an iPad, choose a Kindle without Internet connection, or start with a flip phone instead of a smartphone. Parents can also lend their own phones to their children with most apps and connectivity turned off (using products like The Brick).
3. Allow devices and screens to be used only in your home’s public spaces.
The point is getting entertainment including television, social media and other devices, out of children and parents’ bedrooms, where the content can be shared and supervised.
4. Create no-phone zones.
These are areas – bedrooms and dining spaces, for starters – where phones and devices are simply not allowed.
5. Create a central charging station for devices.
This is for the whole family’s devices and is not located in sleeping areas.
6. Give devices a ‘bedtime’.
To counteract the stimulating effects of ‘blue light’ and give everyone’s brains and bodies time to relax before bed, this should be done at least an hour before actual bedtimes. It’s a complement to a no-phones-in-bedrooms policy for everyone.
7. Create schedules for Internet access.
The goal is to allow kids to focus on homework and quiet reading time. Another approach is using scheduling apps that limit Internet access to certain time blocks.
8. Communicate your policies to other families.
his is helpful for playdates and minimises distracting communication during homework time and close to bedtime. Also, talk up the idea of children maximising in-person and phone communication versus texting and social media.
9. Learn about and activate parental controls for kids’ devices and apps.
‘These features can be complicated and confusing, and ingenious kids can find ways around them’, says Price. That’s another reason for deferring access to the Internet and social media as long as possible.
10. Consider subscribing to a third-party family protection plan.
These can block websites, apps and Internet access across devices and create access schedules.
2025 Staffing News
We thank our wonderful Librarian, Mrs Joanne Barnes, who has been sharing her love of reading and books with Wyvern students for the past 16 years. Mrs Barnes was recognised for her dedication to students as one of the inaugural winners of the Jon Mountain Staff Service Award. This award recognises staff members who have played prominent roles in activities geared towards enriching the students’ experience during their time at the College. Her coordination of the reading challenges and the Newington LitFests over the years have been remarkable. We are truly grateful for all that she has done for our students. Mrs Barnes is going to look for other opportunities outside of Newington but her spirit and her incredible displays will be missed.
After 10 years of service, Miss Jenny Yoon, has accepted a classroom teaching position at Cranbrook. Miss Yoon started teaching at Wyvern in 2014 and soon became a highly respected classroom teacher across all stages. The Wyvern corridors won’t be the same without her laughter and enthusiasm.
Congratulations to Miss Anna McLachlan who will be moving to Newcastle with her fiancé, Tom. Miss McLachlan began her teaching career at Wyvern as a Graduate Intern and has been an integral member of our Year 5 team and debating program for the past two years. We wish Miss McLachlan all the best in her new adventure.
Mr Jack Nelson will be leaving Wyvern for the bright lights of New York City with his fiancé, Sophie, at the end of the year. Jack has been teaching at Wyvern since April 2023. We are all very jealous of his next adventure and wish him all the best.
Our Inclusive Learning teacher, Mr Billy McLoughlin, is leaving us to travel the world. We thank Billy for all his professionalism and support of our students. He has created an excellent culture in his classrooms.
We welcome back Mrs Rebecca Gianakoulias who has been on maternity leave during 2024 and is excited to be getting back into the classroom.
Ms Jane Vuong will also return to the classroom full time next year. Ms Vuong has spent the past year completing further studies and casual teaching.
Mrs Sara Black and Ms Kellie Eccleston are both returning after maternity leave. They have both been working part time during Term 4 and it has been wonderful having them back at Wyvern.
2025 Classroom stationery
In 2025, all of the stationery items that students require during their school day will be provided by the College. This includes pens, pencils, rulers, glue sticks, exercise books and any texts that students may require for homework. Students will not need to bring a pencil case from home to school each day, however, we do recommend they keep a well-stocked pencil case at home for their homework.
What Happened This Week
Wyvern House P&F Executive
The 2024 Wyvern House P&F held their AGM on Friday 8 November. We thank the outgoing executive members, Nicole Fung-Coady, Sarah Capolupo, Megan Greig, Martine Prunty and Jill Hung for their service. A number of new parents have joined the executive and are already planning for a wonderful 2025.
Year 3 Camp
Year 3 students from Wyvern and Lindfield had an exciting two nights away at camp at Galston Gorge in northern Sydney last week. The students challenged themselves to complete high rope climbing activities, learnt some important survival skills whilst on a bushwalk and developed their collaborative skills whilst trying to solve problems in groups. The teachers and camp leaders were all proud of the effort the students put into the experience. They all had a fantastic time.
Year 5 & 6 Surf Day
As a sequel to Wyvern’s Aquatics program, Year 5 and Year 6 travelled to Sydney’s Northern Beaches this week to participate in a Surf Day run by Manly Surf School. Our students learned about respecting the ocean, as well as rips, currents and tides and the precautions to take around dangers and methods to ensure safety. Enjoyment was also an important aspect of the day, with everyone challenging themselves on bodyboards and attempting to stand up and surf on longboards.
Students should all sleep well after running, digging, diving, splashing and swimming themselves to a standstill. Some of our athletes easily completed the equivalent work of three ironman events throughout the day. Those tiring quicker than others, or those just preferring a more tactile activity, built sand sculptures that Praxiteles himself would be proud of. It is clear to see that we are also growing the next generation of civil engineers, with elaborate tunnels and pipelines being constructed before they returned to the surf.
It was a great experience and a nice way for Year 5 and 6 students to spend an end of year day with their friends.
Chapel Thought
This week in Chapel we have been reflecting on Advent and Christmas. Advent is the Christian season of preparation which occurs in the four weeks preceding Christmas. Whilst Advent will begin for Christians on the 1st of December, in schools we bring our journey forward. Advent gives us a time to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas and what the gift of Jesus’ birth might mean for our world this year.
In Advent we center our reflections on the themes of hope, joy, peace and love. These themes remind us of the hope given to all of humanity through the birth of Jesus. We remember the joy of the angels as they proclaimed the Good News of the birth. It allows us to acknowledge that, at Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, sent by God to proclaim God’s Kingdom. And perhaps most of all, we remember the love of God given for all of us in the birth of the Christ Child.
As we move towards the Christmas season, my prayer is that these values of hope, joy, peace and love may guide us in our personal preparations but also inspire us as a community as we journey towards the holidays and towards Christmas.
Pastor Richard La’Brooy
Sport News
Please click here to view the Wyvern Spirit recipients this week on New Spaces.
Prize Giving
The Wyvern House K-2 Presentation Ceremony will be held at the Senior School Chapel on Friday 22 November at 9.00am. Please click here to RSVP.
The Wyvern House Years 3-6 Annual Prize Giving Day will be held on Wednesday 4 December at 9.00am in Centenary Hall on the Stanmore Campus. Please click here to RSVP.
2025 Class Allocation and One Up Morning
On Wednesday 27 November you will receive an email advising of your child’s class and classroom teacher for 2025.
The email will also contain details for One Up Morning which will be held on Thursday 28 November. This is the day your child will have the opportunity to spend the morning session with their new teacher and the other students in their 2025 class. Students joining Wyvern in 2025 from Kindy to Year 6 will also attend our ‘One Up Morning’.
2025 Uniform Supplies
The uniform shop will be closed over the summer school holidays. All orders for school commencement in 2024 must be completed and collected by Monday 2 December 2024.
Vacation Care Programs
See below for information on the vacation care programs and camps we will be offering over the holidays:
- CommunityOSH Vacation Care
- Christmas Holiday Art Classes
- NewSport Rugby Camp
- NewSport Tennis Camp
- NewSport Tennis Camp
Staff Profile
Q. Why teaching? What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A. As a teacher, I have the chance to influence students’ lives positively every day. Through teaching, I can help guide, support and encourage young people as they grow and discover who they want to be. Being part of that journey is incredibly rewarding to me. Kids constantly surprise you with their ideas, creativity and questions.
The Newington community offers a strong sense of belonging and connection. As a parent and teacher at the school, I have made lifelong friends and am part of a wonderful team of teachers. There are so many different relationships that develop within a school environment, and I value them all.
Q. Something other people don’t know about you?
A. I had a career change to teaching later in life. Previously, I worked in different creative roles, both agency and client side. When my first child started school, I saw the enormous impact his teacher had on him, and I thought teaching would be the most meaningful job you can have. I’d never considered teaching when I was at school. I feel lucky now to combine my creativity and teaching at Lindfield.
Q. What’s one of your favourite memories from your time as a student?
A. Hanging out in the art room – before school, lunch time and after school. It was always open, and it was my happy place.
