Term 4, Week 6

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. 

What Happened This Week

The Dish

A massive thank you to the Lindfield Community for your continued support of The Dish of St John’s again this year. The food donations every term have been overwhelming, and the support from the students and families on the night was extremely generous.  

Thank you from Eva Angel and all the Lindfield staff. 

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

Each week, teachers and coaches nominate two students who embody the Lindfield Sporting values of Respect, Resilience, Teamwork, Enjoyment, Improvement and Personal Best.

In Round 11, the following students have exemplified these values. Congratulations to the recipients!

Lindfield Spirit Recipients

Basketball

Cricket

Touch Football

Staff and Teacher Welcomes and Farewells

Celina Hage

Celina previously taught Kindergarten at Lindfield, before heading overseas to London to teach for two years. She has returned with a wealth of experience and knowledge, and we are excited to have her on staff next year. 

Christie Chan

We are happy to announce that Christie will be joining us full-time at the Prep Schools as the EAL/D Teacher. She will be working across both campuses in 2025. 

Jane Wilson 

Jane is our current Scholarship Student and will continue with Lindfield next year as our full-time 2025 Graduate Intern. We look forward to Jane returning to Lindfield in 2025. 

Carol Peterson 

Will be taking long service leave and leave for 2025. 

Annie Ioannou

We say goodbye to Annie Ioannou who has been an important part of the team, working in all classes throughout the year as one of our 2024 Graduate Interns. Annie also covered Year 6B and helped them through their PYP Exhibition during Term 3 when Mr Watson was on long service leave. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours. 

Jenny Campbell

We are also saying farewell to Jenny Campbell, who is retiring from Newington after over 20 years of service with the College. Jenny has been an integral part of our Lindfield team and has ensured that the Lindfield gardens and grounds always look amazing and are safe and inviting for all our community. 

International Market

Planning and preparation for our biennial International Market is finalised. All classes, along with the P&F IM Committee, Ms Dillon and Mr Czerwenka, have been working hard to ensure that this event will be both enjoyable and successful.

Please be reminded of the following:

• On the day students are to come to school in their sports uniform or cultural dress/coloured clothing related to their heritage or cultural background

• Raffle tickets have been sent home, and if you would like to have the chance of winning wonderful prizes and helping to raise money for KIVA.org, please return the tickets to the office ASAP.  

• The P&F have called for volunteers so please refer to the messages received from your class parents.  

• There will be a secondhand games stall set up on the night. Please bring to the office any complete games you wish to donate.  

• Please purchase your International Market Currency here.

• The Guessing Competition is now open! Guess the number of flags in the school office for your chance to win one of several Lego Advent Calendars on offer. 

Year 6 Fair

Next Friday 29 November is the Year 6 Fair.  

It is a mufti day for the school, and we request a gold coin donation for White Ribbon, which the Year 6 cohort have nominated as their charity this year. 
 
There will also be a sausage sizzle run by the Year 6 parents, for students from K-6. Students will need to bring an additional $4 to be collected on the day, which covers the cost of the sizzle and drink (there will be vegetarian sausage options). 

Prize Giving Awards

This year’s Annual Lindfield Prize Giving for students in Years 3–6 will take place at the Senior School campus in Centenary Hall on Wednesday 4 December at 11.00am. Students are asked to meet their class teachers outside the Music Centre (next to Centenary Hall) no later than 10.30am wearing their summer uniform minus the black cap. 

Following Prize Giving, we invite parents and students to join Lindfield staff for refreshments in the Sesqui Courtyard, next to the Library. 

Whilst we take the opportunity to award a number of prizes for outstanding effort and achievement (categories listed below), the ceremony is primarily an opportunity for the Lindfield community to mark and celebrate the positive year. As such, this event is a compulsory activity for all students in Years 3–6. Although the final school day for students in K–2 is Tuesday 3 December, K–2 families are most welcome to attend Prize Giving. If K–2 students are present they must attend in uniform. The end of the ceremony marks the official start of the summer break for students.  

All students at our school have demonstrated amazing effort in their learning throughout the year and we value the growth that they have made and the reflections on their learning they have shared. At this time of year, teachers have the challenging task of choosing a small number of students in each class to receive an award at our end of year Prize Giving ceremony to recognise their effort and achievement. Parents of students receiving awards will be notified via Consent2Go, prior to our Prize Giving Ceremony. 

The award categories are as below: 

• Outstanding Academic Achievement and Effort – Incorporating Maths, English, History and Geography and to be determined by the class teacher. This is a student who has demonstrated a high level of academic achievement across multiple Key Learning Areas. This student is also a focused and diligent learner. This is evidenced through their results in internal and external assessments. 

• Outstanding Academic Improvement – Incorporating Maths, English, History and Geography and to be determined by the class teacher. This is a student who is a focused and diligent learner who has shown strong growth in academic achievement throughout the year. This is evidenced through their results in internal and external assessments. 

• Outstanding Citizenship – This is a student who contributes to creating a positive classroom culture, is kind to others and is inclusive. They are keen to be a positive contributor to the world around them, locally and/or globally. 

• School Spirit and Service – This award is organised by the Head of ELC and Preps. It is an award for students in Years 3, 4 and 5 where students nominate the person in each class who they feel embodies the concept of having a ‘Great Heart’. They are principled, caring and courageous. They always try to do what is right and contribute to creating a positive environment for others. 

NewSPORT Swim School – School Holiday Program

NewSPORT Swim School is excited to provide an Intensive Learn to Swim program at Lindfield these school holidays.  

Week 1: Monday 9 December – Friday 13 December 2024  

Week 2: Monday 16 December – Friday 20 December 2024  

Session times: 8.30am–11.30am  

The sessions will be run by Miss Chan and a NewSPORT Swimming Coach.  

Our five-day intensive program is a great way to accelerate your child’s swimming ability, improve stroke and build overall confidence in the water.   

Please note: 30-minute session times will vary based on swimming levels.  

For further information, costings and bookings please email Carly Wilson at swimschool@newington.nsw.edu.au 

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.