A Word from Ian Shaw
A recent study by the UNSW Gonski Institute for Education produced a summary report on technology and families. The data represented more than 5000 children and 2450 Australian parents and grandparents, between the ages of 25 & 65 years old. Here is a snapshot of what we learn about ourselves, if the survey is representative of our lives. I have a sneaking suspicion that it is fairly accurate, even for Kuyper families.
- More than 4 in 5 children own at least one screen-based device. The average is 3 devices per child.
- Personal ownership of devices starts as young as 4 years old.
- Parents are most worried about the negative impact of screen use on their child’s physical activity levels, attention span and time to play.
- 3 of 4 parents think it is harder to control their child’s digital habits since they have got their own screen-based device.
- 83% of parents felt their child was negatively distracted by digital technologies.
- 65% of families agreed that negotiating digital technology use causes conflict in the home.
- 72% of parents recognise that their own digital media and technology habits influence those of their children.
- Over 90% of parents felt that they themselves were distracted, at least to some extent, by digital technologies.
- More than half of parents primarily allow their children to use digital media and technology for entertainment. Comparatively, only 1 in 5 predominantly use it for learning purposes.
- 65% of parents felt that when their child is bored, using digital devices to distract them is their first choice.
- 37% of children and young people have been anxious or depressed because of their time online or because they were not allowed to use their device.
- 90% of parents felt that digital technologies make is easier to stay in touch with family and friends.
- 3 in 5 children who are struggling at school go to bed with their devices.
- 30% of families allow their children to use their devices in their bedroom after bedtime every single day.
- Nearly half of Australian parents (47%) suggest that screen time has a negative impact on emotional health.
What can we learn from this? We would do well to heed the warning signs listed above and seek to guide our children with wisdom in this domain. By way of doing this, I would like to commend Mrs Stewart, one of our parents, who recently gave a presentation at the Kuyper Association Annual General Meeting. She discussed how she and her husband manage the screens in their home with 4 teenagers. The Stewarts use a program called Google Family Link which gives control to parents and helps them teach appropriate device use for their children at home. I have asked Mrs Stewart to repeat her presentation at the Not Even Once (Changing the Narrative) drug and alcohol workshop for parents on 9 June at 7pm. I strongly encourage you to be present for both sessions. What these presenters have to say will be gold for families struggling with technology and other teenager issues.
So, are our smartphones hostile territory? Is it a cultural trinket or legitimate tool? Just like belly buttons, we all have them, but we want students to understand that technology can be friend or foe. It is a gift from God, and like many other things, can be used for good or evil. As recorded in Genesis, Adam and Eve made the tragic mistake of ignoring God’s only request and we all live with the results of the breakdown of our relationship with God, and everyone, and everything.
With this history, let us seek to honour God with our technology. This starts with being conscious of our example and how technology is affecting us and our families. Let us seek to transform technology use in ways that foster goodness and community building.
Reminders
- The Parent Portal and Kuyper App will be the primary vehicle for day-to-day communications between the school and parents in 2023. The School Calendar, weekly news, event advice and other essential functions will only be available in the Parent Portal and Kuyper App. At least one parent/carer from each household where your child resides needs access to the portal or app. If you are not already using the App, or need assistance resetting your user account and password, call 4573 2999 and we will assist you to connect.
- Nurture Magazine has been sent home to each family via their eldest child. Look for an article by our very own Ruth Thompson on page 20.
- Lost Property is over-flowing. Please come and check if any of it is yours, as lost property will be discarded or re-sold at the end of the year.
- Parents are reminded to continue testing for COVID and advise us if there is COVID in their household. If concerned, we encourage students to wear a mask at school for their own and others’ protection. In line with NSW Health recommendations, we also ask that close contacts wear a mask indoors and on public transport (including the Kuyper bus) and test regularly. We still have a good supply of RAHT kits. Contact the Office if you would like some sent home.
- Reminder to parents to ensure that all fees are paid by the end of year. Contact the Office if you have any concerns.
- Families who rely on the Busways service need to know that there have been some changes to the timetables until the end of term. Use the buttons below to access the temporary timetables for Term 4.
Prayer & Praise
- Praise God that he continues in his sovereignty through all circumstances. Praise him that he is “the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17), and that he loves us.
- Give thanks for holidays, breaks and changes in rhythm. Pray for connection, peace and safety for all our families during these school holidays. Pray for connection and community to grow for all at Kuyper Christian School, particularly at Limelight!
- Pray for school families and staff families who are coping with illness and accident: Faithfull, Hill, Eastlake, Armstrong, Gubbins, Huxley, Daly. Pray for good rest, connection and healing for all our families, staff and students.
- Give thanks for our Government and those in authority. Pray that they would be led in wisdom and truth to lead our country for the future good of all. Pray that “every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Give thanks that our government has been “instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).
- Give thanks for our Board and Executive team as they interview potential new staff members. Pray for one-ness of purpose for our staff, Board, Executive team, and Association as they plan, prepare and budget for 2023. Praise the Lord for His provision to us all the time.
News & Notices
Teen Challenge – #NotEvenOnce®
On Wednesday 9 June, the ‘Teen Challenge’ organisation will present a drug education seminar to students in Years 7-12. There will also be an evening session, Changing the Narrative, for parents in the Library. We encourage all parents and carers to attend this helpful and informative event.
Session 1: Year 7, 9:15 – 10:55 (P1 & 2)
Session 2: Year 8 & 9, 11:30 – 1:10 (P3 & 4)
Session 3: Year 10 – 12, 1:45 – 3:25 (P5 & 6)
Session 4: Parents, 7 – 9pm, Library
These seminars have been presented at schools throughout Australia and at Kuyper Christian School annually for several years. They deliver a powerful message about the risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and alcohol and the misuse of prescription medication.
The link below gives an overview of the student seminar content: https://notevenonce.org.au/school-projects/
This link covers the parent session in the evening which will be run in a workshop format, with Q & A: https://notevenonce.org.au/community-forums
If you DO NOT wish your child to attend the seminar for any reason, please email the school; admin@kuyper.nsw.edu.au
Collective Shout
Tomorrow, Wednesday 23 June, Melinda Tankard Reist will visit Kuyper to speak with our Year 7 – 12 students. She is the co-founder of Collective Shout, a grassroots campaigns movement against the objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls. Here is a snap-shot of what Melinda will talk about on the day:
Melinda and Daniel will take our young women on a ‘tour’ of media and popular culture in a dynamic, multi-visual presentation. They will unpack with our girls the images, messages and ideas they receive every day from games, music videos, advertising, marketing, social media and explicit se*ual imagery, conveying a message that their value and worth lies solely in their bodies and physical appearance. Students will critically evaluate how these messages contribute in harmful ways to their views of themselves, their bodies and relationships, affecting their physical, emotional and social development. Drawing from global research and personal accounts of young people, Melinda and Dan will then explore how young women can respond personally, including by resisting se*ual pressure, clarifying their values and enforcing boundaries, aspiring to relationships built on respect and mutuality – and collectively – by taking action for social change and cultural transformation.
Our young men are also bombarded with hyper-se*ualised messages and images in media and popular culture. Their lives are increasingly socialised, conditioned and informed by exposure to p*rn related content online. They are exposed to this content even before their first kiss, with average age of first exposure, 11. In a dynamic multi-media presentation which includes research, along with first person stories of young men, Melinda and Daniel will explore with male students how exposure to se*ual imagery is contributing to a distorted view of bodies and relationships. They will propose that boys are being raised in a callous version of masculinity through these toxic messages, hampering their ability to form healthy respect-based relationships. Melinda and Dan will help them understand what consent and healthy relationships should look like. In a po*nified cultural landscape, our young men will be encouraged to stand against the tide, resist the ‘bystander’ effect, and choose to act with integrity.
We are blessed to have this opportunity and look forward to the ongoing conversations Melinda’s visit will create.
Cyberbullying Survey for Years 7 - 9
Kuyper Christian School have agreed to participate in a Cyberbullying Research Project run by Macquarie University for Years 7-9. The research project is related to factors associated with cyberbullying and how this affects mental health. Students will be required to complete a 45 minute questionnaire. Staff will ensure that there is minimal disruption to the school day. If you have any questions, feel free to email the Office.
If you are the parent of a child in Years 7-9, please provide your consent for their participation electronically by following the link below. Please do not print the consent form. Use the red arrow at the bottom of the screen to submit consent online: https://tinyurl.com/mqconsent