Recently I had a dad in my office following a problem with his daughter’s use of a mobile phone. His daughter had been found indulging in a world of social media at school and the phone was confiscated by a teacher. Initially, dad was a little defensive and said, in his daughter's defense, that ‘all the kids do that’. I tried that excuse once on a police officer when caught not fully stopping a Stop sign. It didn’t do me much good. This dad went on to bemoan all mobile phones and said that he and other parents feel helpless on this issue. Whilst sympathizing a little, this is just not the case. There is a solution, or at least a brake, on your child’s use of Social Media if you are brave enough to use it. As you know, your child’s laptop at Shalom is monitored by a product for which the school pays – Family Zone.

From the Family Connect App on your own phone, for all activities on the device, outside of school hours, you can determine how long the internet is used and the areas which can be explored or blocked. It is fantastic. The same can be done with your child’s phone. I would get down on my knees and beg parents to do this. It will ensure that there are reasonable controls over the digital footprint your child develops with their phone. At the very, very least, it would stop access to Social Media during school hours. There is absolutely no need for your child to access SnapChat or Instagram or anything else during school hours. This control does not limit a phone’s function as a phone. Texts and calls are not interrupted. No problem using Paywave. Linking your child’s phone to Family Zone will just stop, dead, them being distracted at school by constant notifications – and getting their phones confiscated. I fear that many parents will not do this because it won’t make your child happy. I truly understand that and have already had a similar conversation in my household. It is, however, worthwhile. Below is a link that shows you how to do this pretty easily. It would make our job here so much easier if everyone got on board with this.

https://shalomcollege.onlinesafetyhub.com.au/parent/family-zone/protecting-devices

The Shalom IT staff are very willing to assist anyone who has difficulty with this.

Staffing 2023 – I’m very pleased to announce that Mr Aaron Brown has been appointed to the position of Assistant Principal Student Formation from next year. This is a role that has been very capably performed by Mrs Austin-Campbell. Next year, Mrs Austin-Campbell will take on the staff portfolio from Ms O’Shea-Hard. Subsequently, we will be looking to appoint a new House Coordinator for Chisholm as well as one for McCormack as Ms Karli Lancaster is moving to Brisbane next year. We will also farewell at the end of the year Mr Pat Matters who is off to the Sunshine Coast and Mr Neil Feather who is on the move to Brisbane. All three of those teachers will be missed but we are pleased that they are going to Catholic schools to further their careers.

Academic Awards are in full swing this week culminating in the Year 12 Graduation on Thursday. Parents have received invitations if your child is being presented with an award. Given the Government’s amber health warning, those attending these events are encouraged to wear a mask. Next year, we will go back to a full Awards evening which will be on our Calendar for Tuesday 17 October. The Year 12 Graduation will be celebrated on the Friday of that week, 20 October. This is much earlier than usual and it will occur just before External exams commence.

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com