Gen. Alpha and Screen Content
We are entering a new era for schooling. The first students belonging to what has been termed “Generation Alpha” (born post 2010) are beginning to occupy our upper primary/early secondary classrooms. These students will be the first generation of children shaped entirely in an era of portable digital devices. For many, their pacifiers have never been a rattle or a set of keys but a smartphone or tablet device. They have never known a world without world iPhones, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram.
These advancements mean that screen technology for Generation Alpha “is not something separate from themselves, but rather, an extension of their own consciousness and identity”. They will become “screenagers” with many preferring the virtual world to the physical world. This opens up a new frontier of challenge when it comes to parenting this generation. Researchers highlight three main issues for parents of Generation Alpha which centre around watching out for screen addiction, cyberbullying and the management of content.
It is the third of these concerns upon which I want to briefly focus a spotlight because “Content is King!”. What are children doing with their screen time?
Parents and educators should consider if a child’s screen time is active or passive. Is screen time being used predominantly for leisure or learning? Are children communicating and creating with screens (which is ideal, as they are cognitively engaged and assume an active role) or are they passively consuming content? There should be regulation and monitoring of exactly what content children are creating or consuming online. This is a mammoth job for many parents as the technology is constantly evolving and children’s technical skills and knowledge often surpass their parents.
Dr. Kirsty Goodwin, a leading digital parenting expert, (www.drkirstygoodwin.com) presents these tips for parents around regulating appropriate content:
- Be specific: Parents and teachers must establish very clear boundaries about what content is appropriate for children to view and or create. Parents are advised to create folders on touchscreen devices with the apps that are suitable for kids of different ages to use. Parents can also create YouTube playlists of appropriate content and can pre-record TV shows or specify channels that they’re happy for children to view.
- Keep up to date: Parents and educators need to stay abreast of the newest apps and websites that are geared towards young children. A number of “not for profit” organisations provide a range of digital tools available to guide parents trying to navigate the digital world . They provide independent reviews, age ratings and other essential information about a range of media.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
https://childrenandmedia.org.au/
- Use filters: Set up parental controls and web-filtering software on all devices.
While parents have some unique challenges, it is encouraging to remember the Millennial parents of Generation Alpha have themselves been shaped in the digital world, so are well equipped to manage these complexities. Basic dynamics between parents and children remain timeless. Parents and educators should model healthy media habits. Ongoing conversations about your child’s use of technology should it occur often. Establishing guidelines around use of media and then enforcing these guidelines consistently, helps create a safe and secure environment.
Stephen Meagher
House Captains 2021
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected House Captains for 2021
Parresia – Alex Huynh, Ella Lines, Lucy Williams, Evie Wilson
Makaria – Tahlia Beckitt, Olivia Binkhorst, Cameron Kiss, Riana Shah
Charis – Ronan Fitzgerald, Sophie Suverijn, Jarrod Suverijn, Nicholas Vlahov
Spring Soiree
All the students in Year 10 at the Carramar campus attended the Spring Soiree at Bridgeleigh. Holding it at this venue has been a valuable transition at our campus, as it marks decades of students attending this special soiree. Unfortunately, they are under new ownership as of next year. Thus, this year marked the end of a great legacy, which made the night even more memorable to many staff and students alike.
The event had many objectives, the first of which was to celebrate the achievements students have made in their junior years, whilst marking the transition to upper school. We further wanted to provide students with the opportunity to participate in a mature social gathering where they had to participate in formal dancing (they learnt about 10 different dances in the rehearsals) and sit down to a formal three course meal.
We had high expectations for their dress and etiquette and students far exceeded our expectations. The boys wearing new smart attire, some even in suits. They were also vastly outnumbered by the girls. Subsequently the girls did very well at including all the boys in the dances and there were very few occasions where boys were sitting out. This is undoubtedly what made the evening a great success. The students were greatly appreciative and said that they thoroughly enjoyed the event.
Gillian Erasmus
Secondary Student Booklists
Booklists for Secondary Students are now available via the Parent portal : Booklists & Textbooks. Orders placed with Campion Education by 4 December will receive FREE Home Delivery. Please note, that there are certain subscriptions and required items that can only be purchased via Campion and are not available through other suppliers.
St Stephen’s is once again partnering with the Sustainable School Shop to offer a forum to buy and sell second-hand texts, calculators, electronics and lots more. You will find further information via the Parent portal : Booklists & Textbooks.
Fusion
Spectacular colour, texture, design and creativity came together at Carramar’s Fusion exhibition. Art, Design and Technology pieces were displayed by students from across the campus – including colourful, eye-catching artworks by young students, detailed woodwork and metalwork pieces, mouth-watering cake decorations, thought-provoking artworks, photography, detailed self-portraits and much more. Click the link to view a list of winning entrants https://bit.ly/3pleFH0
Lesley Nation
Remembrance Day Service
Carramar held its traditional Remembrance Day Service for Years 3-10 on Wednesday 11th November. A number of different students from across the year groups spoke about different aspects of conflict and commemoration, as well as poems, prayers and a minute of silence at 11am. This year’s service made particular mention of the role and experience in military service by Indigenous Australians, which dovetailed well into the School’s NAIDOC week celebrations.
Josh Plummer
Share the Dignity – It’s in the bag
Each November Share the Dignity donate thousands of bags to those in need across the country filled with essentials and special gifts to make Christmas one to remember.
Over the past 3 years our Year 9 – 12 girls at Carramar have been collecting, packing and delivering these bags to women of need. 2020’s campaign will run from the 20th of November until the 29th of November.
We need YOU to help us break our previous bag record of 36 handbags for woman in emergency accommodation situations.
Please consider donating your preloved handbags (or thin out your partners collection) – or pop into your local Salvo’s and grab a bag there. We also want all of those unopened hotel toiletries hiding in the back of your bathrooms – that might never get another chance to see the light of day!
If you can get your donations to either Sarah Stockton-Rice’s office or my office (in Charis) that would be greatly appreciated or drop them to the Secondary Art room. Otherwise send me an email and I will come to you!
Thank you for all of your support!
Lesley Nation
WA Middle School Ethics Olympiad
On Monday 9th November, two teams from St Stephen’s competed in the 2020 WA Middle School Ethics Olympiad via Zoom, having spent 4 lessons with Mr Bosma and Ms Phillips learning about various ethical frameworks and interrogating the case studies to be addressed on the day of the competition. During the Ethics Olympiad, the teams discussed the ethical dilemmas posed by the 8 different case studies with a number of schools including John Septimus Roe, Iona Presentation College and Penrhos College and we are delighted to announce that Team Grey placed second out of the 21 teams competing and Team Green received an honourable mention from the judges. Congratulations to all involved on such a magnificent effort!
Sarah Phillips
Presentation Evenings 2020
Carramar Secondary Presentation Evening will be held on Monday 7 December at 6:45pm in the Sports & Learning Centre. Tickets for the event are free and are available now via the link below:
https://events.humanitix.com/cspe2020
Ticket numbers will be limited due to COVID-19 restrictions so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please be aware that all attendees (including students & performers) will require tickets this year. Please bring your ticket with you on the night (printed or electronically) as they will be scanned on entry.
Free Event @ ECU for all Yr 10, 11 & 12 Students
Secondary Assistance Scheme 2021
The State Government, through the Department of Education, provides financial support to eligible parents through the Secondary Assistance Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to assist low income families with secondary schooling costs. Eligible parents/guardians with students enrolled in Years 7 to 12 studying a full-time secondary course at a Western Australian non government school will be able to apply for the Secondary Assistance Scheme in 2021.
The Secondary Assistance Scheme consists of two allowances:
- $235 Education Program Allowance (payment made to the school); and
- $115 Clothing Allowance (payment made to the parent/guardian)
Parents/guardians in receipt of the ABSTUDY School Fees Allowance from Services Australia (Centrelink) are not eligible for the Secondary Assistance Scheme, but they may apply for the ABSTUDY Supplement Allowance. The payment is : $79 Education Program Allowance (payment made to the school).
