Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

Students today face challenges that did not exist when we were at school in terms of what is available to them online and within an instant. It is a powerful force. Many parents would have attended the Game Quitters parent seminar this week facilitated by Cam Adair. Cam also addressed our Years 5,6, 7 and 9 cohorts on Wednesday about a range of topics related to gaming, internet addiction and social media. 

Cam has been connecting with our community for a number of years now, and we feel confident that he is a significant person in trying to get these essential messages across to our students about the online world and the pitfalls that adolescents can fall into. While many interesting concepts were presented on the evening, some of the key messages put forward by Cam include;

• Prevention is better than cure. Do not take for granted that your son manages his gaming. Keep employing proactive measures to keep gaming in check. 
• Be conscious of managing your tech. addictions and the possible double standards you are modelling to your children. 
• Stay firm on game free days and be aware of binge cycles on weekends and holidays.
• Understand what loot boxes are within games and the link they have to gambling and increasing the dopamine reward in players. 
• Keep searching for new pro-social activities for your children. 
• Rebuild the family unit and keep investing in sacred family time such as dinners and family activities. 

Tomorrow night sees the first of our championship events for the year with the GPS Swimming at Chandler. It is timely that we remind our community that the dress code for supporting all co-curricular events is academic dress with the white shirt. Our Years 7, 10 and 12 students will be supporting the swimmers on this occasion. Next weekend, we have the Head of the River at Wyaralong Dam. Students have been asked to sign up at Student Services if they are attending.