13 September 2019
Keeping a strong, consistent and firm foundation of our co-parenting platform is the best way we can assist each other in raising our children. As parents we are all on a hiding to nothing when it comes to the influence of advertising, pop culture, consumerism and the hidden subculture of youth. Linking arms as a community is the best way we can ensure our children receive a happy and well-balanced education and upbringing.
Each year we invite Paul Dillon, Director and Founder of DARTA (Drug and Alcohol Research Training Australia) to present to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to explain the impact of risk-taking behaviour, health, personal safety and the law in relation to alcohol and drugs.
As parents, we can help our sons make good decisions by insisting they answer the following questions with complete transparency each Friday and Saturday evening:
- Where are you going?
- Who are you with?
- How are you getting there and back?
These questions are so simple, yet for busy parents juggling many balls, we can inadvertently encourage risk taking behaviour. All our children need to hear ‘no’ from time to time. Please know that you will always be supported when it comes to requiring your son to maintain honesty around these three questions.
On another note, I have greatly enjoyed attending House dinners during the last fortnight as we prepare to farewell the Class of 2019. These occasions have been intimate and meaningful, and have provided students appropriate time to thank their peers and staff. I have also been following the Year 6 trip to Canberra this week and have enjoyed hearing about their adventures and all they have learnt about democracy and our society. What a thrill it was to see them meet with the Governor General – I hope they had their socks up!
Finally, congratulations to Archie Goodson (Year 8), Gunin Singhal (Year 8), William Barone (Year 8), Rohan Thiru (Year 8) and Darren Nguyen (Year 8) who represented Saints in the ‘Subs in Schools’ challenge and achieved first place for outstanding industry collaboration, first place for innovation and third place for best engineered. Congratulations to the following students who are the Reception – Year 3 finalists of the annual South Australian French Teachers’ Association Poetry Competition: Kaeshav Rajaseakran (Reception), Advik Sinkar (Year 1), Arav Joshi (Year 1), Lachlan Bell (Year 1), Stefan Dimovic (Year 2), Aarit Kothari (Year 3), Andrew Lucas (Year 3) and Nicholas Savvoulidis (Year 3).
Tim Browning
Headmaster