In today’s fast paced world, truth often becomes blurred amidst the constant flow of information and technology. As parents and guardians, it’s our responsibility to navigate these issues carefully, ensuring that our children grow up grounded in truth. The Bible reminds us of the liberating power of truth: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). This verse highlights the importance of understanding and embracing truth, and it’s liberating power, even when it’s not easy.

Renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, in his recent book The Anxious Generation, writes about the dangers of excessive mobile phone use among young people. He states,

“There is a clear correlation between the rise of smartphones and the increase in anxiety and depression among teenagers. The constant exposure to social media and online validation has altered the landscape of adolescent development, often with detrimental effects on mental health.”

The truth is, unrestricted access to mobile phones can have serious consequences for the mental and emotional wellbeing of our children. Endless scrolling through social media, the pressures of needing “likes”, and exposure to inappropriate content can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and a distorted sense of reality. By setting boundaries and restrictions on mobile phone use, we can help protect our children from these harmful effects and guide them toward healthier habits and relationships.

This involves creating a balanced approach that includes designated times for phone usage, encouraging face-to-face interactions, and promoting activities that foster creativity and physical activity. It’s about teaching them to use technology as a tool, rather than letting it dominate their lives or their sleep time!

In a world where technology is ever-present, the truth is that our children need guidance and protection now more than ever in this area. By knowing and acting upon this truth, we can help set them free. Let’s commit to nurturing their wellbeing and ensuring they grow up with the wisdom to navigate the digital age responsibly.

Haidt, J. (2024). The Anxious Generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Press.

Our Primary School Chess teams have had two jam packed days of chess competitions alongside approximately 160 other students from across the region. It was a privilege to be one of the hosting schools this week and be able to welcome the participating schools and their teachers to OCS. Our 30+ strong team is made up of students from across Stage 2 and 3, with keen Stage 1 students also welcome to attend. Many thanks to Mr. John Green who oversees and coordinates this valuable extra-curricular activity for our Primary School students.

The inaugural Winter Sports House Day, involving all students across the school, will be held in the last week of term. This is sure to be a fun day for all. See the school app for all the details.

Thank you to all our Year 10 Students and families who came along to our Senior Subject Market evening. Choosing the right subjects is crucial for your child’s future success, and we appreciate your involvement in this important process.

As you receive reports, please reach out with any questions or concerns. We are eager to partner with you in your child’s education, ensuring they receive the best support and guidance. Together, we can help them achieve their full potential.

On Monday 2nd of July, we will be having a Winter Sports House Day. For Secondary it will be normal classes Periods 1 – 3, followed by a range of House activities run by SLT Periods 4 – 6. Please see Schoolstream for more details.

Excitement is cresting in our music department as students, with bubbly nerves, dive into auditions for our primary musical, The Little Mermaid Jr. We eagerly anticipate seeing our students transform from floundering to gracefully swimming as they showcase their talents in this underwater adventure in Term 4.

Stay tuned for callback details and the final cast list, set to surface by the end of term!

In other news, Secondary and Primary Orchestras continues to grow in numbers and ability as we practice Monday and Friday Mornings, respectively, at 8am.  If your child plays an instrument and would like to join us, please sign-up using the form on Schoolstream, or speak to Mrs Denham or Mrs Johnston.

Coming soon!

Athletic greatness requires more effort, dedication and perseverance than the average person is usually willing to put in – not to mention the sacrifice of time, money, and much more, often not just on behalf of the athlete, but the athlete’s family as well. It’s a lot!

Lucy and her coach travelled to Sydney last week competing at Level 4 at the CSSA Gymnastics Competition, and boy did those traits shine through. She competed with passion and excellence, all off the back of a gymnastics competition only the weekend prior.

Such dedication deserves recognition and praise – don’t you agree?

Thank you for your continued patience regarding the carpark project. We deeply appreciate the grace and understanding you have shown during this frustrating period.

As you know, the project has been delayed due to the identification of extensive remediation work that is required. We are actively working with the contractor to develop a plan for completing the project, however as of now we do not have an updated timeline to share. We will provide further updates as soon as we have more information.

Thank you once again for your support and understanding.