This week’s message from the e-Safety Commissioner is a salient reminder that children are at risk of being exposed to harmful material via what would appear to be, at face value, innocent social media platforms. This week our senior staff have spoken to all boys in Years 4-6 about the dangers of such material, and if they happen to come across disturbing images or videos, they must inform a trusted adult (parent or teacher). We strongly emphasised to your son that inappropriate content must never be shared with others or saved to their device. Should your son have been exposed to any troubling content please do feel free to contact our school counsellor, Campbell Jensen-Robillard, who can provide support. It is also a timely reminder that parents need to check and carefully monitor your son’s digital device usage.

The process for allocating students to next year’s classes is thorough and starts in Term 4. As part of this, some parents may feel that they can assist by offering additional information about their son. Should you wish to express a view about the style of classroom management you think may best match your son (e.g. particularly nurturing or greater structure, etc.) I invite you to contact me via email before the end of this term. We approach each year as a new start for the boys, hence, we do not automatically consider requests made in previous years. However, should there be significant information from past requests, please do contact me again. Requests for particular teachers, or for a teacher based on gender, will not be considered. Whilst we do welcome parental input, the school has the final say in decisions regarding class placement for 2021.

We are waiting for guidance from NSW Health as to which events and activities might be possible in Term 4. At this stage, our assumption is that whilst COVID cases remain in the community, the current arrangements will continue. However, as soon as I am able, I will provide an updated calendar of events for Term 4. Due to logistical considerations surrounding COVID restrictions, we are operating a reduced aquatics program for K-2 classes only in Term 4. Further information for those year groups will be sent via the relevant K-2 Year group Space.

Ian Holden
Head of Wyvern House