Message from the Principal

Kia ora e te whānau

I want to start by acknowledging the sadness of last week as we all try and process the event at the bus hub. A tragic and traumatic moment that has had an effect on us all. Our thoughts go towards whānau and loved ones. 

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on something that seems to be increasingly difficult in our fast paced world. Letting our kids be kids. 

I do hear some who say that "the genie is out of the bottle", when it comes to our childrens access to social media and online content. That it's too big and too late to do anything about it. 

If we give up or give in then we really are setting up our young people to fail. It's too important to do sit back and do nothing.

Our children are not mini-adults; they are individuals on a unique journey of discovery and growth and the challenges of living an online life as well as "real life" is an added stress to the mental health of our young people. 

In a society that seems to push children to grow up too quickly, let's be the voice that says it's okay to slow down, to savour simple moments, and to cherish the innocence of childhood. Simply, the thirteen year old brain isn't designed for what the online world wants to throw at it. 

If you make the choice to allow your child social media access please make it a policy to check in regularly. In years gone by, if a child wanted to go outside and play, a parent would ask, "where are you going, who are you with, what are you doing?" The same applies to your child online!

Mostly, at school when we support students if things have gone wrong on social media, parents have little or no knowledge.

Also, beware the "invisible crowd". If your child says, "everyone has got a smart phone" or "everyone's on tiktok", I can assure you that's not at all the case! Don't give in.

So let's encourage them to embrace their natural sense of wonder and imagination. Let's foster a community where being a kid is celebrated, where laughter and play are cherished, and where each child feels valued, safe and supported. Get them outside, let them play in real life. Let them be kids.

Ngā mihi nui

Andrew Hunter