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Families often ask me about managing gaming and screen time, particularly how to set boundaries and avoid the daily negotiations that can come with switching off a device. As a mum, I can relate to the challenges of setting boundaries while understanding what matters to our children. These are familiar conversations, and some families may welcome a little extra guidance.
Our HARK values of Humility, Aspiration, Respect and Kindness have a place in these conversations too. Listening to our children, setting clear expectations, and remaining kind and consistent help them develop positive habits. As adults, we also have a role in modelling the balance we ask of them.
GameAware is hosting a free online Parent Q&A on 25 November 2026 at 7:30 pm. The session will explore why children enjoy gaming, when it can become a concern, and practical ways to manage screen time at home, with opportunities to ask questions.
Correspondence has been sent to families with registration details. If this is an area you are navigating at home, I encourage you to take up the opportunity. We do not always have all the answers, and sometimes a fresh perspective can make a difference.
Shelley Parkes
Assistant Principal ‑ Head of Junior School
A love of reading is flourishing throughout our Junior School! It has been wonderful to see our students immerse themselves in stories, explore new ideas and develop their confidence and curiosity as readers.
Across the Junior School Explain and Elaborate Phases, students are engaging thoughtfully with a range of upper primary mentor texts, making meaningful text-to-text, text-to-self and text-to-world connections. These connections encourage students to look beyond the words on the page, draw on their own experiences, compare ideas across different texts and consider how stories and information relate to the world around them.
Our Engage Phase readers are also discovering the wonderful variety that both fiction and nonfiction have to offer. From imaginative adventures and captivating characters to fascinating facts and real-world discoveries, students are broadening their reading horizons and developing an appreciation for the many purposes and possibilities of reading.
Along the way, students are unpacking new and challenging vocabulary, exploring the meaning of unfamiliar words and applying a range of strategies to strengthen their reading fluency and comprehension. Through regular practice, thoughtful discussion and a growing willingness to tackle challenging texts, they are developing the skills and confidence needed to become capable, independent readers.
Most importantly, the joy of reading is clearly evident throughout our Junior School. The enthusiasm students bring to their books, the conversations sparked by shared stories and the connections they make with what they read remind us that reading is so much more than a skill. It is a lifelong source of enjoyment, learning and discovery.
In our busy worlds, finding time to slow down and enjoy a story together can sometimes feel like a challenge. Wherever possible, we encourage families to build reading into their weekly routines. Whether it is sharing a bedtime story, exploring a library book, listening to an audiobook or simply chatting about a favourite read, these small moments can make a lasting difference.
Keep turning those pages, asking questions and sharing stories! By nurturing a love of reading together, we help our young learners grow not only as readers, but also as curious thinkers who are ready to explore the world, one story at a time.
Sarah Caffrey
Head of Junior School Curriculum
