Old Boys’
Dear Parents
At the recent ABSNZ (Association of Boys’ Schools) Conference in Wellington, one of the keynote speakers was Dr Tony Fernando. Dr Fernando is a senior lecturer in Psychological Medicine at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Auckland University. Sleep medicine is one of Dr Fernando’s areas of expertise, and one area of focus for him and his research team is the impact of “gadgets” on the sleep patterns of young people.
While technology has many benefits, there is growing evidence around the impact technology is having on the health of our young people; the dramatic rise in recent times of mental health issues has, according to research, much to do with the increased use of technology and devices, as well as social media and its effects. Dr Fernando and his team want to look at the effects of technology on our sleep, and how interrupted or inadequate sleep is contributing to such health issues.
Unfortunately, we see evidence of this impact on a regular basis here at school. Our staff have had to deal with a growing number of young men who have become addicted to gaming and technology. One young man was staying up gaming until four in the morning on a regular basis, with obvious and serious consequences for his academic achievement and his health. Far too many of our young men are spending hours upon hours in front of a screen to the detriment of their physical and mental well-being, their ability to interact with people, even their personal hygiene.
It is ironic that today’s generation is considered the most connected generation ever, yet those connections are often purely digital. Studies have shown that face to face time with friends and family has been on the decline since the 1970s, but that decline has accelerated markedly since 2010 – just as smartphone use started to grow. Teenagers today are, studies have shown, lonelier than they have ever been, yet many have hundreds of “friends” on social media platforms.
John Parsons, a New Zealand cyber-safety expert who presents on this topic around the country, said he is often asked what parents can do. One of the most important things he stressed was the dinner table – with no technology. Have dinner together as a family, with no phones, no gadgets. Talk to each other. Be vigilant around the time your teenager spends online, or gaming, and have conversations about it. Sometimes the conversations will not go well – but parents have to be parents and establish clear rules around the use of technology. We all want what is best for our young men and, as always, it is about balance.
On a completely different note, it is heartening to see how many of our young men are involved in the school’s co-curricular programme. The winter sport season is underway with a significant number of our young men involved in at least one sport. The Super Eight Schools Cultural Festival was held recently at School and there were some wonderfully talented young men on show across a range of activities. Congratulations to those who took part in what was a successful festival.
Reporting
Teaching staff will begin preparing mid-year reports for all students over the coming weeks. Reports will be posted to parents at the end of the term. In the interim, I encourage you to discuss your son’s examination and assessment results with him and where need arises do not hesitate to communicate with us. I encourage you to do the same when you receive his mid-year report.
Winter Sport
There are a significant number of young men playing winter sports codes and we have worked fervently to get a staff member as a coach or manager. As you can appreciate, this is a major undertaking for the school and I sincerely thank those staff and senior students who have given so freely of their time to maintain an essential part of our school life. I also thank parents and volunteers who are assisting with teams as this allows your sons to have the best coaching we have available. We have been most fortunate to attract passionate people with the boys’ best interests at heart.
It has been interesting to hear from coaches of responses to the selection or non-selection of boys in various teams. These decisions are made objectively, and not everyone will agree. That is the nature of team selection. Selection for a number of our teams is very competitive, perhaps even more so than some age-group rep sides, where factors other than ability can be influential. A number of our young men will be disappointed, as will parents on their behalf, which is natural; but the reactions of some have been disappointing. Determination and resilience are called for in these instances.
Please remember that full and correct sporting uniform needs to be worn for all fixtures. We do not allow young men to have skins or similar clothing visible underneath their sports uniform. We have also reminded young men that it is our expectation that their socks are pulled up on the sports field and that the uniform is being worn correctly and with pride. We appreciate your support as standards are set in all aspects of school life. A further reminder that if a young man is away from school the day prior or day of a sporting fixture, he is ineligible to play.
Inter-School Fixtures and Field Trips
Before an inter-school fixture or field trip departs it is expected that any costs associated with the trip are paid in full to the Finance Office. Young men who have not paid will not have permission to go on the trip, as is the case with the completion of appropriate documentation such as permission slips. Again, we appreciate your support in being up to date with all school fees.
Young men in 1stsporting teams and those in our top performing arts groups are expected to attend both home and away fixtures in full formal uniform (No 1s). It is expected that all members have their own formal uniform, including blazer. This allows the school’s hire blazers to be utilised by those who do not regularly wear the formal uniform. Senior blazers can be ordered by seeing Mrs Alderdice in the Uniform Outlet.
For those young men wishing to hire blazers for ‘one off’ occasions a refundable deposit and associated fee is charged. Mrs Dearlove in The Speirs Centre can provide more information about this service.
Attendance
Please remember to ring the Attendance Officer to record an absence prior to the day or the day of an absence. The Attendance Officer will thus not need to ring you to check why your son is not at school.
When your son returns to school please provide him with a signed note that he needs to give to me after assembly. These notes allow our Attendance Officer to check the absence and confirm your son’s return to school.
School Fees & Donations
School fees and donations for 2019 have been sent to parents from our finance department. If you have specific questions about fees or the payment of a donation do not hesitate to talk to us.
Each year as fees and donations are due for distribution the media and Ministry of Education do disseminate information suggesting that schools are well funded and that education is, or at least should be, free in this country. Unfortunately, the level of funding we as a school receives is inadequate and so the payment of donations and other fees is vital.
The school donations allow us to be the school we are. Specifically, without the donations we could not offer the depth in teaching at the school. Currently the Board of Trustees budgets a significant amount for additional teachers so that we can offer a wide breadth in our teaching subjects and this allows more subjects to have pathways from the junior school through to Year 13. Without paying for extra teachers we would have to reduce what we offer young men inside and outside the classroom.
School donations help put resources into curriculum areas and co-curricular areas and every dollar does help us to provide a high quality education. I would encourage you to support your son’s education and Palmerston North Boys’ High School by paying the donations. Remember, too, that the donation component is tax deductible.
Many parents are now paying by automatic payment on a regular basis that suits them. Our finance team will happily work with you to make arrangements and payment schedules that suit your individual needs. Thank you for your support.
D M Bovey
RECTOR