Pastoral Focus

Hilton Hardman

So ends another term at St George’s — an exciting term with the Year 12 Ball, River Cruise, Year Socials and Year 7 camp.

Watching students interact and bond during such activities outside class has been fulfilling and part of who we are as a school. Today’s Gandhi house charity day is a prime example of this. Having the whole school participate in a colour run, with students from different years laughing together, was the perfect end to the term.

The Student Leadership group has done an exceptional job with celebrating Chinese New Year, Harmony Day and breaking the School record for the largest fundraising effort during the World’s

Greatest Shave. As mentioned, this was a clear example of our School community coming together to support those in need.

Next term will see us start off by announcing the 2023 Student Representative Council during our first Assembly of the term, which will see the continued opportunity for students to hold leadership roles across year groups. I look forward to working with this group and hearing their thoughts and ideas about the School.

I wish the School community a happy Easter and hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday.

As technology continues to evolve and become an integral part of our daily lives, it’s essential to prioritise our cyber safety. With the internet offering a wealth of opportunities, it is important to ensure our children understand the potential risks and the importance of being safe online.

As parents and educators, we need to recognise that cyber bullying is a prevalent issue that can cause severe emotional distress to those involved. It is essential to have open communication with children and discuss the potential consequences of their actions online. At our school, we have implemented a variety of measures to promote cyber safety and address any instances of bullying. Paul Litherland was in this week talking to our Year 9 students about online safety, and he will also be having follow-up talks with our Year 10 and 11 students later in the year. He has proven to be a powerful voice in this area. He has connected well with our students during his sessions and passed on valuable information to our parents during his Parent Guest Speaker evenings.

One of the most significant ways we address bullying is through our active approach to the issue.

We have created a safe space where students can report bullying through the School’s complaint policy or Voice posters with QR codes allowing students to make reports with their phones. The School has Bully Zero coming in later in the year to complement Paul’s Cyber Safety talks and continue their work on educating our students about this social issue. The Heads of Year always have their doors open to support and address student concerns while keeping parents well informed.

At our school, we are committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and included. Creating a positive and inclusive environment is critical to the success of our students. By promoting cyber safety and actively addressing bullying, we aim to instil in our students the importance of treating others with respect and kindness.

We encourage parents and guardians to have ongoing conversations with their children about the importance of cyber safety and the impact of bullying. Together, we can help create a safer and more inclusive environment for all our students.