Dear Parents
We are well into the heart of the 1st Term of 2022, and it feels as though the events of the last two years are in the distant past. However, we are still in the midst of the pandemic, and our school programme will run to the best of its ability, while taking into account the dynamic educational landscape that lies in the wake of the COVID crisis.
As Acting Deputy Headmaster I am overseeing the Senior Primary Academic programme, as well as running the DPHS IT department. With these roles in mind, the purpose of this newsletter is to keep you up to date with current events regarding your sons, at Prep.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
We have been very lucky to have been able to move our programme back to something as close to “normal” as we have seen in a few years, and the boys seem to have taken to the rigours of a very busy schedule, with ease.
At the time of writing we have approximately two weeks until Senior primary marks are due, so the testing and assessment programme will be rather busy leading up to the last few weeks of term. Please ensure that your son is writing all relevant information in his homework book, and that he is up to date, and ready for all work that needs to be submitted to his teacher.
Progress reports will be sent home at the end of the term, and we look forward to a successful academic start to 2022.
PARENTS’ WEEK
Early in the 2nd term parents and teachers will have an opportunity to meet, and discuss the progress of the boys, based on their Term 1 reports. This week takes place from 25 to 29 April. Please take full advantage of this opportunity, and meet with your son’s teacher.
SOCIAL MEDIA
In the digital age where information is literally at our finger tips, the dangers of social media are becoming ever more apparent, and the use of such media is of concern among our pupils. This is not to say that all social media is bad, but without careful attention to what you are engaging in on these platforms, you can find yourself in serious trouble.
Our job, as a school, is to educate the boys, and ‘prepare them for life’. Sometimes these life experiences happen on a platform which is not quite reality, but exists in a virtual realm. Such lessons require greater collaboration between the school and parents, and we can no longer be ignorant about what our sons are doing on their electronic devices. While many of these activities happen after school hours, boys should be aware that any conduct, even in their private capacity, which impacts on the interests of the DPHS, must be in accordance with the school’s rules and policies.
With this in mind, we will be working closely with the boys to educate them on responsible social media use. We are in the process of booking a speaker who will be presenting to the boys, and hopefully parents, regarding the use of social media platforms, and the pros and cons thereof. The school SMT is in the process of drawing up a revised social media policy which will be distributed to the boys, which will aim to provide guidance to our boys, on the use of social media, and the impacts it can have, not only on their personal reputations, but that of the school as a whole.
It is vital that parents work closely with their sons, and ensure that they are practising the safe use of social media, and that they understand the ramifications of anti-social behaviour on these platforms.
IN CLOSING
I wish everyone the very best for the year ahead and take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of your son and our school.
Kind regards
ROSS BEDFORD
ACTING DEPUTY HEADMASTER
