Dear Members of the School Community,

The winter holidays are just around the corner. For many families, they offer a welcome chance to slow down after a busy term, spend quality time together, and step away from the routines and demands of school life. Rest and recovery are not the opposite of learning; they are an essential part of it. At the same time, many parents wonder how to help their children maintain positive learning habits during the weeks away from school. 

This naturally leads to a topic that is becoming increasingly important for schools and families alike: the role of media and digital technologies in the lives of children and adolescents.

Over the past few weeks, a Year 5 class has been exploring students’ media habits as part of a project. [Be sure to read the full report, "Data Detectives",  in the Primary School section.] The findings are both fascinating and thought-provoking. Among Year 5 students, most do not yet own a smartphone. By Year 6, however, the trend shifts, with the majority now having their own device, and by Year 10 almost every student owns one. Daily screen time shows a similarly sharp increase with age. In Year 5, nearly two-thirds of students still spend less than an hour a day on screens outside school. By Year 9, that group has almost disappeared. In Year 12, almost all students report spending more than four hours a day in front of screens outside school, according to their own estimates.

What I find particularly striking is not simply the amount of time spent online, but how students’ digital habits evolve as they grow older. In the younger year groups, gaming and video content dominate screen use. From around Year 7 onwards, however, social media becomes the primary digital activity. It is only in the senior years that the focus gradually shifts back towards learning, research, and homework.

These findings highlight just how deeply digital media has become woven into the fabric of childhood and adolescence. They also prompt a number of important questions:

• How much screen time is appropriate?
• Which forms of digital content genuinely support learning and healthy development?
• Where do the potential risks lie?
• And what responsibilities do schools and parents share in helping young people navigate the digital world?

As a school, our approach is guided by the educational principles that underpin everything we do.

1. We see individuality as a strength.
2. We do not want to encourage rote learning, but rather to foster critical thinking and conceptual understanding.
3. We are convinced that every pupil brings a wealth of strengths with them and we want to anchor their learning in these.
4. We want to encourage curiosity and foster personal responsibility.
5. We know that learning is a lifelong process.

For this reason, we view digital media neither as a threat nor as a panacea. What matters is not the technology itself, but how we choose to use it. Those who have learned to think critically and take responsibility for their actions are also better equipped to engage with digital media in a thoughtful and balanced way.

In my view, the holidays are not about controlling every minute of screen time, but about finding the right balance. Children need movement, meaningful interactions, books, creativity, and BOREDOM. Boredom, in particular, has developed an undeservedly bad reputation, despite it often being the starting point for imagination, creativity, and initiative. I increasingly observe that boredom seems to have almost disappeared from the lives of children today, and I am convinced that this is something that needs to change.

The upcoming holidays may therefore offer a valuable opportunity for families to consider the rhythms and routines they wish to cultivate. A daily chapter of a book, a board game around the table, a family walk, or simply an uninterrupted conversation at the end of the day can often have a more lasting impact than another hour spent in front of a screen.

While we look forward to a well-deserved break, planning for the future of our school community continues. I am particularly pleased that the committee responsible for the further development and reorganisation of our 2027 Christmas Market has already met several times. Anyone who has experienced our Christmas Market knows the special place it holds in the life of our school. The discussions to date have been thoughtful and encouraging, and I am confident that we can continue to build on this treasured tradition while preserving the spirit and sense of community that make it so unique.

As the term draws to a close, I would like to thank all members of our school community for their ongoing support and engagement. I wish you and your families a restful and enjoyable holiday break. May the weeks ahead provide time to recharge, to enjoy meaningful moments together, and to cultivate the habits and experiences that enrich both learning and life.