Principal Message 29th August 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am writing to you today to share our next school-wide focus on expectations and behavior. A key part of our mission is to create a safe, respectful, and thriving learning community for every student. We believe that when our processes, priorities, and expectations are aligned, our students are better equipped to succeed both academically and personally.
Recently, we have observed some challenges regarding student use of the school toilets. This is a great opportunity for us to reinforce the importance of respect for shared spaces and each other. We are implementing clear new processes and boundaries to ensure that all students have access to clean and appropriate facilities. We are confident that with these changes, and with your support, this issue will be resolved quickly.
This small example illustrates a larger principle: when we work together and align our efforts, we all benefit. We are asking for your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home. Please talk to your children about the importance of making good choices and owning their actions. We also encourage you to use moments when things don't go their way as a chance to teach them valuable life skills.
An important life skill we are focusing on is grit. As psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth explains in her popular TED Talk, "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," grit is the passion and perseverance to achieve very long-term goals.
Her research shows that grit is a better predictor of success than talent or IQ. For children ages 6-12, this means celebrating effort and teaching them that their ability to learn is not fixed, but can grow with hard work—a concept known as a "growth mindset."
We can help our children develop grit both at school and home by encouraging them to own up to poor choices, learn from mistakes, and see challenges as opportunities to build resilience and determination. When they face a setback, we can remind them that failure is not a permanent condition and that sticking with a difficult task is what ultimately leads to mastery.
By working together, we can ensure our school remains a positive and productive environment for everyone. Thank you for your continued support.
Notice Regarding Electronic Devices for 2026
We are writing to inform you of an important change to our school’s electronic device program, which will take effect at the beginning of the 2026 school year.
Changes to Our Device Program
After careful consideration and consultation with teachers and parents, we have decided to make the following adjustments to our technology program to better support student learning:
-
Grade 3: Starting in 2026, we will no longer be supplying electronic devices for our Grade 3 students. We believe that focusing on foundational learning skills is the most effective approach for this age group. We understand this is a change for students who may be used to having a device, and we are confident that our dedicated teachers have more than enough resources to ensure a rich and engaging learning experience.
-
Grades 4, 5, & 6: The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program will be discontinued for our current Grade 5 students, who will be moving into Grade 6 in 2026. Instead, all students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 will be provided with a school-owned Chromebook for use at school. Each student will have their own dedicated device.
Addressing Screen Time
We are aware of the growing concerns around screen time for children both at school and at home. This change is part of our broader effort to work with families to help create a healthier balance.
The school-owned Chromebooks will not be taken home. This ensures that their use is limited to the school day, which we believe will support a healthier balance between screen time and other activities.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we implement these changes to continue providing the best possible learning environment for all our students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Andrew Greco
Principal
