Welcome back to all our students, staff and parents. I trust you enjoyed a relaxing holiday with family and friends.

I ask community members to note the dates of the following key School events in Term 2:

• St Catherine’s Fun Run, Sunday 22 April, 8.30am, The Tan
• Parents are invited to attend the Senior School Anzac Day Assembly on Monday 23 April at 10.30am.
• Senior School Musical, Crazy for You, Thursday 26 April to Saturday 28 April
• St Catherine’s Foundation Annual Thank You Evening, Friday 4 May, 7.00pm to 9.00pm, State Library of Victoria
• PFA Mother/Daughter Breakfast, Friday 11 May, 7.15am to 8.30am, Mary Davis Centre, St Catherine’s School
• Ruth Langley Luncheon, Friday 25 May, 11.30am till 3.00pm, Leonda by the Yarra
• A Winter’s Night, Saturday 2 June, 6.30pm, St Catherine’s School
• Toast to Barbreck, Wednesday 20 June, 4.00pm to 6.00pm, St Catherine’s Junior School

Digital Distractions

During our Staff Meeting this week, our Years 7 and 9 Heads of Year, Ms Kanako Yokouchi and Ms Fiona Ganino-Day, respectively, shared their reflections of a professional learning seminar they attended earlier this year. Presenter and educational specialist, Jill Sweatman’s research The Two Deadly D’s – Device and Distractions provided a confronting account of the impact of technology and proved to be a timely reminder of the negative effects of poorly managed devices in the hands of children and adolescents.

Sweatman describes the rise of a generation of firsts, youth who are touch and sleep deprived, thus creating what she calls ‘ghosts in the classroom’. In addition to a dramatic increase of myopia, with an expected 22 million people diagnosed with myopia in Australia and New Zealand by 2050 (55 years of age for our current Prep students).

The staff were also introduced to a rising phenomenon known as the ‘Switch Cost Theory’, describing the delayed cognition (mental processes) when people try to perform more than one task at a time. The brain has a notable cost every time it is distracted:

• 73% respond to distraction immediately regardless of whether necessary
• It takes 23 minutes on average to return and be focused on the task
• Forgetting to return to the original task occurs 25% of the time
• Interruptions occur 20 times per hour, of which four may be significant
• The brain also does not differentiate between virtual and reality.

Research shows motor vehicle accidents are four times more likely within five minutes of using a mobile phone.

Thus, multitasking may seem efficient on the surface but may actually take more time in the end and involve more error. Even brief mental blocks created by shifting between tasks can cost as much as 40 percent of someone’s productive time. The implications for this are undoubtedly wide reaching for young people and adults alike.

The use of mobile phones whilst driving is now a significant cause of traffic accidents. The ease of which girls check media messages whilst attempting to study or complete homework tasks requiring focus and attention is also known to be detrimental to establishing good study habits. Preparing the brain to concentrate for extended periods of time, for example the three hour VCE English exam, can only be hampered by continual digital distractions.

I invite parents this Term to maintain the dialogue at home with regard to their daughter’s use of technological devices. Without doubt, they need your assistance in managing effective study habits without the phone on their desk. I also ask parents for their cooperation in refraining from phoning their daughters across the course of the School day, unless absolutely urgent and related to travelling home arrangements. Our preference is that girls are interacting with each other at recess and lunch, rather than on the phone to parents.

Interestingly, Monash University Associate Professor, Michael Henderson, who is researching digital distractions in schools and universities, is actually opposed to a smartphone ban. Despite this view, his research had also revealed a link between personal devices such as mobile phones to a diminished attention span, ability to retain information and overall academic performance. Henderson comments that technology is a wonderful resource and communication device but needs to be used in moderation, “We shouldn’t be banning the possession of phones but should be working with the students to look at when it is effective and for what purposes.”

Edna Holmes Centre for Science & Barbreck Redevelopment

Over the course of the Easter break, the refurbishment of the Senior School Physics Laboratory and Psychology classroom neared completion in our Edna Holmes Centre for Science. Both students and staff are eagerly anticipating their first lessons in these innovative new spaces this coming Monday.

The new Junior School building is also nearing completion with the final task of laying carpet, installing joinery and the electrical work occurring over the coming weeks. The building ‘handover’ from CICG Construction to the School is scheduled to occur on Monday 18 June, therefore providing an opportunity for community members and, importantly, our Barbreck students to excitedly explore their wonderful new learning spaces before they depart for holidays.

Final installation of technology, classroom furniture/library books and office furniture, along with the necessary demolition of the current Barbreck building will occur over the mid-year break.

Senior School Musical – Crazy for You

I enjoyed the opportunity to visit our Senior School Musical rehearsal on Sunday of this week and encourage everyone to book their tickets to avoid disappointment. Tickets are available for purchase here.

The show itself requires true triple threat performers, as described by our Head of Performing Arts, Mr James Brown – performers who can act, sing and dance. Students auditioned in November of last year and have rehearsed during Friday evenings and Sundays during Term 1, with the schedule stepping up in intensity this Term before opening night on Thursday 26 April.

Crazy for You is an entertaining musical comedy set in the 1920s, with larger than life characters from New York City and cowboys from a Nevada gold mining town, who work together to save a theatre. The songs are wonderful, the script is hilarious, the dances are spectacular and our talented St Catherine’s girls, along with some wonderful St Kevin’s boys, cannot wait to perform it for you.

Run4Fun St Catherine’s Community Event

As we enjoy Autumn in Melbourne I encourage all our community members to join our St Catherine’s Sports Auxiliary in the Run4Fun at The Tan this Sunday at 8.30am. The event will commence from ‘King George V Monument’ (entering from Linlithgow Avenue.) Please pre-register for the event here. Dogs are welcome to attend, if they can behave well in public; as such, my dog Jasmine is not attending!!

I look forward to sharing another wonderful Term with you all.