Weekly eNews
Dr Ray Swann
Deputy Headmaster, Head of the Crowther CentreOver the coming weeks, we look forward to introducing you to the team members who drive the work that goes on at the Crowther Centre.
We kick off with Kristen Molloy, Associate Head of the Crowther Centre, Literacy and Engagement and Head of Parent Programs. Some of you will have already met Kristen at our Year 7 Ready to Learn or Early Years Literacy workshops last week, and our Junior School and lower Secondary parents can look forward to hearing more from her next week at our enlightening Boys and Screens webinar.
In fact, Kristen is the face behind many of our parent webinars, and boys across the school also benefit from her engaging book clubs. You won’t be surprised to hear that Kristen is passionate about reading and its benefits (particularly for boys), is a mother of two sons, and a valued member of our team.
Read more about our upcoming workshops, Boys, Screens and Technology and Having Positive Conversations, below.
Please reach out if you have any particular topics you would like us to explore in our weekly Crowther eNews.
Dr Ray Swann
Deputy Headmaster / Head of the Crowther Centre
Boys, Screens and Technology
Designed for parents of Years 3-6 students; however, all parents are welcome.
While we support the appropriate use of technology, we cannot ignore the growing body of research highlighting the negative impact of excessive screen time and online exposure on children.
There are no quick fixes in this space; supporting our boys to develop healthier relationships with technology will require intentional and consistent effort from all of us.
On Wednesday 4 March, at 7.00pm the Crowther Centre will host an online workshop exploring the latest research on children and technology, along with practical strategies you can implement at home.
Having Positive Conversations
For Year 8 parents and boys.
Year 8 is such an exciting time for boys as they experience significant physical, social and emotional changes. At the same time, many boys start to push boundaries and assert themselves in the adult world. They want to be more independent, and you may feel your son pulling away from the family unit as their peer relationships become increasingly influential. All this is perfectly normal and an essential part of growing up, but it can also be a source of conflict for families.
Maintaining positive relationships with your child at this time is essential. Keeping the lines of communication open helps reduce conflict and fosters wellbeing and engagement in schooling.
Communication skills can be taught and need to be modelled by adults.
On Wednesday 11 March, we are running a workshop for Year 8 parents and their boys where we will share adolescent development research and discuss common challenges when communicating. You will leave with some practical strategies for having positive conversations. We look forward to seeing you then.
Kristen Molloy
Associate Head of the Crowther Centre, Literacy and Engagement
Head of Parent Programs