Last week we enjoyed a fabulous Sports Day; the weather was kind, participation high, the competition fierce and House spirit soared. 

We witnessed some outstanding feats of athleticism and as a result 11 records were broken on the day. Congratulations to all who took part, in particular to our House Leaders who contributed greatly to the success of the day. Our next House competition is the swimming sports and we hope to see another great day of competition and fun.

One of the many challenges facing young people today is the availability of information via the internet. The internet has changed where young people find information. Where once it came via parents, school, friends and print media, young people now have information thrust in front of them or made available through their devices. One of the key problems with getting information from the internet is that it comes without filters and often reflects values and perspectives that differ from society at large. This impacts on what young people think is ‘normal’ behaviour and what they believe to be true. Pornography is a topic that is seldom discussed in educational settings but the impact the widespread availability of pornography is having on young people’s understanding and attitudes towards sexuality is of increasing concern, particularly in its portrayal of the role of women. As parents and educators we have a responsibility to counter the damaging messages many of our young people are receiving about sexuality through the internet. Last year the Otago Community Trust sponsored Maree Crabbe, an Australian researcher in the field of pornography and its impact on young people and society, to speak to educators throughout the city about her work. The Trust is now sponsoring her to present the same workshop to parents.

The workshop :" It's time we talked: Pornography, young people and sexuality today" assists parents to understand the impact of pornography on young people and what they can do to address it. It will be held on Tuesday 7th March7.00-9.00pm at the Otago Boys High School auditorium.

Further information is included in this newsletter please note an RSVP is required. I strongly urge all parents to attend this workshop, regardless of your daughter’s age or stage. The world our young people are growing up in is vastly different to that we experienced. This workshop is sometimes confronting but provides an important opportunity to understand their world and how we can help them develop as confident young women who can enjoy respectful and loving relationships in the future.

Next week sees our Year 9 students out on Camp. This is always a highlight of the year for both them and their peer support leaders and I am looking forward to visiting them out at Tirohanga. If parents have concerns about any aspect of the camp please contact the school.