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High Notes, Vol 26 No 23, August 08 2025

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to our Philosophy Team who competed at the NSW Philosothon at Newington last week and came second and qualified for Nationals. Jude Ou (11R), Mohamad Rachid (11M), Uday Sharma (9M), Guru Thanabalasingam (8S).

Congratulations to the following boys for completing their Duke of Ed Awards:

Bronze: Wesley Hamilton (10E), Reza Bassam (10E), Vihaan Rajit (11E).

Gold: Daniel Iliffe (12R), Alasdair Yong (12T).

Screen Time

Screens are everywhere鈥攆rom phones and laptops to gaming consoles and TVs.

Almost everyone uses or has access to a screen during waking hours. Technology brings undeniable benefits, but it can also be harmful when used in excess.

A growing body of evidence links high screen use with reduced academic performance and poorer sleep.

Excessive gaming and online activity often cut into study time and can leave students feeling more agitated, making it harder to concentrate. Too much screen time also affects sleep.

As I discussed in the 4 April High Notes article, young men who slept only five hours per night for one week experienced a 10% to 15% reduction in daytime testosterone levels, hormones that are crucial for growth and physical development. This hormonal disruption can lead to stunted growth and delayed puberty, particularly in teenage boys.

Screen use before bed disrupts melatonin production, resulting in poorer sleep quality鈥攁n essential component of healthy brain development in adolescents.

Additionally, long hours spent on screens reduce physical activity levels, which contributes to lower energy throughout the day.

The NSW Government recommends no more than two hours per day of recreational screen time (excluding schoolwork) within a 24-hour period.

One of the best things families can do to increase non-screen time at home is to create tech-free zones. Making bedrooms and mealtimes screen-free promotes better sleep and stronger social connections.

Technology is part of everyone鈥檚 world.

How students use it shapes their success, relationships, and mental health.
George Barris
Relieving Principal