High School 4/11/22: Online gaming: beneficial or harmful?

Games are an integral part of human behaviour. It is normal and healthy for young people to engage in play as a part of their daily lives, including playing games online. And like most activities, online gaming can have both positive and negative outcomes. It can be intimidating and confusing for carers trying to understand a young person’s online experiences with many considering that staring at a screen is an unhealthy habit. However, the World Health Organisation does believe that as well as the risks, there are also many positive benefits associated with online gaming and these could be key in nurturing bonds with others.

During the pandemic, there was an explosive growth of gaming as people sought much needed connection during isolation. In the media, gaming often gets bad publicity because most coverage tends to concentrate on the minority of gamers who play to such an extent that it compromises all other areas of their life. However, online gaming can teach young people many skills including teamwork, concentration, communication and problem-solving. It requires a level of interaction and skill from the player; unlike watching television, which is more passive.

Online communities provide opportunities for young people to feel socially connected and have a sense of belonging. At healthy levels, gaming can increase their self-esteem and social acceptance. However, any behaviour, when taken to extreme, can also have a negative impact on a young person’s everyday life. Understanding what your young person experiences online and knowing the warning signs if they are at risk, will help nurture a more positive relationship with online gaming and help your family find the right balance.

If you are concerned about your young person’s online gaming habits, it’s important to consider a number of factors. This edition will provide strategies in how to deal with any issues you may be experiencing. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Click below read this month’s edition of SchoolTV:

Kindest Regards,

Mr Anthony Hudson

Deputy Principal – High School

Advanced Learning Open Night

On Thursday 27th October, our Advanced Learning Open Night ran again after a 3 year COVID hiatus! 

The night provided numerous demonstrations of the broad skills and interests of our high school students. On the night, nine groups of students presented the results of their Advanced Learning Projects (ALPs) that they have worked on this year to members of the school community.  For the first time in 10 years, we had two collaborative projects. 

The following images are screenshots of the presentations and clips of student performances.

Information was also presented about the many current extra and co-curricular opportunities that were available to all high school students in 2022 such as the Evatt Model UN, Gateway 8, da Vinci Decathlon, Tournament of the Minds and the Australian Brain Bee challenge.

Parents and students were also provided with a glimpse of some of the exciting challenges that students in the CS Lewis Program undertook this year.

Visit the High School Advanced Learning site below for more photos from the evening and for more information about the opportunities available in 2023.