Principal Talk with Mrs Lowe
Technology and Oral Language Development Study
In early March, ABC published an interesting article by Conor Duffy about the connection between screen time and language development in toddlers.
The article reported that Australian Researchers have discovered that the average three-year-old could be missing out on hundreds of opportunities to talk to their parents each day thanks to modern screen use.
A similar recent American study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics stated that screen time could be robbing the average three-year-old of 1,100 adult words, 840 vocalisations and 194 conversations a day.
At this stage, the effect of this on a child's long-term literacy development is unknown. However, the researchers plan to track the impact of screen time during schooling.
According to new research, the article warns parents that distracting children with devices and having more screen time can lead to them learning fewer words.
The Australian Institue of Family Studies recommends the following screen time as a guide:
As frequent use of personal technology is a recent societal change, research into this area is only beginning and will be interesting to follow.
I recommend you read the full article.
Harmony Celebrations
This week is Harmony Week.
Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism and the successful integration of migrants into our community.
Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world, and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it.
Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by core Australian values. Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. It makes Australia a great place to live.
It is celebrated from Monday, March 18, through Sunday, March 24, inclusive of 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
An integrated multicultural Australia is an integral part of our national identity. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as take on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.
There are some fascinating statistics about Australia's diversity:
- nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was
- we identify with over 300 ancestries
- since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia
- 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia
- apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi
- more than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.
These facts are taken from ABS 2016 Census Data. Check out the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.
This year, our Harmony Week event will be held on Monday, 25 March, due to the tight schedule of our exceptional visiting artist.
Valanga Khoza is a storyteller and musician who has shaped the tales of his life into captivating presentations. Valanga was born in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. He grew up in a traditional setting surrounded by lively singing, drumming and dancing. The Limpopo area is rich in traditional healers, orators, and storytellers, and it is highly respected throughout Africa. These were his neighbours. Their nightly ceremonies carried songs and rhythms passed down through thousands of years. Valanga carries these influences through his songs and storytelling. He is also influenced by his travels throughout the world, driven by his struggle against racism and his fight for freedom for the black people in South Africa.
At 10.00am, Valanga will present to our students in Years 4-6. Valanga uses humour and wit to tell stories of depth, of growing up and surviving under the racist system of apartheid. Through his storytelling and music, Valanga educates students about the human side of refugees and their plight, the humanity that we all share and the resilience needed to overcome struggles.
At 11.45am, Valanga will tell stories of his childhood in rural South Africa to our Kindergarten to Year 3 students. He will magically weave traditional South African instruments into his performances while singing in English, Zulu, Shangaan, and Xhosa. The instruments include drums, kalimba, marimba, shijororo (jaw harp), and many others that are homemade.
Valanga is the author of the newly released book Dumazi and the Yellow Lion, which was published by Scholastic in 2019.
Choosing Kindness at St. Matthew's
Pick-up and Parking - Reminders
When entering the Pick-up/Drop-off zone each morning and afternoon, please enter from Chewings Street onto Stutchbury Street, not via Petterd Street. Transport Canberra has requested this as it interferes with the bus routes.
If you are using the Car Park, please enter this area slowly and cautiously, as pedestrians often move through it.
In truth and love,
Mrs Sarah Lowe
Principal