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TWO WEEKS AHEAD
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A Note from Mr. Clarke
Dear Armbrae Families and Community Members,
Giving children access to smartphones (and social media) is an issue that all parents and educators grapple with at some point. Back in October, Paul Davis spoke to us about our childrens’ safety online, limiting screen time, and the appropriate ages for children to have a smartphone or be on social media. And as recently as last week, four major Ontario school boards announced they were taking Meta Platforms Inc., Snap Inc. and ByteDance Ltd., (which operate the platforms Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok respectively) to court over their products, alleging the way they're designed has negatively rewired the way children think, behave and learn and disrupted the way schools operate.
Armbrae Yondr Project
If you are a Middle School parent at Armbrae, you know we have been engaged in a pilot project with Yondr to create a smart phone free academic day for our Grades 7 and 8 students. When students arrive in the morning, part of their homeroom exercises involve placing their smart devices (phone, watch, etc.) in a neoprene Yondr pouch. They can choose to keep the pouch with them during the day, or leave it in the “cell hotel” in their homeroom. At the end of the day, they can unlock the pouch and regain full use of their smart devices for home. If a student goes off campus for lunch, they can sign out in the lobby and unlock their Yondr pouch at the front desk. That way they have their smart phone with them when they are off campus. When returning from lunch, they sign back in and lock their smartphone up again.
Anecdotally, the results of this pilot programme have been quite positive, and we have identified three specific trends: firstly, student engagement in classes is improving; secondly, we have seen a reduction in the total number of discipline issues; and thirdly, students are having more (and better) conversations with each other.
Armbrae’s Yondr project is designed to provide Grade 7 and 8 students (that already have smart devices), with some respite from the “call and response” culture that these devices create. However, at least two prominent organizations in the US, are encouraging parents to delay the entire process (of giving children smartphones) until they are older.
The Wait Until 8th Pledge
The average age that children get their first smartphone is 10 years old, and the Wait Until 8th pledge “empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade”. The goal is to protect the elementary and middle school years from the distractions and the dangers of a smartphone.
The Wait Until 8th website has a number of interesting articles to read along with good information on the impact of smartphones on academic achievement, behaviour, brain development, and sleep.
ScreenStrong
Melanie Hempe recently published an essay entitled How to Delay the Age at Which Kids Get Smartphones: A smartphone-free childhood is easier than you think. Melanie is the founder of the organization ScreenStrong, which provides resources to families seeking help with raising kids that are growing up with social media. You can read Melanie’s entire essay here in Jon Haidt’s After Babel substack.
This is a topic that can generate a lot of emotion, but it is a conversation worth revisiting and researching on a regular basis. We may not agree with everything that certain people or organizations stand for, but there is always something to learn from them.
Warm regards,
Steve.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Friday, April 5th: Grade 6 - 8 attend Regional Science Fair - 1:30-3:15pm
- Thursday, April 11th: Grade 7 Trip to Discovery Centre - 8:30am-12:00pm
- Thursday, April 18th: PS-Grade 12 Parent Teacher Conferences - 4pm-9pm
- Thursday, April 18th: Early Dismissal at 3:15pm - No Co-curriculars
- Friday, April 19th: PS-Grade 12 Parent Teacher Conferences - 9am-3pm
- Friday, April 19th: No Classes for Students - All Divisions
- Friday, April 19th: Parent Teacher Camps - PP-G6 - 9am-4:30pm
- Thursday, April 25th: Lower & Middle School Open House - 6:00pm - Oxford Campus
Looking Ahead & Save the Dates:
- Friday, May 3rd: Grandparents’ Day & Lower School Musical
- Saturday, May 4th: Susan Beazley’s Retirement Celebration
- Monday, May 6th - Friday, May 17th: AP Exams
- Wednesday, June 5th - Friday, June 14th: Armbrae Exams (Grades 9-12)
- Wednesday, June 19th: Celebration of Learning
General Announcements
Susan Beazley Retirement Celebration: Saturday, May 4th
Join us on Saturday, May 4th at 6:00pm in the AARC to celebrate Susan’s retirement after 46 years at Armbrae Academy. We look forward to welcoming all of the people Susan has impacted over the years and celebrating her legacy at Armbrae. This event is open to all community members and we would love to see you there. Please click here to RSVP.
Armbrae Academy Presents: Shrek The Musical Jr! Friday, May 3rd
Our Lower School Musical will take place on Friday, May 3rd. This year we are very excited to be presenting Shrek The Musical Jr! Performances will take place at 1:30pm and 6:30pm. All students from Primary to Grade 6 are involved in the show so it is important that all students are at both performances.
Grandparents Day: Friday, May 3rd
We are excited to announce that this year's Grandparents Day will be on Friday, May 3rd which is the same day as the Lower School Musical! More details will be sent out in a separate email communication next week. In the meantime, be sure to save the date on your calendar. We look forward to welcoming all the Grandparents and Grandfriends on campus soon!
Armbrae Open House: Thursday, April 25th at 6:00pm
On Thursday, April 25th at 6:00pm we will be hosting an open house for Lower & Middle School. If you have any friends or family members who may be interested in Armbrae & Independent school education, please spread the word. You can RSVP here or reach out to Suzanne Morrison if you have any additional questions. smorrison@armbrae.ns.ca.
Armbrae Run Club
Armbrae’s Run Club is back! Students in Grades 2-12 are invited to join Mr. Jager and Ms. Cornick to go for a run every Tuesday and Thursday at lunch starting Tuesday, April 9th. Students will gather on the playground at 11:25am, run down Beaufort Trail and return to school to eat their lunch outside. Parents are welcome to join us for a run or to help at a crosswalk along the route. People often use this club to help them train for the Bluenose Run and the Youth Running Series races. If you would like to help or have any questions, please contact Kevin Jager (kjager@armbrae.ns.ca).
The Youth Running Series is a series of 5 running races for children and youth starting this April and ending in October. It is an extremely affordable and fun way to enjoy fitness and competitive running. For every Armbrae student that runs in an event, Amrbrae receives a point and if we are one of the top schools participating, there is a school prize!! Please consider checking out the events and registering. Registration is open now and the first race is "Super Shubie" on Sunday, April 28th https://www.youthrunningseries.ca/2024-events
Homestay Opportunity
A female student from China whose family had to return to China for a family emergency is looking for a homestay for the rest of this year and next year. The student is going into Grade 10. For the contact information of the family to arrange further details, please contact Suzanne Morrison, Director of Admissions smorrison@armbrae.ns.ca
Middle School & Grade 6
The 2024 Exam Schedule and summative assessment calendars will be shared with students next week and posted on the Advisory pages on Brightspace. Throughout the months of April & May, teachers will be supporting students in developing their organizational and study skills ahead of exams during their lessons and Advisory. That schedule will also be posted on Brightspace.
I am excited to inform you that the Middle School and Grade 6 will be going to Saint Mary’s University to see the Regional Science Fair on Friday, April 5th. There is public viewing from 2:00 - 4:00pm. The students will depart on foot at 1:30pm and return to school for dismissal. Visiting the Regional Science Fair will give students a chance to see a competitive Science Fair in action and aspire them to get involved next year. Mrs. Tosic and Ms. Oxner will accompany Grade 6, Mr. Ur and Ms. MacDonald will accompany Grade 7 and Ms. Hodder and Ms. Moore will accompany Grade 8. Mrs. Sajatovich will be present and drive.
Please note: students must dress appropriately for the weather as we will be walking to and from Saint Mary’s, but if it is pouring rain, the trip will be cancelled. Students may like to bring a water bottle and snack in their knapsack. Phones will not be permitted.
Our tentative agenda is as follows:
- 1:30pm - Depart Armbrae Academy for Saint Mary’s University
- 2:00pm - Arrive at the Regional Science Fair at the Loyola Conference Hall
- 2:45pm - Depart Saint Mary’s University
- 3:15pm - Arrive at Armbrae Academy
Mrs. Sajatovich can be reached by cell phone (902.237.5120) in the case of emergencies. Please feel free to contact her if you have any questions.
Upper School
The 2024 Exam Schedule will be shared with students next week and posted on the Upper School Handbook course on Brightspace. Throughout the months of April & May, we will be supporting students in developing their organizational and study skills ahead of exams through both Advisory and the Student Success Centre.
Lunchtime Sessions organized by Mrs. Sernyk and Mrs. MacIntyre will take place on April 15th, 22nd and 30th. More information will be shared with students next week and posted on the Upper School Handbook course on Brightspace.
Auxiliary Department
Osprey Summer Camps Registration - NOW OPEN!
- REGISTER HERE
- Armbrae Family Discount: WELOVEARMBRAE
- We are excited to offer camps for 10 weeks for Grades PP-8.
- Learn more at ospreycamps.ca
Armbrae Summer Academy Registration - NOW OPEN!
- REGISTER HERE
- Armbrae Family Discount: SUMMERLEARNING
- Check out what is on offer and more information at www.summeracademy.armbrae.ns.ca
Athletics
- Olivia Feng (Grade 9) won Bronze in Girls Intermediate Singles at the Metro High School Badminton Tournament held today at Citadel High.
- The Girls Division 1 High School Field Hockey Team is having a great season so far. They have won 3 out of 3 games!
- Check the calendar for upcoming games and practices.
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Armbrae Academy
Oxford Campus: 1400 Oxford St, Halifax, NS B3H 3Y8 ~ 902-423-7920
Coburg Campus: 6430 Coburg Rd, Halifax NS, B3H 2A6 ~ 782-641-3834
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