Technology, Transformation and the Human Connection
Over recent weeks, there has been a great deal of discussion in the media about children’s screen time, including recent announcements about screen use in public schools. These conversations are important. As educators and parents, we all want the same thing: young people who are healthy, engaged, connected and flourishing.
At Holy Cross College, we see education as a journey of transformation. Our vision is to be “a community of transformation in the spirit of the Risen Christ” and our purpose is to empower young people to have “Life to the Full”. That means preparing students not only for the world as it is today, but for the world they will help shape tomorrow.
As an Apple Distinguished School, we have used technology deliberately for many years. We see it as a tool that can deepen learning, enhance creativity, strengthen collaboration and help students engage with real-world challenges, never as an end in itself. Some of the most transformative learning experiences at Holy Cross College have been supported by technology that has allowed students to create, connect, communicate and innovate in ways that were previously unaccessible.
We also know that emerging research raises important questions about wellbeing, attention, social connection and the cumulative impact of prolonged screen use. We take those questions seriously and seek to align our practices with the best available research.
These questions are not only coming from headlines. In my conversations with families, including interviews with prospective Kindergarten and Year 7 families, and in everyday conversations between parents and teachers, a desire for balance comes up often. We are listening.
That feedback comes at a valuable time. As we look towards 2027, we are developing a shared approach to teaching and learning from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, in partnership with Catholic Education Western Australia. It is an opportunity to ask what excellent learning looks like at each stage of a child’s schooling, and where technology helps and where it does not. The balance between technology-rich learning and human interaction, conversation, collaboration and hands-on experiences is likely to be part of that discussion.
Some of the most memorable learning at Holy Cross has little to do with devices. It is found in conversations between students and teachers, in the relationships that are built through teamwork, and in practical investigations, performances, retreats, service opportunities, and pilgrimages. These experiences reflect the LIFE pillars that sit at the heart of our College: Learning, Inter-relationships, Faith and Enrichment.
Our Catholic faith reminds us that every young person is a whole person, made with dignity and made for relationship. Technology should serve that, not compete with it. Being future-focused means helping students become thoughtful, discerning and healthy users of technology, not only confident ones.
This is not about abandoning technology, and it is not about reacting to headlines. It is about responding thoughtfully. How do we ensure digital tools genuinely add value to learning? When is technology the best choice and when is it not? How do we help students develop healthy habits that will serve them throughout life?
Good answers will come through reflection and collaboration, not quick fixes.
The journey continues, and as always, we will walk it together as a community, guided by our mission to empower every student to experience Life to the Full.
Kind regards
Albert Borrello
Principal