Saint Peter School Newsletter

Picture of the week: On Monday, Grade 1 enjoyed everything Connor's Farm in Danvers had to offer them. The weather was perfect for a train ride, apple picking and apple cider donuts.

Picture of the week: On Friday, K1 and K2 visited our local fire department building where they learned about some of our local emergency services!

Dear Friends,

One of the major challenges facing parents today is how to control the rate at which children are exposed to information, and how to make sure that that information remains age-appropriate. In our current world there are a lot of such concerns including social media use, AI, social games (e.g., Roblox) that have been stacked on top of the traditional concerns for parents (e.g., books at the library, movies on TV late at night, what you might hear on the T). This challenge is something that we're all working to meet in each our own way. Today, I wanted to share some of the school's perspective on this challenge and how we help to control it during school hours.

Firstly, please remember our school device policy (see the handbook): all personal electronic devices (phones, smartwatches, etc.) must remain in students' bags, turned off or on silent, during school hours. This established policy addresses several key concerns:

• Internet policy violations that are impossible to monitor effectively on cell phones and devices
• Constant classroom distractions that interfere with learning
• Privacy issues from devices with camera and messaging capabilities

While devices like smartwatches certainly offer certain conveniences (e.g., GPS tracking for safety, emergency communication capabilities) they also create challenges. These include heightened social pressure among peers, constant distraction from learning opportunities, and even potentially developmental impacts (see research at the bottom of this note). We believe the school environment should prioritize focused learning and genuine peer interaction, which is why we do not allow these devices at school.

Second, you should know that our school network has a firewall that automatically blocks websites from a number of categories, teachers (especially in middle school) have access to software that "locks" students in to particular URLs at particular times, and every bit of text generated by a school email account, whether it is on Google Docs or in an actual email message, is scanned by an AI tool that looks for troubling content. We are confident that these measures help to keep our use of technology at school productive and focused on learning, and help to protect our students as much as possible.

I would also encourage families to think carefully about their approach to these technologies at home. The news is constantly filled with storied about the impact of device use and constantly-on connections, and we have certainly seen some effects here in our own community. As you explore the options, consider the following:

• Coordinate with other families and consider delaying device introduction as a group. A collective approach reduces individual pressure and recognizes that even one child with internet access can effectively provide it to the entire group.
• Maintain ongoing, open conversations, and demonstrate an interest about technology with your children. They need your help to develop critical thinking skills about their digital choices. It also helps to avoid an air of secrecy from developing with respect to digital use. Ask about their online interactions, the apps they enjoy, and the challenges they encounter.
• Model healthy device habits in your own daily life. Your relationship with technology directly influences your child's future patterns and attitudes toward digital tools. I acknowledge a certain amount of hypocrisy here, but we should all strive for better!
• Remember that you are the expert on your own child and family situation. These recommendations are meant to support your decision-making, not replace your judgment.

I'll end by saying that, even though I might sound that way in this email, I'm no Luddite; I'd consider myself a bit of a techno-optimist! I enjoy learning about technology, building computers, taking photographs, and even writing code from time to time. However, I nonetheless think that we should all be curious and cautious about our use of technology and the different impacts it might have on our children. In case you share that curiosity, I've linked some articles below (at the bottom of the newsletter) that might help guide or provide some additional context. As always, we're all adjusting to the new and exciting things our world throws our way!

God Bless,

Dr. Kristiansen

Fall MAP Testing will begin nexgt week Monday, - Wednesday for gr 1-8 and K2 on Thursday and Friday. Please remind your children that MAP testing is not a part of their grade for the school year, and not something to be nervous about! We do ask that students receive a good nights sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and be to school on time.

Open House on Saturday, October 18th, from 9 AM to Noon, and we’d love your help getting the word out.

Word of mouth is our secret sauce—so if you know a friend, neighbor, coworker, or cousin’s-best-friend’s-sister who might be looking for a warm, faith-filled, academically strong school community, send them our way!

You can share this RSVP link with anyone interested:
Open House RSVP Form

Let’s continue to grow the Saint Peter family—one future student at a time!

"Registration is open for the 2025-26 St. Peter's Catholic Youth Organization basketball season. Space is limited and priority will be given to St. Peter's School students and church parishioners. Boys and girls in grades 3 through 8 are eligible. Practices will either be on weeknights or Saturday mornings starting around late October or early November. Teams will play games against other parishes throughout the Boston area and most games are on the weekends, with home games on most Sundays starting in early December. The season will go through early March. Basketball experience is helpful but not necessary.

Parents can sign up at this link https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/498902 and can email Michael Hoff (hoffmichaelao@gmail.com) with any questions."

The fan in the kitchen is fixed. Chef Doug and Sous Chef Jeremy are looking forward to serving hot lunches next week. See Monday & Tuesdays lunches below.

Monday, September 29th

Philly Cheese Steak Sub

Hummus & Tabouli Pita

Yogurt Parfait

Turkey and or Soy Butter & Jelly Sandwich

Tuesday, September 30th

Roasted Chicken Breast

Veggie Kabobs

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Yogurt Parfait

Turkey Sandwich or Soy Butter & Jelly Sandwich

October 8, 2025 is Picture Day. Students can be out of uniform. Picture forms will go home at a later date.

October 10, 2025 No School Teacher Professional Development

Monday, October 13, 2025 , No School Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Grades 1-8 Progress Reports will be sent home

Thank you for your interest in the St. Peter Parish Confirmation Program!

To register your child, please complete the sign up form below.

Candidates may choose one of the following sessions (held twice a month):

1. Sundays, 3:30–4:45 PM, starting October 5, 2025

SIGN UP FOR CONFIRMATION CLASSES HERE

THURSDAY Confirmation Schedule

SUNDAY Confirmation Schedule

Please note: calendar dates are also available on our school website.

The calendar has been updated show June 9, 2026 date for the End of Year BBQ.

These links will remain the same each week, please use them as needed!

This year, due to security concerns, we will not be sharing our student mass schedule publicly. However, keep an eye on your homeroom teacher newsletter to know when your student(s) will be helping to lead the mass. We apologize for the inconvenience that this causes.

Specific research or links that I've read on the topic, not comprehensive

1. American Academy of Pediatrics Summary - Link: https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/screen-time-guidelines/ The focus here is on content quality over screen time limits, emphasizing parent-child shared media use and communication

2. Recent Research from UK on Smartphone Use Before Age 13 Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29296-3 2024 study of 100,000+ young people found smartphone use before age 13 associated with increased mental health risks, suicidal thoughts, and emotional regulation problems

3. Wait Until 8th Movement - Community-Based Approach Link: https://www.waituntil8th.org/ A movement for parents to rally together to delay smartphones until 8th grade, reducing peer pressure through collective action

Popular Books (for deeper reading): Note: These are popular works rather than peer-reviewed research, but their findings align with the academic studies cited above

1. "iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood" by Jean Twenge

2. "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness" by Jonathan Haidt