Senior School
Enrol Now for the School Laptop Program
As part of Westminster’s technology program, all students in Years 4 to 12 will be required to use a School-owned or School-managed laptop from the start of the 2027 school year.
For families with children continuing into 2026, the following outlines device options and whether action is needed:
- Students already using a School-owned laptop – No action is required. Registration automatically rolls over each year and the device will continue to be supported and replaced on the standard cycle.
- Students using a School-managed laptop – Students can continue using this device for its full life. Families may also choose to enrol in the program at any time.
- Students currently using a BYO device – 2026 will be the final year a BYOD can be used. From 2027, all students must have a School-owned or School-managed laptop.
- Students commencing in Year 4 or starting new at Westminster in Years 5 to 12 - All students will be required to have either a School-owned or School-managed device. Please use the enrolment form to advise which of these your child will be using.
Families can enrol in the program at any time until 2027. However, to guarantee a School-owned device for 2026, enrolments must be completed by the end of Term 3 2025.
Enrolments after this date will be accommodated where possible, though device supply may be affected by stock availability.
To enrol your child, please complete the form here: School Laptop Enrolment Form
Completing the form secures a School-owned device for 2026 and ensures it is ready at the start of the school year. Families only need to complete the form if they wish to enrol now.
For any questions about the program, please contact laptop@westminster.sa.edu.au or visit the website: Laptop Program - Westminster School
Spotlight on Sport
The Courage to Step Back
I recently came across an article that struck a nerve with me—not just as someone who works closely with children in sport and co-curricular life, but as a parent who has stumbled through these moments many times. I Almost Bailed Him Out: 5 Reasons I Let My Son Fail by Tonya Rodriguez tells a story that felt all too familiar to me. It is about resisting the urge to step in when your child is struggling—and the quiet courage it takes to hold back.
To be honest, this is something I have wrestled with often. There have been plenty of times when I jumped in too quickly, wanting to make things easier for my children or to soften the blow of disappointment. I have had moments where I tried to fix things that probably were not mine to fix. And in hindsight, I can see that in doing so, I may have slowed down some important learning.
At Westminster, we talk a lot about building resilience, taking ownership and embracing adventure. But as a parent, I have come to realise those values are not just things we hope our children develop—they are things we have to model too. That means learning to sit with the discomfort of watching them struggle, knowing that the real growth often happens after the setback, not in avoiding it.
Some of the most valuable learning I have seen—in sport and in life—has come after a missed selection, a tough game or an experience that did not go to plan. It is in those moments that children begin to understand what persistence really looks like. And when we as parents manage to hold back just enough, we give them the space to rise, reflect and return stronger.
Rodriguez’s story about letting her son fail a subject, even when every instinct told her to step in, is a powerful reminder. It is not about stepping away completely—it is about trusting in their ability to find a way through. I am still learning how to get that balance right. Even as my children are young adults, this is something I still find hard. But what I do know is this: when they come through the other side and find belief in themselves, it can be one of the most rewarding moments we share as parents.
Read the full article: I Almost Bailed Him Out: 5 Reasons I Let My Son Fail
Stephen Schwerdt
Head of Activities
Senior School Upcoming Key Dates
Monday 22-Friday 26 September - Stage 2 Trial Exams
Friday 26 September - End of Term 3, 3.30 pm