As we see the end of week two for kids we are hoping the weather will improve and everyone enjoys their 4 day weekend.

ONLINE SAFETY

During the holidays we had an incident within social media (Tik TOK) which named our school and included a photo of some students and a teacher.  This site was not the way we want to see social media used.  The site was reported to the department’s social media department and to Tik Tok and has now been taken down.  Thank you to the community members who alerted us to this page.  Through the investigation process it was seen to have been set up outside of the school during the holidays.  I met with the senior classes about online safety and attached is a PDF from the eSafety Commission website which is a fantastic site for information and advice about safety online.  At any time you have concerns please talk with your child’s teacher.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

As we pick up our phones, use social media or open our laptops to check our email, the children in our lives are watching and learning from us. What we do online and how we use devices provides a model that can help to lay the foundations for their online safety.

Modelling safe practices, even for the very young means getting involved in what children are watching and doing online, protecting their personal information and involving them in decisions about what you share online.

Below are some great tips on modelling good screen practices from the eSafety Commission site so you can help your child stay safe as they explore.

1. We often use screen time to occupy and entertain but it’s also important to use devices and screens as a way to start conversations with children, to help build their understanding of the online world.
2. Getting into the habit of talking also means that, as your child grows older, they know they can always come to you if they have a question or experience something negative online, such as seeing content that it not age appropriate.
3. Starting early with conversations about how the internet works and online safety encourages children to think critically about how data is stored, who can contact them online and how online sharing might affect them.
4. Watching or playing alongside your child can be a positive experience that promotes learning and development.
5. Ask questions, be curious and follow their interests — at the same time you can gently introduce online safety tips, such as not clicking on pop-ups and always coming to you if they encounter anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or if someone outside their family and close friends contacts them online.
6. Make sure your child is aware of what their ‘personal information’ is. Talk with children about how you protect your personal information— and theirs — online. Discuss what is appropriate to share, on which platforms and why, as well as the types of information that should stay private, like your address, contact information and date of birth.