Principal Reflections

Dear Parents & Friends,

Real Talk

On Wednesday evening a band of parents and teachers attended the "Real Talk" workshop. It was an opportunity to learn more about how to talk to your children on the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity.  (Navigate to their website for more information: https://www.realtalkaustralia.com/). One of the interesting topics was on our children's use of technology and the role of parents in supporting their child's use.

Providing your children with the tools for online networking is a major step for today’s parents. You are not giving your child a ‘toy’; you are providing them with a tool to communicate with anyone and everyone across the entire globe. Most importantly, anyone and everyone can now have access to your child. As adults, we know that the world is full of ‘bad’ people who prey on the vulnerable and naive. Children need strict supervision as they explore the cyber world.

Some helpful hints for parents to manage online activities are:

• Visit the Australian government site on cyber safety with your child & complete the online program as a family;
• ACMA - Cybersmart Program on www.acma.gov.au
• Negotiate the time and type of usage your child will have - set firm rules
• Supervise children whenever they are online – have screens visible
• Mobile phones, iPods, iPhones, pads, computers etc. to be kept outside of bedrooms at all times
• Check the names on your children’s network sites - you need to have a means of contacting the parents/carers of your child’s online contacts/friends
• Adults must not communicate directly online with other children
• Never set up sites for your child that are designed for older users; e.g. Facebook is not for primary school-aged children
• Do not put total bans on access and devices that children request. Guide them in their usage so that you keep control and can monitor their usage
• Know the laws for cyber usage; ignorance is not a defence in a court of law
• When necessary turn off the connection
• As the adult you must keep control. Make the time to keep abreast of your child’s internet usage

It is important that children are receiving the same messages at home and at school. We teach cyber safety but this needs to be reinforced at home. Remember that schools teach road safety but do not give driving lessons.

Enrolments 2022

Word about St Edward's learning program and increasing academic results has reverberated across our community. Demand for places in Kindergarten for the 2022 academic years has skyrocketed with over 75% of places filled. If you know of any family living within our Parish boundary looking for a place at St Edward's for next year, please advise them to complete an application form and make an appointment to visit our school for an interview. While we don't want parents to be disappointed in missing out on a place, with only 25% of places left time will run out. 

As always feel free to drop in and say hello when you visit St Edward’s. Have a great weekend.

Peace & Best Wishes.

Jake Madden

(Principal, St Edward's Primary School)