Deputy Principal

Mr Kim Forward

Do you understand the way your kids communicate online?

(Thank you to Internet Safe Education for the following information. Brett Lee from Internet Safe Education will be presenting on Cybersafety to some of our Primary and Middle School students in Term 2. See https://www.internetsafeeducation.com)

Communication among teenagers has taken on a whole new dimension with the use of emojis and acronyms. This secret language allows teens to express themselves in a more creative and succinct manner, adding layers of meaning to their conversations. Emojis, those colourful icons that convey emotions and ideas, have become a universal language transcending borders and languages. Meanwhile, acronyms like LOL (laugh out loud) and SMH (shake my head) have revolutionised how quickly and efficiently messages can be communicated in the fast-paced realm of social media, gaming, and texting.

While these forms of communication may seem harmless, they can also be used to conceal conversations from parents and other adults. Even more concerning, but not coincidentally, is how emojis and acronyms are also used by predators to hide the intention of communications with young people or by criminals to conceal criminal activity.

In January, the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) released an article ‘Knowing your emojis to keep your kids safe’ , highlighting a concerning trend of predators using emojis to groom children online. They were imploring parents to educate themselves on the hidden meanings of emojis and acronyms and included a list of ones to watch out for.

To help parents and educators decipher the secret language of teens, Bark Australia, the parental control app, also has a great emoji factsheet. It has some of the more commonly known emojis with visually obvious meanings however it does include some that may surprise you.

Hume Interfaith Network Sports Day 20 April 2024 

Join the Hume Interfaith Network to celebrate harmony through sport! This is a free community event to “Come and Try” soccer, cricket, AFL football, basketball, hockey and much more. There will also be a BBQ and information about different programs and services in Hume.

When: Saturday 20 April, 10.30am – 3pm 

Where: Kalkallo Recreation Reserve - 45 Toyon Road, Kalkallo

Find out more: https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Eventbrite/Hume-Interfaith-Network-Interfaith-Sports-Day-2024-845502108567

Parent News on AIMS

Please check your AIMS dashboard regularly for parent news, particularly items that affect your child. The College is making less use of email due to bulk emails often being blocked by email providers, hence you are encouraged to get into the habit of checking AIMS daily for all of your Aitken news.

Student Bus Travellers

If your child travels on one of the public school bus services, please ensure that their Myki card is topped up regularly; register their card and then it can be topped up online. If your child travels on one of the College’s charter bus services, they must have their ID card with them (or a fob for younger students) with which to scan on and off the bus.