Wellbeing

Beginning of Term 2: Wellbeing Report

Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

An Essential Handbook for supporting Cyber Safety and Emotional Wellness 

Hello Parents and careers  

Ensuring the safety and emotional wellness of our children in the realm is crucial in todays interconnected society. With the surge of online conflicts it's imperative that we equip ourselves with the knowledge and resources to effectively support our children. Here at South Oakleigh Colleges we are dedicated to offering you assistance and guidance to navigate these challenges. 

eSafetys Parent Handbook; Managing Cyberbullying and Online Conflicts 

A fundamental step in securing our childrens well being is learning how to oversee their devices and accounts. Regularly checking privacy settings moderating comments and actively supervising contacts are strategies. Platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Kids, Snapchat, Instagram and Discord provide guides to aid in managing these settings. 

Fostering Social and Emotional Competencies 

Online dramas often mirrors school yard issues. By engaging in dialogues with our children about their interactions we can empower them to handle difficult situations adeptly. Initiating conversations with queries, like "How do you cope with frustration or anger online?". What actions would you take if you witnessed someone harassing a friend?" can establish channels of communication. 

Explore the range of tools at your disposal, like Young and eSafe which offer tips and engaging videos about respect, responsibility, empathy, resilience and critical thinking. Our conversation starters are crafted to ignite talks on online safety issues. 

Support for Parents 

In case your child faces negative online encounters it's important to stay composed and reassure them that help is accessible. The eSafety website provides information on forms of cyberbullying steps for gathering evidence and advice on reporting abuse to social media platforms and websites. 

App Checklist for Parents 

To further guide you through the realm we've compiled an app checklist to ensure positive online experiences for your family; 

Conduct Research; Make use of resources like the eSafety Guide, Common Sense Media and ConnectSafely to assess app features and potential risks. Discuss these aspects with family members and friends using the app. 

Review Age Ratings and Requirements; Take into account the apps age rating as your childs level of maturity when deciding if it's suitable. 

Consider Privacy; Familiarize yourself with the apps terms of service to understand privacy protections better and adjust settings accordingly. 

Verify Permissions and Settings; Scrutinize permissions, default settings and in app purchases to guarantee safety measures are, in place. 

Please ensure that the application has a feature, for reporting safety issues and make sure your child understands they can reach out to you for assistance. 

At South Oakleigh College our priority is creating an caring atmosphere, for our students whether in person or online. Lets work together to educate ourselves with the information and tools to use the realm wisely. 

Best wishes, 

Elizabeth Smith 

Director of Student Wellbeing