Year 7 Pastoral Guardian

'Finding Your Brave' to Stay Safe

During the Term 1 Personal Development program, students have been exploring the theme of independence through the lenses of Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, career aspiration, prioritising commitments to study, and personal well-being.

As young people enter adolescence, a stronger desire to navigate a pathway from dependence to independence emerges.  That they want to take greater control over their world and actions and explore the many opportunities that lie before them is indeed exciting and empowering.  However, when considering the consequences for adolescents exercising greater choice in their lives, it is also cause for some deep conversations around boundaries and safety.

The concepts of emerging independence, choices, and their associated consequences were explored when students viewed the video The Dangers Of Social Media (Child Predator Experiment).  In each scenario, young teenagers accepted invitations to meet ‘on-line friends’ in person.  In each scenario, the teens made choices that could have had deadly consequences.  (Please note, some classes will experience this lesson early next term.)

After viewing this video, students raised so many questions about the characters’ choices to meet the ‘friend’, possible reasons for doing so, and the potential consequences. Through discussion, it became abundantly clear to students that they must be informed about choices and consequences, and that they must have the confidence and skills to enact appropriate responses.  Naturally, there was a great deal to digest, and to apply to their own lives.

Through the conversation, it was especially pleasing to hear some students share the strategies their parents use to protect their children on-line; this sharing of strategies was valuable for ‘normalising’ the parental support measures/boundaries you have put in place.  Furthermore, many students acknowledged that, while they want to be more independent, their parents are still critical in helping them to navigate the on-line world (and wider world in general).  If you are needing any support in assisting your child to stay safe in the on-line world, you may find the following sites to be useful: 

Internet safety for teenagers / Raising Children Network 

Parents / eSafety Commissioner

Our young people may be digital natives, but they are not immune to risks.  More than ever, they need the guidance of adults to skill them in being able to develop the confidence to be brave by saying NO to any situation that threatens their well-being. Therefore, with your measures, and the skills and concepts taught through the Personal Development program in each year level, we are working together to help students exercise and value their independence.  Furthermore, we are also helping students to build the skills, confidence, and personal conviction to make personal safety a priority, to stay true to their values, and to make their mark on the world in a positive way.

Finally, I wish to commend the Year 7s for the very positive start they have made to their high school journey.  Their enthusiasm for embracing everything on offer has been very impressive.  However, it has been a very busy and demanding term (for students and parents), so a well-deserved rest is now in order.

I wish you all a restful and safe Easter holiday, and look forward to continuing to work with you and your daughters next term.

Jeni Barlow