Health & Wellbeing @ NLPS

JSC Pirate Day Fundraiser Success

What a fantastic day we had celebrating our Pirate Day Fundraiser last Friday! It was wonderful to see so many students getting involved, from bandanas and eye patches to full pirate costumes. The school was filled with fun, laughter, creativity, and community spirit.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Newport Lakes Primary School community, we are proud to share that we raised an amazing $759.80 for The Kids’ Cancer Project. A special thank you to Kellie, our wonderful Business Manager, who kindly donated the funds on behalf of the school. Thanks, Kellie!

Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death in Australian children, which is why fundraising and research are so important. Every donation helps support vital research to improve treatments and outcomes for children and families affected by cancer.

A huge thank you to all students, families, and staff for supporting such an important cause and helping make the day such a success.

From Michelle, Diana and Sam

On behalf of the JSC

Term 2 Parents and Carers Coffee Morning

We warmly invite you to our upcoming Parents and Carers Coffee Morning.

📅 Date: Monday 15 June

⏰ Time: 9:00–9:30am

📍 Location: Staff Room

We are delighted to once again have our wonderful baristas, Sheri Seyit and Anna Terzi, who will be serving delicious Turkish coffee on the morning. Tea and water will also be available.

If you would like to bring along a snack or some biscuits to share, you are very welcome to, but most importantly we would simply love to see you there.

All parents and carers are warmly welcome, we look forward to seeing you there 😊

Supporting Children to Stay Safe and Balanced Online

As technology becomes an increasingly normal part of children’s everyday lives, many families are navigating the challenges of screen time, online safety, and online communication together. While technology can offer wonderful opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection, children still need guidance, boundaries, and ongoing support to help them use it safely and in healthy ways.

For many primary school children, online interaction is not always through traditional social media, but through games and apps such as Roblox, Minecraft, Messenger Kids, online gaming chats and shared group chats with friends. These spaces can feel very social and exciting for children, but they can also expose them to conversations, content, or interactions that may not always be appropriate for their age.

One of the most important things we can do as adults is stay connected to our children’s online world with curiosity, calmness, and open conversation. Children are much more likely to seek help when they feel safe, listened to, and not judged.

Simple strategies at home can make a big difference:

Create predictable screen time routines and boundaries
Keep devices in shared family spaces where possible
Encourage breaks from screens, especially before bedtime
Know what games, apps, and platforms your child is using
Talk regularly about who they are chatting with online
Encourage balance with outdoor play, hobbies, family time, and rest
Model healthy technology habits as adults

It is also important to remember that children do not always tell adults when they have seen something upsetting, confusing, or inappropriate online. Often this is because they may feel embarrassed, worried they will get in trouble, or fear having their devices taken away.

As a school, we encourage all families to regularly remind children that if they ever see, hear, or experience something online that does not feel right, they can always speak to a trusted adult. Simple messages such as:

“You can always come to me”
“You won’t be in trouble”
“We can work through it together”

can help children feel safe to seek support when they need it.

We also encourage families to continue reinforcing some important online safety messages with children:

Never share personal information, passwords, photos, or videos online
Never chat privately with strangers online
Never send or forward images of others
Tell a trusted adult if something online feels unsafe, uncomfortable, or confusing
Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are

Below are some upcoming webinars and events that may be helpful for families who would like further practical guidance and support:

eSafety Commissioner – Parents/Carers & Student Webinars

These live webinars provide parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support children to have safer online experiences.

Navigating screen time - Tools for today’s families

This 45-minute parent/carer webinar:

explores what quality screen time looks like
how to create balanced family routines
ways to manage boredom and transitions
strategies to support children’s wellbeing at different ages and stages.

The webinar offers realistic and practical approaches to strengthen digital skills, encourage open conversations, and make screen time more positive and predictable for the whole family.

Suitable for parents and carers of young people in primary and lower secondary school.

WHEN: Wednesday 17th June 2026 at 12:30pm - REGISTER HERE

2. How AI is influencing new online risks for children and young people

AI (generative artificial intelligence) is built into many of the apps, games and services we use. While these tools can offer positive experiences, they also bring new risks, especially for children and young people.

Understanding what these risks look like, how to reduce them, and what to do if something goes wrong is important for anyone supporting children and young people.

This 45-minute parent/carer webinar will cover these areas:

The types of AI-related risks your child may come across in their everyday online activities, including AI companion chatbots, deepfakes, AI influencers, and AI-facilitated cyberbullying and other online-harassment related risks.
How these technologies can affect your child’s safety, privacy, development, and mental and social wellbeing.
Practical, easy-to-use strategies and resources to help you guide and support your child, including what to do if something goes wrong and where to seek help.

Suitable for parents and carers of young people in primary and secondary school.

WHEN: Wednesday 3rd June 2026 at 12:30pm - REGISTER HERE

3.Online Safety for Students Webinar

This panel discussion will explore the challenges and safeguards involved in keeping students safe online in a rapidly changing digital world, particularly in relation to the rise of AI and image-based violence.

The session is facilitated by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and features experts from RMIT University, ICMEC Australia, and Kids Helpline.

This student webinar will unpack the growing impact of AI in students’ lives and provide practical insights into supporting young people to navigate online spaces safely.

This is a valuable opportunity for parents and carers to learn more about current online risks and protective strategies.

WHEN: Thursday 11th June 4:00pm to 5:00pm - REGISTER HERE

Thank you for continuing to work alongside us to support our children’s wellbeing, safety, and confidence, both online and offline

Samantha Meddis

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader