CYBERSAFETY & CHILD SAFETY

Child grooming and unwanted contact

Socialising online can be a great way for children to build friendships, but it can also put them at risk.

The following information comes from the eSafety Commissioner and is for parents and carers. It covers: What is grooming?

Targeted advice is also available for kids, young people or adults who may be experiencing unwanted contact.

Unwanted contact is any type of online communication that your child finds unpleasant or upsetting, or that leads them into a situation where they may be unsafe. This can happen even if they initially welcomed the contact. It can come from strangers, online ‘friends’ your child has not met face-to-face, or from someone they actually know.

For further information related to this article and on grooming, please click here

ISV: THE PARENTS WEBSITE

Belgrave Heights Christian School is part of the Independent Schools Victoria network of schools. Independent Schools Victoria offers an initiative called The Parents Website. Here you will find a range of articles and newsletters. To learn more, please click here.

FROM YOUR CAREERS TEAM

Parents, we need your help to showcase careers and inspire our students!

We are planning a career event with our Year 3 students that requires them to hear from several adults in a variety of job roles and then they will be asked to draw or paint a job they would like to do when they are older.

Adapted from Drawing the Future report, this program aims to expose students to different jobs and to broaden their horizons. We want to challenge gender stereotypes from a young age, give students greater access to different career role models and open up possibilities for students. It is not about students deciding on a career.

We are still looking for a couple of members for our panel - especially those who may be in a non-stereotypical role, e.g. male nurse, female tradie. However, we will consider all offers of help for this event.

Following the presentations, students will draw or paint a picture of a job they would like to do when they grow up. The school will exhibit the work the children have done at a future event which we will inform parents of in due course.

We hope you are willing to be part of this event and share insights about your career with our Year 3 students. If you would like to take part, please email Chauntelle Wolfaardt at pathways@bhcs.vic.edu.au

Thank you in advance for your participation!!

Please check out this week's newsletter >> BHCS Careers News

Visit our Website https://bhcspathways.com.au/ for more about University, TAFE and any other type of course info across Australia, get information about the VCE and VCE/VM, search for job vacancies and much more. Feel free to drop into the Careers Office if you have any questions and/or contact us on > pathways@bhcs.vic.edu.au

Kind regards,

Chauntelle Wolfaardt

BHCS INSTRUMENTAL TUITION PROGRAM

The BHCS Instrumental Tuition Program is in full swing. Private lessons are available in piano, drums, bass & guitar.

Lessons run throughout the day and usually last for half an hour. Please use the online application form found in the Parent resources section of the school website, or use the above QR Code.

BHCS TRAFFIC UPDATE

BHCS has committed to fund roadworks which will be undertaken by the Yarra Ranges Council over the Christmas break to install a slip lane leading into Wattle Valley Road and also widen a portion of Mt Morton Road. In addition, the Primary school refurbishment will be completed prior to the commencement of the 2024 school year, which will open up additional car parking spaces in the upper tier of the carpark.

WHAT HAS THE SCHOOL BEEN DOING?

Advocating & lobbying to the local Council to improve traffic safety

This includes negotiations for the upcoming roadworks.

Requests to Council to change the crossing on Wattle Valley Rd to a zebra crossing to make it clear to students and drivers of the requirement to give way to students (as this crossing is outside of the school boundary, we are not permitted to place supervising staff on the crossing).

Requests to Council to install a supervised crossing on Mt Morton Road, to provide safe access for our students across the main road to the footpath opposite.

Long-term Strategies:

We have appointed a traffic consultant to assist with master planning for the whole school site.

Staggered finish time:

Kinder - 3:00pm

Primary - 3:15pm

Secondary - 3:30pm

Rostering staff to manage crossing and carpark flow:

3 staff in the morning

7 staff in the afternoon

Bus Runs:

The School has 7 bus runs each morning and afternoon, which services approximately 290 students, taking many cars out of the carpark.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ASSIST ?

Morning drop-off times:

The primary school playground is supervised by staff from 8:15am. Students can be dropped off from this time onward.

Primary parents delaying arrival at school until approximately 3:05pm:

This will provide kinder families with:-

1. Access to parking while they collect their kinder children; and

2. Time to leave the carpark and free up more spaces for primary families.

As kinder families leave with their children, this frees up parking spaces for primary parents.

Secondary parents to delay arrival at school until 3:40pm:

We are grateful to the many secondary families who have already taken up this option.

In addition, if your child is not actively waiting for you, please proceed to a parking spot as they become available, rather than parking in the pick-up zone. This will assist in reducing the queue behind you.

**This delay option can only work when our community works together. For example, if primary parents delay arrival but secondary parents arrive early and park in the pick-up zone, primary parents will get caught in the queue and not be able to access the available parking spots.

When using drop-off/pick-up lane:

Only use this lane for quick pick-up or drop-offs, not for parking. If you need to exit your vehicle to assist younger children or swap driver with your learner, PLEASE DO NOT use the drop-off/pick-up lane but take a formal parking spot.

Please ensure your child/children exit and enter your vehicle from the pathway side only.

Move as far forward as possible to allow the cars behind you to also continue moving forward. If your child is waiting for you, ask them to walk forward along the path to meet you.

If you arrive early, please do not park in this lane (see suggested arrival times above).

Follow the directions of School staff, carpark attendants:

These may include:

Moving your vehicle forward, allowing others to move forward, minimising the overflow to Mt Morton Rd.

Proceeding to an available parking spot

Please respect our staff and their requests. Our staff are there to provide a smooth and safe flow of traffic through the carpark for the benefit and safety of you and your children. Aggressive behaviour toward staff is unacceptable and a breach of our Parent and Community Code of Conduct.

Follow all usual road rules whilst navigating the carpark:

Please follow the carpark road markings and refrain from overtaking into oncoming traffic, stopping in a thoroughfare to collect children, or driving against the traffic. All usual road rules still apply. This is for the safety of yourself and the children.

Where can you send your concerns?

For issues relating to congestion/safety on Wattle Valley (before the school gate) and Mt Morton Roads, please register your concerns with the Yarra Ranges Council.

For concerns relating to dangerous driving on Wattle Valley (before the school gate) and Mt Morton Roads, please contact Victoria Police.

Alternatively, please feel free to contact the school with your concerns or queries.

Please be assured that the School is advocating on behalf of our community to find practical solutions. We believe that we can improve the issues at hand if we work together as a community.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

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