Digital Learning
Resources to support families and students to be safe and responsible digital citizens
Hello everyone,
This week, our school will be upgrading our firewall system to the new department-provided firewall. Below is some key information regarding Zscaler.
Improving Our School’s Online Safety with Zscaler
To help keep students and staff safe online, our school is using Zscaler—a cloud-based web security service provided by the Department of Education at no cost to the school.
What is Zscaler and why are we using it?
Zscaler replaces traditional on-site firewalls with a more flexible, cloud-based system. This means:
- No need for bulky hardware at school
- Easier updates and maintenance
- Strong protection, even when staff are off-site
Key Benefits for Schools:
- Online Safety: Filters harmful content, blocks malware and phishing attempts, and keeps browsing safe for students and staff.
- Bandwidth Management: Ensures essential online learning tools run smoothly by limiting non-essential internet traffic.
- App Control: Helps the school manage which online apps are used, improving safety and reducing distractions.
- Safe Search: Filters out inappropriate content from search engines, keeping results student-friendly.
Zscaler is designed to meet the evolving digital needs of schools while providing a safe and secure online environment.
In the coming weeks, all Grade 3/4 and 5/6 classes will complete their termly eSafety lessons. Our next newsletter will share what is being covered and conversations you can have with your children.
Regards,
Steven Puhar
Apps List 2025
WPS Digital Online Learning Statement
Digital Statement
Williamstown Primary School acknowledges the recent Human Rights Watch report on Edutech in privacy violations and findings.
Williamstown Primary works closely with the DET’s Digital Learning and privacy teams to ensure that all DET guidelines regarding the implementation of digital devices are followed.
Attached is the school’s digital statement outlining the online platforms and their privacy policies that the school uses on a day-to-day basis.
As part of the school’s ongoing student education, the school will further enhance key understandings around user privacy, as well as the tools available on selected devices.
This will be embedded within the current school’s eSafety program that currently sees students undertake numerous digital workshops run by both school leadership, classroom teachers and external providers such as the Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s eSmart organisation.
Parents are advised of a key iPad feature to turn tracking off. This feature will be explicitly demonstrated to students within the school-based workshops.
Go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking.
The list shows the apps that requested permission to track you. You can turn permission on or off for any app on the list.
To stop all apps from asking permission to track you, turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track (at the top of the screen).
Williamstown Primary Digital Information
Below is a link to the schools Digital Learning page. This page contains key information about the school's implementation of the digital technology curriculum as a tool within a blended learning environment.
JB HiFi Digital Purchase Portal 2024/2025
The JB HiFi purchase portal is again available for Willy PS families. The schools recommended minimum specification device is the iPad Gen 9, but the portal does also offer a range of iPad models and accessories. Although students have access to bluetooth keyboards we also recommend the Smart Keyboard or a 3rd party keyboard incorporated within the cover. This accessory will add value to the users experience.
Please also note the change in School Code.
Although the portal is set up through JB HI-FI on behalf of the school, we encourage families to explore all purchase options.
Further GoogleSuite for Education Information
Please find attached documents released by DET.
The first document gives a deeper understanding of the DET licences G Suite for Education, how it is set up and how it differs from the public Google platform.
The second document provides families with supporting resources on how to protect individuals privacy online.
The Department of Education information pack for parents is available from the following link: