Assistant Principals' Report

Hello and welcome to our newsletter item for this week. 

Beacon 

In a digital world that moves at a rapid pace, parents/ carers are often left feeling overwhelmed and concerned about how to keep their child safe online and where to access accurate information. Beacon is an excellent cyber safety app designed by the Kids Research Institute of Australia. It comes highly recommended by Evolve Education who facilitate our student, staff and parent digital and online safety workshops each year. 

The rising popularity of technology use, even among very young children, creates both opportunities and challenges. Beacon aims to bring awareness to challenges that young people face being online, but also balanced with opportunities that can support positive social and emotional wellbeing. Access to digital technology can have enormous educational and social benefits. However, their use by children is not without risk. Children’s exposure to these factors places them at risk of adverse physical, social and mental health outcomes.

While young people’s knowledge of digital technologies is advanced, this is often not in line with their social and emotional development and cognitive capacities needed to assess risks and make complex decisions.

Once you have downloaded the app, search for a great article titled; 'The importance of good posture when using technology'. As we head into the upcoming school holidays and winter months where potentially we are spending more time inside and online. There are some good tips and tricks to consider, not just for kids but for the big people in the house. 

For more information go to: 

https://beacon.thekids.org.au/for-parents/ 

Have a great weekend and week ahead.

Warm Regards

Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin

Assistant Principals

Heidelberg Primary School