Principal's Page

Cyber Safety

Over the next few newsletters, into next year, I will be sharing insights and information from a book titled Sexts, Texts and Selfies by Susan McLean, Australia's first cyber cop and cyber safety expert.

The advent of the internet and the million different devices have added a whole new complexity to the role of parents. We don't have generations worth of knowledge about how to keep our children safe online, so as parents we need to understand their digital world because their tech skills, together with your maturity and life experience can make their online experiences safe ones. Technology itself is not the issue; it is the user of the technology who creates the risks and dangers.

School students today are digital natives, born into a world where they are constantly surrounded by it. They cannot imagine life before mobile phones, iPads or the internet. Smart devices and social media sites have become part of our students lives and they strongly influence how our children create, share and exchange information with others.

Despite all the great things about cyberspace, the online world does create some problems for children. For example:

• they are tech-savvy but lacking in actual knowledge and cognitive development.
• It is their primary form of socialising and communicating.
• they have no fear of technology or cyberspace.
• it is extremely important for them to be connected.
• there is enormous pressure to conform.

While children are tech-savvy we should not confuse this with actual knowledge and an understanding of dangers and risks, cognitive development and maturity. You can assist them with real knowledge about what cyberspace is, what happens there, how to identify and deal with problems, how to stay safe and how to use some basic common sense. It is often impossible for children to think things through in the same way as an adult would as their brains are still very much a work in progress. They do not have the ability to pause and reflect on the consequences of their actions before doing something, and because they are young, they do not have the life experience or maturity to understand the consequences even after they have been explained to them. This is why you are so important in their online journey.

Christmas Event

This year the PACE committee will be organising the Christmas Event. It will be a picnic event, where families are invited to gather, catch up with old friends, make some new friends and generally get into the Christmas spirit. Each class will sing a Christmas carol for your entertainment, but the main idea is to mingle and have a nice, relaxing time. Please ensure that the attire is appropriate and similar to what students would wear on a regular casual clothes day at school. There is no need to buy anything new—students can choose to wear a plain coloured t-shirt (e.g., red, green, or white) if they prefer.

As this is a parent run event, the teachers are not responsible for the supervision of the students. This is your role as parents. There will be teachers on the gates so that not just anyone can walk in. We ask that the children do not play on the play equipment as there is no supervision for this and too many children for this to be allowed safely. This is a matter of priority. The play equipment will be roped off and the whole area out of bounds.

The parents have organised a sausage sizzle, there are cheese grazing boxes for sale, as well as crisps, popcorn, middleton iceblocks, water and juice poppers. These will be for sale in the canteen area - not in the canteen itself. 

Reports

Second semester reports are being prepared. These will be ready for parents through COMPASS on Friday 13th December.

Year 5 Plays

Mrs Allan has been working hard with the year 5 classes to prepare their Christmas performances for you. Family and friends are warmly invited to the Year 5 Christmas play performances in the coming weeks to be held in Kenna Hall.

5Y - Friday December 6th at 12.45pm -1.30 pm (week 8)

5M - Tuesday December 10th at 12.45pm -1.30pm (week 9)

5B - Wednesday December 11th at 12.45pm - 1.30pm (week 9)

Have a great fortnight

Jo Flynn