Principal's Message

Dear Parents and carers, 

We have noted some calls from parents about the use of technology at home, stemming from the use of social media and electronic devices outside of school areas. This occurs in every household - it is quite normal, and the key to addressing this is in addressing this as early as you can in the student’s life. As a technology educator by trade, I have been fielding these phone calls for many years - but it is concerning to me that it seems to be happening at younger and younger ages. Keep in mind that the device, internet and electricity are owned by you, and can be taken off your children by you at any point. We recommend that you set clear boundaries as early as you can to address issues with technology at an early age. 

The following are some guidelines and ideas to support you in this. 

1. Monitor your child's online activity: It's important to keep an eye on what your child is doing online. Set up parental controls on devices and monitor your child's online activity. Technology use should not be in the bedroom in private. If there is one thing to remember in this whole article - do not let your children take technology (phones, gaming devices, laptops) to bed. Set chargers outside of the room where they go on at night. 
2. Educate your child about online safety: Teach your child about online safety and the importance of not sharing personal information, such as their name, address, or phone number, with strangers online.
3. Create strong passwords: Make sure your child's passwords are strong and include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Encourage your child to not share their password with anyone, except their parents
4. Be cautious of online friends: Advise your child to only communicate online with people they know in real life, such as family members or classmates. The younger your child is, the less you should encourage this. Try to keep messaging friends until they are 13 or 14. 
5. Use safe search engines: Use child-friendly search engines, such as Google SafeSearch or KidRex, to ensure that your child is only accessing appropriate content.
6. Set time limits: Limit your child's screen time and encourage them to engage in other activities, such as playing outside, reading, or spending time with family and friends. The earlier and tighter you enforce this, the less likely it will cause arguments later on. 
7. Stay informed: Keep up to date with the latest online safety advice and resources - the Office of the E-Safety commissioner is excellent with this.  Search any apps that students are using online before you allow them to use them.  There are a number of webinars that you might be interested in at the e-safety commissioners website. 

By following these tips, parents can help keep their children safe online and ensure that they have a positive and enjoyable experience on the internet.

Mrs Kelly Bauer

Principal Leader