Online Safety

At school we have a policy around safe use of devices and our online presence. Students are taught actions to take to use the internet safely and we have firewalls in place.

We have been made aware that a number of students are accessing online games which have a function which allows them to message with others online.

Parents have the responsibility to ensure that their children are safe online and ensure that they use the functions available in online platforms to enact restrictions when children are using them.

To support families navigate the compexities of the online world, we have organised for Andrew Moreton - a Youth Officer with Victoria Police to present information on how to support families to ensure that they have the information they need to support safe use of devices online.

This presentation will take place at school on Thursday 1st February at 9:00 a.m.

Below is a link to the eSafety Commissioner recommendations on how to ensure that your child is in a safe space when using the game Roblox.

SnapChat

Snapchat is a popular messaging app that lets users exchange pictures and videos, called snaps, that are meant to disappear after they're viewed. According to the terms of service, users must be 13. You have to enter your birth date to set up an account, but there's no age verification, so it's easy for kids under 13 to sign up. Since it's so easy to add friends on Snapchat, you can end up with lots of people you don't know on your friends list. This can become a risk for your child.

The app's Family Center gives parents and caregivers some visibility of their child's usage, including who their child has been communicating with. Adults have to install the app and link their accounts by adding their child as a friend. Their child then needs to accept an invitation to opt in to the Family Center functionality. You won't be able to see specific content your child has sent or received—just their friend list and who they've sent messages, photos, or videos to in the last seven days.

Cybersafety education

Online safety education should be included within the school’s curriculum planning and taught explicitly. In doing so, this helps schools to comply with Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and Online Environments.

For more information, contact student.engagement@education.vic.gov.au

Zones of Regulation

One of the tools we use to support our students emotional regulation is Zones of Regulation.

The Zones of Regulation is a program geared towards helping students to gain skills in consciously regulating their actions, which in turn leads to increased control and problem solving activities. It is designed to help students to recognise when they are in different states called the “Zones” with each of the four zones represented by a different colour.

Self Regulation has many names - self-control, self-management, anger-control, impulse-control.

A person who can self-regulate is able to:

● remain CALM AND ORGANISED in a stressful situation.

● cheer themselves up after a disappointment.

● know when they are experiencing sensory overload and make adjustments

● Understand when it is appropriate to cheer and shout and when to be quiet

BLUE - low states of altertness e.g. sad, tired, ill, bored - this is when one’s body is moving slowly.

GREEN - regulated - calm, happy, focused, content - this where children need to be for effective school work and social times

YELLOW - used to describe a heightened sense of alertness (but with some control) - stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, nervousness, confusion and may by be physically elevated e.g squirmy, wiggle or sensory seeking

RED - heightened sense of alertness e.g. anger, panic, terror, devastation or elation - leads to being overwhelmed and losing control.

Strategies for Parents

If your child is in the Red Zone:

● Limit verbals – this is not a teachable moment.

● Plan for if/when child is in Red Zone. “I Wonder if this strategy would help…?

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