From the Deputy Principal
Drumline Competitions and Child Safe Online
On these last two cool, crisp mornings I had the pleasure of listening to our senior Drumline students as they practiced in preparation for the Australian Drumline Competition this weekend in Melbourne. As you would all know, our senior and junior Drumlines are led by the amazing Kevin Kiely. Together with the the D2 Drumline team last school holidays a wonderful choreographed marching routine has been introduced to the senior Drumline performances. When they compete at the Eisteddfod this weekend, the students will not only be playing the drums, they will also be weaving in between each other and spinning their drumsticks in a routine that I would not have believed possible without having seen it myself. We wish our senior Drumline students and Kevin the best of luck as they compete with some of the best drummers from schools around Australia.
Following on from the presentations to our students by members of the NSW Police on behalf of the ThinkUKnow program we have organised further information sessions regarding online safety presented by ySafe. ySafe is Australia’s leading provider of cyber safety education.
The ySafe presentations will take place on Tuesday September 12, in our school Hall, and will include presentations to Year 5 to 10 students, teachers and an extra evening presentation at 7pm for our MAG and wider communities’ parents and carers.
The title of the parents and carers session is Empowering Parents and Carers in the Digital Age. This informative and practical session is designed to address the complexities of parenting in the digital age. ySafe understand the importance of aligned messaging between children, parents/carers, and schools when it comes to online safety, and this session equips parents and carers with the knowledge and tools to confidently walk alongside their children in their online safety journey. ySafe's goal is to empower parents and carers who may feel disempowered or overwhelmed by the challenges of navigating the online world with their children.
This information session will provide parents and carers with realistic and digestible insights into popular social media platforms. ySafe will share strategies for managing cyberbullying, including practical steps to address and prevent such incidents, and constructive ways to work in partnership with school.
Key Topics that will be covered in this session are:
- Youth based behavioural insights on popular social media platforms
- Managing cyberbullying & toxic online behaviours and legalities
- Screen time recommendations and current research
- Practical & realistic steps for setting up a cyber-safe home
This session aims to empower parents and carers to navigate the digital world alongside their children, fostering a safer and more enjoyable online experience for the whole family.
We believe that online safety is a community responsibility and is why we want to open the ySafe parent and carer session up to all parents and carers, not only those who have children at MAG. Places are limited so please register using the link:
Registration also includes access to the ySafe by Linewize Online Safety Hub that includes a number of personalized learning and development to further support parents and carers.
We look forward to seeing as many parents and carers as possible on the evening of September 12.
Kathleen Kemp
Deputy Principal