Associate Principals' Report 

Over recent years issues related to the inappropriate use of social media and the broader dangerous use of the internet have become an increasing concern in our world. We are constantly dealing with issues that have developed because of poor use of social media, including Instagram and Snapchat. Ideally, we would hope all parents are supervising their children’s use of social media and making sure this use is appropriate and safe.

Schools have recently become aware of the potential for inappropriate behaviours to occur on Discord, a popular social media application.  

To help prevent these behaviours, our school uses the Department of Education’s blacklist of websites that are blocked from access while on-site in any school. This includes social media sites such as Facebook. Our on-site technicians will also add to our local blacklist any inappropriate websites that staff have concerns about. Discord was delisted as of two weeks ago. Our technicians are monitoring internet traffic and sites visited by students as best as they can, but if some students will try to use methods to get into blocked sites. It would be useful for parents to look at their students devices and find out the types of sites they are visiting.

We also wish to remind our families of the expected behaviours of students when using digital technologies, including social media, included in our Digital Technologies Policy, available on the school website at:

20210528-Digital-Technologies-Policy.pdf (fairhillshs.vic.edu.au)

Parents can also access resources and supporting information to ensure their child remains cyber-safe through the parent’s page on the Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s website.  

If you have any concerns about the use of digital technologies, I encourage you to speak to the relevant Level Coordinator, our IT Technicians or the Wellbeing Team.  

Paul Donaldson

Associate Principal 

I’m sure everyone will join with me to celebrate the end of lockdown, and the fact that the staff and students can, once again, learn, collaborate and connect together. 

I’m pleased to announce that the long-awaited Year 9 Integrated Gardening Project will begin on Monday 15 November and conclude on Friday 19 November.  In this project-based environment, students gain knowledge and skills by investigating and responding to engaging questions, problems or challenges. This particular learning and teaching framework addresses cross-curricula content and learning dispositions through rigorous, authentic, hands-on, interactive learning experiences.

In this week of activities Year 9 students will engage in 21st Century Skills including: collaboration, digital literacy, creativity, innovation, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, career and life skills.

Year 9 teachers have prepared a range of lessons related to environmental issues including: understanding plants and how they grow, effective use of fertilizers, healthy eating, sustainability and a range of topics across the curriculum.  Students will visit the Knox Community Garden; hear from members of the community who have made a living from gardening; guest speakers and, at the end of the week students will have a certificate in Level 2 First Aid.  The highlight, however, will be establishing garden beds around the school and learning to understand effective means of planting herbs, flowers and trees. 

We hope all Year 9 students have an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Karen Dean

Associate Principal