Student Wellbeing

Student Wellbeing encompasses the following areas: Student Engagement, Student Connectedness, Classroom Climates, Inclusion and Prevention to Intervention

Being Safe online.

Lately, I have had parents and students approach me about online safety. Please be vigilant when your children are online. Check what they are watching and playing. Be aware that many of the online apps and games are for 13+. Some strategies to use if you feel your child/ren are not safe or has been harassed and/or bullied.

What can parents/carers do?

Ground Rules:

Discuss as a family how the internet will be used in your house. Consider what should be kept private online (personal information, photos etc.) and decide rules for making and meeting online friends. Make sure you know what your child is doing online, much like you would offline.

Online Safety:

Install antivirus software, secure your internet connection and use Parental Control functions for computers, mobile phones and games consoles to block unsuitable content or contact

Remember that parental control tools are not always 100% effective and sometimes, unsuitable content can get past them, so don’t rely on them alone to protect your child.

Location:

Think about locating your computer in a supervised family area. Always supervise the use of webcams in an application, which allows voice or video chat. Consider your child’s use of other devices that allow internet access such as Mobile Phones and Games Consoles.

Have a talk to your children about safety online.

Talk to your child and ask them to show or even teach you how they use the internet, learn which websites or tools they like to use and why. Learning together can often open opportunities to discuss safe behaviour with your child.
Always ensure your child knows how to block or report people online who send nasty or inappropriate messages or content. Encourage your child not to retaliate or reply.
Make sure your child knows to tell an adult they trust if they see something online that makes them feel scared, worried or uncomfortable.
It’s essential to be realistic - banning the internet or technology will not work and it often makes a child less likely to report a problem. Education around safe use is essential.

Teach your children to follow these Golden Rules!

1. Use a nickname, not your real name when online.

2. Keep your personal information safe, share with only people you know.

3. Use websites that are suitable for your age and remember that you are still talking to strangers.

4. Be nice to others online, in the way you would expect other people to be nice to you.

5. Tell an adult if you see or hear something that you think is not right.

6. Block the people who are making them feel unsafe.