This week we celebrate the Foundation Students 100th day milestone at school. They have settled into the routine of school so well and it's been a joy watching their confidence and friendships grow. The 100 day celebration is always a fun day for the children and I look forward to seeing what their t-shirts look like!

The Student Mission Team did a great job organising the casual clothes day last Friday and exceeded their target of raising $500 for the people of Timor Leste. Well done to them all!

On Friday our grade 6 boys and girls basketball teams head off to the District Sports Hooptime competition. Thank you to our coaches and the parents who have volunteered to help out on the day. We appreciate your ongoing support with our school sport program - we would not be able to attend these events without the generosity of our parent community. 

Don’t forget to follow our school Facebook page! We are sharing updates of what we are up to in our learning spaces as well as providing reminders for upcoming events. 

ESAFETY COMMISSION - SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD WITH CYBER SAFETY

As children start to navigate the online world and interact with others more independently, they are more likely to be exposed to risks of bullying or unwanted contact, accidentally coming across inappropriate content or racking up bills through in-app purchases.

Your guidance can help them be aware of the risks and understand what is expected of them. Let them know you are always there to support them. 

Advice for parents and carers 

Keep the computer or device in an area of your home that can be supervised. And check in regularly with your child to see what they are viewing.

Stay engaged with their online activity. If they agree, consider setting up your own accounts with the sites they use most so you can see how they work and understand the risks. 

Explore the online world with them to help establish that this is not just a solitary activity. Play games with them. Do a creative project together.

Think about social media readiness. Most social media sites require users to be at least 13 years of age before they can register, although some sites are created especially for children under 13. See are they old enough?

Encourage respect and empathy. Teach them to avoid sharing or posting things that may upset others. See good habits start young.

Start building resilience. Teach your child that there are ways they can deal with material that worries or frightens them. This includes immediately telling you or another trusted adult of any concerns or uncomfortable material. See good habits start young.

Encourage them to learn about online safety by exploring the kids section of the esafety site.

Review your rules as your child grows older

Be clear about how much time they can spend online, the apps they can use, the websites they can visit and what they can share or post online. 

Refer to our advice about https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/screen-time and online gaming if these are of concern.

Technology tips for parents of kids 5 to 12

Ensure your own devices are protected by a password or pin, so your child cannot accidentally come across inappropriate content.

If you are thinking about giving them their own tablet or smartphone, check out  are they old enough?

Use parental control tools appropriate for the age and experience of your child. Be upfront and get your child on board. Let them know that these can be reviewed and changed as they get older and they continue to demonstrate responsible behaviour. Consider installing a ‘child-friendly’ search engine that will allow them to explore a limited number of sites. See parental controls.

Check out Raising Children Network's healthy screen time and quality media choices: 6-11 years.

Kind regards,

Jodie