CLAREMONT COLLEGE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL POLICE
This week, Mrs Ford and I attended a very important meeting hosted by the Eastern Beaches Local Area Command Police. This meeting is held annually and provides principals and school leaders to connect with our local police and to work together as we respond to community needs and issues.
Did you know that Claremont College is supported by a Schools Youth Liaison Officer? This member of our local police, is based at Maroubra and he visits our school from time to time, and as Principal, I speak with him often about issues and challenges that come my way. Our Youth Liaison Officer has recently advised and supported me with some issues regarding student cyber safety, and he and his partner, have spoken with Year 6 students in regards to their online behaviour and ongoing safety.
KEEPING CHILDREN E-SAFE
One of the main areas that the police and educators must face is children’s online safety. There are many aspects in relation to children’s well-being and their e-safety, including cyberbullying, misuse of social media, inappropriate apps and online content, access to pornography, grooming and adult predators. These issues are all incredibly serious and warrant the attention of all parents, as the negative impact on children is significant. All schools worldwide face the same issues, and I anticipate that parents, schools, the police and other healthcare professionals, will need to collaborate and work together to combat these sinister forces. I do not want to be alarmist, however, the data, and some of the stories shared by the police about kids in our local area, is frightening.
This is why I believe programs such as this week’s ‘Amazing Me’ parents and children’s seminar, are so important. Conversations between kids and their parents win half the battle, if not more. By the way, thanks to all the parents who attended ‘Amazing Me’ on Wednesday. Our school hall was packed out and the feedback we have since received was overwhelmingly positive. To keep your head in the clouds, and assume that your children will not be impacted by the negative side of technology at one time or another, is foolish.
I draw your attention to the following link of an ABC News article published this week, and also to the Parent Resources found on the website of the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/edu...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...
PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOUR LESSONS (KINDERGARTEN TO YEAR 6)
As we close the term our School Counsellor is working with all classes focusing on protective behaviours and personal safety. Please look out for updates on See-Saw to reinforce the content of these lessons with your child.
As I plan our parent programs and initiatives for 2018, you will be reassured to know that Claremont College will prioritise this important area.
Doug Thomas
Principal
15th September
