Welcome back, I hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday with time to catch up with family and friends. The buzz as the students entered the classrooms, ready to start a new year was wonderful. 

Our school will start the chat about online safety to celebrate Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 9 February 2021. Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the safe and positive use of digital technology. It is also a good time to explore the role we can all play in creating a better online community. The beginning of the school year is a great time to revisit how we can all be safer online. 

This global campaign is celebrated by millions of people in 170 countries across the world. Help us make every day a Safer Internet Day! Some recent statistics from the eSafety commissioner highlights the ever changing world on the internet. Did you know? Only 46% of Australian parents report they feel confident about dealing with the online risks their children face and 95% want more information about online safety. To ensure you are up to date with the recent facts and programs available, I would encourage parents to visit the eSafety’s parent page https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents  or register for the free webinar; eSafety’s guide to cyberbullying and online drama  https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/events/safer-internet-day-2021/family-and-friends

The eSafety website also has three links on internet safety designed for kids. On the 9th February you might like to start the chat in your house by taking a look at these slides as a family.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids/be-an-esafe-kid

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids/i-want-help-with

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids/how-esafety-can-help