At SCAS, we take very seriously our responsibility to provide a child-safe environment so that all of our children and young people feel safe and secure at all times and in all circumstances. Part of this commitment to child safety is in ensuring we maintain a safe online environment for our students alongside the physical environment.
Last week was Safer Internet Day and classes across the Primary School were involved in activities that assisted in the learning of how to be safe online. Our younger students engaged with resources from the eSafety Commissioner finding out about the importance of their security online, how to be respectful when having online conversations, and when and how to ask for help if needed. Older students participated in an interactive webinar focusing on a safe online gaming environment, learning how to establish a secure gaming environment, setting a positive online gaming culture and managing wellbeing issues like screen time balance.
The lens on providing a safe online environment goes deeper at SCAS than just special focus days like this. As part of our initial wellbeing lessons this term, all classes are learning about responsible digital citizenship and online safety within the context of their age and exposure. We have partnered with our hardworking EdTech team to ensure secure individualised passwords and profiles for all of our students from Years 3 to 6, and our Year 6 students have been clarifying the online safety message and assisted with the development of our new Online Safety@SCAS poster which you will soon see in prominent places around the school.
For more information about providing a safe online environment for your children at home, I encourage you to visit the eSafety Commissioner’s website and follow the links for parents. Here you will find a wealth of information and advice.
Child safety is paramount for all of us in the SCAS community. Let’s work together to keep our children and young people well-educated, responsible digital citizens as they navigate the ever-changing online world in which they engage.
Nigel Cockington
Primary Director of Wellbeing