IT News
IT News
Welcome back to school for 2021! Over the coming weeks, all students K-6 will be participating in digital citizenship learning experiences which underpin all that we do with technology. This is all about how to safely and effectively use the technology we have available to best enhance student learning. This will be supported throughout the year in learning and teaching programs to ensure that our students are digitally aware and cyber-safe citizens. All classes will also work through and learn about the Responsible Use of Technology and Social Media policies. Please see the link below to access the CEDoW Social Media Policy. https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/policies/social-media-policy/
Year 3 School Managed iPads
As of 2021, we have moved away from the BYOD parent managed model to the school managed iPad program where the school purchases and manages the devices.
Students in Year 4-6 will continue with the model they have been using (BYOD). Every class entering Year 3 from 2021 onwards will have the School Managed Program (Information will be communicated with the parents of this cohort when they are in Year 2). Please note that these are ordered and set up specifically for this purpose - this option is only open to each Year 3 class and then every 2 years the option of upgrading will be presented.
Some of the many benefits of this model include:
➯ Parents can pay the iPads off interest free over two (2) years as part of their school fee account (or as a one off payment on their school fee account).
➯ This is cheaper for parents as we access a discounted price.
➯ Social Media & Games — children cannot add/buy apps so messages, social media or gaming apps are not accessible.
➯ Screen Time — iPad apps are unavailable from 8pm to 7am (can be altered to suit individual families).
➯ Provides content filtering while not at school.
➯ No issues around students creating AppleIDs and problems with them using parent accounts.
As your young ones head out for the new school year with their shiny new shoes, they may also have a shiny new device. The back-to-school period can also be a great time to review your child’s online safety and get ahead of any issues that may come up through the year.
eSafety’s top back-to-school tips include:
Watch out for cyberbullying — online bullying can have a devastating impact on young people, whose online life is a key part of their identity and how they interact socially.
Our complaints show most cyberbullying stems from the school yard with behaviour taking many forms, such as sending abusive messages, hurtful images or videos, nasty online gossip, excluding or humiliating others, or creating fake accounts in someone’s name to trick or humiliate them. See the signs to watch out for here.
‘Sharent’ responsibly— not heard the term ‘sharent’? Well, if you are a parent who shares then that’s you! Be mindful about sharing your child’s first day of school and other milestones on social media.
While it’s perfectly natural for parents to want to share photos of their kids with family and friends, it’s important to remember that we may be unwittingly creating our children’s lasting ‘digital footprint’, which might never be expunged. The reality is, photos of your children on public social media accounts could be searched, accessed and taken by anyone. See more information about sharenting.
Set screen time limits — our research shows more than half of parents are concerned about the amount of time their kids spend online. With screens increasingly being used at school and home, it’s important to ensure your child has a healthy balance of offline and online time. Setting screen-free zones in the home and negotiating switch off times are useful ways to do this. Screens should never be taken into the bedroom or bathroom. Don’t forget, quality over quantity! See more information about managing screen time.
Use tools—parental controls on smartphones, TVs and computers can help limit your child seeing inappropriate content and help manage their time online. Make sure the privacy settings on their apps and games are turned on and help show them how to block and report people online. See more information about using parental controls and privacy and reporting tools.
Stay engaged—as soon as we hand our child a device, we should be talking to them about the dos and don’ts of the online world. It’s also important let them know we’ll be there to support them if anything goes wrong. There is no substitute for taking an interest in our children’s online lives from an early age, to help establish strong foundations and open lines of communication. See more information about keeping your children safe online.
Stay informed throughout the school year as new online risks and issues emerge by visiting esafety.gov.au
28/01/21