From the Primary School
In Primary School news this week, read about Safer Internet Day and the Years 3-6 Inter-House Swimming Carnival.
Safer Internet Day
We live in an amazingly connected and convenient world and the benefits are many! We can organise day to day activities, foster relationships, enhance creativity and learn new things from a device in the palm of our hand. Today, children are online before we know it! They are playing with connected toys, tapping and swiping touch screens, choosing programs to watch on streaming services, video calling family and friends, taking and sharing photos and so on. Given that our girls are growing up in a digital world, it is important that we do our best to actively support and guide positive online interactions while simultaneously protecting them from the associated risks and downsides of cyberspace. Laying the foundations of safe and healthy online behaviours when your daughter is young, and building upon these each year as she moves through the Primary School, will allow her to develop the skills needed to effectively navigate the online world and to manage challenges as they arise.
This Tuesday 11 February was Safer Internet Day, a worldwide event that raises awareness about online safety and encourages everyone to help create a better internet. We wanted to use this opportunity to encourage you to start a conversation with your daughter about her interactions with the online world and to share with you how we will work together with you and your daughter to promote online safety.
At SCEGGS we believe in partnering with parents and preparing the girls to:
- Think critically: to evaluate websites, images and other online content
- Protect themselves: from online threats including bullying and scams
- Get smart about sharing: what, when, how and with whom
- Communicate with kindness and respect: when interacting with others online, including respecting their privacy
- Ask for help: know that they can go to a trusted adult when faced with a tricky or uncomfortable situation online
Smart, safe technology usage can enable students to help drive their learning. Throughout the year your daughter will be involved in a range of learning opportunities for them to develop and strengthen these skills. Below are the names of some of the resources we will be using in these lessons. Feel free to explore the associated links to guide conversations about online safety with your daughter.
|
Stage 1
|
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
We know it can be overwhelming when looking for information regarding how you can help your daughter be safe online. Here is a list of well researched resources that we think might be helpful for you to explore as a family.
As many of you will have heard at the Parent Information Evenings, Dr Kristy Goodwin is coming to speak at SCEGGS about Raising Girls in a Digital World on Monday 24 February 6:30pm-8pm in the Lecture Theatre. We urge you to come along to hear from an expert and build our partnership to enhance your daughter’s safety online.
If you are ever unsure of how to address an online safety matter of any kind with your daughter, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are in this together!
Sarah Johnstone
Head of Student Wellbeing K-6
Cristi Wilsmore
Head of Teaching and Learning K-6
Years 3 – 6 Swimming Carnival
| Date: | Thursday 20 February |
| Time: | 9.15am–2.30pm |
| Location: |
Drummoyne Swim Centre |
Parents, grandparents and friends are invited to attend our annual Swimming Carnival and support the girls and their Houses.
Girls must be at school by 8.15am, as usual, on the day of the carnival. Hired buses will leave SCEGGS at 8.30am. Girls will also return to school by hired bus, and the school day will conclude at the usual time.
Regarding co-curricular activities on the day, the Chamber Strings rehearsal will take place before school as usual. After school, Swimming is optional for those girls who would like to attend. After School Care will operate as normal.
Parents may take their daughters directly to the pool in the morning and/or take them home from the pool in the afternoon if they wish, but Class Teachers must receive written notice of this before 19 February. Girls will not be given permission to go home with parents of friends unless written permission is received. Girls will not be given permission to leave the pool with parents before the conclusion of the carnival.
Girls may come to school in PE uniform and, if necessary, will be given time to change into swimming costumes at school. PE uniform must be worn correctly to and from school, but at the carnival the girls may wear decorated hats, coloured socks, t-shirts etc. in House colours.
The pool at Drummoyne Swim Centre is an outdoor pool, and charges spectators an admission fee. While there is ample undercover seating for girls and their families, girls must wear t-shirts and sun hats throughout the day when not swimming, and are expected to bring and apply sunscreen during the day. Canteen facilities will be available for parents, but girls do not have permission to use the canteen themselves. We ask that the girls bring with them enough food and drink for the day.
In the case of bad weather and the need to cancel the carnival, a decision will be made by 7.30 am. Please check SCEGGS Sport Twitter feed, or telephone the school.
We are all looking forward to a wonderful day and hope to see you there.
Helen Dempsey
Head of Primary School
