Carrie-Anne Thomas – Director of Students (K-6)

Supporting children in navigating digital communication
A collaborative approach 

In today’s fast-paced digital era, technology has become an integral part of our lives, and its significance in our children’s lives is no exception. Smartphones and other devices have revolutionised how young people communicate with friends and family, with group chats gaining immense popularity. These chats provide a platform for young people to engage in conversations, share experiences, and stay connected. However, while there are many benefits to these technologies, they also present various challenges.

In our Primary School, we are very aware of the issues arising from students using group chats. We have, and continue to take, proactive steps through our educational programs to tackle these challenges. However, it is important for us to note that many of the issues young people face in this digital space occur at home. Thus, we recognise that it is essential not only for us to provide education at school but also to foster a strong partnership between the school and home. Working together, we can effectively support children in using these communication tools.

Some of the challenges we have seen young people in our community face regarding group messages include:

• The overwhelming number of messages received, often at inappropriate times, such as late at night or early in the morning.
• The pressure students feel to respond immediately to their peers.
• Being excluded or excluding others from chats.
• Being uncertain about how to report or leave a chat when things go wrong.

Whilst we will continue addressing these concerns with students in an age-appropriate manner through the content delivered at school, we also request that parents whose children use devices to participate in group chats consider the following:

Implementing healthy boundaries

• It is crucial to establish healthy boundaries around technology from a young age. Keep phones and devices out of the bedroom to ensure uninterrupted sleep. Earlier in the year, we had the brilliant Leonie Smith join us to share her advice as a Digital Families Counselor. One of her suggestions was that all families should create a ‘Digital Device Use Plan’ with the family. Creating a digital device use plan is a great way to ensure everyone in the family is on the same page and knows exactly where, when, and how technology will be used in your home. 
• Young people should learn to set boundaries with their friends. They don’t have to be always accessible just because technology allows it. Friends should understand that their availability depends on time management, device use, and life priorities.

Encouraging safe and responsible behaviour

• Teach your child the significance of treating others with kindness, empathy, and respect in their online interactions, just as they would in face-to-face encounters.
• Emphasise the potential impact of their words and actions on others in the digital realm. Encourage them to think before they type and to avoid engaging in hurtful or offensive behaviour.
• Remind your child that online interactions involve real people with real feelings, and their online presence should reflect the values of kindness, inclusivity, and good digital citizenship.
• Teach your child to safeguard personal information, be cautious of unsolicited messages and pop-up ads, and configure strong privacy settings on social media apps.
• Establish an open line of communication with your child so they feel comfortable discussing any concerns or uncomfortable situations they encounter online.
• Help your child build resilience and guide them on blocking and reporting users or pages in case of negative online experiences.

Knowing when to leave

• Empower your child with the skills to exit a group chat that becomes unhelpful or harmful.
• Teach them the statements they can use to exit an uncomfortable conversation. For younger children, this might look like, “Sorry, guys, this chat is getting nasty. I’m leaving.” Not only does this remove them from the chat, but it also highlights to others that the behaviour may be getting out of hand.

While this is not an exhaustive list of ways you can support your child at home, these suggestions offer a great starting point to ensure that the children in our community are set up for greater success, when using online platforms to communicate.  

For further information on how to support your child in navigating these digital spaces, especially with group chats, you can access suggestions from the eSafety Commissioner for establishing healthy tech habits from a young age.

Stevie Levenston – Director of Primary Operations

Primary School staff farewell

Lauren Butler has let us know that, after eight years at Emanuel, she will be departing at the end of the year to take on a new teaching position closer to home. Lauren will be sadly missed but we are excited for this next step in her career, and we wish her all the best for this new chapter.

Blue and white Fridays

Our hearts and minds are with Israel. A reminder that students are welcome to come dressed in blue and white on Fridays until the end of the term and are welcome to donate to our UIA fundraising efforts.

BBQ Day

Our Term 4 BBQ and non-uniform day is on Monday 27 November 2023. All funds collected will be donated to the UIA in support of their commitment to the People of Israel. 

BBQ orders should be processed through the Humanitix online ordering system here. Orders must be placed by Wednesday 15 November at 4.00 pm, to allow time for ordering. Unfortunately, no orders past this time will be accepted.

Canteen closures

The canteen will be closed on Monday 6 November 2023 and Monday 27 November 2023. Please ensure your child brings lunch on Monday 6 November 2023 and feel free to order a sausage for BBQ and Plain Clothes Day on Monday 27 November. 2023