Online Safety -  Information for whānau

As a school we have a number of measures in place to keep our ākonga as safe as possible while they are at school. 

Our internet is provided through Network For Learning - N4L  which provides filtering of content which comes to devices logged on to our school network. However we know that nothing is totally safe and that we still need to be really vigilant about our ākonga being online at school.

We have a number of 'technology' related procedures which can be read via SchoolDocs (link to details about how to access here). This includes Delivering Online Learning, Responding to Digital Incidents, Publishing Student Information, Personal Digital Devices etc

Our staff and students (whānau) all sign online agreements.

From our newsletter in Week 2, Term 4, 2022

Online Safety - Info For Whānau

We all know and often joke about how quick and savvy our tamariki (children) are on phones, devices and online. While this is in many ways a positive, it does create a challenge for us as whānau. 

The reality of the world we live in is that it’s not about if something goes wrong online for our tamariki, it's when something goes wrong. As a school we will be focusing on the very broad topic of ‘online safety’ with our ākonga over the next 18 months.

 It’s really crucial that whānau are aware and involved in keeping their tamariki safe online - in the same way that you do in the rest of their lives. We often think we know what our tamariki are doing online and ‘where’ they go but experts tell us this is sometimes not the case. A recent NZ study reveals “a mismatch between parents’ awareness and their children’s experiences of upsetting online content.” There are many ways they can get around the restrictions we put in place, and we have all seen how quickly they can flick from one screen or app to another, creating a really easy way to appear like they are only using what is ‘whānau approved’.

There is a lot of advice and support out there for whānau related to our tamariki being online.

Netsafe is a great example.

“Netsafe is New Zealand’s independent, non-profit online safety organisation. Taking a technology-positive approach to the challenges digital technology presents, we work to help people in New Zealand take advantage of the opportunities available through technology by providing practical tools, support and advice for managing online challenges.”

Along with their ‘tool kit’ (below) there are articles about many of the online challenges whānau face…Parent awareness of children’s online lives, Tik Tok advice for parents, Advice on how to talk to your child about porn, Random chat websites, What is a digital footprint?, Online gaming tips for parents and much much more

Their Parenting Tool Kit is available in English, Te Reo, simplified Chinese, Tongan and Samoan.

“The Online Safety Parent Toolkit is a simple and practical seven-step framework to help parents with digital parenting in a rapidly changing world. Our downloadable version of the Parent Toolkit offers practical tips that will help you talk to your child about online safety. It includes:

• Quickstarter tips for parents, whānau and young people

• Information to enhance your digital parenting knowledge

• Details about the online risks and challenges your child may face

• Advice about how you can help your child

It’s important parents feel confident to have ongoing conversations with their child about their online activities, as these conversations have been proven to minimise the harm that can occur if things do go wrong online.”

The Parenting Place is another place to get great advice and resources. They have online/technology articles. If your search using  ‘Technology’ you will find many useful articles

All staff and students sign an e-learning/digital agreement when they begin at Onehunga Primary School. The child agreement is for both the guardian and the child, both read and agree to the terms of engaging in digital learning at OPS. You can read the information and e-learning agreement here.

If you can recommend any resources which you have found useful, please email me vholley@onehungaprimary.school.nz so we can add them to a page on our website.