We only have a couple more weeks of school to go until the end of term, and it is shaping up to be a busy end to the term. We look forward to seeing you all at Parent Teacher Interviews on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd July. Thank you to those parents who have logged into PAM and already booked their interview time slot. We do understand that this time of year is busy for all families, but please prioritise this meeting as it is an important aspect of your child’s learning. 

Shortly, we will be heading into the school holiday break, with many children having the opportunity to jump onto a device at home. I came across this article on the eSafety Commissioner website and felt I should share it. Ensuring children utilise devices in a safe way is everyone’s responsibility, and whilst online safety is a large part of the children’s learning here at school, this must be supported within the family home. 

We can help our children safely navigate the online world by taking some basic steps to reduce the risks.

Our support and guidance can give our children the knowledge to make sound decisions online and the confidence to ask for help when they need it. 

1. Be engaged, open and supportive

• Get involved with your child’s online activities as a family. Play games together. Talk about favourite apps, games or websites. 
• Keep lines of communication open. Ask about their online experiences, who they are talking to and whether they are having any issues.
• Reassure your child they can always come to you, no matter what. Your child may not communicate openly about things that worry them online if they fear being in trouble if they tell you. Let them know you will not cut off internet or device access if they tell you they’re feeling uncomfortable or unsafe online.
• If you notice a change in your child’s behaviour or mood, talk with them about it. If you are concerned, consider seeking professional help – from your GP, a psychologist or school counsellor.

1. Set some rules

• Set rules for devices and online access, with consequences for breaking them. As they grow in online skills and maturity you can review your rules together.
• Get your child’s input — this will help them understand risks.
• Model behaviour that you would like to see. Children will be more likely to follow rules if they see you doing the same.
• Consider creating a family tech agreement (sometimes called a family media plan or family online safety agreement). This is a set of rules about how devices are used in your home as well as what acceptable online behaviour looks like. eSafety has created downloadable templates for families with children under 5 or those with kids aged 5 to 8 years. 

1. Use safety features and settings

• Get to know the devices you and your children use and set them up for privacy and online safety. Take advantage of parental controls to monitor and control screen time and access to content, based on your child’s age and experience. See our guide to parental controls.
• Choose apps and games carefully, and visit the App Store or Google Play for age ratings and consumer advice.
• Refer to our advice about screen time and online gaming if these are of concern.
• The eSafety Guide provides valuable information about the latest games, apps and social media, including how to protect your personal information and report harmful content.

Grandparents Afternoon - Thursday 26th June 

All Grandparents and special people are invited to St Michaels on Thursday 26th June at 2pm for our annual Grandparents afternoon, where they are welcome to participate in a small activity in classrooms. 

To help the afternoon flow a little easier, the students will be placed in groups according to surnames and family groups, therefore they most likely will not be in their normal classroom with their normal teacher. There will be a total of 21 groups located across the school and your child will come home with their group number in the days beforehand, which should be shared with their Grandparent or special person. This will make finding your child a lot easier. Signage will be placed around the school and school staff will be scattered around the grounds to assist. 

The Front gate and Church Gate will be opened at 1:50pm. Unfortunately we cannot open the gates earlier as this will be the children’s lunch time. 

Some photos from years gone by….. 

Italian Week - 30 June to 4 July 

This year, we will celebrate Italian Week in the last week of term. Students will have the opportunity to dress up and participate in a week full of Italian activities organised by Maestra Carla. Our Italian week dress up parade will be on Thursday 3rd July at 9am in the school yard. All parents and carers are welcome to come and watch.

Boys toilets

Today at lunchtime I unfortunately had to talk to all boys about the state of the boys toilets. I am sure from the photos below that you too can see how disappointed we are that some students have chosen to treat our toilets in such a way. Throughout the year, all students are reminded about the safe and hygienic use of the amenities, however at times we have broken doors, broken seats, soap dispensers ripped off walls, sports equipment jammed into toilet bowls and toilet paper thrown about. Despite our best efforts in being detectives, we are yet to determine who is responsible for causing the damage. I ask that you please remind your child about the safe and proper way to use the amenities at school and I have included the School Wide Expectation that may assist you. 

When I use the toilet at school I …. 

1. Close the door to the cubicle.
2. Flush toilet when finished.
3. I wash my hands.
4. I leave no trace.

Important Dates: 

• Thursday 26th June - Grandparents afternoon 2pm 
• Thursday 3rd July - Italian Week Dress up Parade 9am 
• Friday 4th July - End of term - School finishes at 1pm 

Kind regards, 
Lia DiCorleto