On Tuesday, 11 February 2025, the Technology Department, along with schools in over 180 countries, participated in Safer Internet Day. This is a global initiative that promotes positive internet usage, digital responsibility and online safety. This year's theme was "Together for a Better Internet," which aimed to encourage schools and parents to work together to create a safer digital world.
At SMC, we ensure daily that e-safety is promoted, and our students develop the skills and awareness needed to navigate the online world responsibly. It was fantastic to see a number of students, especially from the Year 11 cohort, attend our lunchtime activities, which included:
- Interactive quizzes testing students’ knowledge of cyber safety.
- Online activities highlighting the importance of strong passwords, privacy settings, and recognising online scams.
- Discussions on digital wellbeing, cyberbullying, and managing screen time.
Congratulations to Dakira and Kate from Year 11 who were able to answer the daily quiz and won a prize.
A special thank you to Trish Maguire, our school counsellor, who shared tips and advice on how they can navigate their digital usage more safely. Trish emphasized the importance of asking for help if students experience issues online, whether it be cyberbullying, privacy breaches, or online harassment. If any student is facing challenges related to their online usage, support is always available through various avenues at the school including Pastoral Care Teachers, Pastoral Leaders, Director of Students, Jen Howard and of course our school counsellor, Trish McGuire.
How Parents Can Support Safe Internet Use at Home
The eSafety Commissioner offers valuable resources for parents to help guide their children in making smart online choices. There are various topics that can be a topic of conversation at the dinner table. We encourage all parents to explore these free resources at https://www.esafety.gov.au/new...
While Safer Internet Day is only one day, we will continue to empower our students to make informed and responsible decisions online.
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