Vice Principal's Report
Social Media Concerns
Late last week the College was informed via Cyber-Safety Channels that there is some very concerning material circulating on major social media platforms. Given the nature of the material (embedded within seemingly harmless videos) we took the position of alerting staff, families and students of the dangers of such material online.
The notification of this material was brought to my attention by concerned staff across all campuses which really brought home the consciousness and diligence our staff have for creating a culture of child-safety at Padua College.
To further promote a child-safe environment we have alerted both teachers and parents of this material and asked them to keep a watchful eye over student’s social media presence at this time.
Below are some tips for our students that have accidentally stumbled across this material and/or are feeling like you wish to access some further support.
1) Block it, report it, and do not share it
2) Have a conversation with your Parents/Carers about this and how it has made you feel (they have been alerted to this online material)
3) Contact your Homeroom teacher/House Coordinator or any of our Child Protection Officers childsafe@padua.vic.edu.au
4) Access any of the really good external services:
- Beyondblue: beyondblue.org.au 1300 224 636
- Headspace: headspace.org.au
- Kids help Line: kidshelp.com.au 1800 55 1800
- Reach Out: reachout.com.au
- Youth Central: youthcentral.vic.gov.au
5) Check-in with your friends and/or family using the R U OK material below
6) Ensure your online safety by following the safety commissioners tips www.esafety.gov.au
7) Re-visit the ‘Six Principles of Positive Digital Citizenship’ distributed earlier in the year as part of the ‘How we can ‘eXcel’ in student wellbeing’ resource (also on TAPS)
R U OK Day
Last week we also celebrated/promoted R U OK Day. This was an excellent opportunity to check-in on our students in this unprecedented challenging time. One of the activities in the week was to ask students to rank the most preferred way in which they could ‘Check-in' on their mates to see if they were 'OK'. The details of the responses are below along with a tip sheet.
1. I’ve noticed a few changes in what you’ve been saying/doing. How are things for you at the moment?
2. I know there’s been some big life changes for you recently. How are you going with that?
3. You don’t seem yourself lately – want to talk about it?
4. Just checking in to see how you’re going?
5. With everything that’s going on, you’ve been on my mind lately, how are you?
6. You’ve got a lot going on right now. How are you doing?
hat you’ve been saying/doing. How are things for you at the moment?
2. I know there’s been some big life changes for you recently. How are you going with that?
3. You don’t seem yourself lately – want to talk about it?
4. Just checking in to see how you’re going?
5. With everything that’s going on, you’ve been on my mind lately, how are you?
6. You’ve got a lot going on right now. How are you doing?
