Cybersafety

We have several layers of cybersafety at school. Network 4 Learning provides us with a firewall to keep out things we don't want. Linewize alerts us to anything our students may be searching or doing that is outside of our learning systems - for instance accessing VPNs (virtual private networks), which can get around firewalls to play games or other things, and it picks up inappropriate searches. If this happens it is immediately flagged and the teacher and management is notified. Some of our younger Internet users were surprised when their teacher emailed them from Wellington to tell them they were off task. We also teach appropriate Internet use and how to stay safe online.

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

We want our school and our community to be a safe place for all children. Our tamariki are growing up in rapidly changing times, and the risk, frequency and severity of online harm are increasing. We need to tackle this as a community.

As such, we have organised Filmmaker, Author and Speaker Rob Cope, Producer of the documentary "Our Kids Online" to come and give what promises to be a humorous and eye-opening evening talk to our parent community.

His talk will cover:

Cyberbullying - How bullies can reach our kids 24/7
Social media - How social media is affecting the mental health in 3 out of 5 children. FOMO, depression, anxiety
Gaming and the developing brain – An oversupply of dopamine leading to dopamine deficiency, synaptic pruning, and the underdevelopment of social skills and empathy
Naked Selfies - The pressure to send nudes from intermediate up through high school
Online predators - The methods they use, how to spot them
Online porn vs healthy sexuality - How consuming online pornography as a child or teen can create a sexual template where violence, aggression, and dominance are seen as normal and consent can become very blurry.

Solutions

Filters - Which filters are best and how to install them
Smartphones - How to lock down a smartphone to make it a safe phone
Boundaries - How to put good boundaries in place around device use
3 golden rules - The 3 golden rules that will keep your kids safe
Talking to your kids - How to have difficult conversations with your kids
Challenging our own phone and device usage - Reconnecting as a family.

Please sign up here to RSVP https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/our-kids-online-parent-evening/pleasant-point

The talk will be held at the Pleasant Point Primary School Hall on Thursday 8th May from 6.30pm. Please note this talk is for adults only and is not suitable for children or teens to attend.

We request that at least one representative from each family attend, and hope you are able to prioritise this within your busy lives. This topic is too big for us not to pay attention. We know times are tough and if you can't afford a ticket, we have some complimentary ones. Contact me and I will sort it for you.

"We have now reached the point where it is irresponsible of us as parents, teachers, health professionals, and policymakers to continue to put these devices, which are designed to elicit addictive-like qualities, in our kids’ hands and then expect them to be accountable for their own wellbeing." Dr Samantha Marsh - University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, July 2023

Included in your ticket is a one-year complimentary subscription to "Parenting in an Online World 101" from Rob and team at Our Kids Online. This is a cybersafety parenting course, designed specifically for NZ families. It usually costs $99 per family. So show up and get it for free! Course details can be found here Parenting in an Online World 101

"We need to tackle this as a community so that all of our kids are safe. When I protected my kids online, I also protected yours, so please, please protect your kids online so that you are also protecting mine" Rob Cope.

Curriculum Changes and Reporting to Parents

We are preparing our processes for mid year reporting. This year we are required to report against the new curriculum which is in phases rather than levels as it has been before. Now the phases are:

Phase 1 - years 0-3

Phase 2 - years 4-6

Phase 3 - years 7-8

However, our nationwide assessment tools are all aligned with the old curriculum. Our government is presently tendering for a new assessment system design but its not here yet and most likely not until the end of the year. Our school leaders are working very hard to figure out how we are going to report next term. We will keep you updated and we are planning to provide you with more comprehensive information early next term.

Heating in Term 2

Our boiler is reaching the end of its natural life and our school does not have sufficient power at the gate to provide for our electricity needs. This has been a big issue since before I started at PPPS and has been the subject of lots of negotiations. I'm pleased to say that the MoE is now funding Alpine Energy to do a transformer upgrade which will supply ample power to the school. This upgrade is happening during the holidays and the Halstead Road pavement will be fenced off. There will also be a one day road closure of Halstead Road. We hope it will all be done before school commences in term 2. If it is not complete then the buses will be doing drop offs and picks at the back gate, at the Harris Street entrance.

After this, the school will be providing heat through heat pumps. Some of the previously raised parent funds from the cattle scheme were used last year to upgrade the remaining classes to heat pumps. Combined with the transformer upgrade it means we can stay warm this Winter. We won't have our lovely radiators heating up our corridors but that is a small price to pay for consistently warm classrooms.

Capture the Flag

Our house captains and year 8s led a fun afternoon last week where the houses competed against each other in a game of "Capture the Flag." Each term there will be two house events. One will be an event and will be competitive, and one will be for socialisation and fun. We had the most beautiful Autumn afternoon last Friday and photos are in the gallery below.

Next term's event is Point's Got Talent and the game is tackle rugby.

Choir

This year Meghan McNally is leading our choir (I'm still helping). Megan teaches music at Girls' High and leads Timaru Boys' and Girls" high school choirs. I am absolutely stunned to see how our children have come along in just two sessions. We are preparing for the Hui Waiata on 21st May. If your child is in choir you'll have heard from me through Hero - please help them learn their songs over the holidays. They are going to be awesome!

Kia pai tō rā whakatā (have a great weekend)

Lorraine Frances-Rees