Dear Parents and Carers

This week is National Reconciliation Week and the theme is Be a Voice for Generations. On Friday students from Year 6 and sixteen Aboriginal students from Years 2-5 participated in a Bridge Walk across Bhundoo Clyde River in Batemans Bay with many other school students and community groups. The first Sorry Day Bridge Walk for reconciliation took place in Sydney in the year 2000. Since then, Bridge Walks have continued to take place throughout Australia in an emotional expression of support. Melissa Ellis, parent of Samantha from Carroll College was one of the MC's for the large gathering which followed the walk on Friday and spoke about her desire for reconciliation. Melissa went on to introduce some of the excellent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders from various schools in our community, who spoke about their hopes for the future. It was a wonderful event to be a part of. 

Bay Theatre Player Stars

Isla and Holly B are cast members of the Bay Theatre Players' production of The Sound of Music, which opens next Friday 9 June. Isla, one of our school captains, plays the role of Marta Von Trapp. Holly of Year 4 plays her sister on stage and in real life, Gretl Von Trapp. The girls have been rehearsing for 6 months to learn their lines, songs and choregraphy. Holly has commented on the very funny moments experienced back stage, while Isla has enjoyed being part of her first professional show. Isla and Holly feel that the cast have become some of their very good friends. 

The girls encourage you to buy a ticket and come along to enjoy the production which runs from the 9 June- 25 June. Please see the flier in this newsletter for ticket information.

Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Lessons

React

Students in all classes have been learning to recognise if they are safe or unsafe in the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum. Our safety lessons will now be focusing on the second safety message: react.

When children recognise that they are in an unsafe situation, we encourage them to think about what they could do to be safe again. They will have opportunities to think about ways to react using real-life scenarios. Our students will also learn that breaking the rules (e.g. saying no to an adult who is behaving inappropriately) is sometimes necessary so that they can become safe again.

Please take the time to talk with your children about what they have been learning about safety and, in particular, the ways they could react if they are unsafe to make themselves safe again. Talking with your child about ways to stay safe will help them to develop life-long safety skills.

Is your child old enough for a smartphone?

eSafety Commissioner Update

A smartphone is about much more than making phone calls. It allows your child to spend time online using their own device, rather than a shared family tablet or computer. It literally puts the online world in their hands. 

For many parents and carers, giving a five year old their own smartphone may seem like it is a step too far. For others, it might offer them peace of mind and security to know they can keep in touch with their child – especially in an emergency. 

The right age for your child will depend on their level of maturity and your family routine. It is worth asking yourself the following questions before handing over a digital device. 

• Does my child have a good sense of responsibility? 
• Are they able to stick to the rules? 
• Do they show a good understanding of actions and consequences? 
• Do they come to me or another trusted adult when they are distressed or if they encounter problems? 
• What are the rules about when and where my child can use their smartphone? For example, will they only be able to use it while they are away from the house, and not in their bedroom at night. 

For younger children it may be best to start with a mobile phone without internet access, and only introduce a smartphone when they demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity. There are a range of mobile devices available that allow you to control which tools or services your child has access to.  

Some younger children might argue that they are ready for a smartphone, especially if their friends already have one. But it is worth holding out until you feel confident that your child is mature enough. 

More information on this and other topics related to esafety can be found here:

esafety https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice

I hope that you can join us for the Awards Assembly tomorrow, led by the students of Year 5.

Karen Hadley