Teaching & Learning, Student Wellbeing, Leadership Page 1

Yates Matters Yates Avenue Public School

36 Yates Avenue, Dundas Valley, 2117 T: 9874 6302 | E: yatesave-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au | W: www.yatesave-p.school.nsw.edu.au

Our Vision: To deliver excellence and equity in teaching, learning and wellbeing by working together as an inclusive and engaged school community.

Issue 4 - Term 1, Week 7 Wednesday 13th March, 2019

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Inappropriate Online Behaviour At Yates Avenue PS, our students pride themselves on being learners who are safe, respectful and responsible. Recently, however, there has been some inappropriate behaviour from several students in an online chat group, outside of school hours. In this environment, students have used language which is offensive and hurtful to others, and not consistent with our Yates values. The teachers have discussed this behaviour with those involved and I have referred the matter onto Granville police for follow up and review.

I encourage all parents to have a conversation with their child about cyber safety. The ‘Think U Know’ website is an excellent resource for parents and provides great advice on how to ensure that children use the internet in a safe, responsible and respectful manner. Two parent factsheets were sent home yesterday in hard copy and via the Skoolbag app. These are also available on the app. in Arabic and Chinese. The Granville Police Youth Liaison Officers will be visiting Yates on Tuesday, 26th March to speak with all Year 4-6 students about cyber safety. School Plan Update: Strategic Direction 1 – Quality Teaching and Learning As part of our school plan milestones, we are focusing on the authentic use of technology to support learning. Last week, Andrew Wright – Apple Learning Specialist – returned to Yates to support teachers and students with using iPads in the classroom. Andrew experimented with augmented reality in Kindy and Year 1 – see photo below. He will be returning in Term 2 for another 3 days of teacher collaboration, as we continue our journey on future-focused learning.

Parent Working Bee

Thank you to the many parents and children who helped at the working bee on Friday, 1st March. It was an extremely productive afternoon and our preschool gardens now look even more beautiful, thanks to the amazing Yates Avenue community spirit. Well done to everyone for an enormous effort!

School Photos – Thursday, 21st March School photos will be taken next Thursday, 21st March. Could you please ensure that your child is wearing their full summer school uniform on the day. Money envelopes are due by Wednesday, 20th March

Tell Them From Me - Online Student Survey

In the coming weeks, our school will take part in the Tell Them From Me online student survey. This will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students in Years 4-6 think about school life and how engaged they are with school. It will also help us to further improve our student wellbeing, engagement and teaching and learning practices at Yates.

Have a great week

David MacSporran Principal

WHAT’S DUE? Overdue – Term 1 invoices

CALENDAR Thurs, 14th March – Subway lunch orders due by 3pm Wed, 20th March – Harmony Day Thurs, 21st March – School Photos

ACCOMPANYING NOTES Harmony Day information State Election BBQ and Cake Stall ‘Think U Know’ Parent Factsheets ICAS permission note – Years 3-6 only

Issue 4 – Term 1, Week 7 Wednesday, 13th March 2019

Teaching & Learning, Student Wellbeing, Leadership Page 2

Zone Swimming Carnival – Tuesday, 5th March

Last Tuesday, Yates Avenue PS had a great day at the Merrylands PSSA Zone Swimming Carnival. We were very successful on the day with lots of our personal best times being made against some seriously tough competitors.

Congratulations to Leo Park who represented us at the Sydney West carnival yesterday. At Zone, Leo finished overall 1st in 200m Medley, 3rd in 100m Freestyle, 1st in 50m Freestyle, 2nd in 50m Breaststroke, 1st in 50m Backstroke and 1st in 50m Butterfly. At Sydney West, he finished 2nd in backstroke and butterfly - well done, Leo!

Mr MacSporran and I were incredibly proud of all Yates Avenue competitors at the Zone Swimming Carnival last week and we wish Leo the best of luck at the NSW All Schools Swimming Carnival in May. School Sport This term all K-6 students will be participating, free of charge, in AFL for school sport. These sessions will be on Mondays, starting this week and ending in week 11. All students are asked to wear their sports uniform on Mondays and Fridays for the rest of the term. Miss Salvagio Sports Organiser

On Friday 15th March, Yates Avenue Public School, like many other Australian schools will celebrate the ninth National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA).

The National Day of Action is Australia’s key anti- bullying event for schools and, in 2019, schools are called to imagine a world free from bullying. Students will be engaging in classroom discussion and activities to build greater awareness and understanding of bullying so that they are better equipped to contribute to a world where bullying does not exist.

SCHOOL NEWS

ICAS Competitions During Term 3, we will be providing all students in Years 3-6 with the opportunity to participate in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). ICAS gives teachers, parents and students a comprehensive report of achievement in the areas of English, Mathematics, Science, Spelling and Writing. As this is an extra-curricular activity, payment is required with the permission note. Entry fees can be paid online using the Parent Online Payment (POP) on our school website. Please return the permission slip and payment by Thursday, 11TH April.

Harmony Day – Wednesday, 20th March On Wednesday 20th March, we will be celebrating Harmony Day at Yates Avenue. Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. The message is “Everyone Belongs” and this year’s theme is “It’s up to us!”

The celebrations will begin at 11:15am with a Family Picnic lunch on the lawn. Picnic blankets and picnic baskets are most welcome. This will be followed by a whole school Harmony Day assembly at 12:10pm under the Library COLA. After the assembly, the celebrations will continue with a Community Cultural Museum in the school hall. Families from our Yates Avenue Community will showcase cultural artefacts and pieces with the students. Each class will visit the Museum with their Buddy Class. The students will also be creating artwork with their Buddy Class that reflects the message that “Everyone Belongs at Yates”. These collaborative artworks will be collated into a whole school mural and displayed in the COLA for all to enjoy.

As orange is the official colour of the day, students may wear mufti and come dressed in something orange or wear their national costume. If you would like to display an item in our Cultural Museum (such as a piece of art, wood carving, sculpture, mask, musical instrument, toy, item of clothing, book, a piece of writing in traditional script, cooking utensils or any other item that represents your family or culture, please see Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Dyball or contact the school office. We look forward to celebrating the day with you. Harmony Day Team Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Dyball

Issue 4 – Term 1, Week 7 Wednesday, 13th March 2019

Teaching & Learning, Student Wellbeing, Leadership Page 3

PRESCHOOL NEWS

A very BIG thank you to all the children, parents and staff for supporting the working bee last week. It was a very hot afternoon but that didn’t seem to slow anyone down and the huge mulch pile soon disappeared! Our preschool garden is looking more like a beautiful bushland setting thanks to a great team of volunteers! Thanks to the Green Team who have continued to mulch. Thanks again to everyone for an enormous effort!

This week Mrs. Kearney (Kristin’s mum) came to preschool and showed us how to make bug houses for all the little bugs and insects that live in our beautiful garden. The children used popsticks and collected sticks to create bug environments. Thank you, Mrs. Kearney. We are sure our bugs will love them!

Mrs. Lawson and Mrs. Lilli

PCC NEWS

Our next meeting will be Monday, 25th March at 7pm. The following agenda items will be discussed and voted on: Phasing out of the girls’ lemon blouse Hall curtain replacement

All parents and carers are encouraged to attend this meeting to provide input into these discussions and vote on a decision.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Focus Area – On the Play Equipment

When playing on the equipment, we are Learners who are:

Safe Feet first down the slide. Hands only when using the monkey bars. One at a time on the swinging circles.

Respectful Take turns. Listen to and follow teacher instructions.

Responsible Use equipment when invited by a teacher. Join the queue for the slide and swinging

circles Wait patiently for your turn

What is Instagram?Instagram is a photo-sharing app which allows users to take photos and videos, apply filters and share these with either followers or the general public. Users are able to ‘like’ and comment on photos as well as send these images directly to individuals through a private messaging option. Private messaging is accessed by the inbox symbol at the top right corner of the home page.

What is the age classification for Instagram?Instagram users must be 13 years or older. This service is owned by Facebook and usually links to a Facebook account where a user’s age can also be verified. There may be content on Instagram, which is confronting, graphic or not appropriate for children and younger teens.

How are young people using Instagram?Instagram is being used by young people to share photos, occasions and situations with their friends. The ability to like and comment on photos provides a useful communication function for young people as they explore and express their personality.

Should I be worried if my child is using Instagram?Any application when used incorrectly, has the potential to cause harm. It is important that you openly communicate with your child about how they may be using an application and the legal and ethical ramifications of inappropriate use. They also need to be aware the dangers of communicating with people they don’t know via any mobile application.

Who can see my child’s photos on Instagram?An Instagram account can be made visible to the public, or to approved followers only. Account settings can be changed through the Instagram app on a mobile device

by selecting the ‘Profile’ option on the lower right-hand side of the screen. Click ‘Options’ (signified by three dots), under ‘Account’ ensure ‘Private Account’ is in the ‘On’ position. It is important to note that even if an account is private, content shared on Instagram can easily be posted to a linked Facebook account which means Facebook friends can also see the post.

What could be revealed through an image?There is a lot of information which can be revealed through a photo when it is shared online, in particular your location. This is revealed through a process called ‘geotagging’. Geotagging is when the GPS coordinates of where an image was taken or a post was made, are stored within that post. This means that people may be able to find out location specifics such as where your child lives, works, or goes to school.

How to limit sharing location information?It is important to turn off the location function for the camera on your child’s mobile device, especially if they are using social media apps such as Instagram. For most devices, you can find where to do this in the ‘Settings’ menu. If you are unsure how to do this on your child’s device, you can look up the device’s user guide online.

It is also best to avoid using the Photo Map function on Instagram as this will pinpoint where photos have been taken on a map, potentially showing others the locations where your child spends much of their time. It is important to maintain open lines of communication between yourself and your child and discuss safe privacy settings.

What are the potential problems with Instagram?Potential problems faced when using Instagram include the sharing of private information through photos, such as a home address or where a child goes to school. Your child may post a photo and receive negative comments

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INSTAGRAM(For parents)

Fact sheet

Follow us: @ThinkUKnow_Aus facebook.com/ThinkUKnowAustralia

from other users or have their images shared without their permission. They may also be exposed to photos which are rude, offensive or upsetting to them. It’s important you and your child know how to block and report inappropriate users on Instagram.

You can block users via the Instagram app on your mobile device. Open the profile page of the offensive user and select the Further Options icon on the upper right-hand side of the screen. Select the Block User option and when prompted by the dialog box, select Yes, I’m sure.

If you child experiences cyberbullying report it to the social media platform in first instance. If it hasn’t been removed in 48 hours, you can report it on the Office of the Children’s e-safety Commissioner’s eSafety hotline (eSafety.gov.au).

How can I delete my child’s account?If after talking with your child about the ethical use of Instagram and your family’s rules around technology, you may think it’s appropriate to delete the Instagram account.

To delete an Instagram account log into the account at instagram.com, click the account username in the top right and select Edit Profile, click I’d like to delete my account in the bottom right.

Note: Accounts can not be reactivated and photos may be lost.

Open and supportive discussions around technology usage are vital in ensuring your child understands their responsibilities when using technology. Simply removing the technology is not the best response as it could potentially make your child hide their usage where there are fewer opportunities for you to support them.

thinkuknow.org.au

INSTAGRAM(For parents)

Fact sheet

Follow us: @ThinkUKnow_Aus facebook.com/ThinkUKnowAustralia

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