A Note from Graeme Budler, Executive Principal
Dear KingsWay Community,
I confess that I found it difficult watching the rest of the country getting a coffee and experiencing greater freedom under Alert Level 3. At times like these, it is easy to revert back to expressing childish sentiments such as it is not fair rather than focusing on the many blessings we have.
I want to thank the primary staff who prepared over 500 new home learning packs this week. These were couriered today and hopefully will arrive before our young learners run out of material and start terrorising their parents.
Keep up the excellent learning at home. It is great that our teaching staff complement has grown by more than 1000. It is going to make this year’s staff photo interesting.
Just a reminder of our new lockdown protocol:
Experience has taught us that accessing digital platforms for extended times causes stress and fatigue. The management has scheduled a mid-week technology break on Wednesday afternoons to allow staff, students and parents a rest. From 1 pm on Wednesday, there is an online communication moratorium. This practice will not impact teaching sessions. Please use this time to spend quality time with your family or prepare for the rest of the week. You are still welcome to contact me if there is an emergency.
God bless,
Graeme Budler
Executive Principal
Wellbeing
Device use inevitably increases during extended periods of lockdown. Whether for work, play or connection, devices play a massive part of daily life in lockdown. Understandably then, we need to be mindful of how we can help young people navigate using devices with greater frequency and intensity.
Trust: Be open with your kids about device use. Young people need to know that they can come to you if something goes wrong or they feel unsafe online.
Digital Citizens: Being a good digital citizen is being a good citizen. Respect, integrity, truth and kindness all make for good digital citizens. Living Mark 12:31 (love thy neighbour) is a great way to be a good digital citizen.
Take an Interest: Play online with your kids. Ask them to show you their favourite app and explain how it works. Ask why they enjoy a website, game or app and use these as doors for conversation about keeping safe online.
Habits: Having clear parameters about where, when and for how long, devices can be used is crucial for wellbeing and safety online. Using devices in shared spaces reduces the risky behaviours. Short spells online encourages physical and mental wellbeing, especially when coupled with activities beyond the screen. Have a family rule – that applies to everyone – that govern device use.
Modelling: Be the type of digital user you want your kids to be! Are you checking notifications at the dinner table? Are you tucking yourself away with mobile in hand? Is your phone in your hand when you’re chatting with your kids? What content is on your Facebook, Instagram or TikTok accounts?
For more information about how to navigate the online space with your children NetSafe produce an easy to read ‘Online Safety Parent Toolkit’. Focus on the Family also have some useful, research based tips for navigating the online space for parents.