Last week we started our new 'Our Kids Online' programme in whānau time.

One of our approaches to supporting and addressing rangatahi wellbeing and youth mental health is by ensuring that students understand and know how to deal with the negative aspects of life online. 

Our Kids Online is designed to help students understand and address the harms that they face online in relation to social media and understanding emotions, the 24/7 switched-on effect on the developing brain, cyberbullying, pornography, predators, gaming and fake news. There are nine modules which will be delivered by teachers in long Whānau Time and provide practical solutions to keep students safer online.

Whānau Teacher Feedback - Mrs Libby Le Compte

• 9LECO really enjoyed our first “our kids online” session. The programme highlighted the importance of down time and not being connected 24/7 and also the way we are looking for instant gratification with social media. 
• We spoke about 'fake news' and algorithms and also about how many platforms the class are using and how many they thought was 'normal' or 'adequate' for their needs and then we unpacked this. 
• We had our Star Mentors with us as well and they were fabulous helping to drive some of our discussions. It blew me away that so many students are using their phones as an alarm clock (and taking their phones to bed at night). Many said they are unable to switch off from social media and didn’t have the willpower not to check their phones. 
• We had a further discussion about leaving the phone outside the bedroom, using the flight mode or simply disabling notifications to minimise distractions and enable sleep. 
• As a parent myself I will be heading along to the information evening linked to this programme. We need to remember our kids are still kids and need education around using social media and their phones safely.

Whānau Teacher, Libby Le Compte

Cyber Safety Information Evening

Tuesday 28 March 2023 | 7-9pm | Marlborough Girls’ College Hall

As part of our care for students and their wellbeing, we are committed to partnering with whānau and our wider community. We are very pleased to have Robe Cope here to present a Cyber Safety Information Evening for whānau. 

Rob Cope is a parent, author and filmmaker of the 2020 documentary “Our Kids Online”. His presentation has been designed to help adults, with children of all ages in their lives, gain a better understanding of some of the potential dangers kids face in the online world & to provide practical solutions not just around online safety but also in relation to growing healthy, resilient children.

"Every school and parent should hear this presentation. I love the message of hope and help seeking" - Parent feedback.