Your Care and Development Update
Kia ora koutou,
This week I am feeling grateful. I feel so lucky that my team and I can work with organisations and charities to help fundraise and raise awareness for mental health. And I feel super grateful for all the people who give their time and energy, throughout the motu/country, to this all-important cause.
Of late, I have been working with Little Joys to put together some wellbeing hampers which will be raffled off to raise money for Gumboot Friday. The Wellbeing Council will be selling raffle tickets from next week onwards. Gumboot Friday helps give young Kiwis, our precious rangatahi/young people free and fast access to qualified counselling for 25-year-olds and under. Mental health illnesses, including anxiety and depression, impact around 21% of teens, aged between 10 and 25 in New Zealand. Counselling and support are not always easy to access and sometimes our youth don’t have the courage to reach out for help. This cause is so incredibly meaningful and we want to get behind a cause that helps provide a brighter future for rangatahi in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Amelie, who runs Little Joys, lives in Christchurch and struggles with anxiety and OCD. She started Little Joys to share some kindness and support when she was still at school, hand-making worry stones and clay animals. Little Joys has grown into a successful business and Amelie sells her products around the world and supports mental health advocacy groups and charities.
These hampers include some incredible products designed by Amelie. Our first hamper has the giant ‘Sleep Sheep’, and our two additional hampers, feature the ‘Fearless Frog’ or the ‘Magical Unicorn.’ These hampers also include worry stones, gems, keyrings and pins from Little Joys; these are little creatures to help brighten your day. To top it off, we have filled these hampers with wellbeing tips, and self-care items including face masks, candles and lip balms.
Raffle tickets will be available for $2 from the school office, and at lunchtimes during the school week. We are so excited to raffle off these beautiful, and meaningful hampers and can’t wait to see everyone get involved in this amazing cause.
We feel hugely grateful to be able to help promote mental health awareness through these hampers, and really make a difference to youth impacted by mental health. Buying a ticket or two, and encouraging others to do so, is a great way for us to show gratitude for what we have in our own lives and supporting others that may need a helping hand. As corny as it might sound, the smallest difference can often make the biggest change; each of our efforts contributes to something bigger. I want everyone to feel like they can reach out for support when they need it and not be held back by their mental health. Everyone deserves quality of life, and the ability to enjoy life as much as they can.
I cannot emphasise enough the importance of mental health support. And in helping others, we can improve our own wellbeing. Regularly acknowledging and appreciating the good things in life fosters a sense of happiness and contentment. You can find out more about them here: Little Joys Gumboot Friday.
Upcoming Webinar: AI Deep Fakes – What Every Parent Needs to Know
As we continue to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, we recognise the importance of staying informed about the latest technological trends and their implications for our ākonga.
I want to share with an upcoming webinar that addresses a critical issue: AI Deep Fakes – What Every Parent Needs to Know.
This is not a Rangi Ruru Girls’ School facilitated event. It is a free, publicly available webinar.
Webinar Details
Date & Time: 10 September 2024, 9:30pm
Registration: Click here
Webinar Highlights
Learn about the developments in Generative AI (GenAI) technology
Uncover how GenAI is already embedded within your children’s digital platforms
Understand the role of GenAI use in sexual image-based abuse
Identify risks and strategies to protect your child from abuse
Gain tips for 'starting the chat' about responsible and ethical use of GenAI
Receive additional resources for ongoing support
Who Should Attend
This webinar is essential for parents of children of all ages who want to understand the impact of generative AI on how children live, learn, connect, and play.
Featuring experts Leon Furze, Trent Ray, and Vanessa Hamilton, this session is an invaluable opportunity to build your awareness and confidence in guiding your child safely through the complexities of growing up in the age of AI.
Over the past several issues of In Touch we have shared some guides on securing your child’s device and several social media apps. You can access these guides below;
Screen Time Controls for iOS, here.
Screen Time Controls for MacOS here.
How to Secure Instagram here.
How to Secure Snapchat' here.
For additional information and support, please reach out to one of us;
Owen Flattery, Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation o.flattery@rangiruru.school.nz
Sally Fail, Co-ordinator of Wellbeing and Digital Engagement s.fail@rangiruru.school.nz
Amy Martin-Bowen, Assistant Principal - Care and Development