With our recent need to return to online learning and the ever increasing use of digital technology in our learning, it’s timely to share with you again how we as a kura support engagement and safety for all our students when learning.

There are a number of ways we do this -

School wide firewall safety
A ‘Network for Learning’, N4L, firewall is applied to our school wifi system. This is Government supplied and supported. N4L works alongside Netsafe to connect all schools and kura across Aotearoa to safe and reliable internet through a Managed Network. This supports our offering of a safe online environment for learners while they’re at school.

Disabling social media access via school wifi
We have disabled student access to social media sites TikTok and Snapchat.

Accessibility of learning resources
Learner access to sites that are deemed inappropriate or unnecessary to learning are barriered. When your teenager is logging into a device using their school email, sites that we believe do not have learning value will not be accessible.

We also ensure online learning is focused through our chromebook settings. These are either the fully managed or open managed setting. Fully managed - prevention of access to sites deemed inappropriate or unnecessary to learning 100% of the time. Open management - prevention of access to sites deemed inappropriate or unnecessary to learning during school hours.

During our enrolment process students, alongside their whānau, choose which of these options they prefer. At the same time students agree to our ‘Digital Citizenship’ guidelines.

If you are looking for ways to support your teenager to stay safe online, Netsafe has a wealth of resources and links for you to explore. We suggest you check it out.