Using Technology Wisely

Technology is not outside of God’s world, it is part of it. I was reminded of this while reading an article titled, Should We Be Optimistic About Technology? on The Gospel Coalition Australia website. This article explains that the creativity, innovation and intelligence behind technology are gifts from God. When used wisely, technology can help us explore God’s world, communicate, solve problems and create good things.

Because we live in a broken world, technology can also distract us from what is good or expose children to harmful things. Technology is not bad in itself, but it is powerful, and powerful things need wisdom, guidance and hearts that seek to honour God.

At Northern Christian School, we believe technology should be used in ways that honour God, respect others and protect children. Technology is a tool that can be used to serve people, not the other way around. As children grow in independence, they do not simply need more freedom online, they need adults who guide them, set clear boundaries and help them use technology with wisdom, discernment and kindness.

At Northern, we are increasingly hearing from students that more children are using social media at younger ages. Most platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook have age limits of 13 and above. The Australian Government is also proposing new laws that would require social media companies to verify a user’s age and may restrict access for children under 16 to better protect young people.

What concerns us most is not only what children say online, but what they can see. Many are being exposed to violent, sexual or disturbing content, cyberbullying, hate, risky behaviour and apps designed to collect their data or advertise to them. Children often do not have the maturity to process what they see. This is why age limits, filters, supervision and ongoing conversations are so important, not to remove freedom, but to protect hearts, minds and wellbeing.

At school, we take this seriously. Personal devices are not used during the school day. School iPads and laptops are filtered, monitored and do not allow access to social media or messaging between students. We teach students to use technology with wisdom, kindness, self-control and respect.

Families play a vital role, too. You can help by talking regularly with your child about what they see online and how it makes them feel, checking age ratings for apps and games, using parental controls, keeping devices out of bedrooms overnight and setting clear routines around screen time. The eSafety Commissioner website is a very helpful resource.

This week, we are also marking Day for Daniel on Friday, which encourages children to know safe people and safe places, including in the digital spaces where they spend time. You might like to talk with your child about who their safe people are, what to do if they ever feel unsafe and how they can use technology in wise and thoughtful ways.

Thank you for partnering with us. Together, as families and school, we can help children become wise, kind and responsible users of technology, young people who learn well, care for others and shine the light of Christ, even when they use technology.

Miss Bethany Armstrong - Principal

Friday, 31 October - Wear Red!

We will be taking part in Day for Daniel, Australia’s largest day of action to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm intervention.

On this day, we encourage all students to wear red, and donations can be made via QKR! between now and Friday, 31 October. All funds raised will go toward helping this foundation develop free resources and programs for  parents, carers and educators to teach children to stay safe.

All students will be revisiting our Child Safeguarding Statement and will be sharing what this means for them and others.

For more information about Day for Daniel or for access to free resources and advice about talking with your child about personal safety, please visit  danielmorcombe.com.au

The Prep students have had a wonderful start to Term 4!

We have almost finished the InitiaLit program for the year. It has been awesome to see the growth in reading and writing since the beginning of the year!

This term has had a bigger focus on reading fluency and sentence writing. Students have been practicing reading the ‘fast way’ where they say the sounds in their head quickly before saying the whole word out loud. This strategy builds reading fluency and has been building confidence in each student.

We have recently started doing retell writing in English. At the beginning of the year, the focus was on weekend writing, but now we have started our bear hunt writing. We go for a bear hunt each week and search different areas around the school and playground. Once we find the bear, we come back to the classroom and write a retell.

In Mathematics, our focus has been on addition and subtraction within ten. We have been talking about and practicing different strategies, such as using counters and blocks, part-part-whole, counting on, drawing pictures, and using number lines.

It has been wonderful to see students putting their new strategies into practice as they navigate the different ways they can work out maths problems.

Our HASS unit this term has had a focus on history and different types of celebrations. We have had good discussions about the different celebrations we have, and the different ways people celebrate these occasions. 

It has been a great term so far, and the Preps are certainly getting ready to be in Year 1 next year!

Miss Laura Davis - Prep Teacher

Mission and Student Representative Council (SRC) Update

Local Mission: Vinnies Christmas Appeal

During Term 4, our Student Representative Council (SRC) has chosen to support the St Vincent de Paul Society through the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. This important local mission aims to bring relief and hope to families and individuals who may be struggling during the festive season.

With the rising cost of living affecting so many, our contribution will help ensure that more people in our community can experience joy, dignity, and hope this Christmas. Each classroom will have a collection box where families can donate food and essential items over four weeks. These donations will be used to create emergency relief packs that will be delivered to Vinnies for distribution to those in need.

We encourage every family to take part by donating the following items each week:

Donation Schedule

Week Beginning Monday, 3 November

• Cans of Big’N Chunky Soup (535g)

• Long-life (UHT) milk (1 litre)

• Tinned fruit

Week Beginning Monday, 10 November

• Jars of pasta sauce

• Pasta

• Long-life juice

Week Beginning Monday, 17 November

• Breakfast cereals

• Tim Tams

Week Beginning Monday, 24 November

• Biscuits

• Spreads (jam, Vegemite)

• Shampoo/Conditioner

• Christmas pudding

The SRC will organise a fundraising activity to donate money to purchase additional food. There will be more details about this in the coming weeks.

Thank you again for your support.

Student Representative Council (SRC)

Reporting Concerns About the Safety or Wellbeing of a Child

The Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line is the first point of contact for concerns regarding child wellbeing and safety. If you are worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing, you can contact the Advice and Referral Line at 1800 000 123.

Key information:

• Anyone can contact the Advice and Referral Line.

• You will talk to a person with experience in child wellbeing and safety.

• They will provide the right support for the best outcomes for children and their families.

What is the Advice and Referral Line?

The Advice and Referral Line is a shared network of support.

They help with early intervention by providing the right support to families. This supports better outcomes for children and their families.

Tasmania’s Advice and Referral Line is one of a kind in Australia. They bring together a range of support services across government and non-government.

Who can I call?

Anyone with a concern about the safety and wellbeing of a child can contact the Advice and Referral Line. This includes:

• parents and children who need help

• concerned relatives, friends or neighbours

• mandatory reporters.

As a parent, if you’re very stressed and think your child may be at risk of harm because of this, calling us is one of the best things you can do.

What happens when I call?

You will be talking to a person with experience in child wellbeing and safety. They have the best interests of the child at heart. They will:

• talk to you about the situation

• answer your questions

• give you information or advice

• if needed, arrange a referral to a service which can best meet the needs of the child.

More information

To learn more, visit the Advice and Referral Line website.

No Hat, No Play

As detailed in our Uniform Policy, and in line with our recognition as a SunSmart School, all students and staff must wear a hat when outside during Term 4. If students aren’t wearing a bucket hat, they will be asked to sit on the undercover deck.

The School’s bucket hat must be purchased from the Uniform Shop either via the Qkr! App or from the Office for $15.