Information Letter for Families
Re: Online/Internet Use
June 20th, 2017
Dear Families,
I am writing this letter to provide information about an issue causing some difficulty among some of our students. This information does not necessarily require action on your part, but may be helpful as you continue monitoring your child(ren)’s social media or internet usage.
Increasingly, we are receiving reports of “group chats” occurring, without parental supervision, and involving a number of children at once. Many of these chats are occurring on the social media platforms Instagram, as well as the Musical.ly app. Since neither of these platforms are designed primarily for chatting with friends, the chats are sometimes happening without parental knowledge. If your son/daughter is using either of these platforms, inviting them to teach you about the chat functions could be a positive step in understanding how this feature works.
Perhaps because of the “secret” nature of these group chats, they often involve inappropriate language, arguments, and even bullying-like behaviour. At times, these issues spill over into school life, as certain students become upset by how they have been treated online. While these chats are generally happening outside of school hours, it is worth reminding students of our Board policy, which states:
2.1.0
Students are accountable for their behaviour off school property, which has a negative impact on the school climate and harms the tone or dynamics of the school or the safety or security of its members.
2.2.0
Where a student uses the internet or other technologies to threaten, harass or demean another member, or members, of the school community, and where this action interferes with the member’s or members’ safety or ability to function in the school (as per 1.3.0), the student shall be subject to Board policies and procedures.
We know that a great number of our students use social media and the internet in positive and appropriate ways. This letter is simply to share information which might raise awareness - we do not wish to cast a negative light on technologies that we use in so many powerful ways. Please contact me at the school if you have any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Aaron West
Principal
Selby Public School