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Online Safety Topic of the week
Tic Tok- the hot Social Media App.
Keeping up with the latest social media trend our tamariki might be interested in can be a challenge. Especially if it is something that we don’t participate in. Here are a few points to consider relating to Tok Tok.
Tiktok is one of the fastest growing social media apps. It’s a platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos – and many young people love it! From new dance crazes to funny clips to animal videos, Tiktok can inspire creativity and bring joy.
When is it appropriate to use Tik Tok?
Support the age restriction- Like most social media apps Tik Tok has an age restriction- children 13 years and older can join the Tik Tok community. If children join who are younger they are at risk of being exposed to unsafe material and do not have the maturity to deal with this. This would mean only Year 8 students who have turned 13 at Holy Cross are eligible to be on Tik Tok. Netsafe recommends that your child uses social media apps when they are older than the app’s intended age limit.
How safe is the App Tik Tok?
TikTok accounts are public by default so anyone on the app can see what your child shares, but only approved followers can send messages. Some of the most common concerns with TikTok is that users can see inappropriate content or be contacted by people they don’t know. For users under sixteen, TikTok defaults to having the direct messaging function turned off.
TikTok’s Family Pairing feature is designed to protect children. You can control how long your child spends on TikTok, limit or turn off direct messaging and block potentially inappropriate content. To do this:
- Go to ‘Privacy and Settings’
- Under ‘Digital Wellbeing’ select ‘Family Pairing’
- Identify which phone belongs to the adult and the child
It is also worth exploring their Safety Centre either with your child or on your own so you can understand the experiences they are having. TikTok also lists their top ten tips for parents and have dedicated resources for parents that you might want to read. It explains how to set up restricted mode or establish screen time limits.
What can I do to help my tamariki be safe using Tik Tok?
The seven steps from Netsafe’s Online Safety Parent Toolkit are designed to enhance your digital parenting knowledge and have been developed with parents in mind.
- Understand: Read about the potential online risks, challenges and sometimes illegal behaviour young people face to understand what may happen
- Learn: Ask your child about what they do, how they use devices and who they talk to learn about their activities. Check in regularly to see what has changed
- Explore: Take the time yourself to explore the sites, apps and technologies your child uses to improve your knowledge and understand their experience
- Agree: Create a family code with your child to agree on what they can do online including sites to visit, appropriate behaviours, privacy settings and limits
- Teach: Recognise each child has unique needs, but some online safety concepts are universal. Start by teaching yours the Five tips to help your child thrive
- Model: Be a good example to your child. Make sure you role model the sort of behaviours you want to see your child use online and offline
- Plan: Make a plan so everybody knows what to do if something goes wrong and where you will be able to get advice and support in challenging times
Netsafe is a great resource when things go wrong.
If you or someone you know needs help or advice with online challenges, contact Netsafe by:
- emailing help@netsafe.org.nz
- texting ‘Netsafe’ to 4282
- calling toll free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723)
- making a report using our online form.
Our helpline is open from 8am – 8pm weekdays and 9am – 5pm on weekends.
We are here to help at school too. If situations arise where you need support don’t hesitate to make contact with your child’s teacher, myself, Lucy, Tala or our teacher in charge of IT- Simone.
Teacher Only Day 14 August.
This was a great day to cover some Ministry of Education requirements which included a focus on using restraint.
Schools should be places where the uniqueness and diversity of all ākonga is nurtured and valued. Physical restraint should only be used as a last resort. It is the school’s responsibility to work with parents to understand and agree on the best way to respond when our tamariki are distressed to minimise situations where physical restraint might be used.
There are clear physical restraint rules, and guidelines in place for all registered primary and secondary schools. The guidelines are focused on understanding student distress, minimising the use of physical restraint and eliminating unjustified physical restraint.
Teachers and Teaching and Learning Assistants completed an online module which outlined the rules and discussed the guidelines. It is our top priority to make school a safe place for all.
We also spent time upskilling on allergies and anaphylaxis- some of the tamariki at Holy Cross School experience these conditions. Tracy Hilt, our supportive health nurse, provided us with a session on this.
Finally, the teaching staff began to look at what is required as we start to review our current strategic plan and prepare to work with the Board of Trustees and our community to form a new version. Over the next few months we will be seeking wide input into what whānau see as important to focus on for your tamariki and for our school over the next two years. Look out for those opportunities we will have to hear from you.
Feast of the Assumption Learning.
For the last 2 weeks, classes have been learning about how special Mary was and the miracle of Mary going to heaven body and soul. Classes have also been learning about the qualities that Mary showed throughout her life, and how we can show these qualities to others.
In Room 7 students have listened to the story of How Mary was taken to heaven. They created lovely art pieces that reflected this story. Here are some comments on what room 7 have learnt from the Assumption story:
- Mary was kind when people were mean to others. (Wesley)
- I learned how Mary rose up into Heaven. (Ishaani)
- Mary listened to God. Mary said “yes” to God asking her to have a baby. (Maia)
- Mary was special because she listened to God. She was brave when her son died. (Solomon)
Feast of the Assumption Mass.
Today we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption. We would like to say a special thank you to Fr Bill for leading the mass, and to all those who played an active role in the mass. We would also like to say thanks to all our parishioners who attended and also to our wonderful tamariki for making the mass special.
Get your tickets to Tō Tātou Haerenga!
Here is all the information you need to know about our school production “Tō Tātou Haerenga”.
- Tickets are now on sale. We have a limited number so get in quickly!
- We need your help with setting up the hall. Please let us know on the form below if you can make it to the working bee.
- We are looking for costumes and props. Please let us know if you have anything we can borrow on the form below.
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Ticket Information Price: $5 per person (Please purchase tickets in advance - online payment) Production Dates: 19th & 20th September Time: 6:30pm Venue: School Hall Tickets must be pre-ordered. Limited numbers. Tickets will be handed to you in Week 9. Holy Cross students do NOT require tickets. |
Volunteers Needed for a Working Bee When: Sunday, 27th August, 1 pm - 3 pm in the school hall. Tasks that we need help with are:
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Can you help with materials for our show? Things we’d like to borrow:
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Fill in the slip below and return to your classroom teacher
Name: _______________________________ Phone Number: _______________________ PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER kāo - no thanks, we do not require any tickets / āe - yes please, we would like to buy some tickets We would like _______ ticket/s for the 6:30pm show on Tuesday, 19th September We would like _______ ticket/s for the 6:30pm show on Wednesday, 20th September
Total Cost: ____________ Paid into bank account: 12-3174-0298859-00 (ref: SHOW + surname) |
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I can help with: |
Guidance on winter illness and children’s attendance at early learning services, kura and schools:
o Healthy young children can have up to 8 to 12 colds or upper respiratory tract
infections each year and these are a normal part of childhood.
o With a rise in seasonal colds, flu and other respiratory infections already occurring in our communities, use this guidance to assist with decisions about children’s
attendance at early learning services and schools when they are, or have been
unwell:
• A child should stay at home if they appear unwell or they develop one or more of these symptoms: new onset of a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, vomiting,diarrhoea, rash, they are off their food and drink or show signs of feeling miserable.
• If a child becomes increasingly unwell and/or you are concerned about their health, call your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for medical advice. A child who is refusing to drink anything is likely to be very unwell.
• If an in-person appointment is required for a child, follow your GP’s processes which will include having everyone who can practically and safely wear a mask to put one on.
• If you or a child you are caring for develops difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, fainting or becomes unconscious, call 111 immediately.
• For accurate and reliable information on how to manage colds and flus visit
Guidance on wellness indicators within children:
o If a child has been unwell with a respiratory illness other than COVID-19, they can
return to their early learning service/education facility 24 hours after they have
significantly improved and are behaving/eating normally. If they still have a runny
nose or dry cough without any other symptoms such as a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, then they are unlikely to be infectious and can be considered well enough to attend their early learning service/education facility.
o Following vomiting or diarrhoea, a child must be symptom free for 48 hours before
they can return.
o In general, a doctor’s certificate or clearance should not have to be provided for a
child to go back to their early learning service/education facility after being unwell.
o A child who has a runny nose after a change in temperature (e.g. moving from
outdoors to indoors) or sneezes due to obvious stimuli (e.g. the sun or dust) does not need to be sent home.
o Hay fever and other allergies can show similar symptoms to the common cold such as sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose and coughing. If a child has a history of allergic
symptoms and shows one or more of these symptoms, or an itchy face (especially
around the eyes or throat), consider if hay fever or an allergy could be the cause. You may need to check with the child’s caregiver to confirm.
18 July, 2023, Room 3 - GTT Reports for Newsletter
- David & Gabby
Chef of the Day: Anira (Year 5, Room 3)
Today my Garden to Table group called the Cool Cucumbers were in the kitchen. The recipe we made was Ethiopian Shiro Wat. First, a group of people cut onions and garlic. Another group of people made flat bread. After the cutting had finished we made some strange looking powder. One interesting and satisfying thing I did with Mila and Stuti was playing and experimenting with the powder. This powder was called bessan and is made out of chickpeas.
Gardener of the Day: Hawi (Year 5, Room 3)
Today my Garden to Table group (The Green Beans) were in the garden. The first thing we did was to say the garden karakia. Then learned about how Olivia made yoghurt using the heat of the school compost. She put a mixture of yoghurt in the middle of the compost and left it there for a night. The milk turned into yoghurt because the compost warmed it up.
Gardener of the Day: Kruz
At the start of our garden to table session we did our garden prayer. Then Olivia set us to our task. She made Willy, Zachary, and I get the community compost and bring it back. Once that was done they sprinkled it into our compost. Then they added a new source to our compost which was accounting for the carbon shredded paper!
Olivia told Willy and I to clear out a bucket. Meanwhile Moana and Anna were trying to find cutting boards for the vegetables that they needed to cut. The reason they are trying to find cutting boards is because the vegetables were much too big just to chuck in the compost.
And in this period Olivia told us about the bokashi mechanism which we use to get rid of the smell that the compost can bring around. First thing you want to do is get your vegetables and smoosh them until you can see some of the juice. The next thing you want to do is open the lever so the juice pours out but make sure to do it around a sink.
Some useful Tips:
- If you don't have a bokashi then grab yourself a colander and something to smoosh the vegetables then place them into the colander then squish.
- Make sure if your vegetables are reasonably large do NOT just chuck them into the compost. So make sure you cut them just the right size to fit.
By Kruz.
Chef of the Day: Zoe
Today in the kitchen we made Ethiopian cabbage. I helped cook the rice. We poured 3 cups of rice in a pot then we washed the rice. We added six cups of water in the rice and then placed it on the stove. We heated it up and we had to stir it for a while then we left it to cook.
Emily was telling us about nutrition. I found out that a carrot is a good source of vitamin A which is good for your vision and your immune system. She also told us about how cinnamon is good for us. I found out it was made of tree bark and cinnamon plant leaves. She told us how cinnamon is also good for our immune system and it also helps regulate blood sugars.
My favourite part was mixing the garlic and onion in a pot. We had to mix it because if it stayed in the same spot for too long it would burn. After we mixed the yellow curry powder and the ground turmeric powder together with the onion and garlic, we mixed in the diced potatoes and carrots.
I can't wait to try the meal!
By Zoe.
Happy Birthday to the following students: Jessica, Antonios, Hana-Lucia, Dhrumil, Isaac & Luke. Enjoy your special day everyone.
October 2023.
Monday the 2nd to Friday the 6th of October
Geoff Day
The Rock Academy
New Zealand
St Anthony’s up coming celebrations
St Anthony’s School, Seatoun We would love to have you join us at our centenary weekend events on 13th-14th October 2023. See the link below to book your tickets and tables! All event information is on the booking page.
See you in October! BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW
https://www.trybooking.co.nz/OUW
Proudly supported by Steve Farrell Ray White Real Estate, Kilbirnie
Carlucci Land Mini Golf
We are pleased to offer your school a discounted rate of $7 each child and teacher when you come to Carlucci Land as a group. Carlucci Land is made from all recycled materials teaching children its always more fun to reuse and recycle.
Local, outdoors and plenty of fun for all ages.
Great space to explore the results of recycling and technology.
Fun way of exploring technology within the NZ curriculum.
Interacting with our Carlucci creations students can see technology innovations at work. Using intellectual and practical resources to create technological outcomes that are both creative and ethical.
Carlucci Land is made from recycled materials from our greens to the giant metal sculptures that make up our great space.
Carlucci Land is local with plenty of free parking and easy access for bus drop off.
We have an area children can have their lunch in with toilet facilities.
If you would like to make a booking please email.
This special discounted rate applies for groups of any size during the school term/ hours.
Parish newsletter for this Sunday and Mass roster
NOTICEBOARD