St Ita's Primary School Drouin
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50 Victoria Street
Drouin VIC 3818
Subscribe: https://stidrouin.catholic.edu.au/subscribe

Email: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 03 5623 7222

T2 W8 2022 Newsletter (Abridged)

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T2 W8 2022 Newsletter (Abridged)

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St Ita’s Catholic Primary School acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

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    MESSAGES FROM THE PRINCIPAL

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    Gen Z can't get enough of TikTok. But if you're worried about what exactly your kids are getting, you're not alone. From inappropriate content to user data security, here's what you need to know, plus three safety measures to take ASAP.

    With 3 billion downloads to date, TikTok is currently the hottest social media site for tweens and teens. But as kids have been continuing to hit download, parents are still wondering if it's safe.

    While it may seem like TikTok came out of nowhere, the app actually began in 2014 as a lip-synching site called Musical.ly. In 2018, it was acquired by a Bejing-based company and merged into the Chinese app TikTok.

    If it sounds like TikTok is fertile ground for a lot of fun and a good deal of trouble, that's because it is. No matter which social media platform your child is using—even if it's a purportedly trustworthy, limited version aimed at children, like YouTube Kids—they'll likely come across potential safety issues. That's why TikTok has started implementing parental controls on the app. 

    HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE WHILE USING TIKTOK.

    Kids can be targeted by predators.

    TikTok allows users to contact anyone in the world, and this comes with its own host of hazards. "Like any social media platform that has a direct message or commenting feature, there's always the possibility that your child could be chatting with anyone, including strangers," Jordan Jones a leading social media child safety expert says. "TikTok is a platform that encourages performance, and many of its users are excited to showcase their talents. This can make it easy for predators to use flattery and compliments as a way into kids' lives, making them feel special while putting them at ease."

    Jordan points out that the app's "Duets" feature, which allows you to remix another user's video and lip-synch or dance alongside them in a new clip, has been exploited by sexual predators. BuzzFeed News reported on the issue in June, noting that predators who lurk on the app often use "Duets" to send young creators explicit messages.

    It's easy to encounter inappropriate content.

    The app is broken into two main feed sections. The default is referred to as "For You," which is an algorithmically generated stream of videos similar to Instagram's Explore page, Wired explains. If you swipe left, you'll see a more personally curated feed called "Following," featuring uploads from the people you choose to follow. It's the former public feed that's particularly problematic, Jordan notes.

    "Even if you set your own account to private, you may still be exposed to sexual or violent content posted to the public feed," she says. "Ranging from overtly sexual TikToks to physically dangerous stunts that kids may want to recreate, to overtly racist and discriminatory commentary, there is a wide range of concerning content on the platform."

    The conversations around mental health can be dangerous.

    TikToks in either feed might also feature content that's highly personal or sensitive, Jordan notes. Not only are these videos potentially disturbing to viewers who see them in passing, but reactions to posts might encourage self-harm. "Kids who admit to depression are often met with dismissive and sarcastic reactions," she says. "Some are even publicly encouraged to attempt suicide."

    And TikTok addiction has negative downstream effects as well. Research out of China found that depression, anxiety, and stress stemming from TikTok addiction is linked to tied to poorer working memory for teens. And according to The Wall Street Journal, doctors in multiple countries are reporting a rise in teen girls developing severe physical tics, and that anxiety, depression, and TikTok could be contributing factors.

    The nature of the app might cause kids anxiety.

    TikTok encourages content creation, as users can use the "Reactions" feature to respond to videos they like with their own take. While this set-up could support child's artistic impulses, it might also cause anxiety, Jordan says.

    "Kids may get sucked into the pressure to create more and better content, and this can cause anxiety, especially if they're not getting popular," she notes. "And many chase after that popularity by taking part in challenges, which can often be dangerous. Take, for example, the Cinnamon Challenge, the Choking Game, and the Kiki Challenge."

    Users might become victims of cyberbullying.

    Not unlike Twitter or Facebook, TikTok might lead to cyberbullying and trolling. "When videos aren't funny or successful, they're referred to as 'cringey,'" Jordan explains. "It provides fodder for bullies to make fun of them. People can also create multiple accounts, using aliases to target others they don't like. Trolling is popular on TikTok, too—especially through the 'Reactions' feature."

    According to 2022 findings from Security.Org, of all the social networks, kids on YouTube are the most likely to be cyberbullied at 79 percent, followed by Snapchat at 69 percent, TikTok comes in at 64 percent, and Facebook at 49 percent.

    There are privacy concerns when it comes to user data on TikTok.

    In 2020, the U.S. government opened a national security review of the acquisition of TikTok by a Chinese company, the New York Times reported. The Federal Trade Commission fined TikTok $5.7 million for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

    "This is the largest civil penalty in a children's privacy case in history," Jordan says. "The law requires companies to obtain parental consent to collect the data of kids under 13, and TikTok did not do so. They also failed to notify parents of exactly how they collected children's data or allow them to ask to have that data deleted."

    Given the violation, thousands of parents complained, and TikTok launched increased efforts to improve privacy and security on the platform, according to Jordan. Nonetheless, the case is a reason parents should remain vigilant against data abuses, she says.

    Manage your child's settings in the app.

    While in the TikTok app and from your child's profile, you'll see three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, Jordan notes. "Clicking on those dots will take you to the 'Privacy and settings' section of the app," she explains. "When you scroll down to the 'Privacy and safety' option under "Account," you will see the option to set the child's account to private (recommended to toggle that on), as well as allow others to find them (recommended to toggle that off)."

    Also, under the "Safety" section of that same screen, you have the ability to customise who can post comments, who can Duet with your child, who can react to their videos, who can send them messages, and who can view videos they liked, she says. You can choose from "Everyone," "Friends," and "Off."

    "Keep in mind that your child may open the app and change these settings at any time, which is why it's important for you to also view the 'Digital Wellbeing' section of the 'Privacy and settings' screen," Jordan says. This offers a passcode-enabled screen time management system, as well as a restricted mode to limit the appearance of inappropriate content.

    It's also important to remember that the app is meant for kids who are 13 or older. "Check that your child's TikTok account has been set up using the correct date of birth," advises Jo O'Reilly, digital privacy advocate at ProPrivacy. "Some children might set their account up with a fake age, to appear older than they are, and this makes it more likely that they will be exposed to content that is not suitable for them."

    If you are an Android or Amazon device family, you can also use Bark to monitor TikTok text chats. (The app is currently working to be able to monitor TikTok on iOS.) Other tools that offer parental controls and monitoring services include Secure Teen and Norton Family Premier.

    Have an open dialogue about the app and internet safety practices.

    Jordan encourages parents to have open, honest, and ongoing conversations about what's happening in this digital space, noting, "If your child uses the app and you have not yet sat down with them to look at it together, that would be a great first step."

    She herself did this with her tween son and they skipped past inappropriate posts and discussed why sharing certain content on the platform isn't wise. "We also discussed why it's so important to have a private account and only connect with people you truly know in real life," Jordan says. They also talked about how screenshots and screen recording tech can mean something seemingly impermanent might become a meme that haunts you.

    Understand it yourself.

    Laura Bedrossian, vice president, social strategy, at integrated marketing communications agency Hot Paper Lantern, reminds parents that knowledge is power.

    "If your kid is on any social media platform, make sure you as a parent or guardian have some understanding of it," she notes. "Download the app yourself and see what it's all about so you can answer questions or even ask your child about what they're seeing on an app. Keep an open and honest discussion about their—and your—digital literacy and footprint."

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    PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

    Our parent teacher interviews will be able to be booked through PAM. All families have an account set up with their primary email address that they sent the school on enrolment. The password for these accounts is simply "password" and needs to be changed immediately after logging in for security reasons. If you are experiencing difficulties please contact the school office. 

    This is the first time St Ita's has used this Parent Teacher Interview Booking System so we have created a user guide for parents which can be accessed here. (please see attached pdf guide). 

    Parent Teacher Interviews are an important time where parents can speak to their child's teacher about the school report or their progress this semester. It is also a time that teachers can share assessment data, goals and expectations for Semester 2.

    Interviews are scheduled for Monday 20th June from 3.40 - 7pm and Wednesday 22nd June from 3.40 - 5.30pm.

    As Mr Monckton is away on LSL he will arrange a time with his parents via Class Dojo for a face to face or phone interview.

    END OF TERM 2

    A reminder to all parents and families that next Friday 24th of June will be the final day of term 2, it will be an early finish time of 2.20pm. Please ensure that you have made pick up arrangements for this early finish time.

    WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR CELEBRATION 

    We will be having our WSAPB colours dress up day on Friday 24th of June (Last day of school for the term). On this day students can bring in a gold coin donation and can dress up creatively in the colours of our WSAPB (White, Blue, Green, Yellow and Purple). They can do any combination of these colours or any of them straight out.

    The gold coin donation will be used to fund education for disadvantaged children overseas through the St Vinnies organisation. 

    Children will be participating in a mixed age group activity in Foundation - Grade 2 and then from Grade 3 - Grade 6 and will be doing some activities around our WSAPB values of Respect, Inclusiveness, Compassion, Teamwork and Resilience. 

    TERM 3 - ASSESSMENT DAY (1st day of Term 3 - Monday 11th July)

    A reminder to all parents that the first day of term 3 (Monday 11th July) will be a school closure and Maths Assessment Day. You will need to book an interview time through PAM. Interviews will times be made available next week to avoid confusion for Parent Teacher Interview time slots. Communication will come out via ClassDojo and Schoolzine to notify parents to book these time slots. Interviews will be 20 minutes.

    CANTEEN CLOSED - FRIDAY 24th JUNE

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    An important reminder to all families there will be no lunch orders available on the final day of Term 1, Friday 24th June. Please ensure your child has a packed snack and lunch on this day.

    SCHOOL CONCERT

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    The school concert will held at the Warragul Arts Centre on the 28th July 2022. There will be a full dress rehearsal on Friday 22nd July 2022 in the school hall. It is expected that all students have their costumes sorted by this stage. Please contact your child's teacher if you are unsure of what costume is required. We will have more information in Term 3 on how families can purchase tickets.

    ART ROOM

    Robyn Leary, our Art room teacher, requires white or light coloured socks of any size and also any wool that families are able to donate for an Art project.  

    Students can bring them in on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and take them to the Art room or their classroom.

    CAR SPEED LIMIT FOR DROP OFF OR PICK UP 

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    A reminder to all parents that the speed limit for both of our school drop off and pick up lines is 10km. We need to make sure all in our community are following speed limits to keep our kids safe, especially during these colder and wetter mornings.

    CHILDREN WALKING HOME VIA DROUIN REC RESERVE

    We have noted that we have a lot of students who are now walking from school via the Drouin Rec Reserve gate at the end of the day.

    In the interest of student safety, we will monitor all students who walk and ask them to assemble at the end of each day under the shelter before exiting as a group.

    A staff member will walk the children around to the grassed area behind the signage and parked cars so they can exit through the gate behind the goals.

    For parents and carers who are parking and waiting for their child to walk to their car, these children will also meet under the shelter and parents will need to exit their cars to collect their children at the gate.

    Parents must notify their child's teacher via class Dojo, a written note or email to give permission for their child/ren to walk from this point.

    We thank you for supporting us to have a child safe environment at St Ita’s.

     2023 FOUNDATION SIBLING ENROLMENTS

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    Our 2023 sibling enrolments for Foundation are currently open to St Ita’s families. To arrange an interview and school tour for your child, please contact Beck or Helen at admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au or 5623 7222.

    COVID UPDATE

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    We are still getting high numbers of reported cases of Covid-19 and Influenza at St Ita’s across all grades.

    Whist we are getting our staffing back on track, it’s vitally important that we do our best to keep everyone safe at St Ita’s. Thanks to parents for supporting us by keeping kids away from school whilst displaying symptoms.

    If your child is displaying any symptoms at all, please keep them at home, RAT test them and only send them back to school when all symptoms have gone.

    If children present at school with symptoms you will be contacted by admin and you will be required to collect your child.

    RAT Tests have been sent home to all families on Tuesday 14 June 2022.

    We will continue to work together to get through this current outbreak and make sure we provide students and staff with the safest possible environment whilst at school.

    SCHOOL FEES & CONCESSIONS

    Term 1 & Term 2 fees are now overdue, please ensure payment is made at your earliest convenience.

    If any families would like to set up a weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit schedule for school fees, please complete the Direct Debit Form below and return to the school office. For any assistance regarding calculations of payments, please contact us via email on: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

    For any families that have recently received a Government means-tested health care concession card, please forward a copy of your card to the office to check your eligibility, as a fee concession may apply. The card must be in the name of the parent/fee payer for a fee concession to apply. 

    If your current Health Care card is due to expire this year and your card is re-issued, please send a copy of your new card details to the office as soon as possible for the concession to be checked and applied for next year's fees, if not already done so.

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    Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviours (WSAPB) Celebration Day

    Thank you to everyone who dressed in the colours of our WSAPB. With everyone’s donation we raised $500 and have been able to assist 5 students to access education in the Assist a Student Program. This is an education program which assists in breaking the cycle of poverty and is organised by the St Vincent de Paul Society.

    The day was filled with fun and engaging mixed-age group activities which allowed the students to mingle and interact with a variety of different kids. Overall, it was a fantastic day had by all!

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    GEELONG ADVERTISER BOOK REVIEWS

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    PARISH NEWS

    Where’s Melchizadek?

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    Listening closely to the Old Testament reading this Sunday (Gen 14:18-20) our ears prick up at the story about Melchizadek. We hear about him elsewhere, in Psalms and in Paul’s Letter to Hebrews, but who is this guy and how is he tangled up with our Mass? And particularly in the Eucharistic Prayer, where the priest prays after the consecration, “Look with favour on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedech.” The first, archetypal, “priest”, Melchizadek’s bread and wine remains only that, but, with echoes of Melchizadek, Jesus the ultimate priest, offers himself totally in the form of bread and wine to God telling his disciples to "do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19-20)

    Today’s Psalm (Ps 109 (110)) is sung at the ordination of every Catholic priest: “You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizadek”. Beyond the worthiness of the individual, the priest is enrolled under Jesus in that Order of Melchizadek, empowering him to consecrate, acting in the personhood of Christ, the bread and wine as Christ’s body and blood. 

    In the feeding of the multitudes, today’s gospel (Luke 9:11-17), Jesus takes and breaks the bread in a ritual prefiguring the celebration of the Eucharist and sends the apostles to feed the people. It is this total offering of self to which Jesus refers in his instruction to "do this in remembrance of Me." Following Jesus instruction, as the priest elevates the chalice containing Christ’s blood, he is faithfully doing so in remembrance of Jesus’ directive and reminding himself and all of us of Jesus’ instruction to address the needs of the people.  Eucharist regularly nourishes us in order that we might give of self for others as Christ Jesus does.

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    SACRAMENT PROGRAM UPDATE

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    SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION 2022

    Our final Commitment Mass for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated this coming Sunday, 19th June at our 10:30am weekend Mass at St Ita’s Church, Drouin. Could all families who still need to make their   commitment please remember to bring their enrolment form and a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate and Reconciliation art work for display to this Mass please.

    Families will receive their symbol for their candidates sash at this Commitment Mass if you haven’t already received one. Also we will be handing out sashes to all those families that have ordered one. Please arrive 10 minutes early so all families can be seated on time.

    Our Reconciliation candidates will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, 22nd June at 7pm in St Ita’s Church, Drouin and on Thursday, 23rd June at 7pm in St Joseph’s Church, Warragul. We ask all families to please arrive 10 minutes early for a 7pm start.

    We warmly ask our school communities to please keep these families and their children in your prayers.

    CONFIRMATION 2022

    An Invitation is extended to families who wish to have their children continue their journey of initiation into the life of the Catholic Church Community of Warragul & Drouin, through the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. This Sacrament is for children who have celebrated the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. An invitation will be sent out to families this week via your school.

    There will be a Parent /Child information evening at St Ita’s Church, Drouin on Wednesday, 20th July, at 7pm and at St Joseph’s Church, Warragul on Thursday, 21st July, at 7pm. Parents are asked to choose one of these nights to attend with your Confirmation Candidate. Information packs and enrolment forms will be handed out on the night.

    We are looking forward to seeing you all at one of our information nights.

    PARISH SACRAMENT ENQUIRIES

    Sacrament Enquiries:  Mrs Therese Meggetto

    Mobile: 0439 306 642 Email: Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au

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    Check out our Catholic Parishes of Warragul & Drouin Facebook presence.

    PUBLIC NOTICES

    SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

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    CAMP AUSTRALIA

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    BELEZA SCHOOL UNIFORM

    PIANO & SINGING LESSONS

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    DRUM AND GUITAR LESSONS

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