Dear St John the Apostle Families, 

We have had a very community based week this week. 

We had Learning Journeys on Tuesday. It was so wonderful to have so many family members come and visit the school and engage in their children’s Learning Journey. There was a beautiful buzz around the school on Tuesday morning and afternoon and many proud students showing their families the wonderful learning they do at St John’s. Thank you to all of the teachers for preparing the students for the Learning Journeys and for all of the family members who came to visit. 

ThinkUKnow Presentation

On Wednesday evening, the Community Council organised a ThinkUKnow Presentation. We had over 30 people attend the presentation. I found the presentation very engaging and informative and I would like to thank the two volunteers who came to present, Jessamy and Steve (AFP). I wanted to share some important information they presented to us, as I realised that one of the most important ways to keep our children safe is to ensure that we are educated and proactive in this area. 

The ThinkUKnow presentation for parents about child exploitation focused on educating and empowering parents to recognise, prevent, and respond to the various forms of online child exploitation. It provided essential information about the digital threats that children may encounter and offered guidance on how to protect them in an increasingly connected world. Here's an overview of what the presentation covered:

1. Understanding Child Exploitation

• Defines the different forms of child exploitation, with a focus on online sexual exploitation.
• Highlights the risks of children being groomed online, manipulated for explicit content, or coerced into unsafe activities.
• Provides examples of common exploitation tactics such as grooming, sextortion, and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

2. Grooming and Online Predators

• Explains how online predators operate by building trust with children through social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps.
• Discusses the signs of grooming and how perpetrators target vulnerabilities in children.
• Offers tips for parents on how to recognise suspicious behaviours, both in their children and in individuals they interact with online.

3. Sextortion and Cyber Blackmail

• Covers the threat of sextortion, where children are coerced into sharing inappropriate images, which are then used to blackmail them.
• Discusses how perpetrators manipulate children into sending content and the emotional toll it takes on victims.
• Provides advice on what to do if a child is a victim of sextortion and how to report it.

4. The Role of Social Media and Technology

• Describes the role of social media, gaming, and other online platforms in child exploitation.
• Offers guidance on how to set privacy controls, monitor online interactions, and reduce the risk of children being targeted by predators.
• Discusses the importance of limiting the sharing of personal information and understanding the risks associated with apps and platforms.

5. Spotting Warning Signs

• Provides practical tips for parents to recognise changes in their child’s behaviour that may indicate they are being exploited, such as secrecy about their online activities, withdrawal, or sudden unexplained gifts.
• Suggests open communication strategies to encourage children to talk about their online experiences and any concerns they have.

6. Prevention Strategies

• Recommends proactive steps parents can take to reduce the risk of exploitation, including:
• Keeping up-to-date with the latest apps, platforms, and technology their children use.
• Setting parental controls and creating age-appropriate rules for internet use.
• Having regular conversations about online safety and the potential dangers of interacting with strangers online.
• Have a contractual agreement about technology use.

7. Reporting and Support

• Provides information on how to report child exploitation to authorities, including the police, cybercrime agencies, and organisations like the Australian Federal Police.
• Highlights resources and helplines that offer support to families affected by child exploitation.
• Encourages parents to collaborate with schools, community organisations, and law enforcement to safeguard children.

8. The Role of Parents

• Emphasises the critical role that parents play in protecting their children from exploitation by staying informed, maintaining open lines of communication, and fostering a trusting environment where children feel safe to report any issues.
• Encourages parents to be active participants in their child’s online life and to model responsible online behaviour.

If you would like to discuss any of the above or would like further information please don’t hesitate to contact me. The ThinkUKnow website also has a wealth of information. 

Principal 2025

Yesterday, I sent out correspondence from the Director, Ross Fox about the appointment of Joanne (Jo) Reed, who will be the Principal of St John’s for next year. I would like to congratulate Jo on her appointment and we look forward to her chapter in the story of St John the Apostle Primary School. 

Congratulations

Congratulations to all of our award recipients today. We handed out Spelling Mastery Awards, Brag Tag Awards and Maths Mastery Awards.