Keys to Good Digital Citizenship

As part of the focus for this year will be to use digital tools, such as iPads and computers, to help learning and achievement within Stage 3. In learning to use these tools effectively, it is important to also develop appropriate and wise online habits.

On Friday, we discussed the School's Blogging Guidelines. These were developed to help our school community know the best way to being a good digital citizen.

Keys to Good Digital Citizenship:

• Personal Information needs to be kept private. We encourage the use of first names only, when online. Pictures are only posted after parents have given their consent. Other information such as personal addresses, emails, Passwords etc. are never shared online. 
• Act Appropriately: Comments and blog posts need to be appropriate, reflecting the academic nature of school. Any writing will be monitored and feedback given to students,so that the published writing is of high quality and something to be proud of.
• Be Positive: The comments or blog post that are written are encouraged to be positive. Good feedback helps others to improve in their writing. 
• Proofreading is essential: Taking time to proofread, checking grammar and spelling shows care. It makes the writer more clearly understood. Get someone to help check work.
• Give Credit: other people make a living from their writing and images that are online. Others are willing to share their work. It is important to make sure that people know where the information came from.

Everytime we go online we leave a digital mark called a "footprint". The digital footprint that we make are hard to remove once they are there. Let's make what our footprints positive!

Why do you think it is important to be a good digital citizen? 

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Stage 3 - the best stage in the College

A fantastic year has begun.

Keep in touch: Class Dojo

My aim this year is to focus on developing better communication between school and home. The relationships that we foster with families, helps to build a positive community that will help each child achieve their best, in more aspects than just academic.

I have used Class Dojo for the past four years, with varying degrees of use. I have found it a simple and easy way of promoting positive behaviour and checking in students for administration purposes. It is an online system that helps track the way a child is progressing at school. It helps parents stay in regular touch about things like behaviour, but also helps the teacher to let parents know what has been happening at school.

Class Dojo have created a class messenger system, that is completely confidential. The messages that are sent are only seen by the child's teacher. A teacher can respond quickly and easily when there is a need.

Class Dojo can help parents gain a perspective of the way their child is progressing at school when looking at their behaviour points. A summary of this behaviour can be sent to parents. My belief is that it can  help instigate conversations between home and school, that could lead to positive growth in a child's development.

Are there other ways that can help promote communication between school and home? What would you do to improve communication? 

Welcome to 2015!

Photo: Pol Sifter https://www.flickr.com/photos/polsifter/4047982682/

Dear Year 6,

One word that comes to mind that would describe this year is "change". There are many things that change in our lives. A change that has happened is that this is the year that I am teaching Year 6!

Many of you, I have already had the wonderful privilege of teaching you. I am familiar with some of the ways that you learn and what you like. For others I am acquainted with you, but need to get to know you more. For some of you this maybe, a new class, we would like to welcome you.

To be honest, it has been a long time since I have taught Year 6. I used to think it a hard thing to do. That is also part of the change, because I am really looking forward to being your teacher this year. I look forward to learning and growing together. There are so many things that will be a first for all of us! How cool!

The one thing that I would like to know from each of you is this:

What do you hope to achieve this year? 

Each of us need to have goals and dreams to work towards. They help set the direction for what we achieve. 

I look forward to hearing about your hopes and what you would like to accomplish. It would fantastic to see them achieved!

Mrs Todd