Dear Banff Trail School Families,
With the recent announcement by PowerSchool about a cybersecurity incident that involved CBE families, as both a leader in education and parent, it has renewed my attention on cyber safety in our lives. In our ever-expanding digital world, doing everything we can to ensure that children are both safe and responsible online is growing in importance. Teachers at Banff Trail School leverage both the Physical Education and Wellness curriculum in conjunction with the Information and Communication Technology Program of Study to begin the exploration of online safety and responsible behaviour, but there are also many things that can be explored at home, as recent research highlights the role parents play in fostering a safe and productive online environment for their children. Below are some key ideas, some best practices that are discussed in recent research, and parameters to consider in helping set your child up for current and future success and safety online.
Key Ideas to Explore with Your Child
Open Conversations: Discuss the importance of protecting personal information, being cautious about who they interact with online, and identifying potential online risks.
Digital Footprint: Teach them that what they post online can have lasting effects and encourage them to think before they share.
Recognizing Red Flags: Help them understand how to identify phishing attempts, scams, or inappropriate content. This can be done by exploring examples that you have experienced, or seeking written or video examples of these ‘red flags’.
Recent Best Practices
Co-Viewing and Engagement: Research suggests that co-viewing media or discussing online activities helps children develop better judgment and decision-making skills.
Parental Modeling: Children mimic behaviors they observe. Modeling responsible tech use, while showing that you are ‘present’ when engaged in conversations with your children, sets a strong example.
Time Management: Set age-appropriate screen time limits based on guidelines from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, who also suggest that co-viewing media to learn together, and using digital tools to ‘co-create’, can greatly enhance child learning and responsible use of technology.
Parameters to Consider at Home
Set Boundaries: Designate tech-free zones or times (e.g., family meals, bedrooms, or before bedtime).
Use Parental Controls/Monitoring: Many devices, apps and platforms offer tools to restrict content or monitor usage, track location, etc.
Monitor Apps and Games: Know which apps and ‘games’ your child uses, their purpose, and whether they are age-appropriate.
Encourage Balanced Activities: Ensure children have plenty of time for offline activities like sports, hobbies, and face-to-face interactions with friends and family.
By setting the stage for open communication with your child, setting clear boundaries, and establishing a culture of responsible digital citizenship, we can both work towards ensuring that the children at Banff Trail School are safe, and can thrive in today’s connected world.
For your consideration:
Registration and Growth: We are seeing a large number of families interested in joining Banff Trail School for Kindergarten and Grade 1. We strongly encourage all existing Banff Trail School families who have a child entering Kindergarten in the fall (or grade 1 if they are not already at Banff Trail School) to register and submit their Expression of Interest by February 10th.
Clubs: I’m very happy to see the many excited faces of our grade 3-5 students who have joined clubs. As anticipated, there was very high interest in joining clubs, and we appreciate their enthusiasm! A big thank you to all our teachers for volunteering many lunch hours to make this initiative happen; we’re lucky to have such supportive, multi-talented staff.
Report Cards: A reminder that report cards became visible in your MyCBE Account, as of this past Monday. If you have not yet done so, please take a moment to look over your child’s report card with them, celebrating their successes and exploring the idea that we all have areas on which to improve; that is part of the learning journey!
Upcoming Dates:
February 10-12: Banff Trail School Carnaval celebrations
February 13-17: No school for students (Feb 13,14: Teachers’ Convention, Feb 17: Family Day)
Friday, February 28: Non-instructional Day, no school for students
Wishing you a warm weekend,
Ryan Turner
Principal, Banff Trail School