What’s coming up?

After School Clubs (week beginning 10th June)

Choir (Caswell and Oxwich): Monday 3.20-4.15pm
NO netball this week due to the Oxwich residential trip

Dates for the Diary

• Oxwich Residential Trip – Wednesday 12th June to Friday 14th June
• Bracelet B Class Assembly – Friday 21st June – Parents and Grandparents welcome. Starts approx. 9.00am and lasts about half an hour. Please queue at Gate 2 on Trafalgar Place from 8.50am after the children have been let in.
• Summer Fete – Friday 28th June
• Sports Day – Thursday 4th July
• Pobbles T Class Assembly – Friday 5th July
• Reserve Sports Day – Monday 8th July
• Pobbles R Class Assembly – Friday 12th July
• Year 6 Leavers Concert – Wednesday 17th July

Keeping your child safe online

Whilst there are many positives associated with social media and access to the internet, there is a pressing need to safeguard children of primary school age.

We continue to support children and their families to deal with the fallout from misuse of social media and/or exposure to harmful content online. Issues are generally harder to resolve when they are complicated by social media. Schools have no control over which children are allowed to create and use online accounts, and most misuse/exposure to misuse or inappropriate content happens outside of the school day/week.

We understand that it can be a real challenge for parents/ carers to have oversight of everything that their child experiences online. Unfortunately, when it goes wrong, schools have limited access (or no access) to accounts of all those involved, some of whom might not even attend our school.

Most social media accounts are for people aged 13 and over, but some are younger or older. Age restrictions are there for your child’s safety. 

Our school website has some useful information and links for parents/ carers, including:

• App guides for families – with the official age rating for most popular apps  
• How to report harmful content
• Accessing support for children/ who have been affected by harmful content 
• Starting a conversation and getting involved in your child’s ‘virtual life’
• Safer internet – tip of the week

Swansea Council: Keeping Safe Online – Tip of the week

Tip thirty encourages parents/carers to help their children to understand the potential for online advertising to be manipulative and links to a youtube video guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaCV2Cd4um4

Asylum Seeker wifi

Swansea Central Library are offering free SIM cards loaded with data to adults in asylum seeker families as long as they meet the relevant criteria which can be found here. The SIM cards are provided by The National Databank, O2 vouchers can be issued for 12 months. The data can be used on other devices via hotspotting. To obtain a SIM card from Central Library, adults will be required to fill in a form and join to become a member of the library. Please direct any queries to the school office.

PTA News

Friends of Brynmill Primary needs helpers for our upcoming fete! Could you lend a hand in running a stall or helping on the day from 3-5:30pm on Friday 28th June? If so we’d love to hear from you. 

This event is on a bigger scale than our previous discos and other events so if we cannot confirm a good number of volunteers then we won’t be able to proceed with the event. 

Children are of course welcome to help with you. If you can spare some time and are interested in helping out, please get in touch via friendsofbrynmill@gmail.com 

We are also looking for cake sale donations for the fete. So if you’d like to bake us some muffins or cookies to sell we’d welcome any donations on the day of fete. We just need to know in advance of the event so we can make sure we have enough items to sell. 

A reminder, we are also looking for leftover party bag items that we can use as prizes for the games at the Summer fete. Please hand these into the office if you’re able to donate anything.  

Our AGM will be taking place in September this year. We’ll keep you posted on the date and would encourage anyone who’d like to find more about the PTA to come along. 

Finally we’re hosting another Guys Board Game night! Date to be announced shortly which will take place in July. 

Thank you as always for your support! 

Green Scene

We’ve blinked and our next Green Scene volunteer session on school grounds is fast approaching.  Details of our session on Saturday 15th June can all be found on the poster below. Everyone is welcome. Just please let us know if you’re coming

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for June

You have the right to rest and play (Article 31)

Value of the Month for June

Fairness

Online issues and worries: social media

This advice is aimed at children who are older than primary school age, however, it is useful to chat with your child about some of these online issues and worries related to social media

https://hwb.gov.wales/keeping-safe-online/advice-for-children-and-young-people-online-issues-and-worries/online-issues-and-worries-social-media

What is social media?  

Social media can be a fun way to connect with people and be entertained, but it’s really important to stay safe online.

There are many types of social media, which can all be used for different things. Some of the most popular social media platforms include TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube, but there are lots more.

You can use social media to keep in touch with friends and family, meet new people, watch videos and play games. 

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What can go wrong?

Social media can be fun, but dangerous or upsetting things can happen online sometimes. Here are some common things that can go wrong:  

Make friendship fall outs even worse

All children fall out with their friends or peers from time to time, this can happen at school or anywhere you usually see your friends. It can be difficult to know what you should do when this happens and feelings are likely to be hurt. When you feel this way, it can be tempting to use social media to carry on an argument outside of school, involve others in your dispute as a way of getting them to take your side or act out in a way that you normally wouldn’t in real life because you are hurt and upset.

Hacking

This is when someone gets access to your account without your permission and sees your private information. Don’t share your password with anybody, and make sure it’s a strong one.

Illegal, offensive or harmful content

This is something you see online that doesn’t feel right and makes you feel uncomfortable

Online bullying

This is when someone is repeatedly mean to a person they are targeting online.

Trolling 

This means posting something offensive or controversial to cause upset, get attention, or start an argument.

Catfishing

This is when someone pretends to be someone else online. They could be lying about their identity, name, age and where they live.

Scamming

This is when someone tricks someone into buying something, clicking a link or sharing personal information. Scammers are out to steal your data or your money, so beware of clicking any links.

Feeling pressure

Social media can give the impression that some people are flawless and living their best life. This can put pressure on you or make you feel bad about yourself. Remember that you only get to see the highlights. Real life isn’t always perfect. Don’t be fooled by the filter, stay true to yourself online.

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Keeping your account safe

The best way to avoid the things that can go wrong on social media is to make sure you’re staying as safe as possible. These tips will help you keep your account secure:  

• Update your privacy settings
• Set strong and unique passwords
• Set up two-factor authentication

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Keeping yourself safe

Before posting, it might be helpful sometimes to picture yourself saying it to your parents/carers, your teacher, your next-door neighbour, or a stranger in the street. Would you share it then? Be smart so you can have fun safely.

• Think about what information you share
• Beware of meeting up with strangers
• Be open about your online life. Talk honestly and openly about how you use social media. It could make it easier to get help from an adult if something goes wrong.
• Don’t share personal information
• Age restrictions Most social media accounts are for people aged 13 and over, but some are younger or older. Age restrictions are there for your safety. If they find out that you’re lying about your age, they could close your account or ban you.

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Reporting and blocking

You can control what you choose to see online. If you don’t like something, try one of these steps:

• Report
• Block
• Moderate

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Where to go for help 

Talk to someone – even when you’ve taken all the steps you can to keep yourself safe, sometimes things can go wrong. If you need help, talk to an adult you trust, like family members, teachers, or youth workers. If you’re worried about starting a conversation with an adult, here are some tips.

• Meic – free and confidential helpline for children and young people in Wales with advisers to help you find the support you need. Call 080880 23456, text 84001, or chat online 
• Childline – free, private, and confidential helpline for children and young people in the UK where you can talk about anything. Call 0800 1111  
• App guides for families – information on the most popular apps, social media platforms and games, including how to block and report content
• Internet Matters – step-by-step guides to privacy settings on social media, live streaming, and gaming apps 

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD

UK Safer Internet Centre have created some free activities and information for parents and carers which are available at: saferinternet.org.uk/SID-parents

Whether you have 5 minutes to start a conversation or hours to spare, there are top tips, quizzes and films which you can use at home with your child.