The recent Year 8 Parent Forum, which focused on developing positive online relationships, saw an exceptional turnout of both students and parents and guardians, demonstrating the community’s strong interest in fostering safe and respectful online interactions.
The forum provided an invaluable opportunity for parents and guardians to gain insights into the digital world that their children navigate daily. The learning intentions for the evening focused on sharing key strategies for promoting respectful communication, identifying potential risks and supporting young people in managing their digital interactions safely.
The event was held in our Ian Woolf Auditorium, with attendees hearing from the Deputy Head of Middle School – Student Wellbeing, Harry Dendle, Carey’s Health and Physical Education Leader of Learning, Andrew Hamilton, and the School’s Digital Learning Co-ordinator, Madeleine Anderson. The forum also featured a range of excellent resources for parents and guardians, including handouts, recommended reading lists and access to online safety guides – providing practical advice on managing screen time, setting online boundaries and encouraging open discussions about digital experiences at home. These resources will be made available to each family shortly.
The highlight of the evening was the interactive session in which Year 8 students actively participated in real-life online scenarios. These scenarios, facilitated by our wonderful Middle School Heads of House – Sally Bottomer, John Kosch and Kaitlyn Young – explored issues such as cyberbullying, online peer pressure and responsible social media use. By working through these situations in a structured and supportive environment, students were able to reflect on the consequences of their digital actions and develop strategies to navigate online challenges responsibly. The discussions that followed allowed parents and students to engage in meaningful conversations about online behaviour, fostering a shared understanding of expectations and responsibilities in the digital space.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many parents expressing appreciation for the informative and engaging nature of the event. Students also found the real-life scenarios particularly valuable, as they provided a relatable and hands-on approach to understanding online interactions. The Year 8 forum is one of three community evenings including the Year 7 positive relationships and Year 9 safe party forums.
On behalf of the Middle School, I would like to thank each family for their engagement and commitment to a shared understanding on how to help build positive online relationships for their child.
Rhys Adams
Year 8 Co-ordinator
