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PRINCIPAL'S PERSPECTIVE
Andrea Hunter
Kia ora koutou,
John Parsons was unable to facilitate the student workshops at Hilltop School this week. Fortunately, he has been visiting Hilltop School for the past few years, so we are able to revisit the key messages he has shared with our students.
One key message for our students was around the use of social media, choosing appropriate games to play, and selecting age-appropriate movies. This is to help them build strong connections and relationships with their family and peers—connections that will support them as they grow into young adults. These face-to-face social interactions also help children build resilience and self-belief.
I spoke with some of the students in previous years to find out what they had learned. Here are some of their responses:
- We are unique, valued, and loved.
- Don’t take photos and post them online in your bedroom, bathroom, or in your pyjamas.
- Don’t uncover too much skin in photos.
- Don’t charge iPads in your bedroom.
- Don’t go on TikTok or Instagram unless you are 13 or older because there are things on them that are not good for your brain.
- Make your account private.
- Don’t play games that are R13 or higher.
- Don’t watch inappropriate things when you’re young, or they might scare you when you grow up.
- Lock your profile as if it were your house.
- People you don’t know online are strangers.
- Be nice to people online like you would in the playground.
- Keep your personal details private.
- If someone is unkind online, don’t reply—zip it, lock it, and put it in your pocket.
- Trust your gut—if you feel funny about something or get butterflies in your tummy, tell someone you trust.
There is still time for parents to attend the workshop at Taupō Intermediate tonight at 5:30 p.m.
WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK
If you haven't already, please fill in the Whānau Survey. We've received over 100 responses so far, but we'd love to hear from more of you. Your feedback is helping us identify key themes and messages on how the school can improve. You can either scan the QR code or click on this link.
WIG Wednesday
WIG Wednesday
Thank you to the PTA for organising Whacky/Wig Wednesday today. There were some great hairdos on show today and all the money goes towards supporting child cancer. Students were able to bring a koha/donation today and we will let you know how much money was raised in next weeks newsletter.
We have several of our Year 7 and 8 students away at AIMS games this week where there are 13,000 intermediate students from all over New Zealand and from the Cook Islands participating in this well organised event. We have students representing Hilltop in hockey, basketball, orienteering, swimming and golf.
Have a great week,
Ngā mihi nui,
Andrea Hunter
Principal
