Middle Senior School Communications, 24 April 2024

Term 2 - Week 2

Upcoming important dates

• 25 April ANZAC Day public holiday 
• 27 April Musical rehearsal 
• 6 May Labor Day public holiday 
• 9-10 May College Musical shows – buy your tickets! 
• 13 May Subject Selection Night Year 11 2025 7 pm 

Reflection from Mr Wilson

Dear Parents and Carers

I need to briefly chat about an uncomfortable topic – children, technology and ‘image-based abuse’. 

In August 2023, the Australian eSafety commission received its first complaint of children using image generators to create sexual images of their peers to bully them. Since that time, AI generated image-based abuse by children has risen exponentially across the world, with schools in the UK and USA seeing prevalent ongoing instances of this type of paedophilic activity. It’s currently a big talking point in US schools. Essentially, given the increase in this behaviour overseas, it won’t be long before this is a significant problem for Australian students too. 

Children are most likely to access applications that can generate this type of AI imagery on their smartphones and share via messaging platforms from their smartphones. They could do so on their laptops, if accessing the internet outside of school on different servers, but realistically this is a smartphone issue with apps designed for phones. Anyone with unfiltered access to the internet on a smartphone can easily access the types of applications that can create these images. While families can (and should) put a range of rules in place for children and phone usage, ongoing discussions with your children around how to act online, be respectful of others, and avoid making poor choices are likely to have the best success rate in helping them avoid making poor choices in this context. 

It's worth noting that this type of activity is illegal and carries a mandatory reporting element in Australia. 

In our MSS we have had instances of children making poor choices when attempting to use image generators, and we have dealt with these according to our Behaviour Plan, but thankfully we are yet to deal with our first instance of AI generated image-based abuse between students. Our MSS Responsible Behaviour Plan already outlines the College’s response to this type of action, whether it be AI generated or not: ‘An act of Image Based Abuse (sending nudes or sexualised images of another person in the College without their consent) will lead to the immediate termination of the sender’s enrolment.’  We don’t want to be in this position with any of our students and are always having ongoing conversations with them about making good choices with technology.  

My request to families is that you prioritise having similar ongoing conversations with your children about these types of topics – yes, they are uncomfortable – but it is so very important to empower and equip your child with thoughtful approaches to these issues. 

The good news is that Australia has been relatively forward thinking in this space by pressuring the big search engines to ban and take ownership of problematic AI images on their platforms, however they have struggled to make progress with other technology programs (e.g. general applications). If you would like any more information on image-based abuse or any issues where online activity can cause harm, I would recommend the safety commission:  https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/image-based-abuse  

Mr Josh Wilson
Head of Middle & Senior School & Innovative Learning Design

General Notices

Reflection from Mr Arraiol

NOTICES (from Mr Arraiol – Head of Wellbeing and Community)

Student Absences & Medical Certificates

A reminder: if your child is going to be absent for three or more consecutive days, please inform their Form teacher and/or myself. This information is particularly helpful for staff to make necessary adjustments for your child’s learning and assessment tasks. It is a school requirement that a medical certificate be supplied if your child is unable to complete an assessment task; otherwise, they will be required to complete it upon their return to school. For single absences, please use the school app or phone the office as usual.

Emma Tabacaru Presentations in Week 3:

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, our Middle and Senior School students will participate in the Emma Tabacaru student presentations relating to sexual education. These sessions are designed to empower students to make positive choices based on Christian morals and values at an age-appropriate level. To prepare students for this, we encourage parents to have open discussions with their children about the following topics:

STAGE 4 SESSION (Years 7-8) - The Real Deal

This session will cover the basics of sex as designed by God, for babies and bonding, as well as explore and challenge what shapes the students' own individual understanding of sex. Students will also gain an understanding of what a healthy relationship looks like and ultimately what real love looks like. Setting Healthy Boundaries in relationships (home and social).

Year 9 - You matter, love matters, sex matters

This session will challenge students to identify who and what is shaping their view of sex and further explore the problem with pornography being the number one sex educator among teens. How we want to be treated and how we treat others in relationships speaks volumes about our character. How do we set and maintain healthy boundaries in a respectful manner?

Year 10 - This session will challenge students to identify who and what is shaping their view of sex and further explore the problem with pornography being the number one sex educator of teens. During this session, God's incredible design for sex and love will be explained, and students will be equipped to make their own decisions by being introduced to seven important questions for sexual decision making.

STAGE 6 SESSION (Years 11 & 12)

What sex means in a relationship and how this changes the very nature of the relationship. What can students do when they feel pressured, coerced, or forced into acting in a way that they are not comfortable with (short and simple strategies)? How does the influence of alcohol and the use of sex as a status symbol taint God’s design for sexual intimacy? The power of attraction (how social media or society proposes we use this versus Christian Morals and values of modesty, honesty, and integrity. Risks of STIs, contraception, and then a Q & A.

Faith In Our Future - Law Reforms

On 21 March, the Australian Law Reform Commission released a set of recommendations that are an appalling attack on faith and freedom of belief in Australia. If the Government accepts these ALRC recommendations, it means Christian schools won’t have the freedom to preference people who share the same Christian values and beliefs when making employment decisions.

As Paul Kelly also noted, "Religious education, its communities and parental discretions would be weakened long term." You can read more here.

The good news is the Federal Government has not yet made its position clear but we need to send a clear message to the Prime Minister that Christian schools must be able to employ people who share our faith.

Faith In Our Future is a town hall event that will bring together supporters of Christian schools and their representatives in parliament.

These events are an opportunity to share about the impact of Christian faith in our schools, to share our concerns with our Federal political representatives and ask for their support.

If you want the Government to continue to value the faith of Christian teachers and staff, you need to be there!

Date: Monday April 29, 2024
Location: Groves Christian College
Address: 70 Laughlin St, Kingston QLD
Time: 6.30 for 7pm (finishing by 9pm)

Registration is free but spaces are limited. Register here: https://mychristianschool.au/brisbane

Cafe Specials - Week 3 Term 2

Tech Savy Tech Safe Forum Information

Events at Calvary

Our current College events can be found on our website: https://www.calvarycc.qld.edu.au/events/

Shrek the Musical

Tickets are on sale now for Shrek the Musical!

Click here to book:  https://www.trybooking.com/COVXV

Shrek Parent Volunteers

We would love some Parent Helpers to assist with the Musical.  This is in the areas of Hair and Makeup, Canteen and Barbeque.  Please use the link below to sign up for a time to help. 

We'd love for as many parents to help as possible to ensure the success of the event.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=0v46V81XOkuFolrR8lIUuPoj3xkQaU1OtFwjtcomMEpUODZQSVFaRUwySUVaMVBOTFpCQjI4SzVUNy4u