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Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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10 Days of Safer Internet Day: Day 7 - All about apps
Fri 29 Jan 2016Todays edition of our 10 day countdown to Safer Internet Day is all about apps. Apps are small, specialised software programmes which can be downloaded to a mobile device to carry out a particular function. Young people love to personalise their own devices by downloading ‘apps’ which carry out fun and useful functions from looking up the weather forecast, playing games to sharing photos on a social networking site!
You can download apps via a ‘shop’ or ‘store’ on your mobile device, for example Apple’s App Store, Google Play and BlackBerry App world. You are able to download some apps for free and others will be paid for apps, normally paid for via an online account or charged to your monthly phone bill or to your pay as you go credit.
As a parent, it’s important to monitor what your child is downloading on to their smartphone or their internet enabled device. You can read further information about apps and mobile devices in Childnet's Parents' Guide to Technology.
How do I know if an app is age appropriate for my child?
Apps can be downloaded in an app store either on the smartphone device or online. As some apps cost money and others may contain content that you don’t think is appropriate for your child, you could use your details to register and then decide together which apps to download. As they get older you may prefer to talk to them about the apps they are using but give them the responsibility to download apps themselves.
Familiarise yourself with the online app websites so you know what apps are out there, and perhaps you can recommend your child some fun apps! There are also apps which are tools for parents that can help filter out age inappropriate content or help restrict some of the device’s functions.
It is worth checking the age ratings on apps, where available. However, you should be aware that app developers provide these age ratings and they are not generally independently rated. You can also look at app reviews online. For example, Common Sense Media provide age ratings and reviews for many apps, relying on developmental criteria to determine what content is appropriate for which ages.
It is possible for apps to contain viruses and some smartphones are more prone to malicious apps. Smartphones run on an operating system (much like a computer), the three main ones are Google Android, Apple iOS and BlackBerry. Apple approve every app that gets to their store (for iPhones, iPads and iPods) so there is some degree of quality control. Android and BlackBerry phones use software that allows developers to produce and upload any app. It is always worth reading reviews of the app on the relevant app store to check that other users have not had problems with it.
What is in-app purchasing?
While many apps are free, sometimes you may also decide to pay for apps, which commonly cost around 99p to £2.99, (though some can cost more). In-app purchases are not always obvious; you may have downloaded a free game app, but then to upgrade to the next level you are asked to make an “in-app purchase”. By doing this you will be asked to pay an additional sum of money, we have heard stories where young people have got into difficultly and have ended up running up huge bills!
You can turn off in-app purchases if you are worried and on some smartphones it is possible to block in-app purchases and downloading apps by going into your phone settings.
How do I report an app?
If you need to report an inappropriate app (it may be a scam app, or contain illegal or inappropriate content), please use the following links:
Before you download an app, follow these steps:
1. Make sure you check what the app really does, read the reviews and ratings
2. Don't download apps from non-trusted app stores
3. Always check the list of 'app permissions' before you download
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REMINDER: School closed for INSET Friday 29/01/16
Fri 29 Jan 2016A quick reminder to parents that school is closed for an INSET day on FRIDAY 29th January 2016. Pupils should not come to school on this day. -
10 Days of Safer Internet Day: Day 8 - Parental Controls on your Web Browser
Thu 28 Jan 2016Todays Safer Internet Day countdown tip shows you how to set parental controls on the two major web browsers, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. These settings can help stop inappropriate content from coming through the internet.
Windows 7 and Vista
1. Click the gear icon in the top right of your browser window and select Internet options.
2. Select the Content tab, then click Enable in the Content Advisor section.
3. Next, choose from the list of categories you’d like to block (eg Language, Nudity, Violence) and adjust the slider to choose the level of restriction.
4. You can also go into the Approved Sites tab to allow specifi c websites.
5. Finally, select the General tab to set up an administrator password so no-one else can change the settings.
Find out more on the Microsoft website.
Windows 8 and above
The Content Advisor functionality is embedded in the Microsoft Family settings.
Find out more on the Microsoft website.
Google Chrome
A Supervised User account lets you block websites you don’t want your child to use and to see the pages they’ve visited.
1. In the top right of your browser window, click the Chrome menu icon, then click Settings.
2. Under Users, click Add Person and choose a picture and name for the new user.
3. Tick Control to create a supervised account, then click Add. You’ll receive an email which will help you set up restrictions and review the new user’s browsing history.
Find out more on the Google website.
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10 Days of Safer Internet Day: Day 9 - Safety controls on search engines
Wed 27 Jan 2016Todays Safer Internet Day countdown tip is how to set the safety controls on search engines so they will not show inappropriate content and covers Bing, Google and Yahoo.
Bing
1. Click the gear icon in the top right.
2. Go to Settings/General.
3. Choose either Strict, Moderate or Off for SafeSearch.
Go to the Bing website for more information
Google
1. Click Settings in the bottom right, then Search Settings.
2. Tick the Turn on SafeSearch box on the next screen.
3. To lock SafeSearch, you’ll need to sign in to your Google/Gmail account and follow the instructions.
Go to the Google website for more information.
Yahoo
1. Sign in to your Yahoo account.
2. Enter a search term in the search box then click Search.
3. From the search results, hover over the gear icon then click Preferences.
Go to the Yahoo website for more information.
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Wheelchair Sports Hub gets YST seal of approval
Tue 26 Jan 2016Just a short note to thank you for inviting Sue (Baroness Campbell) and I to join you at last week’s wheelchair hub event at Woodchurch High School. It was a terrific event and just wonderful to see so many young people taking part, enjoying themselves and gaining new skills and confidence through sport. We are delighted to be working in partnership with you, but both recognise what an awesome job you do in your local community and beyond, piecing together programmes, initiatives and funding streams into a strategy which aims to create something sustainable and transformational for children with special educational needs and disabilities. We don’t underestimate the blood, sweat and tears you put in – on behalf of all the young people you support, a very heartfelt thank you.
I particular I was grateful of the conversations we had about the challenges and opportunities you face and how the YST ca best support you. We both also loved seeing the new YSD Wheelchairs in action and, as can be evidenced through the attached photo, Sue thoroughly enjoyed her ‘spin’ in a powerchair !
Thank you once again for allowing us to be a part of it all.
Kind regards,
Ali & Sue
Ali Oliver
Chief Executive
Youth Sport Trust
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Year 9s start Skills for Health Club
Tue 26 Jan 20166 pupils from Year 9 in Clare Mount will be going to Arrowe Park Hospital between 3.30-5.30pm for the next 6 weeks to learn about all the different jobs and careers available within the NHS. The scheme has been organised by the Skills for Health Academy NW and will help the pupils develop their employability skills for the Health Sector. The pupils will attend a Graduation Day at The Liverpool Echo Arena in June. The scheme will involve pupils from Bebington High and other schools included in the NW Health Consortium managed by Kevin Byrne. -
10 days to Safer Internet Day: Day 10 - Parental Controls on your computer's operating system
Tue 26 Jan 2016Safer Internet Day (SID) is organised by Insafe in February of each year to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people across the world.Safer Internet Day 2016 will be celebrated on Tuesday 9 February 2016, with a theme of 'Play your part for a better internet!'.As part of the Safer Internet Day celebrations, we are going to do a 10 day countdown with a different tip on helping keep your child and yourself safe online. Today's tip is a guide on setting up parental controls on your computers operating system and covers Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and OSX Yosemite. 8.1
WINDOWS
Using Microsoft Family on your device, you can manage when your child can log into their account and which programs are appropriate for them to use.
The controls also filter Web content and provide reports of your child’s computer and Web browsing activity.
To activate them on your device, follow the steps below and then use Microsoft’s Family Safety website to manage the boundaries.
Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1
1. Make sure that your child has been set up with their own user account.
2. Select Is this a Child’s Account?
3. Decide if you would like your child to have an email address and follow the instructions accordingly.
4. You’ll then be able to manage their account from Microsoft’s Family Safety website.
For more information, visit the Microsoft Family Safety website.
Windows 10
1. Add a child to your family through the Accounts functionality.
2. Click Add a Family Member. Select Add a Child.
3. Assign the child an email address.
4. Manage the settings for your children on Microsoft's Family Safety website.
For more information, go to the Microsoft website.
MAC OSX YOSEMITE
You can block specific apps, websites and messages, set time limits and deny access to the built-in camera on your family computer.
To enable parental controls:
1. In System Preferences, click Parental Controls and then select the lock icon.
2. Enter your administrator name and password, select a user (you’ll need to set your child up with their own user profile if they haven’t already got one), then click Enable Parental Controls.
3. To set restrictions, follow the same process then click the relevant tabs along the top – Apps, Web, People, Time Limits and Other (eg use of the built-in camera).
For more information, go to the Apple website.
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Pupils selected to represent England at the ISF World School Sport Education Games
Thu 21 Jan 2016The school is extremely proud of Paul (Year 10) and Harry (Year 11) who have been selected to represent England at the ISF World School Sport Education Games in Greece in April 2016. The boys will be part of a team of 27 who will fly to Athens from Heathrow. Their trip will involve a running race at the ancient Marathon site, a chance to play football and basketball at the Athens Olympic 2004 venue, a visit to various archaeological areas such as the Acropolis and Parthenon, ending in an Olympic flame event which will see the flame leave Greece en route to Rio 2016. Well done to both boy. What a once in a lifetime experience!!! Anyone wishing to help sponsor the boys or make a donation such as a raffle prize should contact Mr Keefe or Mr White at the school. -
Merseyside Wheelchair Hub welcomes special guest
Wed 20 Jan 2016On Wednesday 20th January 2016 the Wirral will welcome Baroness Sue Campbell to their Wheelchair Sports Hub hosted by Woodchurch High School. The event will see the use of 10 new sports wheelchairs which have been donated to the Hub via funding from A Smile for a Child. Over 40 youngsters regularly attend the Hub, with twice as many expected to the event on the 20th January. The event has been organised by Mr White and will be supported by a range of local partners. -
Pupils and staff make health pledges for 2016
Tue 19 Jan 2016Pupils and staff got fully involved in our health and well-being week at the beginning of January 2016 and made pledges to help keep them fit and healthy in 2016. 80 pupils attended a fruit tasting session on Monday, whereas over 50 enjoyed a series of workshops of different food groups from the Wirral Health Promotion Team. Our Sports Interns put on extra lunchtime clubs every day, whilst in form time pupils designed a food menu for GB runner Jonny Mellor, which saw a handful of pupils cook a 3-course meal for him on Friday. Pupils enjoyed tasters of taekwando and judo, and on 'fitness friday' every year group got the chance to take part in a circuit training session designed by the Underground Training Station. Thanks to all those involved in a fantastic week.
