Safe internet use being promoted throughout schools in Co Kildare

Schools all around Co Kildare are getting set for safer internet day.

Safer Internet Day is promoted in Ireland by Webwise the Internet safety initiative of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and aims to educate and raise awareness about protecting children online, so that they can responsibly enjoy the benefits of the Internet, without compromising their safety and privacy.

As part of their Safer Internet Day school campaigns, the Co Kildare school students will be creating their own awareness campaigns using resources from Webwise, including a ‘Safety Slogan’ competition, ‘Safer Selfie’ workshops and other resources to educate students about online safety. Poster competitions promoting internet safety as well as formal discussions on the topic will also be held.

To date, the following Kildare schools have signed up to run Safer Internet Day campaigns:

- School Bhride, Leixlip

- Coill Dubh National School, Naas

- St. Mary’s College, Naas

- Scoil Bhride, Kill

- Scoil Mhuire Senior, Newbridge

- Scoil Mochua, Celbridge

- Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth

Last year over 67,000 young people and 463 schools and organisations celebrated Safer Internet Day across Ireland. This year, as well as student activities, a large focus of the Safer Internet Day campaign will be to enable parents to effectively create a better Internet by maintaining an open and honest dialogue with their children about their online lives. To enable them to do this, Webwise will launch a new dedicated online Parenting Hub: Webwise Parents and Parenting Handbook which will provide parents with easy access to practical advice and information to help address their concerns about the various issues facing their children online. Featuring expert advice from professionals including John Sharry (Child and Family Psychotherapist) and Colman Noctor (Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist with St Patrick’s Hospital Dublin), topics will include: