New App for LOTE

Sensai would like everyone to please install a new app for Japanese lessons. The app is called Languages Online and it is free to install from the App Store.

Please install Languages Online for Japanese lessons this week

Arigato!
ありがとうございました

Good News, Bad News or NO News...?

With the latest iOS upgrade (iOS9), Apple released a News app. A few Year 4 parents have expressed concerns about some of the News content. When the off-field antics of certain footballers are considered sufficiently newsworthy to report in explicit detail via this News app, many more parents may discover similar concerns. This post explains how to remove News content from the iPad.

In Settings > iCloud, you will see News listed as a feature of iCloud that can be toggled off:

Settings > iCloud > News

The News app will still appear when you turn it off, but it won’t have any content when opened. 

Unfortunately there’s another step required to turn off the News content that automatically appears on the Spotlight search screen (swiping L > R from the Home screen). Here's what to do to remove this:

Go to Settings > General > Spotlight Search. Scroll waaaay down to Spotlight Suggestions and toggle this OFF:

Settings > General > Spotlight Search > Spotlight Suggestions

I’ve not yet experienced any issues with notifications from the News app but you could also turn those off in case. Go to Settings > News > Notifications and turn notifications OFF.

Settings > News > Notifications

Thanks, Parents, for monitoring your children's iPad use. Your vigilance benefits our entire community!

Apple Charger Recall

You may have already heard in the news that Apple have issued a global recall for AC wall plugs (chargers) of iOS devices (iPads, iPhones and iPods) shipped between 2003 and 2015. In very rare cases, these chargers may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched.

You can find more information about this recall, and how to tell if your charger might be affected, on the Apple website.

If you believe you have an affected charger at home, you can take it into any Apple reseller and exchange it for a new, redesigned adapter, free of charge. Alternatively, you can request a replacement via the internet or contact Apple Support.

Onwards and Upwards...

On the eve of a brand new school year, it's time to thank you all, parents of our 2015 Year 4 students, for your time and attention as subscribers of the 4Padwise blog. You're now ready to graduate to Year 5 Padwise for 2016. To avoid unnecessary blog posts from here in the future, please find the unsubscribe button in the email footer below.

We hope you take the time to visit 5Padwise in the next few days, and subscribe by email so you don't miss a post. The focus of 5Padwise is to keep you updated about events and exciting learning from the Year 5 classrooms. We might also let you know about new app requirements from time to time, or link to other resources and information of interest.

...and have a great first week!

Leaving St Catherine's?

Students who are leaving St Catherine's at the end of the year (boo hoo!) and are not enrolling elsewhere at another BCE school, you will lose access to your BCE student account (including LIFE, email, MySite and School Portal) after December 31st, 2015.

Bye bye BCE student accounts!

So.... If you are moving on to another Catholic primary school in Brisbane, or a BCE secondary school such as Clairvaux Mackillop or Seton College, then you can relax - you will keep your BCE student account for as long as you are enrolled at that school.

If you are moving on to a State or other independent school such as Villanova, Loreto, St Laurences, All Hallows, Redeemer Lutheran or Lourdes Hill (for example), you will no longer have access to your BCE student account after the last day of 2015. We recommend that once school finishes, you retrieve any files, messages or information currently stored with your BCE accounts that you want to keep, as soon as you can and definitely before December 31st.

You are also advised to change the primary email address on your Apple ID, if it is currently your BCE student email address. You can change the primary email address on the Apple website.

We're sorry to see you go!
Come back anytime, we'll always be here...

On FIRE with Popplet

Following a school incursion about Fire Ants this year, students in 4 Blue were asked to record everything they learned in a Popplet mind map. Here's what Cleo says about the project:

"This popplet had to include Appearance, young, a fun fact, animal group, habitat and what the fire ant eats. I think Popplet was the best app to use because you can see all of the text without going from slide to slide. And Popplet is one of the apps that you can brainstorm or mind map on. I loved doing this project!"

Click to enlarge Cleo's Popplet mind map about Fire Ants:

Popplet about Fire Ants by Cleo in 4 Blue

Keep Your iPads "Holiday Safe"

Today, Brisbane Catholic Education staff informed schools of the following:

In the process of delivering the Virtual Classrooms Activities in 2015, the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner has become aware of two apps that are causing some concern for school communities. These apps are Animal Jam and Subway Surfer. These apps contain an in-built global chat facility, which enables anyone in the world to make contact with users of the apps. The potential for children to be exposed to phishing scams, grooming and cyberbullying is substantial.

 

The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner maintains an excellent resource page that assists parents to better understand these apps, along with a range of others that may be of concern for young users. 

Do you retain control of your child's Apple ID? 

Do you have some system in place at home whereby you can evaluate apps for potential issues before your child installs them? 

Are you aware of what apps your child is using on their iPad? 

Once school ends for another year and the lovely long Christmas holiday break is upon us, children may be given extended access to iPads and other devices for recreational purposes. Please ensure that you have safety measures and responsible use practices in place at home. Remind children about measures they can take when using screens and digital devices, to maintain their own online safety, posture, muscle & eye health and privacy of information.