ASSEMBLY

On Monday and Tuesday, with the support and encouragement of Mrs Barnard and Mr Laming, Sixth Form Digital Prefect, Glory O (13W) led the Digital Warriors to bring to our attention E-Safety Week.

Monday
Rachel F (9H)
Niyah N-N (9N)
Arabella L (12W)
Mahi K (12H)

Tuesday
Ella M (7N)
Cocomi H (7N)
Evie K (11N)
Grace H (11H)

After ensuring that all the students were ready to present, Glory O introduced herself as the Digital Prefect and explained that she and the team of Digital Warriors were going to talk about some points they think are very important to remember in this E-Safety Week.

Here is the speech delivered by Glory O and the Digital Warriors:

“Hello, we will be talking about some of the more basic e-safety points. E-safety refers to the practices, policies, and tools that help protect individuals from the potential risks and dangers they might face when using the internet and digital devices. E-safety means staying safe while using the internet and digital devices. It’s about protecting yourself from risks like:

Privacy
Security
Cyberbullying
Online Scams

Although these points may seem basic it’s important to keep them in mind:

Keep personal information private – Don't share things like your full name, address, phone number, or passwords online.
Use strong passwords – Create passwords that are hard to guess and avoid using the same one for everything.
Be careful about what you share – Think before posting pictures or information. Once it's online, it's hard to take back.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links – Don’t open links in emails or messages from strangers; they could be scams or viruses.
Report problems – If you're being bullied or see something inappropriate online, report it to a trusted adult or platform.
Set privacy settings – Use privacy controls on social media and apps to limit who can see your posts and personal information.
Install security software – Protect your devices with antivirus and anti-malware tools.
Take breaks – Don't spend too much time online. Balance screen time with other activities to stay healthy.

As part of this year's theme, we are going to discuss the importance of protecting yourself from online scams.

About a month ago, one of our fellow Digital Warriors decided to sell some clothes on Vinted for the first time. Within just five minutes, someone messaged her, expressing interest in buying an item. Although she thought it was strange that it happened so quickly, she was excited about making a sale and earning money. When the buyer asked for her email address, then her card details, and even the balance on her card, she unfortunately provided all of it. At this point, she started feeling a bit suspicious. However, as a first-time seller unfamiliar with how Vinted worked, she assumed this was just part of the process. Despite constant warnings about scammers, they can be incredibly convincing and cause serious damage. Fortunately, she realized what was happening before further harm was done and quickly ordered a new bank card.

Top Tips to Avoid Being Scammed:

Check email details carefully – even if an email looks realistic, verify that it’s legitimate before sharing personal information.
Never give away personal information to people you don’t know.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links – they may contain malware or phishing scams.
Be cautious if asked to act quickly – scammers often create a sense of urgency to trick people.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Balancing online and offline time is essential for well-being. As we focus on E-Safety Week and staying safe online, we also want to highlight the importance of unplugging. Engaging in real-world activities keeps you active and refreshed, making screen breaks worthwhile! Here are some suggestions for what you can do instead:
Go for a walk around the Chapel and pavilion.
Spend time in the library – a great, calming place if you need some quiet time.
Join a sports club or relax in Centre Social – whether you want to burn off energy or just unwind, there are plenty of options.
Take part in a music, academic, sports, or art activity – the school offers loads of these, and you should be involved in at least three!
Talk to someone new – a conversation with someone outside your usual circle might be more interesting than you expect.

ChatGPT – Using AI Responsibly
ChatGPT is becoming more popular as its capabilities grow, making it easier to misuse. For example, I love using ChatGPT to mark my essays or generate ideas, but when I write exam-style essays, I make sure to put it away. I don’t want to become too reliant on it, and I want to be able to think critically about my work. Sometimes, I use ChatGPT for a second opinion or even just to play fun, silly games. However, what’s not acceptable is using it to cheat or passing off AI-generated work as your own. This can have serious negative effects on your learning—especially for those of you working on NEAs. ChatGPT is a great tool, but only when used appropriately.

The Importance of a Responsible Digital Footprint
Your digital footprint is something that follows you around your whole life and will only continue to grow so it's important it stays appropriate. Timothée Chalamet is a well-known American actor who has starred in many films and won multiple awards. As he became more famous, people online found old videos of him rapping and dancing in his high school’s end-of-year talent shows. As you’ve just seen, these videos are harmless and quite funny. However, if he had posted anything inappropriate or offensive, it could have been discovered later and seriously damaged his career. Since it's impossible to predict the future, it’s important to keep your digital footprint appropriate. Social media is meant to be fun, but always think twice before posting. If you wouldn’t want a future employer to see it, it’s best not to post it at all.

Thank you for listening. We’re now going to watch a short video clip that sums up the key do’s and don’ts of online safety.

During E-Safety Week a series of activities will be held during lunch times. On Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime there will be E-Safety themed games with opportunities to win prizes in the conference room. Also, on Wednesday there will be a winter walk led by Head Girl, Lisa O, around the grounds showing the benefits of having one lunchtime a week outside and there will be a Traitors’ event as well as carefully chosen mindful wellbeing games and activities. Then on Friday in ICT 02 robotics club and A Level students will be showing off the projects they have been working on throughout the year so far.”

In closing, the team invited us to “take part, have fun, and make the most of E-Safety Week”!

Reverend Kate prayed:

Dear God,
We thank you for the advances in technology in recent years and we give thanks for the wonderful resources of the internet.
Help us to use online platforms safely and wisely.
Help us to broaden our minds and not harm ourselves or others.
Amen.

ACT OF WORSHIP

On Wednesday and Thursday, after singing Shine Jesus Shine - a firm favourite – Chaplain’s Assistant, Nayia D-C (9N) and Head Girl, Lisa O (13S) read from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 5, verses 1-11, which tells the story of Jesus calling his first disciples. Jesus is teaching by the Sea of Galilee when despite catching nothing all night, he tells Simon Peter to let down the nets again (Luke 5:4); Simon Peter protests as they have worked hard and caught nothing (5:5) but then he does what Jesus asks and something amazing happens—the nets fill with so many fish they begin to break (5:6). Simon Peter, overwhelmed, falls to his knees, feeling completely unworthy (5:8) which leads Jesus to call Simon Peter, James and John to leave everything and follow him, promising that from now on, they will “catch people” instead of fish (5:10).

Reverend Kate told us that this is not just a story about fishing— it is a pattern for faith in real life which she calls ‘Faith in Six Steps’……….including one where you panic! Reverend Kate told us that this pattern is not only in this morning’s Gospel but also in the miracles of the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17), and when Peter walks on water (Matthew 14:22-33). The pattern goes like this:

Step One - Jesus tells us what to do and, in doing so, challenges us to step beyond our comfort zone.
Step Two - We respond with a “but” because in our uncertainty we focus on our limitations.
Step Three - Despite our doubts, we do what Jesus has asked us to do.
And then……. Step Four - something amazing happens.
Having stepped out in faith, Step Five is that we doubt ourselves.
However, at Step Six, Jesus does not give up on us but continues to tell us what to do and guides us forward.

Reverend Kate said that this pattern is powerful because it reflects both our human doubt and hesitation and God’s persistent calling; she then read out a poem by Madeleine L’Engle which, she said, illustrates this pattern:

Come, walk on the water, He said.
And I said, who, me?
And He said, yes, you.
And I said, but I’m not ready yet.
And He said, there’s no such thing as ready. Come.

And I said, but I can’t see where I’m going.
And He said, I know. Come.
And I said, but the water is deep.
And He said, I know. Come.
And I said, but the waves are high.
And He said, I know. Come.
And I said, but I might drown.
And He said, don’t be afraid. Come.
And so I stepped out,
And the water held.
And I looked around,
And the wind rose up,
And I was afraid,
And I began to sink,
And I said, Lord, save me!
And He reached out His hand,
And caught me.

Reverend Kate said that this poem perfectly captures the ‘Faith in Six Steps’ pattern by conveying a truth that discipleship is not about having perfect faith or never struggling with doubt or fear. Discipleship is about trusting enough to take the next step, knowing that Jesus will catch you if you fall.

So, as we left Chapel, Reverend Kate invited us to respond to Jesus’ challenge to step out beyond our comfort zone; because, she said, when we follow Jesus, something amazing usually happens.

Reverend Kate prayed:

Loving God,
You call us to step out in faith, even when we feel unsure, unready, or afraid.
Help us to trust you and to follow where you lead.
When we hesitate, give us courage.
When we doubt, remind us that you believe in us.
And when we step forward, may we know that you are always with us, guiding, strengthening, and catching us when we fall.
Amen.