Dear Parents
One of our core responsibilities at GSIS is the ongoing safeguarding of children at our school. In support of this goal, we have improved the visitor protocols so we can track who is on site at any one time as well as to clarify our expectations of visitors. We would like to share this again to ensure that everyone is clear about our rationale as well as to clarify our policy on taking photographs at school events.
Visitors to School
If you visit any one of the school’s three sites, there should be a reason for your visit involving a member of staff and a date and time for the visit should be agreed with the individual before your visit.
On arrival at school, please sign in with the security guard and confirm the member of staff you have arranged to meet. After showing your ID card you will receive a Visitor Pass, which must be worn at all times, and progress to the reception area. The member of staff will then be contacted to meet you there.
All visitors must agree to abide by the following Code of Conduct during any visit. This will be displayed in the Reception area:
- Visitors must be accompanied by a member of GSIS staff at all times during a visit.
- Visitors must wear their Visitor Pass prominently at all times.
- Visitors should not take photographs or videos of any students.
- Visitors should not seek to gather personal information or contact details from any of our students.
- Visitors must not make physical contact with any child or invade their personal space.
- Visitors must never be alone with a student.
- Visitors should only use toilets designated for adult use. Do not use student toilets.
- Visitors should never raise their voice to a child.
- Visitors must report any suspicious or unacceptable behaviour including physical or verbal abuse by and/or between any student or adult.
Photography in school
We are fortunate that there are so many wonderful events that contribute to children’s learning and development whilst in school and we fully understand parents’ desire to capture these moments to share with friends and family, particularly if they are overseas. We also recognise that sharing photographs and films of our activities can help us celebrate the successes and achievements of our children and young people, provide a record of our activities and raise awareness of our organisation. However, there are some issues we would like to highlight if images are posted on social media sites.
As parents, we have the right to post the image of our own children but we do not have the right to post the image of another child. We recognise the welfare of the children and young people taking part in our activities is paramount and there are potential risks associated with sharing images of children online. There are a number of families at school who have asked for images of their children not to be posted on social media.
We acknowledge that children, their parents and carers have a right to decide whether their images are taken and how these may be used, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
We recognise that consent to take images of children is only meaningful when children, their parents and carers understand how the images will be used and stored, and are fully aware of the potential risks associated with the use and distribution of these images.
At school events we will ensure that GSIS staff are able to take pictures on school equipment that we can screen before sharing with parents.
Some advice . . .
Before sharing images of children on social media, adults should consider whether they have consent of all the people included in the photo or movie, how widely these images may be shared, how long they may remain available and, potentially, how this may affect the children’s long-term wellbeing.
Images or videos shared online should not be tagged with names and definitely not the location. This is to reduce the chance of profiling individual children or families.
Ensure your privacy settings are ‘private’ so that posts and photos are only available to your friends and are not in the public domain.
If you have any concerns or queries about these guidelines, please contact one of the following people:
Photography and images coordinator
GSIS Child Protection Officers
GSIS Deputy Child Protection Officer
Please do share any feedback about the schools’ procedures or any concerns you may have about any of our students with any of the named Child Protection Officers listed above.
Have a great week!
Dear Parents
