(English) As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for all our students, Footprints International School and the Centre for Wellbeing and Career Excellence  is proud to participate in Anti-Bullying Week 2024, themed “Choose Respect.” This global campaign, which our school will celebrate from September 2nd to Friday, September 6th, 2024, encourages everyone—students, parents, and educators alike—to focus on respect in all interactions to help combat bullying. This is a crucial topic, and understanding it better can empower our community to take meaningful steps to prevent and stop bullying.

Understanding Bullying

Bullying is a repetitive and intentional behaviour where one person exerts power over another, causing harm, fear, or distress. It can take many forms, including physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying. The impacts of bullying can be devastating, leading to long-term emotional and psychological issues for those involved, whether they are the target, the bully, or even a bystander.

According to UNICEF, bullying is not just a childhood issue but a societal one, with deep-rooted effects that can follow individuals into adulthood. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasises the importance of addressing bullying early, noting that the emotional scars can last a lifetime.

The Role of Awareness

Raising awareness about bullying is crucial in preventing and addressing it. When students, parents, and educators understand what bullying is and recognise the signs, they are better equipped to take action. Awareness also helps to create a culture of empathy and respect, where bullying behaviours are less likely to thrive.

During Anti-Bullying Week at Footprints International School, we will engage our students in activities and discussions that highlight the importance of kindness and inclusion. By fostering an environment where students feel valued and supported, we can reduce the likelihood of bullying occurring. At the heart of our efforts, we remind everyone that “My Words and Actions Matter“, underscoring the powerful impact each person can have in creating a positive school culture.

How Students Can Help Stop Bullying

• Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander: Students are encouraged to speak up when they see someone being bullied. Supporting the victim, either by intervening directly if it’s safe or by seeking help from an adult, can make a significant difference.
• Practice Kindness, Inclusion and Respect: Being a buddy, not a bully, means reaching out to others, especially those who might feel left out. Small acts of kindness and respect can go a long way in making everyone feel welcome.
• Understand and Manage Emotions: It’s important for students to recognize their own feelings and learn how to express them in healthy ways. This self-awareness can prevent negative behaviours from escalating into bullying.

How Parents Can Help Stop Bullying

• Talk to Your Child: Regular conversations about school life can help parents identify any issues early on. If your child mentions that they or someone they know is being bullied, take it seriously and discuss how to address it.
• Model Positive Behaviour: Children learn from their parents. Demonstrating empathy, kindness, and respect in your own interactions sets a powerful example for your child.
• Stay Informed: Understanding the different forms of bullying and the signs to look for can help parents recognise when their child might be involved in bullying, whether as a victim, perpetrator, or bystander. The UNICEF article “Bullying: What is it and how to stop it” as well as articles from organisations like the Anti-Bullying Alliance are valuable resources for parents looking to learn more about this issue.
• Work with the School: If you suspect your child is being bullied, or if they are bullying others, communicate with the school. Working together with teachers and administrators ensures a coordinated and effective response.

Raising awareness about bullying is not just about recognizing the problem—it’s about taking concrete steps to address it. At Footprints International School, we believe that every student has the right to feel safe and respected. By working together and remembering that “My Words and Actions Matter,” we can create a culture of kindness and respect that makes our school a welcoming place for all.

We hope you join us in this important effort during Anti-Bullying Week 2024. Together, let’s “Choose Respect” and make a difference in the lives of our students.

• UNICEF: Bullying – What is it and How to Stop it
• American Psychological Association: Bullying
• Anti-Bullying Alliance: Understanding Bullying

(English) [Khmer text below – ឣត្ថបទជាភាសាខ្មែរនៅខាងក្រោម]

Preparing for the New Academic Year: Essential Tips for a Smooth Start

As we eagerly anticipate the start of the new academic year on Wednesday, August 7 th 2024, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continuous support. As always, a good routine, sufficient sleep, and a healthy diet are the cornerstones of a successful school year. Here are some tips to help your child(ren) transition smoothly back to school:

1. Foster Excitement: Talk about the exciting aspects of the upcoming school year, such as reconnecting with friends, participating in new activities, and exploring new subjects. Building anticipation can create a positive mindset for the year ahead.
2. Open Conversations: Encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings about the new school year. Discuss their goals, any concerns they might have, and what they look forward to. This helps them feel heard and supported as they navigate their return.
3. Reinstate Healthy Routines: Gradually adjust sleep schedules and meal times to align with the school day. Establishing a consistent routine ensures your child is well-rested and ready to learn.
4. Manage Screen Time: Set clear guidelines for screen use, balancing recreational and educational activities. Encourage breaks from screens, especially before bedtime, to help your child maintain focus and get quality sleep.
5. Stay Organised: Get ahead by preparing school supplies and uniforms, and organising study spaces early. A well-prepared start reduces stress and sets a positive tone for the school year.
6. Goal Setting: Work with your child to set realistic and achievable goals. Whether academic, social, or personal, having clear objectives can provide motivation and a sense of purpose.
7. Create an Ideal Study Environment: Designate a quiet, well-lit area at home for studying. An ideal study space can enhance concentration and productivity, helping your child stay focused on their tasks.
8. Explore Extracurricular Opportunities: Talk to your child about their interests and the extracurricular activities available. Engaging in clubs and hobbies fosters personal growth and enriches their overall school experience.
9. Encourage Resilience: Remind your child that challenges and setbacks are part of learning. Promote a growth mindset by emphasising effort, perseverance, and the importance of learning from mistakes.

By following these updated tips, you can help your child embrace a new school year with confidence and enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming our students back and sharing another year of learning and growth at Footprints International School.

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ការរៀបចំសម្រាប់ឆ្នាំសិក្សាថ្មី៖ គន្លឹះសំខាន់ៗសម្រាប់ការចាប់ផ្តើមដោយរលូន

ការចាប់ផ្ដើមឆ្នាំសិក្សាថ្មីនឹងប្រព្រឹត្តទៅនៅថ្ងៃពុធ ទី៧ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២០២៤ ខាងមុខនេះហើយ។ យើងខ្ញុំសូមថ្លែងអំណរគុណយ៉ាងជ្រាលជ្រៅសម្រាប់ការបន្តគាំទ្ររបស់លោកអ្នក។ ភាពជោគជ័យនៅ ក្នុងឆ្នាំសិក្សាអាចសម្រេចទៅបានដោយទម្លាប់ល្អ ការគេងគ្រប់គ្រាន់ និងរបបអាហារដែលមានសុខភាពល្អ។ ខាងក្រោមនេះជាគន្លឹះមួយចំនួនដែលអាចជួយដល់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នកក្នុងការត្រៀមខ្លួនសម្រាប់ឆ្នាំសិក្សាថ្មី នេះដោយរលូន៖

១. ផ្តល់ភាពសប្បាយរីករាយ៖ ផ្តោតលើកត្តាវិជ្ជមាននៃការត្រឡប់មកសាលារៀនវិញ ដូចជាការមកជួបជុំ ជាមួយមិត្តភក្តិ ការចូលរួមក្នុងសកម្មភាពសប្បាយៗ និងការសិក្សាអំពីអ្វីៗដែលថ្មី។ ការគិតវិជ្ជមានអាចផ្តល់ ភាពជោគជ័យដល់ឆ្នាំសិក្សាទាំងមូល។ 

២. បង្កើតការសន្ទនាប្រកបដោយអត្ថន័យ៖ លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យបុត្រធីតារបស់លោកអ្នកចែករំលែកអំពីការ យល់ឃើញ និងអារម្មណ៍អំពីឆ្នាំសិក្សាថ្មីដែលខិតជិតមកដល់។ ចូលរួមនៅក្នុងការពិភាក្សាពីគោលដៅ កង្វល់ និងអ្វីដែលពួកគេទន្ទឹងរង់ចាំ។ ការធ្វើដូច្នេះ ធ្វើឱ្យពួកគេមានអារម្មណ៍ថាពួកគេមានអ្នកស្តាប់ និងផ្តល់ការគាំទ្រ ក្នុងពេលដែលពួកគេត្រឡប់មកសាលារៀនវិញ។

៣. បង្កើតទម្លាប់ដែលធ្លាប់ធ្វើឡើងវិញ៖ កែសម្រួលទម្លាប់ក្នុងការគេង និងម៉ោងញ៉ាំអាហារ ឱ្យត្រូវជាមួយនឹង កាលវិភាគសាលារៀន។ បង្កើតទម្លាប់ដែលល្អ និងមិនប្រែប្រួល ធានាឱ្យបានថាបុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នកសម្រាកបាន គ្រប់គ្រាន់ និងត្រៀមខ្លួនរួចរាល់ក្នុងការសិក្សា។

៤. កំណត់ការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍អេឡិចត្រូនិក៖ កំណត់ការណែនាំច្បាស់លាស់អំពីការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍ ដែលធ្វើឱ្យមានតុល្យភាពរវាងសកម្មភាពអប់រំ និងកម្សាន្ត។ លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យមានការសម្រាកពីការមើល ឧបករណ៍ ជាពិសេសមុនពេលចូលគេង ដើម្បីជួយឱ្យបុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នករក្សានូវការផ្តោតអារម្មណ៍ និងទទួល បានការគេងគ្រប់គ្រាន់។

៥. រៀបចំឱ្យបានមុនមួយជំហាន៖ ចាប់ផ្តើមទិញបរិក្ខារសិក្សា ឯកសណ្ឋានសិក្សា និងរៀបចំកន្លែងសិក្សា នៅផ្ទះ។ ការរៀបចំបានមុនមួយជំហាន លោកអ្នកនឹងធានាបាននូវការត្រឡប់មកកាន់សាលារៀនវិញ ប្រកបដោយភាពសប្បាយរីករាយ និងដំណើរការទៅដោយរលូន។ 

៦. បង្កើតគោលដៅ៖ ចូលរួមជាមួយបុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នកក្នុងការបង្កើតគោលដៅដែលអាចសម្រេចបាន ក្នុងឆ្នាំសិក្សាថ្មីនេះ។ ការមានគោលដៅច្បាស់លាស់អាចលើកទឹកចិត្ត និងធ្វើឱ្យពួកគេខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែងពេញ មួយឆ្នាំសិក្សា មិនថាគោលដៅនេះទាក់ទងនឹងការសិក្សា សកម្មភាពក្រៅម៉ោងសិក្សា ឬការរីកចម្រើនផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន នោះទេ។ 

៧. បង្កើតទីតាំងដែលផ្តោតលើការសិក្សា៖ បង្កើតទីតាំងនៅក្នុងគេហដ្ឋានដែលមានភាពស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ និងមានពន្លឺគ្រប់គ្រាប់សម្រាប់ការសិក្សា ដែលបុត្រធីតារបស់លោកអ្នកអាចផ្តោតអារម្មណ៍លើការសិក្សារបស់ ពួកគេបាន។ ទីកន្លែងសិក្សាដែលមានការរៀបចំដោយមានសណ្តាប់ធ្នាប់ និងមានផាសុកភាពអាចបង្កើតនូវ ការផ្តោតអារម្មណ៍ និងការរីកចម្រើននៃការសិក្សា។

៨. រៀបចំគម្រោងសម្រាប់ការចូលរួមក្នុងសកម្មភាពសិក្សាក្រៅម៉ោង៖ ពិភាក្សាអំពីសកម្មភាពនៃថ្នាក់ សិក្សាក្រៅម៉ោង និងចំណង់ចំណូលចិត្តរបស់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នក។ ការចូលរួមក្នុងក្លឹបសិក្សា និងចំណង់ ចំណូលចិត្តក្នុងពេលទំនេរ អាចធ្វើឱ្យបទពិសោធនៃការសិក្សារបស់ពួកគេទាំងមូលកាន់តែសម្បូរបែប និងផ្តល់ ឱកាសសម្រាប់ការរីកចម្រើនផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន។

៩. លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យមានការគិតវិជ្ជមាន៖ វាពិតជាមានសារៈសំខាន់ខ្លាំងណាស់ក្នុងការរំឭកដល់បុត្រធីត ថា ភាពលំបាក និងកំហុសគឺជាផ្នែកមួយនៃដំណើរការសិក្សា។ លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យមានការគិតវិជ្ជមាន ដោយផ្តោត សំខាន់លើតម្លៃនៃការខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែង ការអត់ធ្មត់ ការបន្តអភិវឌ្ឍ និងសារៈសំខាន់នៃការរៀនពីកំហុស។ 

ដោយការអនុវត្តតាមគន្លឹះទាំងនេះ លោកអ្នកអាចជួយឱ្យបុត្រធីតារបស់ខ្លួនឆ្ពោះទៅកាន់ឆ្នាំសិក្សាដែលប្រកប ដោយទំនុកចិត្ត និងគួរជាទីគាប់ចិត្ត។ យើងខ្ញុំទន្ទឹងរង់ចាំស្វាគមន៍ សិស្សានុសិស្សដែលត្រឡប់មកវិញ និងចែករំលែកនូវឆ្នាំសិក្សាថ្មីមួយទៀតនៃការសិក្សា និងភាពរីកចម្រើនជាមួយគ្នានៅសាលាហ៊្វូតព្រីនអន្តរជាតិ។

(English) In today’s digital age, children are increasingly turning to video games as a form of entertainment and social interaction. As a parent, it is important to be proactive in ensuring that your child’s gaming experience is not only enjoyable but also safe and responsible. Here are some key tips to help you navigate the world of gaming with your child:

1. Check the age-appropriateness of the game: Before allowing your child to play a new game, take the time to research and read reviews on websites like CommonSenseMedia.org and app stores. These platforms provide valuable insights into the content and suitability of games for different age groups.
2. Switch on parental controls: Most gaming consoles and devices offer parental control features that allow you to set time limits on gaming and monitor your child’s online activity. Take advantage of these tools to ensure that your child is not spending excessive amounts of time gaming.
3. Create a shared gaming space: Instead of allowing your child to game in private spaces like bedrooms or study areas, consider setting up gaming stations in shared family spaces. This not only allows you to monitor your child’s gaming habits but also encourages family bonding and interaction.
4. Join your child in the game: Take some time to play games with your child to show that you are interested in their hobbies and to bond over a shared activity. This can also provide you with valuable insights into the content and nature of the games your child is playing.
5. Emphasise online safety: Teach your child about the importance of protecting personal information, recognising online threats, and being respectful during online interactions. Encourage open communication about any concerns or issues that may arise while gaming online.
6. Watch out for gambling-like elements: Be vigilant for games that include gambling-like elements, such as games of chance within gameplay. These features may give the impression that winning is easy and could potentially encourage teenagers to engage in real-life gambling activities in the future.

By following these tips and staying actively involved in your child’s gaming experience, you can help ensure that they have a safe, enjoyable, and responsible gaming experience. Remember, open communication and setting clear boundaries are key to fostering a healthy relationship with gaming in your family.

(English) We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with GOMI Recycle, a leading company dedicated to giving plastic waste a second life!

What this means for Footprints International School:

• Reduced Waste & Environmental Impact: All our recyclable plastic waste at school will now be collected by GOMI Recycle, keeping it out of landfills and promoting a greener future.
• Learning Through Action: Our students will participate in educational workshops and factory visits led by GOMI Recycle, fostering responsible plastic use and environmental awareness.

This partnership aligns perfectly with our school’s commitment to sustainability and environmental education. We are excited to work with GOMI Recycle and empower our students to become responsible global citizens.

Stay tuned for more information on upcoming student workshops and GOMI Recycle initiatives at Footprints!