May 15th, 2023 marked the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a global initiative to raise awareness regarding the importance of mental health. With the ongoing challenges faced by students today, the need for promoting wellbeing and providing social-emotional support has become increasingly significant. Footprints International School is proud to announce that we are taking the next step in ensuring the success of our students by creating the Center for Wellbeing and Career Excellence, which will be overseen by our recently appointed Head of the Center for Wellbeing and Career, Dr. Rudi Labuschagne.
The Center’s vision is to provide person-centred support to all students, faculty, and staff so that they can experience a state of wellbeing. The support is designed with their input to develop their social-emotional and mental health and promote their overall career success. Our goal is to create a mentally healthy community where individuals feel supported, heard, accepted, valued, and empowered.
The Footprints International School Center for Wellbeing and Career Excellence will offer a range of benefits for our students and staff, including access to professional counsellors, mentors, and career advisors. We will also provide a range of services designed to support students’ social-emotional wellbeing, including workshops, group counselling, and peer support programmes.
Our whole school approach ensures that parents and carers are actively involved in their children’s learning and activities at school, both academically and in their general wellbeing. We believe that by providing comprehensive support for all members of our community, we can create a safe and nurturing environment that enables our students to thrive.
We are excited about the possibilities that the Center for Wellbeing and Career Excellence will bring to our school community, and we look forward to sharing more information about our progress as we move forward. We hope that this initiative will become a model for other schools to follow and make a positive difference in the lives of our students and staff.
Are your children spending hours watching series or scrolling through TikTok? It’s time to introduce them to a more engaging and educational online experience with School of Gaming (SOG). SOG is a unique online school based in Finland that offers an innovative approach to learning through gaming.
What is SOG?
SOG is an online educational platform that combines gaming and learning to provide an immersive and interactive educational experience for students. It offers a variety of courses that cover subjects such as game development, coding, digital art, and more. Students can learn at their own pace, with access to a wide range of resources and tutorials, as well as SOG educators.
What do they do?
Students engage in a hands-on learning process that allows them to create their own games, develop coding skills, and express their creativity through digital art. They can also participate in collaborative projects with other students from around the world, fostering teamwork and communication skills.
What can students learn?
Students can expect to learn a wide range of skills through SOG’s comprehensive and practical courses that are designed for the digital age. Beyond the digital classroom, SOG focuses on nurturing students to become better global digital citizens by instilling good practices for physical and mental well-being, fostering creativity and imagination, promoting teamwork and cooperation, honing problem-solving skills, and developing emotional intelligence and language development. SOG’s curriculum goes beyond traditional subjects, offering students a holistic learning experience that prepares them for success in the digital world and beyond.
Why is it better for students to engage in online educational activities instead of just watching series or TikTok?
Unlike passive activities like watching series or scrolling through TikTok, SOG offers an active and engaging learning experience that challenges students’ creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Students can apply what they learn in real-world scenarios, allowing them to develop practical skills and knowledge that can benefit them in their future academic and professional pursuits.
Our students’ experience with SOG
Footprints students have had a blast during their lessons with SOG, where they have not only had fun playing games but also learned valuable skills. Through Minecraft and Roblox Studio, they have gained hands-on experience in game development and coding. They have learned to think critically, work collaboratively, and express their creativity, all while enjoying an engaging and educational online experience.
School of Gaming offers a unique and innovative approach to learning that combines gaming and education. With a wide range of courses, hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for creativity and collaboration, SOG provides a beneficial alternative to passive online activities. Visit https://www.sog.gg/partnerships/schools to learn more.
With the Khmer New Year holiday around the corner, it is essential to plan for a fun and safe holiday with your children while reducing their screen time. Too much screen time can have negative effects on children’s physical and mental health. Here are some tips to reduce screen time and ensure a fun-filled holiday for your family.
Create a Schedule:
Plan a schedule that includes outdoor activities such as picnics, games, and sports. Encourage children to spend time with family members and enjoy traditional Khmer New Year activities and games.
Set Clear Boundaries:
Establish clear rules and boundaries around screen time that everyone in the family understands and agrees to. For example, limit screen time to 1-2 hours a day and ensure that children do not use screens during meal times and family activities.
Provide Educational Screen Time:
Choose age-appropriate educational content that aligns with your child’s interests and learning needs. Educational screen time can include e-books, educational games and apps, and online resources that teach children new skills and knowledge. For more information on which apps, movies and sites are safe for your child to use, visit: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Engage in Creative and Outdoor Activities:
Encouraging children to engage in creative activities such as drawing, painting, crafting and any extracurricular activity that involves being active, creative and social is an excellent way to develop their imagination and provide them with an alternative to screen time. Additionally, encouraging outdoor activities and time spent in nature promotes physical exercise, exploration and curiosity.
Connect in person: Encourage face-to-face interaction and quality time spent together as a family. This can include playing board games, doing crafts, cooking, or simply talking and sharing stories. Consider scheduling regular family activities and outings that everyone can look forward to.
Monitor and restrict content: Use parental controls and built-in monitoring apps to restrict access to inappropriate content and ensure that screen time is used safely and responsibly.
Establish a healthy nighttime routine:
Make use of screen time limit apps to set boundaries and encourage your children to settle down before bed without screens. Experts recommend that children avoid screens at least one hour before bedtime, as blue light can disrupt melatonin production and the sleep cycle. Food and drink with high sugar content should also be avoided several hours before bedtime. Additionally, encouraging reading and other relaxing activities, as well as a consistent bedtime, will promote better sleep habits, and lead to better overall health.
Lead by example:
Parents should set a good example by modelling healthy screen time habits themselves. Avoid excessive use of screens in front of your children and make sure to prioritise quality time spent together as a family.
With a little bit of planning and effort, you can reduce your child’s screen time and ensure a happy and healthy holiday with your family. Remember, the key is to strike a balance between screen time and other activities that promote physical, social, and emotional wellbeing.
ការចំណាយពេលវេលាឱ្យមានតម្លៃក្នុងអំឡុងថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាកបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំប្រពៃណីខ្មែរ៖ រក្សាតុល្យភាពរវាងការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍អេឡិចត្រូនិក និងការចំណាយពេលវេលាជាមួយក្រុមគ្រួសារ
ថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាកសម្រាប់ពិធីបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំប្រពៃណីជាតិខ្មែរកំពុងខិតចូលមកដល់ វាពិតជាសំខាន់ ខ្លាំងណាស់ក្នុងការរៀបចំគម្រោងសម្រាប់ថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាកដែលមានភាពសប្បាយរីករាយ និងមាន សុវត្ថិភាពជាមួយនឹងបុត្រធីតារបស់លោកអ្នក ហើយកាត់បន្ថយការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍អេឡិចត្រូនិក របស់ពួកគេ។ ការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍ច្រើនពេកអាចផ្តល់ផលប៉ះពាល់អវិជ្ជមានដល់សុខភាព រាងកាយ និងស្មារតីរបស់កុមារ។ ខាងក្រោមនេះគឺជាគន្លឹះខ្លះៗដើម្បីជួយក្នុងការកាត់បន្ថយការប្រើ ប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍អេឡិចត្រូនិក និងធានាឱ្យបាននូវថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាកដែលពោរពេញដោយភាពរីករាយ ដល់ក្រុមគ្រួសាររបស់លោកអ្នក។
បង្កើតកាលវិភាគ
រៀបចំកាលវិភាគដែលរួមបញ្ចូលសកម្មភាពនៅខាងក្រៅដូចជា ការញ៉ាំអាហារនៅខាងក្រៅ(ពិកនិក) ការលេងល្បែងកម្សាន្ត និងការលេងកីឡា។ លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យកុមារចំណាយពេលវេលាជាមួយសមាជិក គ្រួសារ ហើយរីករាយជាមួយនឹងសកម្មភាព និងការលេងល្បែងកម្សាន្តបែបប្រពៃណីខ្មែរ។
កំណត់លក្ខខណ្ឌឱ្យបានច្បាស់លាស់
បង្កើតគោលការណ៍ និងលក្ខខណ្ឌឱ្យបានច្បាស់លាស់ទាក់ទងនឹងការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍
អេឡិចត្រូនិក ឱ្យសមាជិកគ្រួសារទាំងអស់យល់ ហើយព្រមគោរពតាម។ ឧទាហរណ៍៖ កំណត់ការ ប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍ត្រឹម១ម៉ោង ទៅ២ម៉ោងក្នុងមួយថ្ងៃ ហើយត្រូវប្រាកដឱ្យបានថាបុត្រធីតា មិនប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍អំឡុងពេលញ៉ាំអាហារ និងពេលធ្វើសកម្មភាពជាមួយក្រុមគ្រួសារ។
ផ្តល់ពេលប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍ដែលទាក់ទងនឹងការអប់រំ
ជ្រើសរើសខ្លឹមសារអប់រំដែលសមស្របទៅនឹងអាយុ ក៏ដូចជាចំណង់ចំណូលចិត្ត និងតម្រូវការសិក្សា របស់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នក។ ការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍ទាក់ទងនឹងការអប់រំ អាចរួមមាន សៀវភៅអេឡិចត្រូនិក ហ្គេម កម្មវិធីអប់រំ និងធនធានលើប្រព័ន្ធអុីនធឺណិតដែលបង្រៀនកុមារ អំពីជំនាញ និងចំណេះដឹងថ្មីៗ។ សម្រាប់ព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមទាក់ទងនឹងកម្មវិធី ភាពយន្ត និងគេហទំព័រ ដែលមានសុវត្ថិភាពដល់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នកក្នុងការប្រើប្រាស់ សូមចូលទៅកាន់៖ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
ចូលរួមសកម្មភាពច្នៃប្រឌិត និងសកម្មភាពនៅខាងក្រៅផ្ទះ
លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យកុមារចូលរួមក្នុងសកម្មភាពដែលមានភាពច្នៃប្រឌិតដូចជា ការគូររូបភាព ការធ្វើហត្ថកម្ម និងសកម្មភាពផ្សេងៗដែលទាក់ទងនិងការធ្វើសកម្មភាព ការបញ្ចេញភាពច្នៃប្រឌិត និងទំនាក់ទំនងសង្គម គឺជាវិធីដ៏ល្អមួយក្នុងការអភិវឌ្ឍការស្រមើស្រមៃរបស់ពួកគេ និងផ្តល់ឱ្យពួកគេ នូវជម្រើសពីការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍អេឡិចត្រូនិក។ លើសពីនេះទៅទៀត ការលើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យធ្វើ សកម្មភាពនៅខាងក្រៅផ្ទះ និងចំណាយពេលវេលាជាមួយធម្មជាតិ ជួយដល់លំហាត់ប្រាណលើរូប រាងកាយ ការស្វែងយល់ និងការចង់ដឹងចង់ឮ។
ទំនាក់ទំនងដោយផ្ទាល់ជាមួយគ្នា
លើកទឹកចិត្តឱ្យមានការចំណាយពេលវេលាដោយផ្ទាល់ជាមួយក្រុមគ្រួសារ ដូចជា ការលេងល្បែងលើបន្ទះក្តារ(អុក ផ្គុំរូប ជាដើម) ធ្វើហត្ថកម្ម ចំអិនអាហារ ឬក៏ជជែកគ្នាធម្មតា និងនិយាយរឿងឱ្យស្តាប់។ សូមពិចារណាក្នុងការកំណត់កាលវិភាគជាប្រចាំ សម្រាប់សកម្មភាព និងការដើរលេងខាងក្រៅជាលក្ខណៈគ្រួសារ ដែលសមាជិកទាំងអស់អាចនឹងទន្ទឹងរង់ចាំ។
ការគ្រប់គ្រង និងហាមឃាត់ខ្លឹមសារ
ប្រើប្រាស់កម្មវិធីគ្រប់គ្រងរបស់អាណាព្យាបាល ឬកម្មវិធីគ្រប់គ្រងដែលមាននៅក្នុងឧបករណ៍ស្រាប់ ដើម្បីហាមឃាត់ការប្រើប្រាស់ខ្លឹមសារមិនសមរម្យ និងធានាឱ្យបានថាពេលវេលាសម្រាប់ប្រើប្រាស់ ឧបករណ៍ត្រូវបានប្រើប្រាស់ដោយមានសុវត្ថិភាព និងប្រកបដោយទំនួលខុសត្រូវ។
អត្ថបទទាក់ទងនឹងការគ្រប់គ្រងរបស់អាណាព្យាបាល
បង្កើតទម្លាប់ល្អនៅពេលយប់
ប្រើប្រាស់កម្មវិធីកំណត់ពេលប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍ ក្នុងការកំណត់ និងលើកទឹកចិត្តបុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នក ឱ្យរៀបចំខ្លួនចូលគេងដោយមិនចាំបាច់ប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍។ អ្នកជំនាញបានផ្តល់អនុសាសន៍ថា កុមារត្រូវជៀសវៀងប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍យ៉ាងតិចឱ្យបានមួយម៉ោងមុនពេលចូលគេង ដោយសារពន្លឺ ពណ៌ខៀវអាចបង្ករការរំខានដល់ការផលិតមេឡាតូនីន(Melatonin production) និងវដ្តនៃការគេង។ អាហារ និងភេសជ្ជៈដែលមានសារជាតិស្ករខ្ពស់គួរតែចៀសវៀងក្នុងការញ៉ាំក្នុងរយៈពេល ២ ទៅ៣ម៉ោង មុនពេលគេងផងដែរ។ បន្ថែមទៀតនេះ ការលើកទឹកចិត្តក្នុងការអាន និងសកម្មភាពបន្ធូរ អារម្មណ៍ផ្សេងៗ ក៏ដូចជាការចូលគេងទៅតាមពេលវេលាកំណត់ នឹងជួយឱ្យមានទម្លាប់ល្អក្នុងការគេង និងធ្វើឱ្យមានសុខភាពល្អ។
ធ្វើជាគំរូដល់បុត្រធីតា
មាតាបិតាគួរតែផ្តល់ជាឧទាហរណ៍ដ៏ល្អដោយធ្វើជាគំរូក្នុងទម្លាប់នៃការប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍ដ៏ល្អដល់ ខ្លួនឯង។ ចៀសវៀងប្រើប្រាស់ឧបករណ៍លើសកម្រិតនៅនឹងមុខបុត្រធីតារបស់ខ្លួន និងធានាឱ្យបាន ក្នុងការចំណាយពេលវេលាជាមួយក្រុមគ្រួសារជាចម្បង។
ជាមួយនឹងការចំណាយពេលបន្តិចក្នុងការរៀបចំផែនការ លោកអ្នកអាចកាត់បន្ថយការប្រើប្រាស់ ឧបករណ៍របស់បុត្រធីតាលោកអ្នក និងធានាបាននូវថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាកដែលរីករាយ និងមានផាសុកភាព ជាមួយក្រុមគ្រួសារលោកអ្នក។ សូមចងចាំថា ចំនុចសំខាន់គឺត្រូវរក្សាតុល្យភាពរវាងការប្រើប្រាស់ ឧបករណ៍ និងសកម្មភាពផ្សេងៗដែលជួយដល់សុខមាលភាពរូបរាងកាយ ទំនាក់ទំនងសង្គម និងស្មារតី។
As technology continues to revolutionise the way we live, work, and learn, it is crucial for schools to keep pace with the latest innovations to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. At Footprints International School, we recognise the vital role that technology plays in education and are committed to providing our students with the best possible tools and resources to achieve their full potential.
What is BYOD?
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy refers to the practice of allowing Grade 6-12 students to bring their own electronic devices to school for educational purposes, providing instant access to digital resources and tools that can enhance their learning experience.
Why Bring Your Own Device?
The BYOD model also allows students to personalise the device to their individual needs, which has been shown to elicit higher engagement and greater student responsibility. We support parents in making the choice of which device to provide, while not forcing existing users of laptops to purchase a new school-specific device.
What are some of the benefits of the BYOD policy and 21st-Century learning spaces?
Our BYOD policy aligns the school community with our practices and beliefs about the use of technology in teaching and learning, promoting responsible digital citizenship and supporting our schoolwide learner outcomes. By fostering a culture of digital fluency, promoting collaboration and creativity, enhancing student engagement, and preparing students for 21st-century learning, BYOD is an essential component of our approach to education.
BYOD can help students develop the digital fluency needed to succeed in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world by integrating technology into the curriculum.
BYOD allows students to work together on projects, share ideas, and explore new technologies, promoting collaboration. It also encourages students to express themselves creatively and explore their passions through digital media.
BYOD and 21st-century learning spaces can increase student engagement and motivation by making learning more interactive and dynamic. It allows students to take control of their learning experience, personalising it to meet their individual needs and interests.
BYOD is an essential component of 21st-century learning, providing students with the digital skills, enhanced digital fluency and competency needed to thrive in today’s globalised and connected world.
BYOD and 21st-century learning spaces provide students with the opportunity to explore new technologies and digital media, encouraging them to develop new skills and interests.
BYOD and 21st-century learning spaces support responsible digital citizenship by teaching students to use technology safely and ethically.
Internet Safety Measures
As part of our BYOD programme, we take internet safety seriously. VPN services are not permitted for use in school, and connecting to any hotspot linked to 4G Internet while at school is also not allowed. We have restricted access to gaming websites through the school’s internet connection, firewalls and ad-blockers.
Classroom and Breaktime Guidelines
We expect students to use their devices responsibly both inside and outside the classroom. During break/lunch times, Grade 6 to Grade 8 students are not allowed to use their laptops for non-educational purposes without prior authorisation. The use of devices for gambling, video/audio streaming or downloading and file sharing of harmful content is strictly prohibited.
In the classroom, teachers regulate the use of all devices. Technology shall be used only as instructed by the teacher, and should not be used unless permission has been granted. Any inappropriate use of a learning device or of social media, or incidents of cyberbullying that impact on another member of the FIS community, whether carried out in school or not, will be investigated and resolved following the school’s behaviour policies.
Security and Charging of Devices
Students are responsible for maintaining the security of their online accounts through the use of effective passwords. Passwords should be sufficiently strong and must not be shared or kept in unsecured places. Students are responsible for all materials within their accounts. They should also keep their belongings safe and secure at all times, including transporting devices in a protective case and using their locker to ensure their device is safe when not attended.
We encourage students to fully charge their devices at home every evening and ensure that there is sufficient battery life for the full school day.
Smartphone Guidelines
For Grade 6 to Grade 8 students, smartphones are not allowed at school, but messenger apps on their learning devices may be used to reach out to family members during break times with prior authorisation.
For Grade 9 to G12 students, the use of smartphones during class hours is strictly forbidden unless specifically allowed by the teacher. Any violation of usage regulations and the BYOD policy can result in the withdrawal of the privilege to bring smartphones to school.
Parental Support
We understand that parents may have concerns about their child(ren)’s use of technology outside of school supervision. The school will provide resources and offer workshops to support parents in dealing with this, while allowing their children to make the most of the opportunities available.
How have we improved our facilities?
To ensure that our students have access to the latest technology and resources, additional routers and Wireless Access Points (WAPs) have been installed and the bandwidth with our Internet Provider increased to ensure proper internet coverage at both campuses. Both campuses are now equipped to handle the additional traffic needed to support our digital classrooms. We have begun the process of upgrading our computer labs into state-of-the-art digital classrooms.
We encourage all parents and guardians to review our PDF guide outlining device requirements and suggested devices, and to attend upcoming workshops to learn more about our updated BYOD policy and the numerous benefits it will bring to our students, teachers, and community.
