Dear College community,
As we delve into the second month of the academic year, I want to take a moment to address the vital topic of student wellbeing. Student mental, emotional, and physical health are paramount to your success and happiness both inside and outside the classroom. We hope all students have settled into the school year and are finding it easy to reach out to staff and other students if they are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Our counselling team is happy to engage with students if required. Not to mention our staff who would be happy to engage with students if necessary.
Launch of the Rite Journey Program for Year 9
The Calling and the Departure
I am thrilled to announce the successful launch of the Rite Journey program with our Year 9 students. This transformative journey aims to guide and support our young individuals as they transition into adulthood. Through self-discovery, reflection, and mentorship, this program promises to cultivate resilience, empathy, and self-awareness among our students.
A special mention to all the families and Year 9 team who were present at the launch. The interactions witnessed by families, students and mentors was amazing. The program has been running for several years and has been gaining solid momentum.
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
The College recently held an inspiring Ash Wednesday liturgy that resonated deeply with our community. It was heartening to witness our senior leaders take charge and lead the liturgy with grace and reverence. Such events not only strengthen our spiritual bond but also remind us of the importance of faith, compassion, and unity. Our Year 12 students lead small groups of younger students through the liturgy it was wonderful to witness the event.
St Gregory’s College Senior Swimming Carnival
The recent swimming carnival at Bradbury Pools was a resounding success. Congratulations to all participants for showcasing their talents and sportsmanship. Beyond the thrill of competition, events like these foster camaraderie, teamwork, and a healthy lifestyle. Let's continue to encourage each other to stay active and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship. Our Year 12 students lead the chanting and created an atmosphere at the pools that was traditionally a standout to our community. I was very happy to see the students, staff and parents enjoying a wonderful day of swimming.
Social Media Safety
In today's digital age, it's essential to prioritise your safety on social media platforms. Remember to think critically before sharing personal information online and to be mindful of your digital footprint.
A recent article on AI has been added to this newsletter as we feel parents need to be with the current risks associated with AI technologies like deepfakes and account impersonation, there are significant threats. Even when parents or guardians take on the responsibility of managing these accounts, they often find themselves navigating uncharted waters without adequate, up-to-date training.
The lack of up-to-date education can leave both the young athletes and their parents/guardians/managers vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats, leaving the young persons Instagram or TikTok personas very exposed.
Protecting young, sponsored athletes in the age of GenAI has never been more critical, encompassing everything from education on digital literacy to implementing robust verification processes and legal protections.
A multi-layered approach is essential for safeguarding their online presence and their personal and professional reputations. "Set and forget" apps do not work in these instances. Private messages can not be checked and can only be blocked and deleted after they have been received. This is where most of the abuse happens.
What the risk may look like:
- GenAI technology has advanced to the point where creating deepfakes—hyper-realistic video and audio recordings that can make it appear as if someone is saying or doing something they are not, and would never..........are increasingly accessible. Young athletes, through online visibility and association with major brands, can become prime targets. These manipulated images or videos can be used to damage reputations, manipulate fans, or even engage in sextortion attempts toward another young person. The online personas of these young athletes, built around their sponsorships and online interactions, can be easily mimicked.
- Cybercriminals can create convincing fake accounts using the athlete's images and likeness to deceive fans or engage in sextortion a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share private and sensitive material if their demands (often for money or sexual Favors) are not met. This not only endangers the young athlete but can also harm unsuspecting young individuals who believe they are interacting with a real person. We recently saw this happen when a young female athlete's Instagram account was copied, and the only difference was an underscore at the end of her name. After months of chatting in private messages and thinking the young female teen athlete had a crush on him, a young male teen shared a nude with her; it was sextortion, and there was a demand for a large amount of money and a threat that if he didn't pay up, the photos would be shared in a group chat that he had added her to. They made good on the threat and started circulating the image. Thankfully, he knew it was safe to speak up (even though he had produced an illegal image of himself) and contacted his local police, who counselled him to make sure he knew everything would be ok, and then the Police went after the perpetrators.
Strategies to mitigate risks:
- One of the first steps in protecting young, sponsored athletes is education. Parents need to be kept up to date with the potential risks when their child’s image is being used for marketing purposes in exchange for sponsorship and how to spot suspicious activities online. Understanding the basics of digital literacy, such as the mechanisms of deepfakes and the signs of account impersonation, is crucial.
- Social media platforms often offer verification badges to notable individuals, including athletes. Ensuring that a young athlete's account is verified can help followers distinguish between the authentic account and potential impersonators. Brands should assist in this verification process as part of their sponsorship agreement.
- Maintain strict privacy settings on their personal and professional accounts. Regularly reviewing privacy settings, being cautious about the information shared online, even the angles at which photos are taken, and understanding the importance of digital hygiene can significantly reduce the risk of personal content being misused.
- Implementing digital watermarks on images and videos shared by the athlete can deter misuse and make it easier to identify original content from deepfaked material. These watermarks can be subtle but should be difficult to remove without damaging the integrity of the content.
- Brands should ensure that their contracts with young athletes include provisions for legal support in cases of digital impersonation or harassment. Knowing that they have legal recourse can provide a safety net for the athletes and deter potential offenders.
- Brands should monitor the online presence of sponsored athletes. Early detection of deepfakes, impersonation attempts, or unauthorized use of their likeness can be critical in mitigating damage. Quick response teams should be ready to act to take down harmful content and address any issues as they arise.
Additionally, I want to emphasise the importance of responsible mobile phone usage at school. Phones should never be used during class time, and adherence to this rule ensures a conducive learning environment for everyone.
Attendance and Classroom Expectations
Lastly, I'd like to remind all students of the significance of regular attendance and active participation in the classroom. Your presence and engagement contribute not only to your own academic growth but also to the collective learning experience of your peers. Let's uphold a standard of respect, diligence, and curiosity in all our academic endeavours.
In closing, I encourage each of you to prioritise your wellbeing and to seek support whenever needed. Together, we can foster a nurturing environment where every individual thrives.
Warm regards,
Mr Baldino Vetrano
Director of Students