Pres Castleisland Students on National Webwise Youth Panel

National Webwise Youth Panel members, Cáit O’Mahony (left) and Ava O’Flaherty with their teacher and mentor, Annette Leen at Presentation Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland Presentation Secondary students, Ava Flaherty and Cáit O’Mahony have been chosen as members of this year’s Webwise Youth Panel.

Webwise is an internet safety initiative focused on raising awareness of online safety issues and good practice among students, their parents and teachers.

Online Safety Issues

Every year Webwise recruits proactive teenagers from all over Ireland to be a part of their panel.

The panel is made up of 30 students who want to stand up and speak out about online safety issues. These views are heard at national and European levels so that young people can have a real say on the issues that affect them.

Meeting in Dublin Today

“Ava and Cáit have already attended a webinar with other panel members and traveled to a meeting in Microsoft headquarters in Dublin this Monday morning,” said their teacher and mentor, Annette Leen – who is also the school’s ICT coordinator.

Creating Educational Resources

Throughout the year 2020 they will play an active role in creating resources to educate parents, teachers and students about Internet safety,” Ms. Leen continued.

This will be made available by Webwise, to educate parents, teachers and students about Internet safety.

School Campaign

As the school’s Safer Internet Day ambassadors, they will lead a campaign in the school to raise awareness of the dangers everyone faces online.

We’re delighted that our school has two students on this national panel.

Opportunity for Ava and Cáit

It is a great opportunity for Ava and Cáit to develop their own skills and collaborate with other students nationally.

We look forward to hearing their ideas and supporting their Safer Internet Day Campaign,” Ms Leen concluded.