Throughout Term 3, Netsafe is inviting primary schools nationwide to join its Hector’s World competition. Entries are now open and there are multiple ways to participate with big prizes on offer – including a visit from Hector.

To celebrate the launch of the all-new Hector’s World – an online safety programme for primary schools and kura – Netsafe is running a nationwide competition in Term 3 with some amazing prizes up for grabs!

Whether you choose to design a poster, write a poem or create a classroom display there’s plenty of fun to be had as students – new entrants through to Year 6 – explore important topics about online safety.

Fabulous Prizes:

• Interactive Technology: Win a cutting-edge 65-inch ViewBoard interactive display, valued at over $5,000. Generously donated by Educated Furniture, the ViewBoard will transform your classroom into a hub of engagement and creativity through its interactive touchscreen display and connectivity options.
• Library Treasures: Winners of the Art and Poetry categories will receive a special selection of books for your school library, valued at $529, and generously donated by Wheelers Books. This collection includes popular titles on online safety as well as award-winning picture books carefully curated for primary school year groups.
• Goody Bags: Winning students will each receive Hector’s World Goody Bags packed with exciting surprises.
• Exclusive Experiences: Winning schools will all win a personal visit from Hector himself, bringing the magic of Hector’s World right to your doorstep.

How to get started

• Step 1: Download an entry pack. Visit the Netsafe Kete to view, download and print an entry pack containing everything you need to know about the competition (sign-up to the Kete simply requires a school email address).
• Step 2: Explore Hector’s World. Each episode lasts no more than 8 minutes, and you only need to watch one episode to participate in the competition! With links across the curriculum and a literacy-based entry category there are lots of ways to connect the competition to your lessons throughout Term 3.
• Step 3: Showcase your creativity. Work with your students to design posters, write poetry or create classroom displays that incorporate online safety themes from Hector’s World. Submit your entries and stand a chance to win incredible prizes … you can enter as many of the categories as you like!

Key Dates

• Entries Open: 9am, 1 August
• Entries Close: 6pm, 27 September

What is Hector’s World?

Hector’s World is a fun and educational animated series for tamariki in Years 0-6. Available in English and te reo Ma- ori, the series follows the adventures of Hector and his friends as they explore the online world, learning vital lessons about online safety and digital citizenship along the way. The episodes are accompanied by a suite of over 60 curriculum-aligned resources, unpacking the key themes through class discovery activities, individual worksheets and puzzles and teacher-led discussions.

Integration with your lessons

Online safety has many connections across the New Zealand curriculum so there are plenty of opportunities to engage in this competition even if online safety wasn’t specifically in your plans for the term.

The competition has also been designed to incorporate a literacy component, providing further opportunities to incorporate the competition into your literacy lessons throughout August and September. Here’s a brief overview of some of the ways Hector’s World connects to the curriculum:

• Personal health and physical development: Topics in the series include wellbeing, identifying safety risks and thinking about personal identity online.
• Healthy communities and environments: Hector’s World and the supporting resources enable tamariki and school communities to better understand the risks of online harm and safety practices they can use.
• Relations with other people: Interpersonal skills are reinforced throughout the series, such as the importance of speaking up and talking to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right online.
• Nature of technology: Throughout the series the characters all display different ways of using digital technology – and different relationships with it too.

Get involved today!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to showcase your students’ talents and promote crucial online safety messages to be in with a chance to win great prizes for your school!

Download an entry pack here.

Or got questions? Email them through to hectorsworld@netsafe.org.nz

Article written by Netsafe.

INTERFACE August 2024