Proactive effort to support wellbeing in an increasingly digital world
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O’Growney NS Principal Martin Hanly addressing parents and attendees at the launch of the Agree to Agree projectImage 2 of 3
Members of O’Growney NS Student Council pictured hosted information tables and engaged with attendees about a variety of popular apps currently trending among teenagers.Image 3 of 3
(Back row): Mr Hurley (TY Head), Savanagh Reilly, Nik Tupikas, Linas Archipovas, Cian Mulligan, Ben Brady, Michalina Rozycka, Sean Quigley. (Front row) Aimee Coughlan, Kayleigh Farrell, Sophie Malone, Owen McConnell, Jake Fulham, Zuzanna Lotach.O’Growney National School in Athboy has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing the negative impact of screen use on children and encouraging safer, healthier online habits for families.
The project, called Agree to Agree, is a voluntary agreement between parents and the school and forms part of a proactive effort to support children’s wellbeing in an increasingly digital world, where online activity outside school hours can sometimes impact on school life more generally.
Principal Martin Hanly said the school began exploring ways to support families in navigating online safety and digital wellbeing.
“We investigated what supports were out there to help families manage online access more safely, and that’s when we came across the Agree to Agree project,” he said.
The Agree to Agree initiative is run through education centres around the country, with O’Growney NS one of a small number of schools currently taking part. The school applied for a place through its local education centre and was accepted.
At its core, the project involves a simple, voluntary pledge that families can choose to sign, committing to four key principles around screen use: setting screen-free times and zones, monitoring and discussing online content, using technology responsibly and in moderation, and communicating openly about online experiences.
Ahead of the launch, the school carried out a survey of parents and pupils, which revealed strong support for a unified approach to online safety. According to the findings, 89 percent of parents supported a school-wide strategy, while 62 percent said they wanted more education around cyber risks. Among pupils, 88 percent said that while apps and websites can be fun, online safety and wellbeing are more important. Some 73 per cent of students agreed that age restrictions on apps should be followed, while 83 percent said parents should be able to see what children are doing online.