Pussycat Dolls inspire Blackburn pupils’ safety song

3:07pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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A PRIMARY school has found the purr-fect way to boost internet safety — by recording a cover of a Pussycat Dolls song.

And Year 6 pupils from St. Francis’ Primary School, Cherry Tree Lane, Cherry Tree, Blackburn, have won an award for their musical effort.

They recorded a verson of the American girl band’s hit single ‘Don’t Cha’, altering the words to advise their peers about safety on the web.

It won a ‘Stay Safe’ competition for schools across Blackburn with Darwen, bringing the school a £500 prize.

The pupils even arranged for the copyright from Notting Hill Music Group PLC free of charge.

This means that the recording can be played in primary schools across the borough to spread the internet safety message.

Sharon Thomas, head-teacher at St Francis’ said pupils wanted to raise awareness of the dangers that come with talking to strangers online.

She said: “This was a fun activity to be involved in for children and teachers, but it has great educational benefits also.

“The lyrics are related to staying safe on the internet, which are relevant to all children and parents.

“With this in mind, we wanted to make the track available as a teaching aid in all primary schools in the area.”

Year 6 pupil, Georgia Kelsall, 10, said it was important to ‘get the safety message across’.

She said: “We knew that we had to do something about this so that other children in our school and their parents would be more aware of the dangers on the internet.

“We decided that a song and dance would help to get the message across, and lots of us are fans of The Pussycat Dolls song ‘Don’t Cha’, as it is so catchy and we knew that other children would listen and join in.”

The lyrics

We’ve got a message (We’ve got a message)
That you mustn’t forget (Mustn’t forget)
Sometimes things aren’t what they always seem on the internet.
You’ve got to be careful (Got to be careful)
And follow the code (Follow the code)
Just the same as when you’re out with your friends and you’re crossing a road.

Ooooh,
Don’t you wish that you could surf safe like me?
Won’t you make us proud and surf safe-e-ly
(Don’t you ?)
(Won’t you ?)
Don’t you wish that you could surf safe like me?
Won’t you make us proud and think: “safe-e-ty”?
(Don’t you ?)
(Won’t you ?)