Olympia Middle School

Games, social media, and other online spaces give kids opportunities to meet and chat with others outside the confines of their real-life communities. But how well do kids actually know the people they're meeting and interacting with? Help students consider whom they're talking to and the types of information they're sharing online. In this video, kids hear from teens about the benefits and drawbacks of presenting themselves differently (or even anonymously) to others online, and consider what it means to "be yourself" in digital spaces. Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv3

When we talk about our personal beliefs and politics, passions can run high -- especially when we're online. These intense moments can often lead to tit-for-tat insults, or worse. But, if addressed calmly and coolly, they can be an opportunity to find common ground and deeper understanding. Teach your children to keep disagreements civil so their ideas will be heard and so they can advocate for positive change. In this video, you will hear from Cameron Kasky, Parkland school shooting survivor and March for Our Lives activist, on what he learned about civil discourse online and how to foster common ground with others, even in disagreement. Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv7 Video Discussion Activity: bit.ly/olyRCda2

Family Tip #1: Give them the right words. Kids learn about appropriate verbal and physical communication from watching you. But online conversations can be invisible. Occasionally, narrate as you're writing texts or social media comments when your kids are in earshot.

OMS students engaged in collaborative discussions on whether online shopping is helping or hurting America. Strong feelings were shared from both sides!

**Help Kids Make Friends and Interact Safely Online: Secondary** So much of kids' social lives happens online. Whether they're texting with their study group, flirting on social media, or voice-chatting on game platforms, middle and high schoolers can learn to communicate in safe and healthy ways. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online. 1. Give them the right words. 2. Learn about their worlds. 3. Empathize with the pressure to overshare. 4. Develop their instincts.

Mr. Jones and Mrs. Litwiller put together an Easter egg hunt for OHMS staff: The Easter Bunny stopped by a little early this year, to bring our staff some fun and cheer. Begin the hunt and look around, there are eggs that need to be found. You should find the eggs before the day is through. Yes, it may be silly, but it will be fun, too! You might find some candy, or a treat, whatever you find, it's yours to keep! Congratulations to our winners!

5 Myths and Truths About Kids’ Internet Safety Help keep your kids' online experiences positive and productive by learning the truth (and ignoring the rumors) about what really makes them safe. Article by Caroline Knorr bit.ly/olyDSA5

How to Talk to Teens About Dealing with Online Predators We might not want to think about our kids dealing with creepy people online. But for many parents, it's the scariest thing about our kids' digital lives. Use this script to kick off a conversation with your kid. Article by Christine Elgersma bit.ly/olyDSA4

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls Do you need parental controls? What are the options? Do they really work? Here's everything you need to know about the wide array of parental control solutions, from OS settings to monitoring apps to network hardware. Article by Caroline Knorr bit.ly/olySDA3

5 Surefire Ways to Protect Your Kid’s Online Privacy Today's kids​ spend lots of time posting and sharing information online. ​Learn five surefire ways to protect their ​privacy. bit.ly/olyDSv2

5 Ways to Make YouTube Safer for Your Kids Kids love YouTube. Whether they're watching funny videos, learning cool stuff, or uploading their own creations, they can stay busy on the popular website. But not everything about YouTube is fun and games. Discover five ways to make YouTube safer for kids. bit.ly/olyDSv1

Family Tip 4: *Understand how tech companies make money* Along with your tween and teen, research how digital devices, social media platforms, and apps and games get paid. Do they sell ads? Do they sell kids' data? What steps can you take to limit the amount of data you share while still using the platforms?

Middle School Track will not be having practice on Friday, March 19th.

Family Activity: Creating Strong Passwords Evaluate some sample passwords, and then create some strong passwords with your family. This simple, short activity could save you a WORLD of hurt and countless hours down the road! bit.ly/olyDSfa1

The Challenge Learning Student Leadership Team at OMS collaborated today to continue working towards our goal of creating a powerful culture of learning where we demonstrate the 4 C’s of thinking: Caring, Collaborative, Critical, and Creative. #ThinkingSkills #Leadership

Family Tip 3: *Discuss online scams, clickbait, and "special offers."* Share experiences of being targeted for a scam. Have either of you ever received a fishy email or text? What tipped you off? Discuss the telltale signs of a hoax, including poor grammar, misspellings, Photoshopped images, and close-but-not-exact company logos. And don't forget quizzes and tantalizing pop-ups, which can disguise shady privacy practices.

Real-World Reasons Parents Should Care About Kids and Online Privacy If you don't want to have the bejesus scared out of you, don't talk to an expert on kids' online privacy. If you knew what was really out there -- online predators, identity thieves, data miners -- you'd lock up the internet and throw away the key. The truth is, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The internet is so woven into our lives, we need to be aware of the worst-case scenarios that can strike when we're unprepared. Check out this article for a few of those scary things that can and do happen. But with some eyes and ears to the ground, they are totally preventable. bit.ly/olyDSA2

Family Tip 2: *Read the fine print* Find the privacy policy of your kid's favorite app and read it together. Is it clear or complicated? Can you tell what information the company collects and what they do with it? Are they selling it? Storing it? Keeping it safe?

| The Bare Minimum You Should Do to Protect Your Family's Data | If you're not ready to #deletefacebook, here are 13 simple things you and your kids can do on your social accounts, phones, and devices to keep data safe. Article by Caroline Knorr bit.ly/olyDSA1

Family Tip 1: *Use privacy settings* Sit down with tweens and teens to show the privacy settings you use on your apps and devices. Talk about why you keep certain information private or limited to a small group. Ask them what information they feel comfortable sharing and why.