Tip #2: Play Spot The Ad
When you see advertising on TV or on a billboard, ask your children to figure out what the ad is selling. Sometimes it's obvious, and sometimes it's not. Help them explore why certain pictures, sounds, or words are used to sell certain products.
Well-crafted headlines benefit everyone. They help readers digest information and publishers sell news stories. But what if the headline is misleading? What if it's crafted just to get clicks and not to inform? "Clickbait" headlines may benefit advertisers and publishers (think $$$), but they don't benefit readers. And when they go viral, they can badly misinform the public. This week, look for clickbait headlines in the media that you consume and discuss them with your family. How many can you find before Sunday rolls around!?
bit.ly/OlyNMV2
All media comes with an author and an agenda. Help kids think critically about any media they view with critical questions that dig below the surface. And to really empower kids, have them create their own media with these same questions in mind.
Illinois State Board recognizes Spartan Staff!
The OHMS café offered a new menu item today.
The Spartan Slammers were a hit!
A shout out to all our food service staff for their hard work!
Tip #1: Encourage Healthy Skepticism. Help your children analyze the info around them, from toy packaging to Instagram posts to news headlines, and question the purpose of the words and images they see. Teach kids how to use fact-checking tools like Snopes and FactCheck.org.
"Meet the Regional Team Night" for the OHS Speech Team will happen tonight starting at 6 PM in the High School Learning Center. All 14 individual events on the Regional Team will be presenting their pieces prior to the IHSA Regional Olympia being hosted on Saturday, February 4!
With so much media and information coming at us through the television, phones, social media, and more, it's more important than ever for kids to understand the basics of media literacy. When kids can identify different types of news and media and the methods and meanings behind them, they're on their way to being critical thinkers and smart consumers.
Throughout the month, we will be sharing a set of five tips to help your children become critical thinkers of news and media. Here is a short video to get those conversations started!
bit.ly/OlyNMV5
Olympia Middle School Will Present Annie JR. on Thursday February 3, at 4:00 PM; Saturday, February 4, at 7:00 PM; and Sunday, February 5, at 2:00 PM at the Olympia High School Theater. Tickets are $4 for students and $6 for Adults. The tickets can be purchased from a cast or crew member, calling Wendy Wade at (309) 379-5941, ext. 8330, or at the door.
Annie JR. follows the story of an orphan named Annie (Alice Brucker) living a “hard-knock life” at The New York Municipal Orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan (Bella Callanos). Annie dreams of being reunited with her parents and takes action to find them. From adventure to adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt (Layla Durham) and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Leo Durheim), his personal secretary Grace Farrell (Addalynn Stewart) and a lovable mutt named Sandy (Olivia)!
OMS students celebrated the 100th day of school in style with a scavenger hunt. Mrs. Dupureur and Ms. Holmes passed out 100th Day tickets to each of the teachers. Teachers then hid the tickets around their classroom. The first 100 students who found a ticket were able to redeem it for a sweet treat!
Friday Market this week!
1.19.23 | 3:01
Phone lines into OHS, OMS, and the Unit Office are back up and working.
Phones at OHS, OMS, and the Unit Office are currently not receiving outside calls. If you need to contact someone at these locations, please call one of our elementary schools and they can transfer you to the correct building.
01.17.2023 | 12:11 PM
Phones are back up and operational at OHS, OMS, and the Unit Office. Thank you for your patience!
Today, January 9th, is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. We wanted to take a moment to recognize and honor Olympia's School Resource Officer (SRO), Deputy Ben Zehr. Deputy Zehr joined us earlier this school year, and he has done a fantastic job connecting with students, staff, and families. He is an active presence during the school day, and at extracurricular activities. Thank you, Deputy Zehr!
Quick reminder! OMS Artists taking art this semester need a sketchbook & a set of Crayola watercolors for class next week! Please let Mrs J know if you have any questions!
Families, join us for some winter fun! Free event for ALL Oly students, families and staff. Mark your calendar!
Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv2
"It's complicated" can describe many of our relationships with others, both romantic and otherwise. Add digital devices and social media to the mix, and things get complicated even further. Help students take the first step toward building healthy and rewarding friendships and romantic relationships, both online and off.
Students listen to other teens' thoughts and feelings about having and maintaining boundaries in friendships online, in a world of being constantly connected.
:: Develop their instincts ::
Help kids learn to trust their guts so they can suss out creepy, risky, or otherwise unsafe online situations. Playact a few scenarios: What if someone asks to take a conversation private? What if someone asks for your phone number? What if someone invites you to a private chat room? Be aware that some kids (even "good" kids) will explore iffy stuff online out of curiosity. But the minute they feel uncomfortable, they need to shut things down.
OMS students received a surprise PBIS party today for their awesome work this semester! The Grinch came to ruin the celebration but low and behold, his heart grew three sizes and he ended up becoming respectful, safe, and responsible along with the rest of the OMS family! Happy Holidays, Spartans!
