Olympia Middle School

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The 7th Grade informational meeting for Washington DC is Wednesday, March 4th at 6pm in the MS Cafe.

Three winners in round 1 of the IESA State Chess Tournament

Family Tip 5: Review worst-case steps. Walk through what to do if your kid is being bullied online. First, step away. Ignoring a bully can be very effective. If the bullying continues, take screenshots or print out evidence. Then block the person. If it gets worse, report the behavior to a trusted adult. Talk about who those people are and make sure your kid has their contact information.

Resources: bit.ly/OlyCBR1 There are A LOT of "social media" sites out there. You know about Twitter & Facebook, but what about Reddit, TikTok, Twitch, Sarahah, or Discord? Educate yourself with this list of short explanation videos from Common Sense media!

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV4 For kids, miscommunication is a common occurrence online and on social media. Plus, being behind a screen makes it easier to say things they wouldn't say in person. So how do we help kids avoid the pitfalls of digital drama?Hear it from the source!

Family Tip 5: Take breaks. Notice your kid getting pulled into digital drama? Help them take a break. They may determine for themselves when they need to step back, but they might need some help setting limits. Putting devices to bed at a specific time can help kids recharge.

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV5 Digital harassment happens when teens use texts, instant messages, emails, and social media posts to keep tabs on or threaten someone else. It usually involves two people in a close relationship. Here are four ways to help teens avoid digital harassment.

Any MS Student interested in MS Track - there will be a meeting, Friday, Feb 28th at 2:27pm in the MS Gym. Questions email: naomi.springer@olympia.org or brendan.hoskins@olympia.org

Q&A: How can I explain why teens shouldn't create fake profiles to tease their friends and/or peers? https://www.commonsensemedia.org/facebook-instagram-and-social/how-can-i-explain-why-teens-shouldnt-create-fake-profiles-to-tease Photo from Rober Monkada

7th Grade meeting for Washington DC trip in Spring of 2021 is being held on Wednesday, March 4th at 6pm in HS Cafe. Questions email colleen.williams@olympia.org

Family Tip 4: Encourage upstanding. Let kids know that supporting someone who is being bullied can make a big difference. If they feel safe confronting the bully, they should. If not, a PM can help someone through a tough time. Speaking up against hate speech is important too!

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV7 As humans, we thrive on social connections and group associations. But this tendency can also lead us to be suspicious of people outside our group. This fear -- xenophobia -- can be overcome by more exposure to people who are different from us. However, the internet can often make this more difficult. Help your kids recognize this challenge and find strategies for navigating content online.

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV6 Cyberbullying is something most families hope they never have to deal with. But if your kids are texting, sharing photos, and posting comments, it’s important to talk to them about how to deal with online harassment. Learn 5 ways to stop cyberbullies.

Today, Friday, February 14th all Olympia schools will begin one hour late due to the extreme cold.

Family Tip 3: Role-play. If kids feel like they might have trouble removing themselves from digital drama, experiment with some different ways they can make a graceful exit. Talk through words they can use, ways they can steer conversations in positive directions, etc.

All Olympia activities are cancelled for today, February 13th. All Olympia buildings are closed today as well.

All after school activities are cancelled for tonight, February 12th. Please be safe on your way home.

Q&A Time! bit.ly/OlyCBQ1 Responding to Haters & Trolls Online. Finding out that your kid has been cyberbullied is emotional. You or your kid might want to retaliate, but it's best to help your kid defuse the situation, and make rational efforts to put a stop to the bullying.

Family Tip 2: Check in about online life. Just like you'd ask your kid about their sleep, exercise, and eating, stay on top of their online life. Who are they chatting with? How do people treat each other in the games and on the sites they're using?