Yearbooks are in and will be sent home this week with students who ordered.
If you forgot to order, I have a limited supply of extras for sale. First come first serve. They are $20 each. Please email Stacey.boots@olympia.org to claim yours today.

Family Activity: Online privacy and security: bit.ly/olyDSfa1
Evaluate some sample passwords, and then create some strong passwords with your family.

4:25 p.m. Danvers and Stanford students are being loaded on their buses and are heading home.
4:20 p.m. Minier and Hopedale students are boarding buses at Oly West now and will be heading home. That area is now clear.
PTO needs your help!

Use Privacy Settings
Together, go through the settings on all new apps to make sure you both know what information your kids are sharing. Especially in the beginning, it's better to share very little.

Article: bit.ly/olyDSA5
Help keep your kids' online experiences positive and productive by learning the truth (and ignoring the rumors) about what really makes them safe. By Caroline Knorr

Show your school spirit with a spartan stuffy! The order closes on Friday, March 21! To place your order use the QR code or the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3MRmJ18fv_B7nA8JsfQJC4y9EK6JbEoyZXEygexEx7Fdchg/viewform

Discuss Personal vs. Private Info
Talk about the difference between what's OK to share online (favorite color) and what's not (home address).

Property Tax Stability: How will this happen?
Approximately 35% of purchases in McLean County are made by people who do not live here. This means non-property owners and visitors will help fund local schools, easing the burden on property tax payers. This funding source provides additional revenue to schools to reduce the reliance on property taxes.
Learn more about how this referendum can make a difference by visiting our webpage www.april1cent.info or contact us!
#april1cent

Our Olympia CUSD 16 app keeps getting better and better! Parents/guardians who have already created a Rooms account can now access new app features like chat and class streams via web and in the app.
Download for Android https://aptg.co/ZDkmVX
Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/49q8Hl

It's almost time for Kindergarten Roundup! Check out the flyer and register with the following link: https://forms.gle/7RAXbatRnuqWZJeF8

How does Olympia approach the protection of student data? We have an entire page of our website dedicated to how this is handled. From FERPA to COPPA to SOPPA, you can learn it all here:
https://www.olympia.org/page/student-data-privacy

Don't forget about our March Madness Reading Challenge! Log all your reading minutes and return your reading log every Friday! Currently Mrs. Miller's class has the most points, with Mrs. Ramsey and Mrs. Steffen's class rounding out the top 3!

When kids start to go online, whether they're playing multiplayer games, using educational apps, or just following their curiosity on Google, it's important that they understand the basics of online privacy and safety. With some general guidelines around what information is and isn't OK to share, and some help from parents when they're unsure, kids can have fun and learn a lot in the digital world.
When kids go online, whether they're playing multiplayer games, using social media apps, or posting their latest creative expressions, it's important that they understand how to keep their private information safe. With tips on how to avoid scams and protect their personal data, tweens and teens can travel all over the digital world -- and still be in charge of their digital footprints.
We will expand on these tips throughout the month during our Family Tips series!

Today we had our last day of extension activities, we love these days! Huge thank you to the Children's Discovery Museum, IL Art Station, ONE PTO, and our parent volunteers! We are looking forward to having Art class regularly next year!








Article: bit.ly/olyDSA1
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. By Caroline Knorr

These students were recognized for our February Spartan Spotlight of Kindness. Thank you for setting a wonderful example for your classmates and fellow Spartans!



5 Internet Safety Tips for Kids: bit.ly/OlySPV1
Sharing photos, posting comments, playing video games -- these are just a few of the ways that kids interact online. But when sharing goes beyond friends and family, it can be risky.

What’s Taxed and What’s Not Under the One-Cent Tax Proposal
Did you know? The one-cent tax proposed for McLean County only applies to items that are currently subject to Illinois sales tax. Here’s what won’t be taxed:
🍞 Groceries / Unprepared Food
💊 Prescription medications
🚗 Vehicles (cars, trucks, boats, RVs, mobile homes)
🚜 Farm equipment, parts, and inputs
💈 Personal/professional services (haircuts, accounting, legal services, etc.)
📊 Wholesale purchases
What will be taxed? Only items that are currently taxed under Illinois law. For example:
🍜 Prepared foods
📺 Retail purchases (clothing, electronics, etc.)
📦 Online sales
If approved, this tax will help fund critical improvements for our schools while minimizing impact on essential purchases. Learn more about how these funds would impact our school community by attending our community information meeting on March 10th @ 5:00 p.m. in the Media Center at Olympia High School, visiting our webpage www.april1cent.info or contacting us directly.




