#DigCit Family Tip 1: Define your terms.
Make sure kids understand what cyberbullying is: repeated and unwanted mean or hurtful words or behavior that occur online (through texts, social media posts, online chat, etc.).
Parent Concerns: Cyberbullying.
Once kids go online, their chances of finding cyberbullies, haters, and trolls is, sadly, quite high. Find age-specific guidelines, videos, and articles to help with tough conversations -- whether your kid is a bully or is being bullied. Explore answers to all your cyberbullying questions, age-appropriate advice, school resources, and more from parents and experts.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying
Most kids will encounter mean behavior at some point in their digital lives. For some kids, this experience is a blip that's easily forgotten, while for others it can have deep, long-lasting effects. For parents, the key is staying involved in kids' lives -- both online and off -- so they can step in and offer help if necessary. With guidance from parents and educators, kids can learn how to dodge the drama and stand up for others.
Throughout October we will be sharing 6 different tips for families to encourage best behavior when approaching the topics of Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, and Hate Speech with your families.
1. Define your terms
2. Check in about online life
3. Role-play
4. Encourage upstanding
5. Take breaks
6. Review worst-case steps
A growing trend is children using generative A.I. tools such at character.ai to connect with something in a way that they feel uncomfortable doing with another human. The areas below are areas that we hope you discuss with your children at home, and are concepts that may be brought up in Olympia classrooms throughout the year.
- The role that AI will play in the areas of creative expression, human relationships, and mental well-being.
- The impacts that AI might have on their identity formation and sense of self.
- How AI companions might influence their expectations of genuine and complicated humans.
Read the full article from Common Sense Education here:
https://www.olympia.org/article/1271448
The 2nd session is October 17th 6-7 PM via Zoom. These sessons are free but you need to sign up for the zoom link.
October is Principal Appreciation Month. We are so thankful for our Elementary Principals and the support they provide students, staff, and families.
Digital citizenship grows in importance each year (A.I. anyone?). Starting today we begin our annual focus of six core areas of digital citizenship, providing resources and support for our Oly families. More details on this outreach can be found here: bit.ly/OlyDigCitOverview
Did you miss last night's mental health session - Your Child's Anxiety ? Check out the replay: LINK: https://cookcenter.info/Sep26OSDReplay
October Elementary Menu
Tonight is the night! You can still sign-up for the Zoom link for the session on Your Child's Anxiety! Be sure to download the Zoom app and have a current update.
Reminder, tomorrow evening first mental health series "Your Child's Anxiety" starts at 6:00 via Zoom. Register now for the link to be sent to your inbox. This session is free to all parents and staff. Registration is open until the session begins.
In a pleasantly speedy turn of events, phone access has been restored! If you do try contacting a building and receive only a dial tone, please send a follow up email as well. Heavy rain can often cause intermittent issues with district phone lines. Thank you!
The Pre-K classes started their bug unit. Two caterpillars were donated to the class and we are very excited to watch them transform into butterflies 🐛🦋.
Kindergarten learned about the lifecycle of a butterfly this week. We observed the chrysalis throughout the week and got to see the transformation into a butterfly! We released our butterflies into the butterfly garden!
First through fourth graders at West had the opportunity to read the book The Dot during Second Step. The message of the book is to try again when you face an obstacle, and encourage and support others when they need it. The students created a half of their own Dot, and combined it with a classmate's to create a beautiful masterpiece, just like the story!
Parents, we are kicking off our free mental health series with Your Child's Anxiety session via zoom. September 26th, at 6:00 PM. All parents and staff are encouraged to attend! Questions: Michelle.maris@olympia.org
Our first session in our Mental Health Series is coming September 26th 6-7PM via zoom. Register today!
Happy Substitute Appreciation Week to our subs!
Yesterday, kindergarten read the book "Library Mouse" and learned that anyone can be an author! Today, the library mouse surprised kindergarten with mouse sized books to create! Everyone practiced being an author by writing an "All about Me" book. We even left the books out for the library mouse to read!
Families, today is the last day to fill out the parent survery. Please complete if you have not. Your input is valued!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HyMtHeYSj4VVPSeLdogXe_FuXEisAUBkIhlnk7AY0jU/edit#responses
