Teach your child to be Safe online, to be Good Digital Citizens and not to share personal photos or information.

There are many news stories about students sharing personal photos and personal data with friends and in some cases, strangers.  It is important that you have open conversations with your students regarding their personal safety.  Students need to be reminded that once something is posted, it is there forever! Whether that item is a photo or an unkind comment, you can't take it back.  If you wouldn't do it or say it in person, you certainly shouldn't do it or say it online.  All of our LES students receive extensive teaching regarding safe internet use. Please help us reinforce that teaching at home.  It is important that we not only teach our students how to stay safe online and how to be a good digital citizen, but we also need to model this behavior to our students so they understand the importance of making good choices.  It is important to monitor your child's online presence and their accounts. Be sure to look for hidden accounts and review all apps.  There are many apps that appear to be something easy & safe, but they are really apps that hide or mask their content.
Many sites have age restrictions to keep them in line with COPA guidelines and restrictions.  Before you allow your student to use any website, you should first check it out yourself, make sure the content is appropriate, and search for the Terms of Use to see what ages the site is intended for. Many sites require students to be 13 or older to use the site or to have an account.  Other sites require people to be 18 or older. These guidelines are in place to protect your children from predators and inappropriate content.

Monitoring Digital Content

As we move back into Face to Face Learning, your students will want to continue using the new online social interaction sites that they used during COVID.  Engaging with your peers is imperative for students social well being, but it still needs to be monitored.  Please be very diligent in monitoring their online access.  It is a good idea to continue your "screens out" policy with your student so that you can always see what they are working on and looking at. Regularly reviewing Social Media content and cell phone use with your student is a good way to help students understand their permanent Digital Footprint.

The Student tab of our website has approved links and sites your students are used to using, plus a few that we found to be very helpful for caregivers.  We work hard all year teaching your students to be safe online, and to tell an adult right away if something makes them uncomfortable, if someone is being a cyberbully, or if something just doesn't seem right.  Please be sure to have that open dialogue with your students as well. We work better as a team than we do individually.

I am available by email at any time to assist with any questions you might have, or if there is a problem with one of our links.  Please feel free to contact me at clevy2@wcpss.net if needed.

Don't forget to remind your students to take time away from technology and all screens. Play a game, run around in the yard, or go for a walk together.