Do you know your parenting style? You know that you are a good parent but want to be a better parent. Join us tonight to learn about being the best parent! Register to receive the Zoom link.
The Olympia High School National Honor Society is hosting its annual Halloween Carnival on Sunday, Oct. 29from 1-3 pm at the high school. The carnival features games, hayrack rides, crafts, a petting zoo, a bake sale, face painting and a haunted house. Cost is $5 per child, age 3+. All proceeds will benefit Toys for Tots.
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.
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.
#DigCit 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.
bit.ly/OlyCBV2
As kids grow, they'll naturally start to communicate more online, but some of what they see could make them feel hurt, sad, angry, or even fearful. Help your students build empathy for others and learn strategies to use when confronted with cyberbullying.
#DigCit 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?
Today is World Homeless Day. Did you know we have housing insecurity fact sheets in each of our buildings!
Families, we are just one week away from our second session "Helping Your Child Succeed". Be sure to register for the Zoom link to show up in your inbox. This is for anyone in our district! Last session on Anxiety is housed on the Spartan website under parent engagement.
bit.ly/OlyCBV1
Let's face it, some online spaces can be full of negative, rude, or downright mean behavior. But what counts as cyberbullying? Help your students learn what is - and what isn't - cyberbullying, and give them the tools they'll need to combat the problem.
#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.
