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!
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!
Congratulations to Colton Loyer for being named a National Youth Heart Ambassador by the American Heart Association.
Congratulations to Colton Loyer (Olympia North) for being named a Youth Heart Ambassador through the American Heart Association.
This week, students have been spending time reviewing Zones of Regulation, learning about what happens in our brains when we have big strong feelings, and creating coping "toolboxes" to use throughout the year!
Check out the video that we watched about what happens in our brains when we have different feelings: https://bit.ly/3KXGiSI
Oly North students kicked off our SEL boot camp last week by creating and sharing their DNA (dreams, needs, abilities) with their new teachers.
Then, we read "A Little Spot Needs Feelings" and talked about how sometimes our feelings need other feelings to help them out. Students had the opportunity to draw how Peaceful can help Anger and how Love can help Sadness.
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
New Olympia teachers spent two days with each other, District administrators, and some veteran teachers getting oriented to Olympia. It is a great group with only four brand new teachers as the others are coming to us with experience in other districts. We ended our time together with a bus tour of all eight communities. Their energy and enthusiasm was impressive!
Learning should not stop when school’s out! Check out IXL's summer resources for one way to keep the momentum over summer break!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Be_B-2GCwixdWVpnmEDv6rMpy77ZzYeb/view?usp=share_link
