Current Olympia 5th graders from all three buildings visited OMS to better understand what to expect in middle school. The class of 2029 went on a tour of the building, visited 6th grade classrooms, and had an opportunity to meet with OMS student leaders to learn about life at OMS. We are excited to welcome these students in August!
Thank You School Lunch Heroes!
Today we recognize the amazing School Lunch Heroes of who hustle every day to feed our students tasty, breakfast and lunch meals. It takes creativity, skill, and passion for feeding kids to do what you guys do - and you guys rock at it!
Signing up for accounts on the web can be as simple as clicking one button. But if that website or service does not have a written data privacy agreement with Olympia, you may be giving away your personal information with a single click! Parents, talk to your kids about where they have created accounts. Remind them that the Student Acceptable Use Policy for Olympia states that they will not create an account with their district email address unless directed to do so by a teacher. By working together as a community we can drastically reduce the amount of data that we unnecessarily share with companies who look to sell that data to advertisers. #StrongerTogether
See more at https://www.olympia.org/page/student-data-privacy
The Book Fair will be open Monday! Visit our book fair home page to set up an e-wallet or shop online. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/one
Develop Their Instincts
Help kids trust their guts so they can exit iffy or inappropriate online conversations. Discuss different scenarios and ask how they would feel and what they would do.
Help Kids Navigate Online Friendships
In the beginning, you might limit all communication with strangers online. As kids get older, you can monitor any online chatting. And once they're more independent, you can discuss which methods of communication are appropriate as well as which types of information to keep private from online-only friends.
Play a Game of Telephone
Discuss how messages can change depending on the person delivering it or the delivery method. Ask a question like "What are you doing?" with different tones of voice. Talk about how emoji and punctuation can help communicate tone and emotion in texts.
Chatting Safely Online
Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv3
Games, social media, and other online spaces give kids opportunities to meet and chat with others outside the confines of their real-life communities. But how well do kids actually know the people they're meeting and interacting with? Help students consider whom they're talking to and the types of information they're sharing online.
Students hear from teens about the benefits and drawbacks of presenting themselves differently (or even anonymously) to others online, and consider what it means to "be yourself" in digital spaces.
Video Lesson Activity: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UOkBAabgQthEAxHAMmu_H_7ZE6pHXeNEqrS7nDi-hCs/edit
Spartan Swim coming later this month. Be sure to sign up! A parent must stay for this elementary event!
Children who will be 5 years old by September 1st can pre-register for Kindergarten TONIGHT!
Keeping Games Fun and Friendly
Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv1
Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. Of course, online communication can come with some risks. Show your kids how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive.
Video Activity Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HQQ_lgKj5SVL5aGWYOrIfDfcwtxxjK9sI9-hJmSs3XY/edit
Family Activity: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kcPvJC1Qv6ZYAvecIb7k1ZJOBOOVAqoELAqMqSCybUA/edit#slide=id.g5e76c0c0a6_0_0
Mark your calendars for the Scholastic Book Fair, which will be May 2-6!
The Bunny Bop Easter Egg Hunt is this Sunday the 10th! Reservations are recommended, but walk-ups are welcome!
**Give Them the Right Words**
Kids learn about appropriate verbal and physical communication from watching you. But online conversations can be invisible. Occasionally, narrate as you're writing texts or social media comments when your kids are in earshot.
Elementary parents open Spartan Swim coming later this month! Parents need to stay and sign-up with michelle.maris@olympia.org
**Help Kids Make Friends and Interact Safely Online: Elementary**
Soon after kids start reading and writing, they often begin interacting with others online. Whether they're chatting within games or texting family members, kids need the skills to interact respectfully. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online. Throughout April, be on the lookout for these 4 Family Tips for elementary families who are looking to build a strong foundation for online relationships and communication!
- Give them the right words.
- Play a game of telephone.
- Help kids navigate online friendships.
- Develop their instincts.
Family Tip 5: Skip quizzes.
Help kids identify and avoid clickbait, quizzes, special offers, and anything that asks for personal or private information. This helps keep information secure and devices safe.
Join us for the Bunny Bop Easter Egg Hunt!
Article Link: 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.
Article Link: bit.ly/olyDSA3
Do you need parental controls? What are the options? Do they really work? Here's everything you need to know about the wide array of parental control solutions, from OS settings to monitoring apps to network hardware.
