Oly North Spartans - I have no doubt you would have busted the bucket today, but I used a 5 gallon bucket and it's almost full already!! Your kind and generous hearts are amazing! Dimes tomorrow; do we dare go for a 2nd bucket?
*Keeping Games Fun and Friendly*
Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. But online communication can come with some risks. Show your kids how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive.
Video: bit.ly/olyRCv1
Great Job Oly North Spartans! You brought in so many pennies for St. Jude today that we busted the bucket! Can we do it again tomorrow with the nickels?
Family Tip #1: 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.
Finding text evidence is a breeze with the help of our new NASA Brain Scanner 2.0 glasses! Students have been learning about citing evidence in texts but needed a little extra help remembering to do so! Luckily Mrs. Loyer has connections at NASA!
**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!
1. Give them the right words.
2. Play a game of telephone.
3. Help kids navigate online friendships.
4. Develop their instincts.
Wednesday, April 7th will be a regular dismissal day at 2:00 pm instead of the originally planned early out SIP day.
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.
5 Myths and Truths About Kids’ Internet Safety
Help keep your kids' online experiences positive and productive by learning the truth (and ignoring the rumors) about what really makes them safe. Article by Caroline Knorr
bit.ly/olyDSA5
Parents' Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls
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. Article by Caroline Knorr
bit.ly/olySDA3
5 Surefire Ways to Protect Your Kid’s Online Privacy
Today's kids spend lots of time posting and sharing information online. Learn five surefire ways to protect their privacy.
bit.ly/olyDSv2
5 Ways to Make YouTube Safer for Your Kids
Kids love YouTube. Whether they're watching funny videos, learning cool stuff, or uploading their own creations, they can stay busy on the popular website. But not everything about YouTube is fun and games. Discover five ways to make YouTube safer for kids.
bit.ly/olyDSv1
Family Tip 4: **Power up passwords**
Work together with kids to help them come up with complex passwords. Think outside the dictionary. Use phrases and special characters that make passwords hard to guess but easy to remember. Remind kids to keep passwords private and change them regularly.
Learning is a slam dunk! 2nd graders in Mrs. Loyer's class are getting their "heads in the game" as they compete in a variety of March Madness activities including a Tournament of Books, creating a basketball stand using STEM, and completing a Sweet 16 Math Challenge!
Family Activity: Creating Strong Passwords
Evaluate some sample passwords, and then create some strong passwords with your family. This simple, short activity could save you a WORLD of hurt and countless hours down the road!
bit.ly/olyDSfa1
Spring Break will be the week of March 22-March 26. The Olympia North office will be closed until Monday, March 29th. Have a safe and relaxing Spring Break!
Mastery Manager report cards will be sent out electronically by 4:00 pm this coming Friday, March 19th.
Family Tip 3: **Avoid location tracking**
Location-aware apps can be super helpful. But apps that use a device's location to help people find your kid or offer them ads for nearby businesses should be used with caution. Turn them off if you can.
Real-World Reasons Parents Should Care About Kids and Online Privacy
If you don't want to have the bejesus scared out of you, don't talk to an expert on kids' online privacy. If you knew what was really out there -- online predators, identity thieves, data miners -- you'd lock up the internet and throw away the key. The truth is, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The internet is so woven into our lives, we need to be aware of the worst-case scenarios that can strike when we're unprepared. Check out this article for a few of those scary things that can and do happen. But with some eyes and ears to the ground, they are totally preventable.
bit.ly/olyDSA2
Family Tip 2: **Use privacy settings**
Together, go through the settings on all new apps to make sure you both know what information your kids are sharing. Especially in the beginning, it's better to share very little.
