
Q&A Time: Is there any way to make sure my kid won't become a cyberbully?
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying/is-there-any-way-to-make-sure-my-kid-wont-become-a-cyberbully


Children's author/illustrator Michael Wayne visited Olympia North today to promote the Young Authors program with students.



Video: 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.

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?


Video: 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.

Family Tip 1: Define your terms.
Make sure kids understand what cyberbullying is: repeated and unwanted mean or hurtful words or behavior that occurs online (through texts, social media posts, online chat, etc.).


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. Common Sense Media addresses your cyberbullying questions, offering age-appropriate advice, school resources, and more from parents and experts.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying


Making the most of midwinter indoor recess with Pictionary Air!


Fam Tip 5: Choose a Variety of Sources
Show kids how you get news & information from different places, & explain how you make your choices. Use words like "credible," "trustworthy," "respected," and "fair." As kids get older, introduce the ideas of bias, satire, and clickbait.

I love when students chose Library Helper for their PBIS Reward!! #olyspartanpride




Have you been keeping up with our News and Media Literacy suggestions? Here are some questions that you could use as discussion prompts to see how things are sinking in!
bit.ly/OlyNMQ


7 Spartans participated in Special Olympics Basketball Skills competition Sunday, Jan. 26th at ICC. Dakota Birky earned bronze medal, Dylan Olson and Kacie Raffety earned silver medals. Earning Gold medals and qualifying for state are Hannah Baker, Brenden Webb, Jacob Begolka and Caleb Busick. Way to go Spartans!


Family Tip 4: Discuss Fact vs. Opinion!
Play with ideas and decide which are facts and which are opinions. Ask: How tall are you? What's the best food in the world? Do you like dogs? Point out that both fact and opinion show up in the news, but opinion is usually(!) labeled.

Due to slick roads and dense fog, Olympia schools will have a one hour late start today (Friday, Jan. 24, 2020)

Fearless Fact Finding!
Check out this list of trustworthy resources to help you learning what's true (and what is not!) on the web. You can even use one of them to look back in time and what was on a website in the past!

Olympia North yearbook order forms are due February 21st. Contact the office if your child did not bring home an order form.

Who created this message? How does it try to attract my attention? Be a detective when looking at news and media!

Fam. Tip 3: Explore Different Sides of a Story!
Use real-life examples to help kids understand how people can view the same situation with totally different perspectives. Sibling conflict is a great example of how two people can have wildly different opinions on the same event.

No School on Monday, January 20th in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

If a picture's worth a thousand words, do the words always tell a true story? One way to find out is through a reverse image search. Search with an image instead of a keyword and see what you discover!