An important message from Christian Ranaudo, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction:

Recent media reports about a disturbing online game are a good reminder for us to reinforce the importance of internet safety and constant awareness of what your children are seeing and reading online.

This online “challenge” game has, like many others, stoked unfounded fears. This has caused enough social media chatter that we are reminding you to reinforce important internet safety rules in your home and anywhere where your children have access to computers and portable electronic devices.

Please take a few minutes and reinforce these internet usage reminders to your children:

• Keep your personal information safe and secret. Think carefully before you share a photo of yourself or your friends.
• Don’t accept a friend request from anyone you do not know.
• Never arrange to meet an online friend, because it can be very dangerous. No matter how well you think you know people, it is possible to pretend to be anyone on the internet.
• If you receive junk mail or spam or messages that make you feel uncomfortable, tell an adult that you trust and do not reply to them.
• Always remember that sometimes people might say or write things which are untrue on the internet so do not trust everything you see or hear.
• Most of the time being online is fun, but if you see anything that makes you feel worried or uncomfortable tell and adult that you trust immediately.

The best way to keep your children safe online is to be aware of what sites they are visiting and who they are communicating with.  We want our children to be adept at technology usage, but we must ensure that usage is in a safe, emotionally healthy and even educational way.

The safety and security of our students always remains our first priority.  If you have any concerns that your children or their peers have an interest in this challenge or in any dangerous behaviors related to this, contact your building administrator as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our children safe.