As soon as you share the first photo of your child, you're establishing their digital footprint. As kids get older and start creating their own content or engaging with others online, it's important for them to understand the tracks they're leaving behind and what those tracks might reveal. Parents can help guide kids toward creating the kind of footprint they can be proud of. https://www.commonsense.org/education/family-tips/k-5-digital-footprint-and-identity
The Art to Remember keepsakes arrived and were sent home on Monday. If you missed the ordering deadline or need more items, don't worry. You can place a late order. Just visit the website https://arttoremember.com . Orders will be shipped in January or early February, so they will not arrive before the holidays. You have the option of having the items shipped to your home address or the school when you place the order. Art to Remember is a great way to get a keepsake item of your child's artwork while supporting the school.
Video: bit.ly/OlyDFV1
Many kids are already posting and sharing information about themselves. But in a world where oversharing might seem like the norm, it’s important for kids to think about their digital footprints. Listen to what these teens have to say about sharing on social media. Are you making the right sharing decisions?
Every day, teens engage with countless images and videos that have been edited or digitally altered. But are your kids aware of, or have they thought deeply about, disinformation online, including the phenomenon of deepfake videos?
For more information about this new media manipulation method, check out the following video. It has never been more important for our students to think critically about the media they consume and identities they see online.
https://youtu.be/OUSworJiRWg
For more information, and some wonderful discussion points to talk over with your kids after watching the video, check out this lesson:
https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/are-deepfake-videos-a-threat-to-democracy
#DigCit! In a time of 24/7 connectivity, do the benefits of online sharing outweigh the risks? In Nov. our digital citizenship focus will be on the topic of Digital Footprint & Identity. Look for posts throughout the month to use as discussion points with your family!
Thank you OHS National Honor Society members for decorating the sidewalks at West. Happy Friday!
How to Set Screen Rules That Stick
Easy tips for limiting kids' computer, TV, game, and movie time. | Caroline Knorr | 2/21/2019
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to-set-screen-rules-that-stick
Chick this out! Eggs are hatching at Olympia West! Check our Olympia West website for the live webcam.
The annual Community Claus spaghetti dinner will be held Thursday, November 19, from 4:15-7:00. This year the dinner will be carry-out only and served as a drive-thru at St. John's Fellowship Hall in Minier. Suggested donation is $7.00 per adult meal and $3.00 per child meal. Community members interested in attending the dinner are encouraged to use the link below to RSVP the number of meals you need. This is a fundraiser for Community Claus to help support families in need during the holiday season.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0944AAA722A02-community
Happy Friday from Olympia West! Student Council members are outside and ready to greet everyone today.
New Healthy Media Habits for Young Kids
Now that screen-time recommendations are more flexible, it's time for new rules. | Caroline Knorr | 10/18/2017
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/new-healthy-media-habits-for-young-kids
Do you multitask in front of your kids? Check out that and other solutions to help your child reduce multitasking during homework time:
https://d1pmarobgdhgjx.cloudfront.net/parenttip/PT_6WaysToStopMultitasking-new.mp4
Looking for ways to manage your kid's device use? Check out these five easy screen-time tips:
https://d1pmarobgdhgjx.cloudfront.net/parenttip/PT_5ScreenTips_YoungKids.mp4
Help keep media/tech use in check by following a few simple practices:
1. Create screen-free times and zones
2. Try parental controls
3. Establish clear family rules
4. Watch and play together
5. Help kids identify healthy behaviors
Read more: http://bit.ly/OlyMBTipsE
Screen time; the reality is that there really is no magic number that's "just right." What's more important is the quality of kids' media, how it fits into your family's lifestyle, and how you engage your kids with it. Read more: http://bit.ly/OlyScreenTime
It’s a great day to be a 4th grader at West. The class participated in the Mile Run and everyone crossed the finish line in under 13:08. Then, after lunch students began a science experiment using sugar cubes to find out what happens to rocks as they tumble down a mountain. #OlympiaStrong
It’s not too late to place your Art to Remember order. Visit the website ArttoRemember.com and search by child’s name or your online code. All orders need to be placed by October 13 to ensure delivery before Christmas.
It's easy to get distracted from homework (and life) when the phone never stops pinging and the next episode plays automatically. Let's some common sense guidelines by signing this Family Media Agreement within your family: bit.ly/OlyAgree
Do the benefits of being ever-connected also come with risks to our mental health? It's an important question to ask - especially for our kids. In Oct. we will be exploring Media Balance & Well Being. Read more: bit.ly/OlyMediaBalance
We ended Homecoming Spirit Week by wearing our class shirts- Fourth Grade Strong No Matter the Distance. #SpartanStrong #4thGrade
