Transcript WELCOME AND - Torrington

WELCOME AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
ATTENDANCE
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New attendance policy as of the start of the 2014-2015 school year
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After 10 days-note from doctor or medical professional is required
Research shows increased concerns with poor attendance. When students are absent they:
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miss out on carefully planned sequences of instruction
miss out on active learning experiences and class participation
miss out on the opportunity to ask questions
are more likely to fall behind academically and socially
**** students who attend school regularly learn more and are more successful in school than students who do not
GOOD ATTENDANCE
• Data shows good attendance is formed by:
• Parents who make regular school attendance priority are helping their children learn to
accept responsibility
• Good attendance patterns that are formed early in life will continue throughout a child’s
school career and they are less likely to drop out
HOW TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE
1. Let your child know that you expect him/her to attend school every day. Explain that, just as you have a job, it’s their job to
go to school and learn.
2. Set a time for doing homework each evening and a time for going to bed. Unfinished homework and too little sleep are
common reasons why parents hear the words, “I don’t feel good,” on school mornings.
3. Get involved with your child’s school. When they see you involved– they will understand that school is important.
4. Make positive statements regarding school and education.
5. Ask the school for help if you and your child are struggling with attendance.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS!!!!
• Attendance impacts educational learning as well as social development
• ANY QUESTIONS?????????????????????
• ANY COMMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Growing concern for elementary students over the past few years
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Most risks fall into the following categories: peer-to-peer; inappropriate content; lack of
understanding of online privacy issues; and outside influences of third-party advertising
groups.
Cyberbullying is the deliberate use of digital media to communicate false, embarrassing, or
hostile information about another person. It is the most common online risk for all children.
The main risk to preadolescent children online today: risks from each other, risks of improper
use of technology, lack of privacy, sharing too much information, and/or posting false
information about themselves.
NEW TRENDS
RESEARCHERS HAVE PROPOSED A NEW PHENOMENON CALLED “FACEBOOK DEPRESSION,” DEFINED AS
DEPRESSION THAT DEVELOPS WHEN PRETEENS AND TEENS SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON SOCIAL
MEDIA SITES, SUCH AS FACEBOOK, AND THEN BEGIN TO EXHIBIT CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION.
ACCEPTANCE BY AND CONTACT WITH PEERS IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF EACH CHILD’S LIFE. THE
INTENSITY OF THE ONLINE WORLD IS THOUGHT TO BE A FACTOR THAT MAY TRIGGER DEPRESSION IN
SOME CHILDREN/ADOLSECENTS. AS WITH OFFLINE DEPRESSION, PREADOLESCENTS AND ADOLESCENTS
WHO SUFFER FROM FACEBOOK DEPRESSION ARE AT RISK FOR SOCIAL ISOLATION AND SOMETIMES TURN
TO RISKY INTERNET SITES AND BLOGS FOR “HELP” THAT MAY PROMOTE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AGGRESSIVE,
OR SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS.
DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS
• When Internet users visit various Web sites, they can leave behind evidence of which sites they
have visited. This collective, ongoing record of one's Web activity is called the “digital
footprint.” One of the biggest threats to young people on social media sites is to their digital
footprint and future reputations. Preadolescents and adolescents who lack an awareness of
privacy issues often post inappropriate messages, pictures, and videos without understanding
that “what goes online stays online.”
• As a result, future jobs and college acceptance may be put into jeopardy by inexperienced
and rash clicks of the mouse. Indiscriminate Internet activity can make children and teenagers
an easy target for marketers, fraudsters to target, and predators.
HOW DOES FUN SOCIAL MEDIA TURN
DANGEROUS FOR OUR STUDENT:
BECAUSE OF THEIR LIMITED CAPACITY FOR SELF-REGULATION AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO
PEER PRESSURE, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ARE AT RISK AS THEY NAVIGATE AND
EXPERIMENT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA. RECENT RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THERE ARE
FREQUENT ONLINE EXPRESSIONS OF OFFLINE BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS BULLYING,
CLIQUE-FORMING, AND SEXUAL EXPERIMENTATION, THAT HAVE INTRODUCED
PROBLEMS SUCH AS CYBERBULLYING, PRIVACY ISSUES, AND “SEXTING.” OTHER
PROBLEMS THAT MERIT AWARENESS INCLUDE INTERNET ADDICTION AND
CONCURRENT SLEEP DEPRIVATION
HOW DOES FUN SOCIAL MEDIA TURN
DANGEROUS FOR OUR STUDENT:
Impulsive kids may comment on an inappropriate post without thinking, which
can snowball and become very hurtful.
Inappropriate followers may watch your child’s account and lead your child to
topics that are age inappropriate (ie-self-harm)
OUR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA:
• One student said: “my parents do not know I created a new account when they told me to
shut down my account.”
• Social media use on the bus is increasing which decreases actual verbal interactions with other
peers impacting appropriate social skills
• Social media “drama” (he said/she said)
• “My parents do not know I use my phone at night in my room.”
• Exposure and learning about harmful behaviors (that years ago we saw at the high school
level):
• Cutting and other self injurious behaviors that include eating disorders
WHAT CAN WE DO TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN
ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA?
• Immerse yourself. Know how to create a profile, “friend” your child, and be a part of his/her
online life. He/she may insist that you don't embarrass him/her by posting comments his/her
friends can see, but that's okay. You still get a window into his/her world
• Be a model. If you're constantly on your cell or computer, your child will want to be too
• Be kind. Discourage meanness, gossiping, and posting anything that's untrue or potentially
harmful
• Chat him/her up. Don't rely solely on a “net nanny” software program to keep your child from
questionable sites. Talk about your and his/her social-media experiences
WHAT CAN WE DO TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN
ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA?
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Go public. Keep the computer/smart phones centrally located in the family room or
kitchen. Limit time the child has access to social media without an adult present.
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Power down. Insist that meals be device-free and set a reasonable bedtime with no
electronics.
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Contact the school for guidance if you encounter any potential harmful information
for your child or a child’s peer. You can also report inappropriate content to the
social media host or the local police department.
SOCIAL MEDIA
• Social Media can be fun and exciting, but it can also be damaging and
dangerous to out children
• Any questions?????????????????????????????
• Any comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!