January 7, 2021

Dear AP School Community,

Yesterday, citizens gathered at our nation’s capital to protest the results of the recent presidential election. During the event, the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC, was breached. These alarming events, coupled with the reality of the current pandemic, can be particularly frightening for some students. Children can experience feelings of confusion, sadness, helplessness, anger and anxiety as they try to make sense out of the news in the world around them. Experts agree that talking to your child about conflicts in the news can help him or her understand what has happened so they can feel safe and begin to cope with the situation.

Attached are tips from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to help you in your discussions at https://www.nctsn.org/resources/suggestions-educators-helping-traumatized-children-school

Additional resources to aid in at-home conversations can be found at: https://www.apa.org/topics/talking-children https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-children-with-tragic-events-in-the-news

If your child needs extra support, please feel free to reach out to your building administrator, social worker or counselor, or peruse the resources at http://allenparksocialworkers.weebly.com/

As leaders in our school community, we recognize that news events such as this reinforce our need to continue to persevere in building a culturally proficient and globally aware community.

Through education, love, patience and acceptance, we can continue to guide our children to be empowered global stewards who have a positive impact on our community, country, and world.



Sincerely,

Michael H. Darga
Superintendent of Schools

This is an article about our new landscape.  We are expecting kids (and their support systems) to be on line more and more, however we also need to make sure that students understand the Netiquette needed.  Here are the tips from the article you:     November 19, 2020 artlce
https://www.schoology.com/blog/5-tips-help-parents-teach-digital-citizenship-home
"I am most concerned about our students in middle and high school. I do not talk about the digital footprint any longer. Students are now creating digital tattoos that will stay with them forever. A tattoo is permanent and cannot be removed. With the current climate of the pandemic, electronic communication tools are being used more widely. What students post online, even in middle school, can impact their future. I ask teachers and parents to use these tips to help students as they navigate the vast space of the internet. ​

1. Respect -- Students should always be respectful when communicating or creating in the online world. I cannot stress enough to treat others online the way they would like to be treated in person. Just because they are not face-to-face doesn’t mean they are free to speak with disrespect. The words they put out online will follow them as they move through life. When considering what path to follow after school, they should remember that colleges and employers will look at their digital tattoo. 
2. Ownership -- Students need to take charge of their digital lives. A student’s digital tattoo starts early. We need to remind our students they are responsible for everything they do online. They are the ones clicking on the keys and uploading photos and are responsible for how large their digital tattoo becomes. 
3. Voice -- Students need to explore ways to show positivity on the internet. We can help them by creating activities that model collaboration and positivity in the online environment. Facilitating opportunities for students to experience the internet’s potential for positivity can go a long way to helping students represent themselves as the strong individuals we know they are. 
4. Wellness -- Students need to step away. We all realize in this digital world this is easier said than done, but everyone needs to step away from the screen from time to time. Spending too much time on electronic devices can cause feelings of isolation and depression. Our students should be engaging in activities at home and school that allow them time away from the screen. 
5. Protection -- Students need to protect their digital selves. Students may think it is a good idea to share account information such as usernames and passwords with friends, but this is just like giving the key to their house to people on the street. Remind students to keep their private information private and not to share too much about themselves. There are people that are looking for small bits of personal information online that they can piece together like a puzzle to form a larger picture.  

In these ever-changing times, it is essential we help our students to get started on the right foot as they explore the digital world. The tips above are guides. We should speak openly and honestly with our students about the power of the internet and how they can utilize it in a way that doesn’t negatively impact their future."

Again please use the link for the full article and be safe and be well.