Olympia North

Concerned about your kid's digital life? Here are five signs that they have a healthy relationship with screens. bit.ly/OlyMBHR

We are approaching the time of year when illnesses are circulating and are on the rise. Please take a look at the graphic below for helpful information. The Olympia illness guidelines can be found here: https://sites.google.com/olympia.org/olympia-district-16-health/illness-guidelines

Looking for ways to manage your kid's device use? Check out these five easy screen-time tips. bit.ly/OlyMB5T

Set content limits that make sense for your family. Alongside conversations about healthy media habits, use features such as content filtering, privacy settings, and time limits offered by the apps and platforms your family uses to help manage access and exposure to media.

Help kids take breaks from tech by limiting screen time in bedrooms, during study time, or at the dinner table.

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

https://bit.ly/OlyMBCB Chatbots are becoming more helpful & clever, while at the same time, making it harder to tell if we're talking to a person or an AI. This video explores how and why AI chatbots are designed to sound so human-like, and how that might impact our well-being.

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

bit.ly/OlyMBMT Gut check time; do you digitally multitask in front of your kids? Explore that and other solutions to help your child reduce multitasking during homework time in this video.

It's easy to get distracted from homework (and life) when the phone never stops pinging and the next episode plays automatically. Let's set some common sense guidelines by signing this Family Media Agreement within your family: bit.ly/OlyAgreement

Election season stressing you out? This article from The Chicago School syncs up nicely with many of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills that we teach at Olympia; practice mindfulness for self-awareness, take mental health breaks, set boundaries, etc... These skills will help kids and parents alike navigate the media landscape during stressful (or even day to day) events.

In November Olympia will be focusing on finding the right balance between our devices, an onslaught of media, and our own personal well-being. Read more of our philosophy around this topic here: bit.ly/OlyMediaBalance

Article: New Healthy Media Habits for Young Kids Now that screen-time recommendations are more flexible, it's time for new rules. | Caroline Knorr https://bit.ly/OlyMBCK

It was a spooky day in 2nd grade as the students tested their knowledge of the states of matter as they investigated the mystery boxes in Fear Factor. They used adjectives to describe what they felt (or smelled) and then used inferencing and their scientific knowledge about each state of matter to make an educated guess regarding the contents of each mystery box. Fun was had by all!

Walk through what to do if your kid is being bullied online. First, step away. Ignoring a bully can be very effective. If the bullying continues, take screenshots or print out evidence. Then block the person. If it gets worse, report the behavior to a trusted adult.

Article: bit.ly/OlyCBA5 Other than straight-up cyberbullying, what are some other reasons our kids might be bummed by others' online behavior? Read more about ghosting, subtweeting, griefing (plus more), and learn some simple tips on how to handle these situations.

Halloween Fest is on Sunday, Oct 27 from 1-3 pm at Olympia High School. Wristbands are $5 at the South Athletic doors. Halloween Fest is sponsored by the Olympia National Honor Society. All proceeds go to Toys for Tots. Questions? Email Mrs. Hapgood: amanda.hapgood@olympia.org

If you notice your kid getting pulled into digital drama, help them take a break. They might need some help setting limits. Putting devices to bed at a specific time, plus breaks for mealtimes and face-to-face connection, can help kids recharge.

At tonight's New Teacher Academy, veteran teachers from across the district came together to share their best practices for a successful classroom environment and student learning. The theme of conversation was that "We are all in for our students!"

Resources: bit.ly/OlyCBR2 There are A LOT of "social media" sites out there. You know about Twitter & Facebook, but what about Reddit, TikTok, Snapchat, or Discord? Educate yourself with these "Parent's Ultimate Guides" from Common Sense media!