REPORT CARDS &
INTERVIEWS Report cards will be sent
home on March 20th.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
will be held on March 24 &
26. A schedule will soon be
sent home with the oldest/
only child in our school.
If you need to make
changes, please call the
school at 780-941-3927
as soon as possible.
NURTURING SUCCESS & EXCELLENCE
2015
MARCH
KINDERGARTEN
PRE-REGISTRATION Pre-registration for the
2015-2016 Kindergarten
class will be held on April 8,
2015 at 7:00 pm in the New
Sarepta Elementary School.
All parents with children who
will be 5 years old by
February 28, 2016 are
requested to attend.
Please bring your child’s birth
certificate, along with your
legal land description.
We will also be electing the
L.A.C. executive for next
year at this time. This is an
excellent way to be involved
in your child’s education and
meet new people. THE REGULAR L.A.C. MEET-
ING WILL BE ON THE SAME
DAY BUT START AT 6:30 pm.
Please pass this message on
to anyone you know who will
have a child attending
Kindergarten next year.
Having an accurate count of
students that will be attend-
ing Kindergarten next year
greatly assists us with
program planning.
CALENDAR EVENTS 4 - Early Dismissal (2:30 pm)
LAC mtg. @ 6:00 pm
5 - Miquelon Lake Day (Gr. 4-6)
5 - Family Dance (7 - 9:00 pm)
6 - PD Day - No School
- BGRS Google Summit
6 & 7- Gr. 3/4 Girls District .
. Floor Hockey Tournament
8 - Daylight Savings Time
17-St.Patrick’s Day assembly—
- @ 2:25 *Wear green
20 - Report Cards home
23 - School Council mtg. @ 7:00
23 - 26 - School Book Fair
24 & 26 - Parent/Teacher
Interviews
24 - Diabetes Presentation
26 - World Storytelling .
. Event (K - 6)
27 - NO SCHOOL - PD Day
Mar. 28 - Apr. 6: Spring Break Classes resume on Tuesday,
April 7
April 8 - Early dismissal@ 2:27
& LAC mtg. @6:00
*Kindergarten Pre-reg. . .
. meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
Principal: Mrs. Cheryl Hafso
E-mail: [email protected]
Our monthly school
newsletter can also be
found online at:
www.blackgold.ab.ca/
Schools1/Schools/
NewSarepta/nse/default.htm
780-955-6025
ST.PATRICK’S DAY
An assembly will take place
at 2:25 p.m. on March 17th
to celebrate St. Patrick’s
Day. Parents are welcome
to attend.
*Remember to wear green!!
CAUGHT YOU BEING
GOOD!
During the month of
February students were
acknowledged by staff
members for their positive
student behaviors in our
“Caught You Being Good”
program. In this program
“tickets” were given to
students who were caught
in the act of showing good
character or demonstrat-
ing good behavior.
Students receiving a
“ticket” entered a draw
for the chance to win an
individual prize and were
given a heart to hang on
our “Caught You Being
Good” tree.
Certainly there is much to
celebrate in terms of
positive student behavior
in our school! It is in the
doing of something good,
for yourself or others,
that the real reward is
found.
VOLUNTEER HOURS
We would like to thank all the parents who helped
with skiing and our Winter Carnival Day, and
those who have volunteered for our upcoming
Miquelon Lake Day. We greatly appreciate
all the extra supervision and assistance!
Thanks also to all the parents who helped
out at school in February!
FAMILY DANCE Our annual Family Dance
will be held on March 5
from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!
It is great opportunity to
share in our community
spirit!
Please remember to purchase your
tickets ahead of time as each
person who comes to the
dance must have a ticket.
Special thanks to
Mrs. Pedersen and the
dance committee for
organizing and preparing
us for the dance!
2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR
The 2015/2016 School Year
Calendar has been approved by our
Board of Education, and is attached
to this newsletter. It can also be
found on-line at the Black Gold
Website - www.blackgold.ca
FLOOR HOCKEY NEWS The Gr. 3/4 Girls Floor Hockey Team is
busy preparing for their District
Tournament which will take place on March 6 & 7. The Gr. 3/4 Boys Team is in the
process of being formed, and the Gr. 5/6 Boys will soon have try-outs as their tour-
naments are in April: Gr. 3/4 Boys - April 10 & 11; Gr. 5/6 Boys and Girls - April 17 &
18. We wish all teams the best of luck and know that they will do a fine job of
representing our school. Congratulations to
the following students for making the 2015 school floor hockey teams thus far:
Gr. 3/4 GIRLS TEAM Kennedy Lewis Hanna Stone Taylor Wagner Piper Enright Amanda Helynck Chalee Kuhlmann Adysonne Corbiere Amber Jones Julie Labonte Jorja Enright
Raia Farness-Becker Chloe Buyzat Dani Kuhlmann Shaylea Bester Isabella Inaba Coaches: Mrs. Hammell & Mrs. Brown
GR. 5/6 GIRLS TEAM Abby Volkman Izzy Wesenberg Laine Bird Paiten Dubray Haley Givogue Rebekah Knull Grace Scheming Peyton Reimer Sophia Brenner Kailyn Ross Emma Senft Peyton Brookman Coach: Mrs. Erdmann
Page 2 STUDENTS OF NEW SAREPTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUCCEED!
HAIR MASSACURE Ten students from New Sarepta Elementary School, and one from NSCHS, shaved their heads to raise money for the fight against cancer at our school Valentine assembly on Friday, February 13th. The boys had their pink locks sheared as teachers, class-mates, and parents cheered them on, for what has become an annual school event. Combined, the boys raised over $4000 for Alberta’s Hair Massacure fundraiser which supports children with life-threatening illness. A proud moment for NSE indeed! Way to go, J.T., Cody, Ty & Chase Preston, Kale & Carter Sagert, Nash & Atlee Helsby, Wyatt Knight, Kadin Murch, and Ashton Perry!
BUS SAFETY POSTER WINNERS We are very proud to announce that the following students were named winners in the Black Gold Regional School Bus Safety Poster Contest: Grade 1: Morgan Knight Sierra Volkman Grade 2: Katie Woods Grade 6: Sara Munro School Trustee, Johnette Lemke, awarded these students with a $25 cheque and a copy of their poster at our Valentine’s assembly. Way to go, Morgan, Sierra, Katie and Sara! We are so proud of your accomplishment!
STUDENT OF THE MONTH Congratulations to the following
students for being chosen for their
genuine caring ways in February:
1H - Scarlett Cetinski
1KS - Daniel Bartsch
2BB - Nevaeh Hannigan
2HB - Lily Goski
3H - Atlee Helsby
3L - Brooklynn Soch
4S - Jorja Enright
5E - Mason Ross
6B - Hannah Beck
6H - Pippa McCosham Thank you for being such great role
models in our school! The Student of the
Month theme for MARCH is Choices -
making positive and responsible choices
for yourself and towards others.
Students recognized as “Student of the
Month” receive certificates and an
opportunity to have pizza with the
principal.
UNPLUGGED RESULTS
We congratulate all families who took part in the Unplugged Challenge on Family Day weekend. Lucille Erikson, from Leduc County FCSS, reports that New Sarepta Elementary School’s results were phenomenal! We also had some impressive results in the Unplugged Art Contest with the following students winning prizes: Ages 5-8 Second Place: Aidin Werenka Ages 9-13 Second Place: Sophia Brenner Ages 9-13 Third Place: Laine Bird Mixed Media: Raia Farness-Becker As well, Wyatt Knight, won a draw prize from 3H, whose class logged in an impressive number of unplugged hours. Impressive results indeed!
BLACKGOLD SPELLING BEE Congratulations to Dylan Barsness
and Riley Hinkle for their tremen-
dous spelling prowess during the
District Spelling Bee Competition.
Riley finished in the top 10 spellers,
and Dylan within the top 5! Both
boys can be commended for their
hardwork and preparation for the
spelling bee and for their fine
performances. Way to go, boys!
KINDNESS BINGO -
All students from grades 1 - 6
received a Bingo card with acts of
kindness printed in the squares.
They were challenged to complete
as many of those acts as they could
from February 9th-17th. Many of
them completed the whole card in
one day!! At the end of the week,
students were entered into a draw
to win prizes. Thank you to
Mrs. Pedersen for donating all
of the prizes!!
March Speech Tip: *Did you know that children who have good listening skills are more likely to succeed in school?
*Teach your child to be an active listener by encouraging him/her to ask to repeat or explain the message in a different way when he/she does not understand.
Page 3 NEW SAREPTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SPRING BREAK & PD Day
Our Spring Break is from March 28
to April 6. We wish you all the best
while you enjoy this break from
school. Classes will resume on
Tuesday, April 7, with Early
Dismissal on Wednesday, April 8th.
As well, there is no school on March
27th as this will be a Professional
Development day for teachers.
Take Note Music and Movement is our focus
for all grades this month and we
hope to keep it going at the start of
each music class in the future. The
students have been learning about
the amazing benefits of daily
movement to music which include
improving their moods, lowering
stress and anxiety, supercharging
their brains for better concentra-
tion and memory, boosting their
energy, and MY PERSONAL
FAVOURITE…SLOWING DOWN
THE AGING PROCESS!!!
The Grade 1s & 2s will be starting
a Salute to Spring Unit right after
they participate in a St. Patrick’s
Unit involving jigging, singing, and
Luck of the Irish musical activities.
The Grade 3s are enjoying a Ring
of Mystery Unit which involves
Vivaldi, Violins, and Venice. Their
finished masks are on display in the
music room and a hallway bulletin
board for all to enjoy.
The Grade 4s are being enriched
with a “Beethoven Lives Upstairs”
unit involving a composer’s life,
orchestra instruments, his music,
and a historical time period.
The Grade 5 & 6s are busy putting
a twist on Mozart’s Magic Flute by
learning what it takes to be given
responsibilities within an opera
company and putting on a mini
opera of their own. They also
have learned about the various
voice ranges, instruments of the
orchestra, and Mozart’s life.
The Grade 6s have also started
their Airband Presentation Unit
and will be practicing in their Music
Studio rooms on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays with music class
support and presentation skills until
they perform on April 15 at 1:00
in the gym. Be sure to mark your
calendars!!!!
Ready to SPRING IN to a NEW BOOK? Check out our SPRING BOOK FAIR MARCH 20th– 26th
Watch for flyers that will be coming home soon with the students, advertising a small number of the great books that will be on sale at the fair. Be sure to fill in the Family Event Door Prize ballot included in the flyer, and send it back by March 25! Once again, a schedule will be set up for classes to shop during designated recesses, so please watch for that on the back of the note attached to the book fair flyer, or check with your child's teacher to find out which days they are allowed to shop. The book fair will also be open for business during P/T interview evenings, March 24th and 26th. Please stop by to take a look at all the terrific new books - and check out the guessing games at the counter! We ask that parents accompany their children when shopping or browsing during P/T Interview evenings. Thank you once again for supporting this library fundraiser. Your purchases help us bring many new books to our library! Librarians: Mrs. Horvey & Mrs. Dotzlaf
LEDUC MUSIC FESTIVAL This year the speech portion of
the Leduc Music Festival will be
held from April 13 - 17.
All performances will take place
at the Leduc Community Baptist
Church (3205 Coady Blvd.).
We have 16 individual students
who are competing from Gr.’s 2- 6.
We wish the best of luck to all our
participants!
CRAFT CLUB In February, we enjoyed creating
personalized valentine cards! This
month craft club will go green.
Creativity will be key as shamrocks
abound! Join Mrs. Klassen in the
Art Room at lunch recess
the second week of March.
GARDENING CLUB
The Gardening Club will begin
meeting this month for students
in Grade 3-6 who have a desire to
develop a green thumb. This year
we are hoping to grow a few varie-
ties of plants as we learn about
planting, watering, transplanting
and general care of plants. Planting
will take place during specific lunch
hours, but students will be
responsible for implementing their
own recess care and watering
schedule.
DIABETES PRESENTATIONS The Gr. 1 - 6 students will attend an
education/information session on
Diabetes on Tuesday, March 24th.
We thank New Sarepta’s FCSS
Coordinator, Lucille Erickson, for
making arrangements with the
Canadian Diabetes Association for
this presentation to take place at
NSE.
HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH Be a positive role model for your children.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Go for a brisk walk.
Try a new activity.
Park your car a distance away from the
shopping mall or arena.
Take your dog for a longer walk.
Keep active!
SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS P.I.I.E. FUNDRAISER: DONATIONS NEEDED FOR SILENT AUCTION THEME BASKETS
Each year the New Sarepta Ag. Society hosts the "Crooked Ice Jugspiel” which is a milk jug curling bonspiel. The Ag. Society
generously allows P.I.I.E. to run a silent auction during the
Jugspiel. For several years, the silent auction has been a ma-jor source of our fundraising income. To help ensure a success-
ful auction, we ask each classroom to collect donations of either cash or items for a "theme basket" by March
18th. Below is a list of this year’s themes for each class:
Kindergarten(both classes) Easter Basket Gr.1KS Kitchen Basket Gr.1H Picnic & Camping Basket
Gr. 2HB Barbecue Basket Gr. 2BB Sports Basket Gr. 3H Gardening Basket Gr. 3L Family Game Night Basket
Gr. 4S Movie Basket Gr. 5E Junk Food Basket Gr. 6H Coffee & Tea Basket Gr. 6B Gift Card Basket
While we encourage everyone to get involved, participation in
this fundraiser is, as always, voluntary. The theme baskets are just one aspect of the auction. We also approach businesses
for donations of cash, services or products. In the past we have had bicycles, airline tickets and Oiler tickets donated.
These larger items really increase bidding. If you know of a
company or individual who would like to donate something for our Silent Auction, please use the
corporate sponsor letter found in this newsletter to ask for donations. More copies of this letter can be obtained
through the school office or from any school council executive
member. Baskets will be available for viewing/bidding at the New Sarepta Ag. Society’s Jugspeil held on Saturday, March
28th, from 9:00a.m. - 7:00 p.m., upstairs at the Agriplex. Please feel free to call Crystal Murch at 780-941-3593 or Robin
Stone at (780) 980-8619 if you have any questions. Thanks for your continued support.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 23rd at
7:00pm. We hope to see you there! Room Reps are reminded to please attend this meeting as we will be creating
the Silent Auctions baskets.
WORLD STORYTELLING DAY PRESENTATION - March 26 World Storytelling Day is a global
celebration of the art of oral storytell-ing. It is celebrated every year on or
around March 20 (Spring Equinox).
On WSD as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many
languages and at as many places as possible, during the same time.
Oral storytelling is the oldest art form
of entertainment and was originally the “teaching tool” or school for
instruction, explanation and information that was passed down
orally from generation to generation. Oral storytellers tell stories learned by
heart– they don’t read them! Stories
come alive through the use of the voice, facial expression and gesture.
A storyteller is not just a narrator, but actually becomes all the characters in
the story. The listeners actively create
the images of the story in their imaginations as the spoken words
come to life! On Thursday, March 26, New
Sarepta storyteller Mary Ann
Lippiatt will be including NSE in the 2015 World Storytelling Day
Celebrations by bringing the tradition of oral storytelling to
students in Kindergarten to Gr. 6. Touring Alberta schools and libraries
with Storytellers of Canada, The Alberta
League Encouraging Storytelling, Young Alberta Book Society and Boomtown
Trail, Mary Ann has also been invited to tell stories in a historical village hall
in England and even to the crew and
passengers on a West Jet Flight to Yellowknife!
*Special thanks to our School Council for subsidizing this special event!
MIQUELON LAKE DAY RESCHEDULED The Gr. 4-6 students will enjoy an outdoor day on March 5th at Miquelon Lake, spending the day snowshoeing, cross country
skiing, orienteering, broomball, quinzhee hut building, and more. Students will need to be dressed appropriately for being outside
for the entire day. Snow pants, a toque, mitts, and warm
boots are essential. Parents are welcome to participate or come out and watch. Please send a note in your child’s agenda if
you are able to help.
A POSITIVE, SAFE & CARING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Star Student Behaviour at NSE ... Be Respectful to people and property
Be Responsible for your learning and your behaviour Be Safe
Be Kind & Play Fair Do Your Best!
NEW SAREPTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Page 4
PARENT RESOURCES:
Engaging Students is a co-operative effort of Central Office departments in BGRS to support student learning in our schools. Visit our website for resources and information. http://engagingstudents.blackgold.ca/
Learn Alberta.ca is a website that supports
lifelong learning by providing online resources to
the Kindergarten to Gr. 12 community in Alberta.
Students, teachers, and parents can use this site
to find multimedia learning resources that are
correlated to the Alberta programs of study.
Students, parents and staff of Black Gold
Regional schools are authorized to use
LearnAlberta at http://www.learnalberta.ca/
To access these resources you need to use Black
Gold’s codes: Username: LA03 Password: 8049
My Child’s Learning & Curriculum Express My Child’s Learning is a new online resource that provides up-to-date information about what children in Grades K—12 are learning, the resources available to help them, and how they might be assessed. It can be found at: www.learnalberta.ca/content/mychildslearning/ Curriculum Express for Parents provides a short explanation of school and what students learn in Kindergarten to Grade 3. This online resource can be found at: http://www.education.alberta.ca/parents/resources/express.aspx
Black Gold is looking for
Substitute Education Assistants
Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 is proud to
employ exceptional staff who stay on the
leading edge of education in Alberta.
We are always looking for enthusiastic and
qualified people to complement our dedicated
team. Are you interested in working for a
dynamic and progressive school division?
We are currently hiring Substitute Education
Assistants. You may request an application
package by emailing
Dakota Williams, Secretary- Substitute Services
Black Gold Google Summit for Students
On Friday, March 6th, Black Gold Regional
Schools is holding a Google Summit for
Students at Leduc Composite High School.
Google Summits have been held worldwide
for teachers by an organization called the
EdTechTeam® providing instruction on using
technology in education. This exceptional
event will be for students, only the third time
in the world that The EdTechTeam® will
deliver a Google Summit for Students,
teaching students how to use technology to
support their learning. The goals of the
summit are to help students utilize technology
for learning and become leaders in technology
use. Attending students will return to their
schools as student leaders in technology use,
able to integrate technology into a classroom
lesson making use what they learned at the
conference. NSE is able to send 4 students;
Isabella Inaba, Riley Dunphy, Kailyn Ross,
Jade Lynn Frederick, along with Mrs. Hiller
as their supervisor.
Black Gold Regional Schools
Pre-Kindergarten Programs
Pre-kindergarten programs are for children who
are eligible for: Program Unit Funding,
Mild/Moderate funding, English as a Second
Language funding, or without special needs.
Children must be 4 before March 1st of their
pre-kindergarten year.
For more information, please contact
Niki Gill, ECS coordinator at 780-955-4534.
Black Gold Regional Schools Page 5
Walk like a Penguin: Deep freeze temperatures and sheets of ice may not inspire feelings of safety and comfort. Most of us have known someone - if not ourselves - who has fallen and been seriously injured on ice. In fact, from April 2013 - March 2014, injuries caused by falls on ice and/or snow accounted for 16,910 visits to Alberta Emergency Departments. But, this doesn't mean that hibernating is the safer bet. Quite the opposite: being sedentary contributes to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and unhealthy weight gain. This winter, Alberta Health Services is encouraging all Albertans to leave the hibernating to the bears, and to take a cue from some web-footed friends instead.... Enjoy the winter wonderland safely by learning the penguin walk! Watch a great new short Penguin Walk animation from AHS (featuring our penguin friends) at www.penguinwalk.ca
COMMUNITY NEWS
Babysitting Course -
The New Sarepta FCSS Office is
hosting a Babysitting Course – Friday and
Saturday, March 6 and 7, 2015.
Registration forms are available at
New Sarepta Elementary School or the
New Sarepta FCSS Office (located at
the Agriplex, West Doors).
Volunteer Appreciation – New Sarepta and area volunteers are
invited to drop by the FCSS Office on
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
(9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
for coffee and cake.
Parent Link Stay’n’Play and
More:
Stay’n’Play is held Thursday morn-
ings, 9:00 - Noon @ the Agriplex.
This is a free drop-in program for
parents and children 0 to 6 years.
Enjoy an interactive playtime with
your child. By following your
child’s lead, you can support play
while building self-confidence and
self-esteem.
Mobile Mammography Clinic-The Alberta Health Services
Screen Test Mobile Mammography
Unit will be in Beaumont on March
11 and 12, 2015 (east side of No
Frills parking lot) and in Leduc on
March 13 and 14, 2015 (Old Nurs-
es Residence, 48 Street and 43
Avenue – across from the
hospital). Remember: women 50
and over are recommended to have
a mammogram every 2 years and
do not need a doctor’s referral.
To book an appointment, please
call 1-800-667-0604.
Free Information session
regarding Alberta Seniors
Benefit FCSS invites seniors, soon-to-be
seniors and/or families of seniors
to a Free Information session and
discussion regarding Alberta
Seniors Benefit, Dental and
Optical Assistance, and Special
Needs Assistance. In addition,
representatives from Service
Canada will provide information on
Old Age Security, Canada Pension
Plan and Guaranteed Income
Supplement.
WHEN? Wednesday, May 6, 2015,
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE? New Sarepta Golden
Pioneers Centre (located at the
Agriplex).
Volunteer Income Tax Program –
New Sarepta FCSS will complete
2014 Income Tax Returns for
low-income individuals who have a
simple tax situation and are living
within rural Leduc County or the
municipality of New Sarepta. Please
contact Lucille at (780) 941-2382
to make an appointment to have your
2014 Income Tax Return completed
free of charge. Please Note: we are
not able to complete complicated
returns, returns for the deceased,
or those with business, farming or
rental income.
The City of Leduc FCSS, Alberta Works and Servus Credit Union have partnered to offer a
FREE Information Session on Managing Job Loss. When: Monday, March 9th Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Where: Leduc Public Library
New Sarepta Public Library
Regular hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30am -12:15 pm
(Closed daily from 11:30 - 11:53am)
Tues. and Thurs. 3:00- 9:00pm
Fridays - 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Saturdays - 11:00am - 3:00pm
Library Closures Friday, March 6 - Closed in a.m.
Friday, March 27 - Closed in a.m.
March 30 - April 6 - Closed in am
Preschool Storytime Fridays, April 3, 10 and 17 1-2pm
This registered, parented program
will give you and your child an op-
portunity to make memories that
last a lifetime, and help foster a
love of learning.
Zentangle Saturday, March 14
This registered program will be led
by a Zentangle Pro! There will be a
small cost for materials, please call
Dana at 780-941-2448 for more
information.
Free Family Movie Night Tuesday, March 10th at 6:30pm BIG HERO 6 Come on down to the library for a
free family movie showing on our big
screen. New releases are shown
sometimes the day they come out,
popcorn and healthy snacks will be
available for purchase (Cash or
cheque only).
Book Club Picks Women who run with the wolves : myths and stories of the wild woman archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Orange is the new black : my year in a women's prison by Piper Kerman
Did you know we offer:
FREE membership, FREE programs
Computer assistance, Printing,
Technology training, Photocopying
Scanning, 3D Printing, Resume help
Tutoring, Afterschool homework
help..and much more! Give us a call
today! (780) 975-7513
http://www.newsareptalibrary.ca/
Box 279
5150 Centre Street
New Sarepta, Alberta T0B 3M0
Social media advice for parents Teens and pre-teens have been active on social media sites for years, and their online presence is increasing. According to one study, 40 per cent of all Canadians use a social net-working site. If you look at social media use by teens, the number of users rises significantly. In a study by Common Sense Media, 90 per cent of 13-17 year olds have used a social media site. Seventy-five percent of teens have a profile on a social media site, and more than half visit social media sites daily. Social media is any site that provides a forum for posting and interacting. www.commonsensemedia.org/research/social-media-social-life/key-finding-1%3A-teens-are-avid%2C-daily-users-of-social-media Because of legal requirements, sites like Facebook require users to be 13 or older. Despite the age restrictions, many younger children have accounts on sites without separate privacy guidelines. Social media sites are evolving, and new sites pop up frequently. Whether a child is on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, a site through their school, or something else entirely, parents should continue to remind them about safe social media practices and should check in on their activity from time to time.
Concerns about social media
A recent study showed that social media use can have risks and benefits for youth. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/4/800.full.html
Risks Cyberbullying and online harassment.
Using digital media to communicate false, embarrassing or hostile information about another person.
Sexting. Sending or receiving sexually explicit messages or photos.
Facebook depression. Depression that develops in teens and preteens who spend significant time on social media sites such as Facebook.
Privacy concerns. Sharing too much information online.
Digital footprints. Putting future job and college prospects in jeopardy by leaving a trail of inappropriate messages, pictures and videos that stay online.
Benefits It’s not all bad though. Responsible use of social media allows teens and pre-teens to strengthen social connections, improve communication and technical skills and collaborate on homework and school projects. Some schools use blogs to help students improve writing skills and creativity. And many adolescents have become smart users of the Web to research their health concerns online anonymously and develop networks of people with similar concerns.
Teach your kids skills to stay safe online There are many websites that provide tips to help you keep your kids safe as they interact online. (See examples below) Basic guidelines for parents include:
Talk regularly to children about responsible social networking activity.
Teach children to think before they post.
Remind your child to be kind in their interactions.
Work with your children to set privacy settings on each site.
Tell children not to post their location or reveal personal information.
Get your own account and follow or friend your child to monitor their activity.
Some sites provide an outline of a class or workshop parents can do with their kids to broaden their understanding of responsible social media use. What kind of information is appropriate to share and what isn’t? www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-steinberg/social-media-and kids_b_2659434.html Author Scott Steinberg suggests that parents show their children their own social media accounts and discuss the following questions with their kids:
What kind of information do you hope to get from and share over social media sites?
What types of communication do you think social networks are best for?
What kind of information do you hope to get from and share over social media sites?
What kind of information is appropriate to share and what isn’t? www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-steinberg/social-media-and-kids_b_2659434.html
Find more tips on these sites
How to keep your child safe using social media – Canadian Pediatric Society http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/social_media
Web safety resources by Royal Canadian Mounted Police http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/is-si/index-eng.htm
Privacy Commission of Canada’s information about youth privacy http://www.priv.gc.ca/youth-jeunes/index_e.asp
On line safety tips by age http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/default.html
13 Tips for Monitoring Kids’ Social Media www.parenting.com/gallery/social-media-monitoring-kids
How to Spy on Your Child Online www.parenting.com/article/how-to-spy-on-your-child-online
The Secret Life of Kids Online: What You Need to Know www.parenting.com/article/kids-social-networking?page=0,1
Social Networking Tips www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/social-networking-tips