If you're looking for ways to talk to your children about internet safety, a great resource is http://www.netsafeutah.org
They have resources, video clips, great sites for kids, etc. Check it out!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
WRAP Week
WRAP (White Ribbon Against Pornography) Week starts this Thursday! WRAP is an anti-pornography campaign. Some helpful information and resources have been posted on this blog. In addition, there will be an assembly for students and various activities designed to make students aware of the dangers of pornography. Here is the schedule of activities:
Thurs., Apr. 14th - "Boot" out pornography. Western dress day and the 7th grade assembly.
Fri., Apr. 15th - Wear white!
Mon., Apr. 18th - White Airhead candy will be passed out to students during TA with the slogan: Don't be an "airhead" - avoid pornography.
Tues., Apr. 19th - Superhero day. Dress as your favorite superhero - only you can save yourself from pornography. 8th grade assembly.
Weds., Apr. 20th - Sign the "Eagles Soar Above Pornography" banner at lunch committing not to view pornography and receive a cookie. 9th grade assembly.
The assemblies will be put on by the administration, psychologist, and counselors of OHMS. If you have any questions, contact Principal Mike Anderson at 412-2350 or PTSA President Marvelle Morgan at 661-5713 or kevinandmarvelle@yahoo.com.
Thurs., Apr. 14th - "Boot" out pornography. Western dress day and the 7th grade assembly.
Fri., Apr. 15th - Wear white!
Mon., Apr. 18th - White Airhead candy will be passed out to students during TA with the slogan: Don't be an "airhead" - avoid pornography.
Tues., Apr. 19th - Superhero day. Dress as your favorite superhero - only you can save yourself from pornography. 8th grade assembly.
Weds., Apr. 20th - Sign the "Eagles Soar Above Pornography" banner at lunch committing not to view pornography and receive a cookie. 9th grade assembly.
The assemblies will be put on by the administration, psychologist, and counselors of OHMS. If you have any questions, contact Principal Mike Anderson at 412-2350 or PTSA President Marvelle Morgan at 661-5713 or kevinandmarvelle@yahoo.com.
PTSA Elections
Elections for the 2011-2012 PTSA Board will be held on May 12th at 7 pm in the OHMS Auditorium (prior to the Dance Concert). The nominees are as follows:
President - Lisa Zupancic
Pres-Elect - Kellene Adams
Secretary - Jill Nebeker
Treasurer - Susie Ruggles
Legislative VP - Shannon Smith
Membership VP - Lynnae Dunn
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to volunteer, please contact Jodi Parker at jodiparker@hotmail.com.
There is still an opening for the Field Day chairperson.
President - Lisa Zupancic
Pres-Elect - Kellene Adams
Secretary - Jill Nebeker
Treasurer - Susie Ruggles
Legislative VP - Shannon Smith
Membership VP - Lynnae Dunn
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to volunteer, please contact Jodi Parker at jodiparker@hotmail.com.
There is still an opening for the Field Day chairperson.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Effects of Internet Pornography
In conjunction with WRAP (White Ribbon Against Pornography) Week, which the PTA is holding April 14-20, we are posting the following information regarding the dangerous effects of pornography. Parents may choose to share this information with their children.
Dr. Joel Amen is the world's leading expert on what takes place in the human brain when introduced to various drugs. Here's what he says happens to children and teens when they are exposed to Internet Pornography:
It will cause their brains to release the most powerful mind-altering, personality changing and emotionally destructive chemicals manufactured by the brain. (called endogenous drugs).
It will create an emotional retardation of a child or teenager that can last a lifetime.
It will create a physical and mental addiction more destructive and harder to break than crack cocaine; an addiction that will likely last the rest of their lives. It can create this total addiction in as little as two weeks.
It will permanently alter and debilitate their personality.
It will permanently damage the judgment area of the brain which doesn't finish developing until a person reaches age 25.
These endogenous drugs will not only result in them making bad judgments in their youth, but will very likely affect their ability to make sound judgments throughout their lives.
It will make it nearly impossible for them to ever have a healthy, loving and lasting relationship with the opposite sex; and, in fact, in most cases would totally sabotage all such relationships.
It could radically reduce their level of achievement in school, sports, and untimately in their work.
Dr. Joel Amen is the world's leading expert on what takes place in the human brain when introduced to various drugs. Here's what he says happens to children and teens when they are exposed to Internet Pornography:
It will cause their brains to release the most powerful mind-altering, personality changing and emotionally destructive chemicals manufactured by the brain. (called endogenous drugs).
It will create an emotional retardation of a child or teenager that can last a lifetime.
It will create a physical and mental addiction more destructive and harder to break than crack cocaine; an addiction that will likely last the rest of their lives. It can create this total addiction in as little as two weeks.
It will permanently alter and debilitate their personality.
It will permanently damage the judgment area of the brain which doesn't finish developing until a person reaches age 25.
These endogenous drugs will not only result in them making bad judgments in their youth, but will very likely affect their ability to make sound judgments throughout their lives.
It will make it nearly impossible for them to ever have a healthy, loving and lasting relationship with the opposite sex; and, in fact, in most cases would totally sabotage all such relationships.
It could radically reduce their level of achievement in school, sports, and untimately in their work.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Movie Ratings
If you are concerned about what movies your children are viewing, but don't have time to pre-screen every movie for them (isn't that usually the case?), www.kids-in-mind.com is a great website. It analyzes and rates movie content according to sex & nudity, violence and gore, and profanity. It rates each of those areas on a scale of 1 to 10 rather than just the broad PG or PG-13 ratings. Click here to view this website.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Media Agreements
Here is a link to some great family media agreements. There are different media agreements for elementary, middle school, and high school-age students. Check them out!
Internet Safety Tips
A recent event reported in the Deseret News has reinforced the need for conversations with your children regarding pornography and internet safety. Students in a Park City elementary school accessed pornography while at school. To read the entire article, click here.
The following are some suggested Internet safety tips:
20 Internet Safety Tips
1. Teach children to “Crash and Tell”, i.e. immediately turn the computer off and then tell a parent, guardian, or teacher.
2. Find out if anyone has pulled up inappropriate material on your computer by going to http://www.contentwatch.com. Then click on Content Audit. This free service can help you determine what inappropriate material may have been viewed on your computer.
3. Place the computer in an open, supervised area of your home.
4. Have rules about Internet use.
5. Warn children to stay out of chat rooms, out of newsgroups, and off instant messenger programs.
6. Teach children NEVER to give out personal information online or arrange to meet someone in person that they met online. Never share your name, address, email address, family members’ names, school’s name or mascot, age, or photos.
7. Learn enough about your computer so you can see what sites have been visited. Check your browser’s history often (pressing Control-H will open the history in most browsers).
8. Install a filter on your Internet, realizing that filters aren’t foolproof and that your child still needs supervision.
9. Check every disk that comes into your home. A “friend” might give your child inappropriate material.
10. Carefully monitor gaming websites.
11. Role play with children about how to act when they see something inappropriate online.
12. Teach children the rapidity with which addiction can occur. (Addiction can happen to some people in a single exposure of inappropriate material, according to Doctor Rick Hawks.)
13. Know that even though a child is protected in your home, he or she is not necessarily protected in the community.
14. Recognize that girls as well as boys can be exposed to inappropriate material online or elsewhere.
15. Remember that free disks with free hours of usage do not install child-safe filters.
16. Ask your children what they have seen online. Be calm and non-accusing as they share. Maintain a good relationship so you can talk about these issues.
17. Talk to your children about what they saw online at school or at the library.
18. Take one-on-one time to have fun with your children, listen to them, and give them a lot of positive comments.
19. Help children feel good about themselves, and keep the avenues of communication open so they will be open with you.
20. Spend time online with your child. This can help you learn what potentially dangerous websites your child visits, you will be able to recognize changes in your child’s Internet use, and your child may even teach you some tips you can use online yourself!
The following are some suggested Internet safety tips:
20 Internet Safety Tips
1. Teach children to “Crash and Tell”, i.e. immediately turn the computer off and then tell a parent, guardian, or teacher.
2. Find out if anyone has pulled up inappropriate material on your computer by going to http://www.contentwatch.com. Then click on Content Audit. This free service can help you determine what inappropriate material may have been viewed on your computer.
3. Place the computer in an open, supervised area of your home.
4. Have rules about Internet use.
5. Warn children to stay out of chat rooms, out of newsgroups, and off instant messenger programs.
6. Teach children NEVER to give out personal information online or arrange to meet someone in person that they met online. Never share your name, address, email address, family members’ names, school’s name or mascot, age, or photos.
7. Learn enough about your computer so you can see what sites have been visited. Check your browser’s history often (pressing Control-H will open the history in most browsers).
8. Install a filter on your Internet, realizing that filters aren’t foolproof and that your child still needs supervision.
9. Check every disk that comes into your home. A “friend” might give your child inappropriate material.
10. Carefully monitor gaming websites.
11. Role play with children about how to act when they see something inappropriate online.
12. Teach children the rapidity with which addiction can occur. (Addiction can happen to some people in a single exposure of inappropriate material, according to Doctor Rick Hawks.)
13. Know that even though a child is protected in your home, he or she is not necessarily protected in the community.
14. Recognize that girls as well as boys can be exposed to inappropriate material online or elsewhere.
15. Remember that free disks with free hours of usage do not install child-safe filters.
16. Ask your children what they have seen online. Be calm and non-accusing as they share. Maintain a good relationship so you can talk about these issues.
17. Talk to your children about what they saw online at school or at the library.
18. Take one-on-one time to have fun with your children, listen to them, and give them a lot of positive comments.
19. Help children feel good about themselves, and keep the avenues of communication open so they will be open with you.
20. Spend time online with your child. This can help you learn what potentially dangerous websites your child visits, you will be able to recognize changes in your child’s Internet use, and your child may even teach you some tips you can use online yourself!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)