End of School Year - Distance Learning @ GFES

Good afternoon Families,

We are having amazing experiences with our staff and students as we continue to connect through Distance Learning this school year. We want to end the year strong knowing that there will be summer learning opportunities for your children. Therefore, we ask that you read over these expectations with your children so that they are receiving the most out of their Distance Learning experiences. Distance Learning for this school year ends on Thursday, June 11th with a summer program beginning on Monday, June 29th. More information will be sent explaining these summer learning opportunities later this week.

  1. Log in to class on time
  2. Stay logged in for the length of the class – both morning AND afternoon
  3. Have paper and pencil ready
  4. Find the quietest space possible when working
  5. Participate – raise hand, answer questions
  6. When possible, check-in with your child to ensure the above expectations are being followed during their Distance Learning class.

In addition, we realize many of your older children will spend time on-line this summer while they are not engaged with school. We would like to remind you of the importance in monitoring your child’s use of on-line social media platforms. This could include Snap Chat, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, and on-line games such as Fortnight where the chat features are enabled.

Here are additional resources for on-line safety, as previously provided by our Student Support Team.

Guiding Children in a Digital World:

Our children are growing up in front of screens. Mobile devices make it possible to

listen, watch, play games, and interact with friends anywhere at any time. Children are using mobile media in classrooms and going online for homework assignments. Although children sometimes know more about digital media than parents, parents have an important role to play in guiding media use.

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  1. Know what your children are watching and doing.

Talk with your children about what they are seeing and doing online - videos, TV shows, games, music, and favorite websites. Become familiar with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Pay attention to the ratings of video games and shows. Read reviews that describe the content. Is it too violent or adult-oriented? You can find reviews at http://www.commonsensemedia.org/.

  1. Get involved.

When possible, watch programs with your children, listen to their music, and play video games with them. Identify and discuss media stereotypes. Talk about the themes and values that are portrayed.

  1. Set an example.

When you are talking to your children, give your full attention. It will be difficult to teach your children how to balance media usage if you are always on a mobile device. Make meal times special by turning off all electronic devices, Don't bring cell phones to the dinner table. Use this time to talk with your children about their thoughts and experiences.

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  1. Set limits on screen time.

Work with children to create a schedule that incorporates all activities, including playtime and exercise. Homework should come before other activities. They also need unstructured time to relax. Screen time can interfere with sleep. For younger children, remove electronic devices at bedtime. For teens, agree on a time that cell phones, tablets, and laptops will be turned off. Charge electronic devices in a room other than children's bedrooms. If you are worried about the amount of time your child spends online, discuss your concerns with your child. Come up with a plan to decrease screen time. Encourage participation in clubs, sports, cooking, or hobbies. Invite friends to your house for non-video game fun. Play board games, cook a special food, or take a walk to a park.

  1. Teach rules for online safety.

Use special blocking and tracking software from service providers or purchase commercial software. Find out how to set limits on social media so that strangers are blocked from access. Teach your child never to share personal information online. Tell children to let you know about anything that makes them uncomfortable online.

We appreciate your partnership as we continue to navigate Distance Learning and the acceptable use of social media platforms together. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Cindi Choate, Liz Manning, Amber Richard and Danielle Freese