District Letter to Parents - Concerning on-line behaviour
Below is a message that was sent to all parents bringing their attention to the Momo Challenge on-line videos. Dear parents and guardians, Out of an abundance of caution we are asking you to be take particular interest in what your children are viewing online. We have become aware through social media of online videos called the “Momo Challenge” that directs children to harm themselves and threatens them with severe consequences if their instructions are not followed. The challenge involves messages being hidden in seemingly child-friendly games and videos. The messages urge children to contact “Momo” via Snapchat, WhatsApp or other messaging programs. The Momo accounts often feature an image of a doll with large eyes and long, black hair. A Momo-like character has also been spotted in the popular online game Minecraft. Once messaged, Momo may respond with disturbing images and instructions, including directions for self-harm. Momo may also make threats about what could happen if the directions are not followed, saying they will harm the child’s family or place a curse on them. It is imperative that you talk to your children about reporting these videos to a trusted adult. It is also important to make your children aware that they must immediately report any online interaction that leaves them feeling uncomfortable. Reminding your child that they will not be in trouble for reporting is critical to ensuring open communication. Talk to your child about how they use the internet and social media – be supportive and encourage them to let you know if they have any problems * Get to know what your child does online and teach them to be safe – they need to know how to deal with inappropriate material and how to protect themselves from predators * Keep the computer in a common area or have them use personal devices in your company * Warn your child not to give personal information to a stranger online * Contact your local law enforcement if you believe your child is being blackmailed or extorted online * Tell your child to ignore messages from people they don’t recognize and not to visit someone in person that they meet online or via text Additional resources for parents can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/erase/online-safety SD73 takes great pride in creating safe and caring places to learn and our dedicated staff are always willing to help. Please do not hesitate to reach out to a trusted staff member if you need support for your child. Sincerely, Alison Sidow Superintendent
Team Awesome has been learning about measuring and comparing using nonstandard units such as these paper clips. Measuring with non-standard units means measuring things with blocks, pencils, hands, feet, etc rather than rulers and tape measures. As long as the items used to measure with are all the same size, e.g. identical blocks or brand new pencils, they are suitable. Measurement builds number sense by having students make predictions and then allowing them to use measurement to check their prediction. Team Awesome is being provided lots of opportunities to sort objects by size using everyday activities and experimenting with real objects. Words such as measure, taller than, shorter than, wider than, narrower than, length, volume, weight, area, centimeter, meter, heavier and lighter are all vocabulary words that the children are introduced to and use during our various measurement activities. Seriously, have you ever met a kid that wasn’t intrigued with how big or small something is? Its exploration at it’s best and when we can add in numbers and counting . . . bonus.
 It is the time of year when the Kindergarten students are gaining in independence seemingly by the second. They are comfortable around the school and in the school yard, they know our classroom routines and what to expect each day, they follow the parameters set for them and call out those who do not and they often leave parents hanging at the door waiting for a last kiss or good-bye before leaving. To further encourage Team Awesome's burgeoning independence I am encouraging you, their parents and caregivers, to begin saying your morning good-byes at the end of the hall or at the outside door and allowing the children to get themselves organized and into our class on their own. I have no doubts that each one will be successful and come away with an enhanced sense of pride and achievement in their ability to do what they know needs to be done in the mornings.
As you know, learning to read is fundamental to your child's success in school and in life. But becoming a strong reader is challenging: it takes patience and perseverance- both by the parent and the young reader. And practicing reading sight words will help. Sight words are high-frequency words that are often difficult to sound out or illustrate so its important for emerging readers to master them "on sight". Being able to read these words automatically is the first step to reading fluently. It allows young readers to focus on more challenging words and understanding the text.
Try these things as you read books together:
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