A recent incident in the sixth grade is presenting us with the opportunity to consider the phrase "tech-savvy but naïve" and how it applies to our students. A student's personal e-mail account was hacked in to and the hacker sent lewd e-mails to other students who were in her address book. We are currently working with the proper legal authorities to investigate the hacking incident and will be providing students and parents with more information on how to protect young people from internet predators.

Today's students have an array of technology available to them: cell phones, ipods, computers, etc. Our students quickly understand how to use these items and are often more proficient than the adults. However, their ability to self-regulate and self-monitor progresses at a different, and often a slower, pace. Therefore, the phrase "tech-savvy but naïve" applies to our children. This week's incident primarily occurred at students' homes, during what might be called the homework hours, and it reminds us that we must continue to be vigilant with our children's technology use-especially as they get older.
 
We urge you to strengthen the rules about technology use at home. For example:

1.    Do not enter any private information about yourself or of your family habits online without parental permission.
2.    Do not share your passwords with anyone but your parents. If they have been shared in the past, change them.
3.    Report any unusual emails, chats or other communications immediately to a parent.

Know as many of your child's cyberfriends as possible. Check their online hangout spots regularly, such as their mySpace or Facebook pages. Finally, remind them about some old lessons such as, "nothing is free" so you are not likely to win a free Xbox when you click that blinking box and enter your email address. Instead, you will probably get spam or worse.

Our Technology Coordinator, Melissa Mohammed, is organizing an education program for parents and students in the older grades so we can all become more tech-savvy and tech-safe. This will happen in the coming week.

Enjoy the long weekend to re-energize for the last few weeks of school-they are busy ones!

-Monica Liang Aguirre