Screenagers Event Thursday October 19th, 2017

"Business baby must-haves: laptop, cell phone, bottle." by "nezemnaya" Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC-BY2.0). Accessed 15 February 2017. https://www.flickr.com/photos/_nezemnaya_/3404683624

Jefferson Students View Eclipse

Ms. Cahuas projected a live stream version of the eclipse in the auditorium. 

The first day of school this year, August 21st, coincided with the solar eclipse of 2017.  There was much excitement about viewing the eclipse and students were prepared to watch it outdoors using protective eye glasses. However, due to foggy weather, the entire school moved to the auditorium to watch an online streaming of the eclipse instead. 

Welcome Back!

Dear Families/Guardians,

I am Ms. Cahuas, Jefferson’s librarian and technology teacher. This is my 3rd year at Jefferson and I am looking forward to another great year. Every student has library class once a week and 3rd-5th grades have computer classes once every other week. The major goals of the program are to nurture the love of reading, to excite students about learning, to teach digital literacy skills, and to teach students how to use computers safely, responsibly, and respectfully.  As your child (except for Kindergartners) will begin bringing school library books home, please check the weekly library schedule to help remind your child when they need to return their books. If you would like to volunteer in the library, please let me know.  For more information about the library, check the library link here. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Ms. Sarah Cahuas

Digital Families --Balancing Screen Time and Family Time

"Business baby must-haves: laptop, cell phone, bottle." by "nezemnaya" Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC-BY2.0). Accessed 15 February 2017. https://www.flickr.com/photos/_nezemnaya_/3404683624

With increasing numbers of computers, smartphones, and other digital devices in homes, many families are faced with how to balance digital screen time with non-digital family time.  In a recent study by Common Sense Media, 1,800 parents of children aged 8 to 18 were found to spend an average of 9 hours and 22 minutes a day in front of a computer device, 7 of those hours being for personal use. Since children often model their behavior after that of their parents, families can help their children learn how to balance screen time and family time by setting and following rules about computer use for everyone in the home. In a recent article in The New York Times, Dr. Perri Klass suggests families create 5 "No-Phone Zones" as a way to limit screen time.  

5 NO Smartphone Zones:

1. In bed.
2. At dining table.
3. While reading a book to your child.  
4. In the outdoors. (Only use phone as camera or for emergency).
5. In the car.

For more tips on parenting in the digital age, visit Common Sense Media at www.commonsensemedia.org.

Reference

Klass, P. (2017, January 23). 5 No-phone zones for parents and kids alike. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/well/family/5-no-phone-zones-for-parents-and-kids-alike.html