Dear Families,

We live in a world of technology. The advances we have witnessed in our lifetime are nothing short of extraordinary. At CCA, we make use of technology in many areas of our curriculum, and we are constantly monitoring for internet safety. We have applications that block unsafe material and programs that help teachers keep watch over our students while they work on the computers that we provide. Despite all of these efforts, we still experience times when students explore sites other than what we have assigned. They are not dangerous because of our school filters, but they can distract from the tasks at hand. It happens because this is the world of technology; there are so many things to explore, for better or for worse.

Imagine giving your child a powerful computer with unlimited access to the internet. This is the reality for any child who owns a smartphone, unless parents know about and utilize parental controls. For several years now, I have subscribed to a newsletter from Protect Young Eyes. This is a tremendous resource for all parents, regardless of whether or not your child owns a smartphone. They constantly monitor the online threats that exist for our children and recommend apps and controls that help to keep our children safe online.

Protect Young Eyes (PYE) recommends that children not engage with social media before age 15, and even then, parents should know what they are following. This organization, run by an extraordinary team of passionate presenters, researchers, and educators, gives parents the knowledge and support needed to combat the content that competes for our children’s attention in exploitive and dangerous ways.

Let’s face it, technology is here to stay, and it’s not all bad. However, we must work together to make sure that our children stay safe in a world that is constantly changing. The online world often appears fun and innocent on the surface, but it can be deadly without proper supervision. Check out PYE’s latest newsletter, which contains The Ultimate Kid Phone Guide. You can subscribe to the newsletter through their website or follow them on Facebook.

By the way, many of these recommendations are good for high schoolers too.

Have a blessed week, and let’s continue to work together to keep our kids safe!

In Christ,

Sherrie Gibelyou
sherrie.gibelyou@ccatacoma.org
253-389-0349