CCA Bulletin 1.7.24

Dear Parents,

Technology has been with us for so long that many of us strain to remember a time without it. While it has made communication infinitely easier, there are still significant dangers for young people who surf the Internet. Here are some reminders to help our young people navigate the world of technology.

• Keep devices out in the light! Use computers in public home spaces and with you close by. Avoid bedrooms, corners, and night usage. Be present! Whether 4, 14, or 40 years old, we tend to make better choices when others are involved.
• Prevent Incognito mode! We don’t want kids hiding their search history on tablets, computers, and Chromebooks.
• Use a router that PREVENTS curious searches for new, inappropriate words in the first place. A good router can shut off the internet at night and preserve search history. These routers are inexpensive, starting from $60. Familiar brands are ASUS, Gryphon, and TP-Link. Bark is a hardware system that also allows you to control technology use in your home. These are well worth the money to ensure safety for your young tech users.

Please be aware that YouTube has inherent dangers, as do popular video games like Minecraft and Roblox when they are played online with users your children may not personally know. If you choose to place blocks on certain platforms that require an email, be aware that CCA uses emails for students from first grade on up, but they do not actively use them until they are in third grade. If the blocks you place on software or tech platforms require emails, you must block each email ON EACH BROWSER for your child to be truly safe.

We have found that our students are incredibly adept at finding ways around our tech rules, which is why we make everyone aware of our technology policies at the beginning of the year. However, this doesn’t always stop our kids from getting  in trouble. While our server screens for dangerous sites, it doesn’t stop a student from being off-task in other applications.

This month we are implementing software that will show us exactly what our kids are accessing when on our computers. Go Guardian, will be used on all our Chromebooks and laptops from grades 4-8. Because it is tied to our devices, it will work on our computers whether our students are at school or home. For those who cannot resist the temptation to open windows or apps that they have been told not to access, it is an answer to prayer!

Technology is not inherently evil, but we must stay diligent in how we monitor activities. The temptation to explore is just too great. We will continue to use technology for learning in the classroom, but this step will go a long way in keeping our students on track and heading in a positive direction.

As always, I am a phone call or email away.

Blessings on your New Year,