Olympia CUSD 16

The Illinois State Scholars were recognized at the Board Meeting tonight and at a reception prior to the meeting. We are so proud of these students!

Congratulations OHS Speech!

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV7 As humans, we thrive on social connections and group associations. But this tendency can also lead us to be suspicious of people outside our group. This fear -- xenophobia -- can be overcome by more exposure to people who are different from us. However, the internet can often make this more difficult. Help your kids recognize this challenge and find strategies for navigating content online.

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV6 Cyberbullying is something most families hope they never have to deal with. But if your kids are texting, sharing photos, and posting comments, it’s important to talk to them about how to deal with online harassment. Learn 5 ways to stop cyberbullies.

Some Olympia staff are participating in a book study on Trauma Sensitive Instruction. They were blessed to have one of the authors, Tom Hierck, join their virtual meeting this week. Tom was recently named by Global Gurus as one of the top 10 thought leaders in education. Thank you Tom for joining us!

Olympia South 5th Graders had a great day at the Challenger Learning Center thanks to a generous grant from Growmark!

Family Tip 3: Role-play If kids feel like they might have trouble removing themselves from digital drama, experiment with some different ways they can make a graceful exit. Talk through words they can use, ways they can steer conversations in positive directions, etc.

What should I do if my kid is bullied online? Finding out that your kid has been cyberbullied is emotional for parents. You or your kid might want to retaliate, but it's best to help your kid defuse the situation, protect himself, and make rational efforts to put a stop to the bullying. Here are the immediate steps we recommend for parents... Read More https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying/what-should-i-do-if-my-kid-is-bullied-online

Sixth graders took their learning outside of the four classroom walls today as they examined a variety of different shoes in an activity to analyze and write about characters. Learning is fun!

As kids grow, they'll naturally start to communicate more online. But some of what they see could make them feel hurt, sad, angry, or even fearful. Help your students build empathy for others and learn strategies to use when confronted with cyberbullying. https://d1pmarobgdhgjx.cloudfront.net/education/PowerOfWords_NewBumper.mp4

This week is National School Counseling Week. The 2022 theme, “School Counseling: Better Together,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), focuses on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. At OHS, we are blessed with an exceptional group of counselors: Allison Baker, Alex Castillo, and Lisa Steve. Thank you for your tremendous impact in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. We are thankful for you!

Family Tip 2: Check in about online life Just like you'd ask your kid about their sleep, exercise, and eating, stay on top of their online life. Who are they chatting with? How do people treat each other in the games and on the sites they're using?

Spanish 4 just wrapped up a unit about giving directions. They created their own maps and gave directions to each other to practice speaking and listening. To show off their skills, the students completed a speaking summative with a lot of cultural value. They used Google Maps to virtually explore a location in Mexico City paid attention to what they saw - people, houses, nearby stores, and plazas. Then, they described how to get to a nearby restaurant by giving the directions. Awesome work, Spartans!

Video: bit.ly/OlyCBV1 Let's face it: Some online spaces can be full of negative, rude, or downright mean behavior. But what counts as cyberbullying? Help your students learn what is - and what isn't - cyberbullying, and give them the tools they'll need to combat the problem.

Family Tip #1: Define Your Terms Make sure kids understand what cyberbullying is: repeated and unwanted mean or hurtful words or behavior that occur online (through texts, social media posts, online chat, etc.).

Parent Concerns: Cyberbullying Once kids go online, their chances of finding cyberbullies, haters, and trolls is, sadly, quite high. Find age-specific guidelines, videos, and articles to help with tough conversations -- whether your kid is a bully or is being bullied. Explore answers to all your cyberbullying questions, age-appropriate advice, school resources, and more from parents and experts. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying

​Families, Due to the winds, the continued drifting and blowing of snow, and extreme temperatures, Olympia will not be in session tomorrow. Friday, Feb. 4th will be a snow day for Olympia. The road commissioners in the area are reporting that roads are impassable and are drifting over after being plowed. As a reminder, there will be no activities / practices tonight, Thursday, February 3. Coaches and sponsors will notify families tomorrow morning regarding plans for Friday afternoon / evening activities as well as plans for Saturday scheduled events. Thank you - stay warm! Dr. O’Donnell

Snow Day Ideas:

​Most kids will encounter mean behavior at some point in their digital lives. For some kids, this experience is a blip that's easily forgotten, while for others it can have deep, long-lasting effects. For parents, the key is staying involved in kids' lives -- both online and off -- so they can step in and offer help if necessary. With guidance from parents and educators, kids can learn how to dodge the drama and stand up for others.​ Throughout February we will be sharing 6 different tips for families to encourage best behavior when approaching the topics of Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, and Hate Speech with your families. Define your terms. Check in about online life. Role-play. Encourage upstanding. Take breaks. Review worst-case steps.

Due to the forecasted storm that includes large amounts of snowfall and high winds, students WILL NOT report to school on Wednesday, Feb. 2nd or Thursday, February 3rd. Wednesday will be a remote learning day and Thursday will be a traditional snow day. Wednesday - elementary students should work on materials that have been prepared and sent home; middle and high school students should await information from teachers regarding assignments and online class meetings. Thursday is a traditional snow day, there will be no expectation of new / additional school work. This day will be added to the end of the school calendar. The last day of school will now be Tuesday May 24th, 2022 if no additional traditional snow days are utilized. There will be no extra curricular activities or practices on Wednesday or Thursday, and all Olympia buildings will be closed.