Sunview Stars of the Week: January 19th

New Sunview Stars of the Week have been named!  The following students were presented with their awards on Thursday, January 19th:

Student	Nominated by	Reason
C. Swiger	Mrs. Grist	Being our "Super Scientist" this week
J. Thies	Mrs. Grist	Being our "Math Whiz" this week
J. Colbert	Mrs. Groudle	Completing all absent work so quickly
A. Cooper	Mrs. Groudle	Working well with his partner in math
B. Weil	Mrs. Groudle	Working hard on his cutting skills
L. Spenger	Mrs. Groudle	Learning to love to read
M. Palko	Mrs. Groudle	Learning her Treasures vocabulary words so quickly
A. Malensek	Mrs. Groudle	Cleaning up the boys' bathroom
V. Peck	Mrs. Groudle	Cleaning up the boys' bathroom
S. Ilacqua	Mrs. Groudle	Cleaning up the privacy walls in the classrom
I. Driscole	Mrs. Groudle	Cleaning up the privacy walls in the classrom
B. Gielink	Mrs. Groudle	Gathering up the two Treasures books on the floor without being asked
B. Gillen	Mrs. Erwin	Always working hard
D. Pitones	Mrs. Erwin	Working hard on Fist in Math
M. Palko	Mrs. Erwin	Never giving up
C. Wagner	Mrs. Erwin	Being kind and patient with her classmates
A. Brown	Mrs. Meyer	Making good choices for a guest teacher
A. Chappell	Mrs. Meyer	Making good choices for a guest teacher
J. Daher	Mrs. Meyer	Making good choices for a guest teacher
A. Kerns	Mrs. Meyer	Making good choices for a guest teacher
H. Naghmouchi	Ms. Johnson	Being such a tremendous help all week
C. Hensley	Ms. Johnson	Being such a tremendous help all week
N. McCall	Ms. Johnson	Making it to the "Whiz" level on First in Math
A. Wright	Ms. Johnson	Working so very hard to complete her work this week
M. Delaine	Mrs. Zawacki	Being in control and trying not to talk during inappropriate times
G. Moore	Mrs. Zawacki	Getting her work done in a timely manner
A. Silverman	Mrs. Helmet	Making good choices in the classroom
A. Murray	Mrs. Zelinka	Good citizen- picked up papers off floor
D. Spriggs	Mrs. Zelinka	Good pointing at words when reading
A. Steele	Mrs. Argo	Making good choices
L. Alsheiktaha	Mrs. Argo	Getting so many 3s
I. Thomas	Mrs. Argo	Making his goal last week
D. Spriggs	Mrs. Bell	Doing an awesome job writing words inventively
M. Cannaday	Mrs. Burkholder	Trying hard to work cooperatively in groups
R. Stone	Mrs. Burkholder	Making a great effort in First in Math
J. Parrino	Mrs. Burkholder	Good effort last week with participating in Math group- raising hand and thinking hard!
S. Miller	Mrs. Burkholder	Helping after shool to put up chairs left down from student who forgot
P. Hawkins	Mrs. Burkholder	Working on task with reading group to get all wrok completed

Internet Safety Part 3

This is the last installment to a three part summary of the December Internet Safety presentation.

Sexting

• Kids as young as middle school are doing it.  In a January 2009 survey of 1200 teens, 20% of teens 13-19 years old and 11% of young teens 13-16 had sent explicit photos of themselves.
• Sexting is dangerous- pictures spread quickly causing social and emotional damages.
• Images meant for one person can be sent to anyone.
• Images can make it to pornography sites
• Over 70% of teens reported a negative consequence after sexting passed along to unintended people
• Sexting is illegal (explicit pictures of kids under 18 years old)

Passwords

Passwords are important! Only the parents/guardian and the child should now the child's password.

In summary:

• Don't talk to strangers
• You may be lied to 
• Don't promote personal information or pictures when online
• Use the internet as an extension of current relationships and not as a replacement
• Never agree to meet with someone you met online
• Never send pictures
• And never send anything or post anything without asking a parent
• Establish rules for online safety:

1. Appropriate sites to visit
2. Time of day for use
3. Length of time

• Consider internet use agreement with your kids

For more information, visit Safekids.com

Watch this SNL spoof on a class teaching how to use MySpace. It'd be funnier it it wasn't true!

Gentle reminders

Snow's here!  Remember to send in sneakers with your kids- they're needed for safety and for participation for P.E.  Also, students will need boots and snow pants to be on the playground or snow areas.  Hats and gloves too.  Sled riding will be a zone for the students during recess, but they must be dressed appropriately.  Thanks to Ms. Brzuski for braving the elements to take our kids sledding during recess- how cool is she?

Car line rules:

Drop off in the morning:  Pull up to the white line that is about 2 car lengths from the exit that says "Drop Off" so the other cars behind you can pull up and several children can unload at once.  Do not get out of your car.  If your child needs assistance exiting your vehicle, come before 8:30 when a staff member will be available to help or pull into a parking space and walk your child across the crosswalk that is by the parking lot doors.

Pick up:  Line up on Meadow Wood and wait until there is room to fully accomodate your car in the parking lot before pulling past the yellow School Crossing sign.  Otherwise, wait at the yellow school crossing sign.  Likewise, don't pull around cars that are waiting at the sign- you're creating a big safety hazard by pulling any closer!  The Police Department will ticket drivers who pull past that sign and block traffic. 

What is Star Helper?

Star Helpers is service based and geared towards teaching our children to care for and to do for others.  Whether we are collecting food in a food drive, cleaning up the park or making favors for a Senior Citizen luncheon at the Community Center, we are helping our children learn to respect and care for others.  

This month we are collecting items for senior citizens in our area.  Please consider donating one of the following items in the next few weeks:

Individual tissues, notepads, Suduko and Crossword puzzle books, hand sanitizer, stationary sets, stamps, lotion, bath wash, individual wrapped snacks like trail mix or raisins, tape, gift wrap or gift bags etc.
 
There is a basket in the foyer of Sunview that is clearly marked "STAR HELPERS, Senior Baskets".  You or your child can place items in the container and small baskets will be made and passed out to local seniors.  The deadline to bring in items is Friday, January 27th.

Thank you for your help as we teach our students to respect and care for others.

Questions can be sent to Beth Lydic at Lydicfamily@gmail.com

Internet Safety Part 2

More info from the December presentation on Internet Safety:

• 97% of offenders meet their victims online.  65% meet their victims in chat rooms and 24% meet their victims through IMs.  The same advice parents gave kids 20 year ago applies to the internet: Don't talk to strangers.

• 66% of victims are girls.  34% are boys.  With boys, the progression of predators is faster.

Online relationship tips

• You may not know the truth about people you meet on line
• Time does not equal trust (Children have a warped impression of time)
• It can be a crime for an adult to have sex with a teenager (Kids don't know this) 

Profile of a typical offender

• White male
• 25-45 years old
• Middle to upper class lifestyle
• Professional employee
• Often employed in a career where they have access to children or volunteer in children's activities (sports, camps, scouting)
• Not technologically adept

What are you or your children posting online?

Once its on the internet, it can't be erased AND there's no expectation of privacy.

Don't put your email address, phone number or what school you attend on your Facebook profile.  Why? Your friends already have this information, so don't open yourself up to unwanted contact.

Cyber Bullying:  If you wouldn't say it in person, don't write it.  

Sunview Stars of the Week

Congratulations to our newest Sunview Stars!  Students were given their awards Thursday, January 12th:

Student	Nominated by	Reason
G. Linetsky	Ms. Wilson	Trying hard math problems
I. Washington	Ms. Wilson	Staying on green all week
E. Paulette	Mrs. Helmet	Being our star student this week
J. Sudberry	Mrs. Helmet	Staying on green all week
L. Yamane	Mrs. Helmet	Being a line star
A. Iannacone	Ms. Meyer	Setting a good example
J. Daher	Ms. Meyer	Being quiet in line
H. Solomon	Ms. Meyer	Sitting quietly on the carpet
K. Thompson	Ms. Meyer	Working quietly during centers
P. Weir	Mrs. Ambrose	Trying to follow restroom rules all week
S. Bremec	Mrs. Ambrose	Writing in complete sentences
P. Tripi	Mrs. Erwin	Always giving 110%
R. Brown	Mrs. Erwin	Finishing her work on time
A. Patterson	Mrs. Erwin	Helping others
M. Butler	Mrs. Erwin	Being an expert braiding machine
B. Warner	Mrs. Erwin	Working hard on everything all day long
T. Muppidi	Mrs. Grist	Awesome busline behavior
T. Marsh	Mrs. Grist	Super star effort during reading
H. Inmon	Mrs. Groudle	Working hard on her calendar gift
A. Malensek	Mrs. Groudle	Counting money wekk in math
T. Mock	Mrs. Groudle	Picking up coats in the hall
V. Peck	Mrs. Groudle	Picking up coats in the hall
S. Smith	Mrs. Groudle	Completing morning work on time
N. Del Balso	Mrs. Argo	Good role model in P.E.
J. Thompson	Mrs. Argo	Getting right to work
K. Gielink	Mrs. Argo	Good citizen
N. Eckman	Mrs. Argo	Good citizen
C. Osborne	Mrs. Argo	Kind heart
V. Dickinson	Mrs. Pollack	Working hard on her WWW
W. Mussig	Mrs. Pollack	Improved behavior
F. Zamencnik	Mrs. Pollack	Always following directions and being a good friend
C. Appell	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
D. Sutcliffe	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
A. Stupica	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
I. Rydel	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
N. Res	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
J. Herron	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
D. Claflin	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
C. Appell	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
S. Lashlet	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
M. Caserta	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
M. Delaine	Mrs. Zawacki	Wonderful role model
G. Rhine	Mrs. Zawacki	Helping another student durng language arts

Internet Safety Tips (Part 1)

In December, Sergeant George Lichman of the Rocky River Police Department spoke at the PTA meeting.  He's a member of the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and gave many good tips worthy of a re-share here.  The presentation lasted for about an hour and was content rich, so the tips will be shared in several posts.

Online chatrooms are the most dangerous place of children to go on the internet.  They have the highest likelihood of being propositioned by a child predator at those kinds of sites.

According to a joint study by the US Department of Justice, OJJDP and the University of New Hampshire conducted in 1999, 71% of kids polled responded that they've received and email or Instant Message form a stranger.  40% replied to that unknown person and only 18% said they's tell an adult about the contact.  More shockingly, 34% of teens reported seeing unwanted sexual images or materials despite increased use of filtering software by parents (55% in 2006 vs. 33% in 1999).   And only 5% of teens reported the sexual solicitation or unwanted exposure.  Why?  They were afraid of losing internet access.  An easy way to ensure your child is in that 5% is to set up rules and expectations where as long as your child follows the rules (stay away from certain sites, report contact from strangers, etc.), they won't lose access.