Over the last 8 years, Stanley PTA and the Counseling Department have sponsored an Internet Safety Assembly for our 6th and 7th graders. Each year, we invite Officer Steve DeWarns to come and present to our students. This assembly took place last Friday, May 7th. The 6th graders heard some safety tips for online internet use and the 7th graders heard Internet Safety Part 2 including Social Networking tips and concerns regarding Cyberbullying. As usual, the Stanley students were stellar listeners and asked great questions. All students were encouraged to go home and speak with their parents and siblings about what they learned at the assembly. We hope that they’ll do that! Here is a peek into what they learned on Friday:

• Internet Safety Tip #1: If you get any message online that makes you feel uncomfortable, do not respond to the message-save the message and talk to an adult about it.
• Internet Safety Tip #2: Do not give out personal information (name, address, password, age or school name) on line.
• Internet Safety Tip #3: Do not use a screen name or email address that contains part of your name or gives other personal info such as your age or address.
• Internet Safety Tip #4: Do not arrange a face to face meeting with anyone that you’ve met online.
• Internet Safety Tip #5: Do not accept anything that a stranger sends you over the internet, including email files or the address for a website. If you receive any message from a stranger, delete it without opening it.
• Internet Safety Tip #6: If you have a webcam, disable it when it is not in use. Do not communicate on line with people who you do not know in the “real world”. Set your preferences so that you only communicate with people that you actually know.

A note about Social Networking: Protect your on line reputation: Nothing is “Private” on the internet. Things that you write and post can searched for at a later date by employers, internships and colleges. Show respect for yourself and your future by being aware of how you present yourself on line.

A note about Cyber Bullying: If students are harassing or threatening others on line and students are being made to feel uncomfortable coming to school, schools are increasingly offering serious consequences at school.

If you or your child has questions about internet safety, Officer DeWarns can be reached at www.internetchildsafety.net. This website is a great resource for more information on internet safety. You can also call Tiffany Sullivan, counselor at Stanley (927-3542) with questions or concerns.