Warrior Weekly -Parents Needed!
CELL PHONE/DEVICES & SOCIAL MEDIA Regulations
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PARENT SUPPORT WITH STUDENT CELL PHONE USEAGE
Dear Warrior Parents,
Many of you and your students have reported misuse of social media. Students are using social media to intimidate or make fun of individuals. This is known as cyberbullying, which is a nationwide problem among our youth. We need your assistance to ensure it does not impact our learning community and to put an end to this social issue. We need to be transparent and have open communication to know what our students are doing on their phones.
We highly encourage you to speak with your child about this immediately. If they are the ones posting inappropriate material, the consequences can result in legal issues. We have received anonymous reports that students on campus are using false Sanchez Middle accounts under Instagram, Tic Tock, and twitter to post pictures of other students and teachers when they are not looking. We will continue to provide students with options of anonymous reporting. For any student who has created false Sanchez MS accounts, we are hoping that they come forward to self report so that we can manage the investigation at our level. These accounts have already been reported to Instagram to be removed.
We are asking for your support in speaking with your child about this issue. This special newsletter is to not only to inform you of the issue but to provide resources for you to assist us in ensuring cell phones are being used appropriately.
Some things to be on the look out for with your child is:
- having multiple social media accounts
- having multiple accounts under 1 social media account
- APPS that hide other apps so when parents check their phone seems official/safe.
Does your child have a lot of selfies in their gallery?
-This is a sign that they could be posting online.
Does your child have data usage in the middle of the night but no text message show on your account?
- There is a possibility they could be using snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, or other social media to be texting others. Social media apps will NOT show incoming or outgoing calls under a parent account--even with parent control.
Through communication and investigations at campus we have found many of our students on Instagram and snapchat. While some use appropriate language and post appropriate pictures, others are not and are participating in questionable social media activity.
Beginning Monday, during our announcements we will communicate to students to put a stop to any cyberbullying and the creation of these accounts. Due to this situation, we are enforcing the guidelines that cell phones should be turned off and inside their backpack once they are on campus. While we understand this could be a concern to many parents wanting direct text access to their child, please remember that they are in school and if there is an emergency you can call our front office and we will reach out to your student with the message or request that they come down. In addition, students will have access to the phone in the front office for any of their needs. Please understand that this is for the safety of ALL students on campus and we are taking a proactive approach compared to a reactive approach.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly at nballa@sisd.net or call any of our administrators at 915-937-5200. We encourage you to speak your child about appropriate use of cell phone and social media. We appreciate your support as students will be upset about not having immediate access to their cell phone. Showing your child that WE are working TOGETHER to ensure safety for all will provide a positive learning environment.
Below I have included a DAVIDs Law video for you to view to show you the seriousness of cyberbullying. In addition, I included 7 ways that teens hide online activity from parents. We hope to continue to provide support in this area.
We will teach students how to avoid both intentional or unintentional cyberbullying as well as impersonation of a business/organization together as a community.
Thank you for your continued support of our community.
Respectfully,
Proud Warriors Stand Together!
Nathan Ballard
Proud Principal
Salvador H. Sanchez MS
915-937-5202
IF YOUR CHILD IS UTILIZING A CELL PHONE OUTSIDE OF TEACHER PERMISSION/INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES: (SECTION G OF HANDBOOK)
If your child is utilizing a cell phone outside of teacher permission/instructional activities:
1st Offense: Phone will be confiscated. Parents must pick-up after 3:30 pm.
2nd Offense: Phone will be confiscated for 5 days or until a Parent- Administrator Conference is conducted.
Further disciplinary action can be taken if deemed necessary if device usage creates a disruption of the school environment and requires investigation due to reports being made of inappropriate social media use and/or cyberbullying. Criminal charges can be filed, and investigations are ongoing.
PARENT GUIDE: 7 WAYS TEENS HIDE ONLINE ACTIVITY AND WHAT YOU CAN DO
Salvador H. Sanchez Leadership - please contact 937-5200.
Campus Grade Administration
Mr. N. Ballard- Principal nballa@sisd.net
Ms. A. Carroll- 7th Grade acarro01@sisd.net
Ms. R. Rios- 6th Grade rsalaz04@sisd.net
Counselors
Ms. Alvarez- Alpha A-L calvar515@sisd.net
Ms. Ortiz- Alpha M-Z rortiz18@sisd.net