Thanks for checking out the first edition of the Cherokee County School's Technology Department newsletter! We hope you will find this information useful and helpful in both your instruction and managing the technology in your classroom.

We are constantly working to avoid phishing scams. There are measures you can take to keep your information secure:

1. Don't use the same password over and over again! Have a unique password for all applications, especially your email account and iNow.

2. Don't save your passwords in your browser.

3. Be careful when opening emails from someone you don't know.

4. Be knowledgeable about what a phishing attempt looks like. Attackers can "spoof" other users' email addresses. You have to look carefully to determine if the email is legit. ALWAYS take the extra time to check emails that ask for sensitive information. Never send account information, banking information, or social security numbers through email.

Take this quiz to brush up on your ability to spot a phishing email:

https://bit.ly/2G0CHTo

The Technology Department recently tackled the momentous task of replacing many of our analog phone lines with an internet-based phone system. This change is saving our school system approximately $20,000.00 per year! Of course, with change comes some degree of a learning curve. Please click to review the topics found here, and let us know if you have additional questions.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PyNEQYnqE0_xIrX1rykVwl-Gxl7n3tOLijI4qTz5Be4/edit?usp=sharing

We receive lots of questions about purchasing technology items. Nearly all technology items must be purchased using a quote from our department. By law, we are required to bid out items we would like to purchase or use a state or national purchasing contract. Let us know what you need, and we'll be happy to send you quotes for your items. You will use either your classroom instructional money or school technology money to purchase items for your classroom. The system-wide technology budget is generally only used to purchase networking equipment and supplies.

Please submit photographs and short descriptions of how your students are utilizing technology in your classroom to Cassandra Lindsey at clindsey@cherokeek12.org