Parent Weekly Warrior
January 15, 2019
Help us get to 20% Parent Survey Results.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We need your help to get at least 20% of our parents to complete the 5-Essentials Survey. Parental Voice and support are an important component of our School Improvement Plan each year. Please let us know what we are doing well and where we could improve. We are only at 10% which equals only 80 parents.
Mr. Billingsley
(Helpful Article) New App--- Lipsi--- Encourages others to leave anonymous comments, unfortunately many are hurtful
What if anyone within a 100-yard radius could send you anonymous messages? What could go wrong, right?
A relatively new app called Lipsi offers just that. Lipsi lets users anonymously start conversations with other app users nearby, and it's gaining serious traction among young people.
There have been anonymous messaging apps before, and, like Lipsi, they've caused controversy.
In 2013, Yik Yak allowed users to start anonymous conversations with those in a 5-mile radius. Yik Yak's popularity rose rapidly, particularly with high school and college students. Complaints of bullying and threats led to its shutdown in 2017.
When Yik Yak fell, another app called Sarahah took its place. Like Yik Yak, Sarahah allowed anonymous messaging and was initially created for employees to give anonymous feedback to bosses. The app's usage on Snapchat increased both its popularity and harassment incidents, and, in early 2018, both the Apple Store and Google Play removed Sarahah for download.
But apps are like weeds — they grow fast. When one weed is pulled, another one typically grows to take its place. Now, Lipsi is the new popular anonymous messaging app.
So I decided to download and tried out Lipsi myself. After signing up and verifying that I was over 18, I was able to create my own shareable link for anonymous feedback. (People often attach this link to their Instagram bio so followers can send anonymous feedback or compliments.)
Once you're signed in, the app will let you search other users within a 100-yard radius by name, then start a conversation with them anonymously. Others can do the same to you.
I never ran into someone near me using the app, but Lipsi is not designed for me, it's designed for teens and young adults. In a school setting surrounded by peers and smartphones, I suspect that the main page to Lipsi would be full of opportunities to comment. While Lipsi requires users to be 18 and up, like other apps, all it takes is a simple click of a box to get in.
And Lipsi users skew young — and female, according to Lipsi's founder, Matthew Segal.
Segal told the Vancouver Sun that the idea for the app came after he kept running into a girl he was interested in, but lacking the courage to tell her. And this does seem to be a common theme of messaging on the app.
Through the signup process, though, I couldn't help but notice not one, not two, but three reminders from the app about harassment and abusive comments. According to the app, "abuse is not tolerated," and anyone who is reported for sending abusive, threatening or racist comments will have their identity revealed, the app warns.
The app also has a relatively new feature called "community review" where users can go through actual messages sent to people and decide whether or not they should be delivered.
I went through many of these messages, and it reminded me of elementary and junior high. My classmates would create elaborately folded paper messages with questions, the most popular of which was: "Do you like me?" with a box for YES and one for NO. Lipsi seems to be a more modern version of that.
If those were the only messages I saw I would not be that concerned. However, the majority of messages in the community review process were abusive. For every, "I think you're pretty" or "Do you like me?" there was three sexually suggestive or abusive messages.
Anonymity, unfortunately, can bring out the worst of human behavior. Although Lipsi, like anything online, isn't truly anonymous. I was concerned about the information the app said it may gather which includes: email, locations, birth dates, gender, friends lists and more. While that information can be good for moderating trolls and bullies, it also is deceptive for someone who thinks they are anonymously communicating.
I can see some benefits to Lipsi. Like any app, there are positives and negatives. As business owners, I can see how Lipsi would be useful to gather anonymous feedback. The links that Lipsi provides are simple to put on Instagram or other sites to gather that information.
The anonymity can also be used in positive ways. I saw several messages with people reaching out to check on others. An individual who is going through a mental health crisis could find both support, and negativity, through Lipsi.
There are places for anonymity, but I would be hesitant to recommend Lipsi to anyone under 18. Adults with more life experience may find it easier to sort through the negative and positive comments and not internalize harassing messages. Young people are still learning resiliency and developing their own internal identities.
If a young person does need to speak to someone anonymously, there are great resources through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Educational Foundation Harlem Wizards Fundraiser- Buy tickets now! Friday, February 8th
Educational Foundation Grant Highlight
I am very grateful to have been awarded my Keyboard Learning Station grant from the SD113A Educational Foundation! Our keyboard station allows 6th-8th-grade students to learn how to read music by studying a piece they have chosen and then presenting their progress to the class in a “mini-recital” at the end of the unit. Students determine their current skill level, then work through a series of the introductory, medium, or advanced lessons at their own pace. Recordings of the pieces can be used when students need help envisioning the finished product. More advanced students enjoy acting as assistant instructors when they are not working on their own pieces, and less experienced students value the chance to learn from their peers. Students cycle through a series of activities to reinforce skills as they wait for their turn on the keyboards. Seeing the students’ growth, and the pride in their accomplishments has been priceless!
-Cathy Anderson, Old Quarry Middle School General Music Instructor
Box Top Advisory Competition
Boy's Volleyball Tryouts
OQMS PTO Meeting
OQ PTO meeting - Please join us on Thursday, January 17th at 6:30 pm @ Old Quarry to find out what we have planned for the rest of the year!
Lemont High School class of 2023 Important Dates
- 8th-grade Course Selection Event- Saturday, February 2nd at 9:00
Order Yearbook Now!
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW!
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1074792/Old-Quarry-Middle-School-PTO/
Don’t miss the deadline to order your yearbook! The FINAL deadline to pre-order your yearbook is Wednesday, February 20th. Online orders only http://www.jostens.com
Boy's Volleyball Tryouts
BOYS' VOLLEYBALL TRYOUTS
Wednesdays-January 30th and February 13th from 2:45-4:00 in the main gym. Sign up online and make sure that you have a current physical on file in the Nurse's Office. Our first match is April 15th and the final tournament is on May 4th. See Coach Duffy in Room 331 if you have any questions.
Old Quarry Middle School Information
Please follow us on Facebook, our goal is to get 1,000 followers before the end of this year.
We use the following hashtags on twitter: #OQMS or #sd113a(If you go to google and search these two you will find posts from teachers) no need for a Twitter account.
Email: jbillingsley@sd113a.org
Website: http://www.sd113a.org/oldquarry
Phone: (630) 257-2286 4101
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldquarrymiddleschool/
Twitter: @OQMSMRB