Pelham Public Schools, Pelham Together & PTA Council Partner for Digital Citizenship Awareness

Dear Pelham Community,

The Pelham Public Schools, Pelham Together and the Pelham Council of PTAs are pleased to be partnering for Digital Citizenship Month 2022 to unite our community around the healthy and productive use of social media and technology and to spread positivity and connection in Pelham. To achieve these goals, the month of October will feature a number of events and programming targeted toward children and adults, including: 

• Pause Before You Post campaign, encouraging everyone to think twice before posting.
• Parents Talk: “Raising Children in the Age of Screens” at 7:30pm on October 13 at the Meridian Risk Management Building (1 Wolfs Lane). Attendees are encouraged to complete this survey prior to attending the event. Please register in advance.
• Positive “Post It” activity at all schools
• A free screening of “Screenagers: Next Chapter” at The Picture House at 7:30PM on October 20, 2022 followed by panel and community discussion
• A Parent Information Session on Digital Citizenship and Fluency at 6pm followed by a Board of Education Work Session at 7pm on October 18 in the Middle School Library
• A return of Pelham Together’s “Disconnect to Reconnect” initiative October 24-31, a partnership with local restaurants promoting screen-free meals

Please view the full calendar of events

These events coincide with the Pelham Public Schools’ celebration of Digital Citizenship Month. Throughout October, Pelham students across all levels will engage in lessons and activities aimed at promoting the safe and healthy use of technology and social media. At the elementary level, Alicia DelMastro, Instructional Technology Specialist, and Library Media Specialist Anne Sullivan will teach lessons designed to address topics such as:

• Internet safety
• Appropriate on-line relationships and 
• Responsible use of technology and the internet.

At the middle school, lessons taught during Technology classes and by Library Media Specialist Lauren Rosenberg, will include several important topics such as:

• Finding balance in the digital world
• Phishing scams
• Personal online presence
• Being an upstander and ally
• Appropriate use of chatting features
• Digital drama
• Appropriate sharing of information
• Appropriate use of social media. 

PMHS will be holding a week of student-led initiatives and activities to promote positivity, kindness, and digital citizenship such as:

• Positive “Post-Its,” with messages of empowerment and encouragement
• Unity Week activities designed to promote positive social media usage and conversation regarding the pros and cons of social media
• Activities to promote kindness, and encourage students to be upstanders online
• Daily announcements with strategies to show respect and kindness toward fellow students and staff, both in person and online. 

“Our technology department, led by John Sebalos, does an incredible job teaching digital fluency skills to our students so that they are prepared to navigate the continually evolving technological and social media driven world in which we live,” said Dr. Cheryl H. Champ, Superintendent of Schools. “We are thrilled to be partnering with our community and parent organizations to ensure that we as adults have the tools to support our children and set the example for them as we work together to unite and uplift the Pelham community.”

Sincerely,

The Pelham Public Schools