Digital Citizenship

In the last couple years, Digital Citizenship has become a more important topic for our students than ever. Since the pandemic, student have had more access to screens. This was particularly true during times of remote learning, but access to online content for most students is greater than ever. Since students each have access to their own device, this provides new opportunities, but also new potential problems.

Librarian Mary Elizabeth Ezenwaka provides lessons in digital citizenship to students at TM. Using the Common Sense Digital Citizenship Curriculum, students are learning how to stay safe on-line, how to be responsible and respectful to others on-line, what type of information must be kept private, how to be upstanders if cyber bullying happens, and how to report problems that come up when they are on-line.

Students begin to access technology at a younger age in today’s society. It is not uncommon to see children scrolling on phones and iPads well before they enter school. While our students are clearly “digital natives” and are comfortable with the use of technology, they are still children who need the guidance of adults to shape the decisions they make on-line and to help protect them from potential dangers.

Access to inappropriate sites is a concern for many parents. Student computers at school have strong filters preventing them from visiting most sites that contain mature content, but there can still be instances of inappropriate content slipping through. Students’ phones, which operate on a network independent from the school only are as safe as the filters their parents employ. Our school expectation is that student phones are turned off and put away throughout the school day. If students need to call home, they are welcome to do so from the school office. We ask that parents help us to limit phone use during the school day by NOT texting your child during school hours when their phone should be put away.

Students can access their phones on the bus, and many students play games on their phone as entertainment during a long bus ride. If students are not using their phone appropriately on the bus, they will be asked to keep it put away and be given a seat near the driver to ensure appropriate supervision. Students who are getting used to the freedom in communication that texting gives them may get carried away. Parents may want to check in on the texting their child is doing from time to time.

Outside of school hours, it is important for parents to continue the conversation with their child about what apps they use and which sites they visit. You may consider asking your child to sign an agreement about using technology in accordance with your family’s values. You can find examples of Family Media Agreements here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/family-media-agreement .

You may also want to consider limiting your child’s access to more mature media. Common Sense Media has resources for setting parental controls that can block adult content, help regulate phone usage at bedtime, and help you create safe access to certain sites. You can find this here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to .  Our students are curious, and without guidance, they can find their way into information that you might prefer they not access.

Technology can help students create, communicate, and enrich their learning. The trick is finding a healthy balance of technology use with other types of learning and teaching students to use this tool in a responsible way. Making sure that your child uses technology with the guidance and oversight of adults will help to ensure a positive experience. I encourage you to check out the Common Sense Media site and all it has to offer.

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Goodbye Nurse Colima

Nurse Colima is ending her time at Thurgood Marshall. She has worked with so many of your children during her three years at TM.  We wish her well but she will definitely be missed! 

From Nurse Colima: With mixed feelings, I will be leaving my position as school nurse at Thurgood Marshall Elementary. The last three years have been filled with education, joy, and best of all, the sweet voices and smiles of your children. A substitute nurse will finish the last six weeks of the school year. Thank you for your support and help keeping our school community safe. Keep it real Thurgood Marshall Bull Pups!

Nurse Colima

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Congratulations TM Ultimate Frisbee Team!

Thurgood Marshall's Ultimate Frisbee team won their fourth game in a row last weekend to finish the season 5-2. Playoffs for the C Division title (the division for teams with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders) start this Saturday.

For anyone who wants to come spectate, all playoff games are at Magnuson Park in NE Seattle. Thurgood Marshall plays next on Saturday 5/3 at 12:00 noon near Magnuson's soccer field 2 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/FNe2D6xgTaWNsMf28). Go Bullpups!