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AUSD Community,

One topic that frequently arises when talking to parents, teachers, and administrators is social media and its impact on students. The issues that used to take place in the cafeteria or during recess/PE now take place on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Discord. Social media has compounded many of these issues because once something is posted, it has the potential to be reposted and reshared forever. Social media platforms are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, preventing students from getting a break from peer pressure when they leave school. 

Social media can negatively affect students in many ways, including anxiety and depression. Research suggests that young people spending more than 2 hours daily on social media are likelier to report poor mental health and low self-esteem.  Social media can also negatively impact your child’s sleep if they access social media on their phones at night. 

You may ask, what can parents and the community do to help? To start, remember that the minimum age to use most social media platforms is 13 years old. Children under this age using social media may be doing so against the platform's rules and guidelines. Additional suggestions for social media access are below:

• Control of device use: Restricting the time duration of device use is a great step in protecting students from the negatives associated with social networking. Additionally, using protection software on the devices used by teens and children offers a safe way to control without restricting their presence on the Internet and social media. 

• Control of privacy: It is important to ensure that your student’s settings are always private to prevent unsavory characters from entering their digital world. 

• Monitoring of contacts: Every parent/guardian must determine their own limits to control the number and type of contacts the child has on their social networking accounts. It is not unreasonable to set rules that only allow people they know (and the parents know of) into their contact list. 

• Content: Have a direct conversation with your student about the type of content they post, emphasizing that once something is out on social media, it is nearly impossible to take it back. 

• Disabling location/geo-tagging of posts and photos: For safety and privacy, it is best to turn the location tagging information off. 

In addition to the tips above, it is equally important for you to have open and honest conversations with your student regarding social media. You should encourage your student to utilize social media responsibly and consider what they post before they post it.   

Lastly, remind your student that they can always come to you or a trusted adult if they need help navigating issues that arise on social media.  It is critically important that your student create a positive image on social media for future colleges and/or employers.  

If you would like to learn more about supporting your child on social media, please visit Common Sense Media’s website at www.commonsensemedia.org. 

Our district partners with Think Together to bring programs that support learning in and out of school.

The Think Together Before School Program and After School program is offered every day that classes are in session. Students engage in fun activities that bolster their knowledge and skills in English, Math, STEM, Arts, and healthy youth development. A trained Think Together employee helps students with homework and leads academic, enrichment, and physical activities for groups of 25 kids.

Think Together is a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to change the odds for kids. Their vision is a community where all kids get a great education that prepares them for college and career.  Visit thinktogether.org to learn more.

Program Times:
Before School Program: 6:30 am- 8:00 am (Morning program is a drop-in program. Students can be dropped off anytime between 6:30 am - 8:00 am)
After School Program: School dismissal – 6:00 pm

Parents/guardians: submit your Think Together enrollment form online at: https://thinktogether.my.site.com/admissions/s/login/?ec=302&s...

Please take a moment to review our drop-off and pick-up guidelines before the start of the new year. 

DROP OFF & PICK UP GUIDELINES

• Drive slowly through the pickup/drop-off area and pull forward.
• Pick up children from the curb. Please do not double park and call children to the driveway or the street.
• Parking on the street is available if you'd like to walk up to the gate to pick up your children.
• Arrive after primary dismissal to pick up older students. Waiting at the curb is not permitted until all primary students have been picked up.
• Children may not stay behind and play with other children. If you are here waiting for an older child to be dismissed, your younger child must remain with you at all times.
• Please review these guidelines with your children, so we can ensure dismissal time is efficient and safe for all.