Cyberbullying and online predators among topics at Internet safety program for parents, students
In concert with the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the San Diego Police Foundation, Ramona’s Sun Valley Council PTA will sponsor an Internet safety presentation for parents in the Ramona High School gymnasium on Thursday, May 22, from 6 to 7:15 p.m.
“Parents concerned about how their children access the Internet and related social media sites via their computer or mobile devices should consider attending this informative workshop,” Robert Graeff, superintendent of Ramona Unified School District, said in an email on Monday.
At Olive Peirce Middle School, students will receive similar instruction on Internet safety during a school assembly on Friday, May 23.
Both programs are part of SafetyNet:Smart Cyber Choices®, a collaboration of the Internet task force and police foundation to keep children safe online and protect them from cyberbullying and online predators.
The programs are described as a self-defense class for Internet users.
“Smartphones, Internet enabled technologies and app usage amongst tweens and teens is at an all-time high,” said program organizers. “Teaching the responsible and ethical use of cyber technology is imperative to keeping our kids safe online.”
Parents will learn the latest trends impacting kids in online environments, including Snapchat, Instagram, KiK, Facebook, Ask.FM and Tinder.
The program is free, and students age 13 and older may attend with an adult.
At Olive Peirce, students will attend a 45- to 60-minute assembly that will cover such topics as cyberbullying, hackers and scammers, avoiding inappropriate posts, social networking, online computer games and Internet predators. Presenters will also discuss the latest apps and websites that students are visiting.
Both programs are sponsored with grant money from the Ninth District PTA Grant Award received by Kristina Krohne, Sun Valley Council PTA president.
For more information, visit www.SmartCyberChoices.org.
Ramona High School is at 1401 Hanson Lane.
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