What OLSH is doing to keep students safe online at school

photo of two OLSH students looking at ipad

Protecting children online has become an important topic for parents. And it’s an important topic for schools, too. OLSH has partnered with SecURLy, The Student Safety Company, to put safeguards in place while students access the internet at OLSH and while using OLSH email accounts. Mrs. Patricia Krueger, OLSH Director of Technology, initiated the partnership as a proactive way for our school to address student safety online.

SecURLy’s content filter serves as a profile based content filter, allowing for reporting by user id and is linked to student (and employee) gmail accounts. The filter has the ability to monitor student activity to be proactive in noticing trends in search history and sites visited. Additionally, secURLy offers an anonymous tipline that can be used by students or parents to report bullying or other issues or concerns. The tipline and content monitoring are managed by secURLy professionals who have been trained about what to look for and will notify the school of any flagged behavior. SecURLy has products available for parent use, as well. More information on those products will be shared with OLSH families.

photo of OLSH student looking at cell phone

Another way that schools can protect children online is by following good student data privacy practices. All OLSH faculty and staff participated in training from CommonSense Media on protecting student data in the classroom, including vetting websites in advance of using them in the classroom and limiting use of sites that collect student data.

Online safety also has to do with practicing good digital citizenship. All students at OLSH are enrolled in Technology & Online Information Literacy (TOIL) class as freshmen. This course reviews proper usage of technology and ways to be a good digital citizen. Students at OLSH can also learn more about good digital citizenship in the Tisch Family Library, where Mrs. Bethany Cvitkovic has created various displays of information encouraging students to do what is right when they are online.

photo of OLSH student using cell phone in class

Practicing internet safety is important in today’s world, but when parents and schools work together to be proactive, students can be protected. Talk to you children about their online activity, know what data they have shared on social media and other sites and apps, and encourage them to talk to you when they see something they aren’t comfortable with online. SecURLy and Common Sense Media both have resources on their websites that are available to parents on the topic of online safety if you want to learn more.

Comments

Tips from Teachers: Starting the new school year off on the right foot!

Now that we are a week into the new school year and students have figured out the basics (how to get into their locker, where their homeroom is, and the quickest way to the cafeteria at lunchtime), it’s a great time to think about ways to make the new year a successful one. A new school year is a great time for a fresh approach to attitudes about school work or even interacting with others. Organization is key! For some students, the range of courses, teachers, and expectations in high school can be overwhelming. Staying organized with a planner is key to keeping track of projects and due dates. Using a paper calendar can be helpful, as the act of writing something down actually helps you remember what you wrote! For others, transferring assignments to an online calendar is helpful since you can set reminders to alert you when a due date is approaching. Be the kind kid Whether it’s the simple act of saying hello as you pass people in the halls, inviting someone to sit with yo...

How to get the most out of attending virtual Mass

I hope all of you are getting by in these trying times. It is not easy for any of us right now, but if we all take it one day at a time, we will get through this. What I would like to do in this reflection is offer some suggestions as to how you can get the most out of watching mass on television or the computer while you are unable to attend mass in person. It goes without saying that there is nothing like attending mass at your local church. To be present at the holy sacrifice and receive the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion is the greatest thing we can do while we are on this earth. Also, a great benefit of attending mass in person is receiving the priest’s blessing at the end of mass. But right now, all of this is not possible for you. Therefore, while it is not required that you watch mass on television or online, I highly recommend that you do so. While the same graces that you would receive at mass are unavailable, there are still many other graces to be received...

Affording a Catholic high school education: How we help parents make it possible at OLSH

Making the transition to Catholic high school is a big step. Parents are preparing their children for new buildings, new teachers, new opportunities, and making new friends. On top of that, parents may be feeling anxiety as they watch their children move on to the next step in their educational journey – and may be feeling overwhelmed by their upcoming tuition payments. Frequently we have found that tuition for Catholic high school is much higher than what families are paying for Catholic elementary school. Regardless of a family’s financial situation, paying for Catholic education involves some level of sacrifice. As the cost to educate increases, schools and parents must work together to make it possible for students to receive a quality education rooted in faith and values. At OLSH, we believe an investment in an OLSH education is an investment in your child’s future. And we work diligently to ensure that an OLSH education is accessible to any qualified student who seeks it....

Inspiring Minds and Hearts

Search This Blog