As the digital landscape continues to expand and AI becomes more pervasive, the importance of fostering safe, responsible, and ethical online behavior is more important than ever.
In light of this, schools across the nation are actively participating in Digital Citizenship Week, which takes place from October 20-24, 2025.
The nonprofit organization Common Sense Media draws upon the following to define and develop age-appropriate digital citizenship resources for students, families, and educators: media balance, anti-cyberbullying, data privacy, digital footprints, media literacy, social-emotional learning, civic education, and communication and collaboration skills. Check out their site for an abundance of free articles, lessons, activities, and more.
A service HSD has offered families since the 2024-25 school year is a weekly report summarizing their student’s internet use on personal or district-owned Chromebooks when logged in using their HSD credentials. There is also enhanced functionality available - such as the ability to see detailed browsing history and pause internet access outside of school hours - when families sign up for a free account on Blocksi. Visit our website to read Blocksi’s explanation and apology for the multiple emails families may have received in mid-September due to a technical glitch in their system, and consider creating your account. We believe this is an appropriate step to keep our students safe and focused on learning while using district technology and credentials.
Another resource you may not have heard of is offered by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: Take it Down. This free and confidential service can help remove or stop the online sharing of explicit images or videos of a person when they were under 18.
Taking a moment to think before you post, click, send, or share something is so important as we consider the broad reach and long life of digital artifacts. Let’s all commit to being informed, ethical, and empathetic online citizens!
Our featured event is our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. More than 275 students, staff, families, and community members gathered in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Thursday, October 2, at South Meadows Middle School. The event featured ballet folklórico performances by students from Farmington View Elementary School and Glencoe High School, a presentation by the Hillsboro Hops, items for sale by local Hispanic-identifying vendors, food, activities, and more. The evening ended with attendees learning to dance the Cumbia. It was a truly uplifting and inspiring commemoration of this rich and varied culture!
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