home

= = =Dear Parents or Guardians: =
 * __Letter to Parents __**

We recently created this wikispace in order to keep both parents and children involved in the newly implemented educational program we created. This wiki will enhance the learning process in the classroom, as well as at home. Today, 21st century learning skills not only require students to be able to use computers and understand basic typing skills, but they must also be able to create multimedia presentations, spreadsheets, create resumes, use online tools such as this wiki and much, much more! Using this wiki will be a great experience for the children because it will provide them with enriching online 21st century skills they can use in the future in and outside of the classroom. This wiki will also serve as a space to provide students and parents with important information about our classroom. For instance, we will be sure to keep parents up to date on upcoming assignments as well as provide reinforcing material for the students that covers class material. This wiki will also be an opportunity for us to communicate with both parents and our students interactively to ensure that you, as the parents, are aware of the curriculum we are currently presenting in the classroom and keep you up to date on what we have planned for the future. This wiki will provide us all with many great opportunities and will certainly be a simple, quick and efficient outlet to learn curriculum material. We are aware that the creation of this website may pose some questions about its use. Therefore, we would like to take this time to present answers to some of the questions you may have about using this website. Please feel free to contact any of the teachers here at ABC Middle School and we will be more than happy to assist you!

1) Will this wiki protect the privacy and safety of my child? 2) Will parents have access to this blog? 3) How will you, as a teacher, address cyber bullying? 4) Who else will have access to this blog?

**1) Will this wiki protect the privacy and safety of my child?**
 * On this wiki, your child will not be asked nor expected to reveal any personal information that could violate their privacy or put them in danger. Students will be identified only with their first names, and the wiki will not reveal any information about the name and location of ABC Middle School. The online boundaries will be clearly communicated to the students and parents prior to using the wiki. To further ensure the safety of the children, we have also made sure that the wiki is set as private. Due to this setting, only a select audience will be able to view this website. This audience will be created through invitation only. The majority of this audience will be the students in the class as well as the teachers. The remainder of the audience will be parents who would also like to have access to this blog. Further information about this is discussed below.

**2) Will parents have access to this blog?**
 * All parents and guardians will have access to this blog. If and/or once you permit your child to use this online tool, you will be sent an invitation (via e-mail) to become a member of this website. Once you follow the simple steps to confirm your membership, you will have the ability to comment under your username, check the daily progress of your child's work, and check in with teachers with any questions and/or concerns. Through the wiki, you will be able to not only see the planned curriculum for the year, but you will also be able to be part of the sharing and reflective process inherent in using this tool in the classroom. You will have the opportunity to respond to students' work and easily communicate with our school community. We believe this will be very beneficial for a number of parents who want to keep track of their children's work as the school year progresses.

**3) How will you, as a teacher, address cyber bullying?**
 * Cyber bullying is a complicated yet prevalent issue among the younger generations. The first step we will take in order to avoid cyber bulling is to address this issue in the classroom. The lessons dedicated to this issue will cover everything from the definition of cyber bullying, to providing the students with numerous scenarios and how to react in this situations, good versus bad choices, and last but not least, the consequences of cyber bullying. The scenarios may be fictional or factual and we will have the students tell us whether or not cyber bullying took place and why. After the students have fully comprehended what cyber bulling is, they will move onto the next step: creation of a reprimand. In other words we will make the students aware of the fact that any students who so chose to cyber bully, will be held to the same consequences as physical or mental bullying (according to school conduct). In addition, students will be put on probation from the wiki until they can prove that they are not putting others at risk or danger. Therefore, instead of being allowed to complete some assignments online and at home, the students will have to replace their recess with homework time under staff supervision. Students will also be instructed that if they are the victim of cyber bullying, or even if they are unsure whether or not it was cyber bullying, they should immediately notify a teacher so we can help them assess and rectify the situation. We truly believe that this will minimize cyber bullying, however, there are always students who are an exception to the norm. If the combination of these rules and this lecture still lead to cyber bullying, alternate and additional rules will be put in place. We will do our best to ensure the safety and well being of your children and would like to invite parents to notify us as soon as possible of any cyber bullying concerns. Cyber bullying will not, under any circumstances, be tolerated.

**4) Who will have access to this blog?**
 * All of the teachers who have assisted in the creation of this blog will have open access. The students in our classroom will all be given open access to the blog if they receive permission from his/her parents or guardian. The superintendent, principal and/or administrator will also be asked to view this website to ensure that the students are efficiently learning curriculum material. As already stated, parents and guardians will also be allowed access to the site if they chose to. It is important that we specify only the above mentioned people will have access to this blog. The privacy and safety of our students is the utmost priority. Through allowing this level of access, we hope to protect your child's safety while creating a learning environment larger than the classroom.

====**If you would like to grant your child access to this wiki, please print out the permission slip, sign it and have your child turn it in to the lead teacher as of Monday, January 9th, 2012.** ====
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to sharing this online experience with you and your child(ren)!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Please select the **"Comment"** Tab, on the top of this page to give us some feedback. We are available via wiki, e-mail, phone, or fax.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Sincerely,**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">**The ABC Middle School Team Members** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Cara Brokaw <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Laura Cable <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Felicia Spinola <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">& Jalpa Amin <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Phone:** (555) 555-5555 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Fax:** (555) 555-5551 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">**ABCMidSchool@ABCMidSchool.com**