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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. 

Welcome back to an exciting new academic year at Sierra High School! As the new Principal, I am thrilled and honored to join the Sierra High School family. As we embark on this journey together, I want to take a moment to introduce myself and share my vision for our alternative education high school.

First and foremost, I am a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives. The overwhelming majority of my career has been in alternative education and it is clear to me that here at Sierra High School, we are not just another high school. We are a family, a close-knit community. Our commitment to providing an alternative education program stems from the belief that each student possesses unique talents, abilities, and passions. We strive to encourage students to explore, grow, and develop their full potential and help bring their vision of a successful future into focus.

One of my top priorities as the new principal is to maintain a strong sense of community within our school. I believe in open communication and collaboration. I look forward to meeting you in the near future and working together to continue to grow Sierra High School and the model of alternative education excellence. 

As we embark on this new school year, I encourage all students to embrace challenges, seek knowledge, and take advantage of the diverse opportunities that Sierra High School has to offer. 

If you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. My door is always open.

Let's make this academic year the best one yet!

Data Confirmation for all currently enrolled AUSD students will begin on August 4, 2023. Read the full update here. 

The first day of school is August 17, 2033.