The following was submitted by NCHS PFA Co-President Stephanie Kushner.

Street Chat, Yik Yak, Snap Chat… What new Social Media App will appear next and distract our Students from their primary focus – learning? It was disappointing to learn in a letter from the New Canaan High School Administration that our students were misusing Social Media and upsetting their fellow students. Our children have powerful tools at their fingertips but some are struggling to handle it responsibly and productively.

The New Canaan High School PFA and Administration are teaming up to reinforce the message that Responsible Online citizenship is critical. Thanks to a grant from the Newcomers Club of New Canaan and funding from the PFA, the High School will be bringing in a speaker, Richard Guerry, whose award-winning program focuses on ways to not only prevent existing trends such as “sexting” and “cyber bullying” but also to create solutions to digital issues our students may face. His goal is to construct a digital community free of negative and sometimes irreversible consequences resulting from poor judgment. He focuses on cyber safety and responsible on-line citizenship by highlighting that users should be prepared for their digital activity to be public and permanent!

Richard will be speaking to all 9th – 11th grade students during an in-school assembly on November 5th. He will also speak in the Wagner Room at 7 p.m. that evening for any parents and students who are interested in hearing his message. The evening presentation will be appropriate for a wide range of digital users – from those just starting out with cell phones and social media to those who remember the days without them. It is open to the entire New Canaan Community and we hope to see you there.