As long as I remember, surfing used to be an activity that was done in the ocean. The ocean can be very dangerous and a lot of things can happen when you are not careful. The Internet is exactly like the ocean. It is an ocean full of information and people. You can “surf” the Internet and find out just about anything or anybody and harmful things can happen when you are not cautious. It is for this reason I have chosen this topic for my newsletter article.

Most of the children today have more experience navigating the Internet than the adults. I don’t know about you but I am pretty clueless when it comes to using the computer and “surfing the Web.”  What I do know is that our children are online daily giving information freely over the Internet posting pictures, personal information, comments etc. on FACEBOOK, Twitter, and MySpace just to name a few. What children don’t realize is that once information is posted on the Internet it’s gone; there’s no getting it back; and too many times this information is being used in inappropriate ways. Dateline, 20/20, and many other news reports have shared stories about children who have run into problems on the Web and many times their parents had no idea what was going on because they thought it was safe. 

Do you have access to the Internet? Do you know where your child spends his/her time on the Web? Does your child have a FACEBOOK, MySpace, or other social network account? If you have answered yes to any of the questions above, I strongly encourage you to have conversations with your children and actively monitor their Internet use. It’s like going to the beach. Would you let your child swim alone in the ocean without a lifeguard on duty? Be that lifeguard. Make sure your child is safe while surfing the Internet. You never know what is out there!

Before and after school can sometimes look very chaotic to a middle school student.  There are several ways that we could use your help to ensure the safety of every student.   

We ask for your support to ensure that every student wears a helmet when they are riding their bike, skateboard, or roller blades to/from campus.  These simple items can help prevent serious injury if something were to happen.  In the past, Cathedral City Police Department has monitored the students and written citations to students without helmets.   

When students are exiting the campus, they are on the lookout for their ride home for the day.  Often times, their ride is waiting for them on the other side of the street.  It is our policy to have all students cross at the crosswalk, to ensure their safety.  When students simply dart out from behind another vehicle to cross the street, it can create a hazardous situation.  If your student is coming to your vehicle, please have them cross the street appropriately, to prevent any injuries.  

The administration team at James Workman Middle School would like to thank all of the students that regularly take time to help improve out campus life.  Specifically in this edition of the newsletter, I would like to focus on the students, staff and community members that go out of the way in helping to keep our campus so clean.  

The support that we get from the students has been a huge part of keeping our campus free of litter and spills and stains.  Part of the school expectations are that students will not eat or drink any items outside of the lunchroom, (with the exception of water) to help us maintain an environment that is trash free.  

James Workman Middle School has grown throughout the years.  It is remarkable that our campus remains nearly as clean today as it did at the founding years ago.  A great deal of this rests with the fact that we do not allow gum on campus.  I would like to remind students that gum is not allowed before school, after school, or during school.  

Thank you to all of the students that help the situation by following the school expectations.  Your contribution, even though it may seem very small, has a huge impact on our campus.  

Thank you,

Mr. Brad Sauer Principal