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On behalf of the entire Windemere Ranch Middle School community I would like to welcome you to our website.  We are very proud of our school and our many accomplishments since our opening in August of 2005.  Our students have consistently scored very high in the state’s STAR exams, our school’s API has consistently been well over 900, and  we are a California Distinguished School.  Based on our current API we are in the top one percent of all of the middle schools in the state.   However, we are most proud of the nurturing and stimulating environment we have developed for our students that allows them to learn at high levels while enjoying themselves. 

We trust that you will find our website both pleasant and informative.  If you are a parent or student, you will find more detailed information by logging into your Schoolloop account using the login button located on the left of this homepage. 

Have a great day!

Dave Bolin
Principal

Main line: 925-479-7400

Attendance line: 925-479-7470

Fax: 925-479-7469

Office Hours: M-F 7:30am- 4pm

All students will learn at high levels and become responsible, productive citizens.

It’s so hard to keep up with all the new technology programs and apps that are constantly popping up.  Here’s quick quiz of programs that our students use? Do you know what they are and how they are different from each other? (Answers are at the bottom of this article.)

a. Facebook
b. Twitter
c. Instagram
d. Kik messenger
e. Ask.fm

We are discovering that students use these online forums to share their thoughts, activities and pictures.  This is how they feel connected with one another.  When we were kids, our parents could monitor our social interactions through play dates and sports, and help us navigate our relationships with friends. Today, kids are interacting with each other using their devices and sometimes during all hours of the day and night.  So what can we do to help them navigate these programs safely?

1. We need to monitor their activities and comments to each other. Some kids seem to think it’s acceptable to “say” mean things to and about each other using technology. It is never okay to be mean to someone else, face-to-face or using technology. 

2. We need to help them understand that posting something online is not the same as having a private conversation with one or two friends. Instagram, Facebook, etc. are public forums with a wide audience. Also, once they post something, it can get saved and shared by others so it reaches a much bigger audience. Once it’s posted online, they may not be able to delete it….ever.

3. We need to help them understand that it is never okay engage in cyber-bullying in response to being cyber-bullied. Sometimes, these students continue the conversation, texts or comments even when the situation is escalating negatively. They need to be guided to discontinue the conversation, block the other user, or delete accounts, if needed, and to ask for help. They should not engage in negative behavior themselves as they may get in trouble themselves.

4. Know what apps and programs your child is using on the computer or on their device. Ask.fm is a website in which they can post questions and others can post comments anonymously. Some kids seem to think that this anonymity feature makes it okay to post inappropriate comments. If one cannot take ownership of one’s comment, then perhaps the comments should not be made in the first place. There are many other websites like this.  There are also apps that are actually secret hiding places for documents and pictures so that parents do not find them. Be aware of what is being downloaded and which websites are being visited.

5. We need to educate ourselves on some recent laws to address cyber-bullying and bullying. Assembly Bill 746 is a state law prohibiting cyber-bullying at public schools and was recently expanded to include harassment through social networking sites.  Assembly Bill 9, that went into effect in January 2012, requires local school districts to have policies to prohibit discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying and to take action when bullying is reported.  If a student is engaging in bullying of any kind off school hours, the school may still assign disciplinary consequences if the bullying creates a negative environment at school for the victim.

ANSWERS:

Facebook is an online social media site that users create profiles and can posts information and or pictures. Other users who are “friends” can posts comments to their posts.

Twitter is an online social media site where users create profiles and post “tweets” about what they are doing, or their thoughts. Other users “follow” them to see their posts and can comment.

Instagram is an online social media site similar to Twitter but instead of “tweets”, users post pictures.  Other users “follow” them to see the pictures and can comment.

Kik Messenger is an app that is available on iOs and Android devices that allows users to text message each other using data plans or wifi connection.  No phone service is required and there is no per text charge.

Ask.fm is a website where users can post questions and other users can respond with comments anonymously.