In our small, close-knit community of Riverside, the dangers of the world can often seem far away … until you go online. According to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office:

• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online — more than 40% say it happened more than once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online — more than 1 in 3 have done so more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

Cyberbullying – through cell phones, social media, e-mail, or Web sites — can have a serious impact on a child’s life and behavior. To learn how to deal with cyberbullying and other Internet safety issues, don’t miss the District 96 PTA/O’s 2012 Guest Speaker Sarah Migas, an Internet Safety Specialist from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m., at Blythe Park School’s auditorium, 735 Leesley Rd, Riverside.

Download the event notice.

Riverside Brookfield High School Student Services presents: Dr. Andrew Roberts, author of The Thinking Student’s Guide to College, 75 Tips for Getting a Better Education on Tuesday, April 26, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Little Theater at Riverside Brookfield High School. Dr. Robert’s book offers concrete tips on choosing a college, selecting classes, deciding on a major, interacting with faculty, and applying to graduate school.

Parents and students welcome.

Ames PTA is hosting a showing of the documentary, Race to Nowhere, on April 26, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Tickets: $10 in advance/$15 at door (adults only)
Tickets can be purchased online at: www.rtnafamesschool.eventbrite.com

This is how the Race to Nowhere website describes the film:

Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people across the country who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren’t developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what’s best for their kids, Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace, students have become disengaged, stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant, and young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.

Race to Nowhere is a call to mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens.

Riverside Brookfield High School is offering English as a Second Language classes for adults. There is no charge for parents of RB students, or parents of students in District 96 (or other feeder school districts). Register by February 16. For more information: www.rbhs.w-cook.k12.il.us/eslflyer.pdf

Our annual family dinner, in conjunction with the book fair, will be held on February 10. Mark your calendars and watch the PTO website and your e-mails for more details to come!

All District 96 parents, friends, and family are invited to this year’s program on Wednesday, January 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the Hauser Auditorium. We’re very excited to bring you the knowledge and wisdom of Rush Neurobehavioral Center’s Director of Education Services, Dr. Georgia Bozeday. Dr. Bozeday is a leader in current research on Executive Functions, which helps even very young children develop better organizational skills and time management to become better students and lifelong learners. She will also discuss findings related to media use and learning. We know you will go home motivated and armed with practical information so you can accomplish your goal of putting your child on the right track for developing better study skills. This program is for adults only please. If you have any questions, please contact our Hauser PTO President, Fran Sitkiewicz. The time of 7:30 in the district calendar is incorrect. We will begin the program promptly at 7:00 p.m. following the Hauser PTO meeting, which will start at 6:00 p.m. in the Hauser Library. All are welcome to the Hauser PTO meeting.

Mollie’s Public House, at 31 Forest Avenue in Riverside, is donating a percentage to Hauser’s Food Drive, for purchases at the restaurant on Tuesdays, December 7 and December 14, between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. Support a local business, earn money for the Food Drive, and enjoy a great meal!

Parents & others driving through the Hauser school zone should be aware of the following:

The Riverside Police Department is continuing with intensified enforcement of traffic laws. Since January 1, 2010, the use of cellular telephones within school and construction zones has been prohibited. Today, the Riverside Police Department saturated the school zone around Central and Hauser Schools. One hour of intensified enforcement within this area led to a total of 8 citations. The department also arrested one individual for Driving with a Revoked License.

The department absolutely agrees that our children’s safety is first and foremost. Surprisingly, the vast majority of the drivers stated that they were not aware of the law. When the law was enacted January 1 of this year, the State of Illinois along with the Illinois Department of Transportation placed educational commercials on television and the press was also involved. The bottom line here is: Drivers should not be distracted with cellular telephones while driving around children.

The Riverside Police Department can assure the community that this type of intensified enforcement will continue throughout the Village. The goal is to slow everyone down and keep everyone safe from harm.

Chief Tom Weitzel stated: “This type of enforcement program is a direct result of working with our partners at District 96 and parents of students who attend District 96 schools. The department has had numerous complaints of distracted drivers picking up children in the school zones on Woodside Road. Enforcement will continue periodically through the end of 2010 and into 2011″.