Daycroft Montessori School to Host Parent Education Day on Internet Safety, Presented by Washtenaw Area Council for Children

Ann Arbor, MI (March 16, 2011) – Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor, in cooperation with the Washtenaw Area Council for Children (WACC; www.washtenawchildren.org), will hold a Parent Education Day on Internet Safety next month.

The free program, open to the public, will happen on Wednesday, April 13, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, in the multi-purpose room at Daycroft’s Elementary Campus at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd.

Julie Ridenour Perea, the Internet safety facilitator for WACC, will conduct the program. She will discuss how to set parental controls and monitor Internet activity. She will also focus on the risks to children of cyber-bullying, sexual exploitation and pornography, and online predators. In addition, the program will cover the important differences for children to know between sharing personal and private information online.

Perea will discuss how to keep children safe from these online threats. She will use video to support her points, and will answer questions from the audience.

“Parents who are at all concerned about their children’s use of the Internet should find this program valuable,” said Diane Mukkala, Daycroft’s head of school. “Statistics show that well over 90% of today’s youth are on the Internet regularly, mostly for beneficial reasons. But studies also point to the serious downsides of frequent Internet usage.”

Mukkala pointed to a recent nationwide survey reporting that over 40% of students from grades 4 through 8 have been bullied online. Over 50% admit to having said something mean or hurtful themselves to other people while in online conversation.

All parents of school-age and preschool children, whether from the Daycroft community or other area schools, are invited to attend. Interested parents are asked to RSVP to Kathryn Wacker, administrative assistant at Daycroft’s Elementary Campus, by emailing her at kathrynw@daycroft.org.

Daycroft will provide childcare during the program at no charge.

More information on the program can be found at: www.daycroft.org/i-safety.

About the Washtenaw Area Council for Children

The Washtenaw Area Council for Children is the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund-designated agency for the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Washtenaw County. The Council accomplishes this through educational services and programs directed to children, parents, community members, and youth-serving professional throughout Washtenaw County.

WACC was established in 1975 as the Washtenaw County Coordination Council for Children at Risk to specifically address to need of inter-disciplinary, inter-agency cooperation in matters concerning the safety of children and youth.

In 1983, with the formation of the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund, the agency became a designated council for the Trust Fund, and began to establish priorities for program development for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Today the Council is composed of individuals and agencies working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, strengthen families, and improve the welfare of children in our county. Council membership includes representatives from schools, law enforcement, the courts, health care, the Department of Human Services, private social agencies, mental health providers, business, and the general public.

More information on the Washtenaw Area Council for Children is available from the organization at 3075 Clark Rd., Suite 110, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Phone: (734) 434-4215. Fax: (734) 434-4243. Online: www.washtenawchildren.org.

About Daycroft Montessori School

Daycroft Montessori School blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive teaching methods. Daycroft thus accomplishes its educational mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their full potential.

Daycroft is one of Washtenaw County’s leading private schools. It began as a preschool program in 1968. Daycroft has since grown to include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.

Daycroft has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS; www.nais.org), and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS; www.amshq.org).

Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 930-0333.

Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft’s administrative offices are at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 662-3335.

Media Contact:
Chris Kochmanski
DesignHub, Inc.
(734) 944-8705
chris@design-hub.com

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