Good Evening Watkins Glen School Community!
I hope this message finds you happy, healthy, and enjoying the first few weeks of the 24-25 school year!
Quick Reminder:
Get ready to show your Lake Hawk pride and support the Class of 2025! Our exclusive Lake Hawk Gear fundraiser is live, and for every item you purchase, $3 will be donated to the senior of your choice. Don’t miss out—this is your chance to give back and gear up! Click here for all the details and remember: the sale ends on 9/27/24 at 9 AM sharp. Let’s make this a big win for our seniors!
Click here for more information.
A Note on School Safety:
Per our regular communication protocols, I want to use the forum of our “community update” to address a growing concern affecting our community: the rise of cyber-swatting and the spread of non-credible threats on social media. While these threats have circulated in districts across our region, state, and country, I am proud to say that our community has been exemplary in not engaging with or spreading this kind of behavior. Your cooperation plays a vital role in keeping our schools safe and focused on learning.
What is Cyber-Swatting?
Cyber-swatting involves false reports of emergencies meant to trigger law enforcement responses. These hoaxes often spread through platforms like Snapchat and TikTok, creating unnecessary alarm, disruption, and the response of Emergency Personnel. Unfortunately, this has been a trend nationwide.
The Role of Social Media
One of the biggest contributors to the problem is the resharing of unverified posts. Every time a false claim is reshared, it escalates the situation and causes further disruption and confusion. This not only impacts our schools but also wastes valuable emergency resources and heightens anxiety for all of our stakeholders.
How Can You Help?
We ask that you continue to have conversations with your children about responsible social media use. Here are some key points to guide them:
Verify Information: Encourage your child to verify sources before sharing anything online. If the post’s origin is unclear, it’s likely part of a cyber-swatting attempt.
Understand the Impact: Explain that resharing false posts can create unnecessary panic and lead to emergency responses.
Report, Don’t Reshare: If your child sees a suspicious post, they should report it to authorities and/or school officials rather than sharing it further.
Practice Digital Citizenship: Model responsible social media behavior and reinforce the positive role your child can play in keeping our community safe.
The Role of Parents, Students, and the District
While the district will always work with our School Resource Officers to investigate any reports, managing social media behavior starts at home. By not engaging in resharing and addressing concerns through the proper channels, we can all help reduce the frequency and impact of these incidents.
Together, we have already demonstrated how a supportive community can resist these outside forces. Let’s continue to work in unity to ensure our schools remain safe and focused on education. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our administration if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued vigilance, support, and commitment to our students’ safety.
Our school community continues to make us WG PROUD!!
SOAR Lake Hawks!!
With respect and gratitude,
Kai A. D'Alleva
Watkins Glen Central School District
Superintendent of Schools