As part of the middle school’s ongoing effort to teach students about being responsible in the fast-paced, digital world, fifth through eighth grades participated in an interactive program about teenagers and technology with Detective Edward DeLafuente of the Millburn Police Department. Drawing on his experience in law enforcement, Detective DeLafuente highlighted the importance of safe and appropriate digital communication. He spoke about the use of different online apps, emphasized the importance of ensuring proper privacy settings on all digital communication and talked about the challenges inherent in the anonymity of the internet. He encouraged students to consider the permanency of the internet when they post things online and gave them suggestions of how to make good decisions about what to post. He also shared with students how different apps retain users’ information and the importance of students not sharing information with people they don’t personally know.

Parents of middle school students gathered in the evening for their own session on digital citizenship with Detective DeLafuente. Detective DeLafuenta spoke to the parent body about some of the dangers they may encounter on social media and smartphones and how we can each proactively support our children.