Family Digital Safety
More and more we see situations where students are impacted by interactions online, whether with friends or strangers. These situations impact students social interactions and their ability to perform and achieve academically. Some impact them emotionally and others push into more dangerous situations. We want to take some time to remind parents how important it is to monitor and limit children's activity on social media.
As part of this ongoing commitment to student safety, we want to share a reminder about online communication apps like Roblox and Discord. Discord and Roblox are popular apps often used for gaming and group communication. While they can be used appropriately, they also include features that can create safety concerns for children, especially when not monitored by adults. Even when students join Discord for a harmless purpose such as gaming, they may quickly be exposed to content or conversations that are not appropriate for their age.
Apps like Roblox and Discord expose children to:
Communication with people they do not know
Inappropriate language of content
Cyberbullying, catfishing, or negative peer interactions
Pressure to share personal information or continue unwanted conversations
Late-night messaging that impacts sleep, focus, and school performance.
Recommendations for parents:
If your child uses apps like Discord or similar chat apps, make sure you are asking them questions regularly, like
Who are you talking to?
Do you know them in real life?
What servers/groups are you in?
Have you seen anything that made you uncomfortable?
Consider expectations such as:
Only using Discord or chat apps with people they know personally
Not joining public servers without permission and monitoring
Prohibiting private messaging and voice chats with strangers
Parents can support student safety by:
Limiting who can send messages
Restricting friend requests
Blocking or reporting inappropriate content
Regularly checking servers and message history
Keeping devices out of bedrooms at night
Setting consistent "technology free" time at home
Encouraging student to report concerning behavior to a trusted adult
Our goal is to work with families to ensure safe and responsible digital habits for students. If you have questions or would like support with digital safety resources, please feel free to contact the school office.
Preschool Screenings
Preschool screening dates have now been set for the spring. Screening appointments are available on March 19th and May 5th. If you have a incoming preschooler or know someone who will want to attend preschool in the fall, please call the office at 815-894-2363 and schedule your child's screening appointment.
Dodgeball Tournament
Due to the emergency closure today, the Dodgeball Tournament has been rescheduled for Friday January 30th at 5:00.
Ladd Foundation Taco Night
Don't forget to get your tickets to the Taco Night Fundraiser. All proceeds will directly support our students and teachers. Thank you to the Foundation for all the hard work they do for our students and teachers. Tickets are $10 for 3 tacos. Dine-in or carry-out available.
2026-2027 District Calendar Released
The 2026-2027 Ladd CCSD 94 District Calendar was approved at the Board of Education meeting this week. You can also find links to the calendar in the documents section of our website under "Resources."
Community Events:
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, January 26th: First Home Girls' Basketball Game
Friday, January 30th: Rescheduled Dodgeball Tournament 5:00
Friday, February 13th: Valentine's Day Parties, 2:00 pm
Monday, February 16th: Taco Night Fundraiser, President's Day, No School