Subject:

late announcements before the holidays

From:
sfsnewsflash-7thgrade@listserv.sidwell.edu
To:
hbiden@rosemontseneca.com
Date:
2011-12-15 18:52

A few announcements before we all get away!

 

1)      Please join the entire Middle School community in The Big Read.  Our book for the Big Read this year is  8Th Grade Super Zero, by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich.  On the surface, the book deals with familiar middle school issues of name-calling, bullying, and fitting in.  But ultimately, this multi-layered story tells how a boy develops a deeper sense of personal identity and social justice.   Through community service at a local homeless shelter, Reggie learns about the realities of homelessness and discovers how to make a difference in the world and at school.   By engaging with a broader socio-economic community, Reggie is able to use his experience and understanding to rise above his own middle school angst.   This book deals with socio-economic issues of difference.  This is a theme raised in our school’s recent diversity climate study and a focus of the Middle School PA Diversity Committee’s work this year.

The book is categorized as being appropriate for children ages 10-14 and we look forward to everyone reading the book in December and January so that the whole Middle School, students, parents, faculty and staff, can talk about the issues in the story. 

 

2)      This year’s Black History Month Show is titled, “Ruffled Feathers,” and will incorporate music, poetry, dance, and singing.  Middle School auditions will be held from 3-6pm on Sunday, January 8th.  All Middle School students are invited to audition.  Rehearsals are each Sunday from 3-6pm from January 8th through February 12th.  Performances are February 15th, 16th & 17th.

 

3)      End of year viruses are beginning to be released on the internet, and our IT department wanted to make you aware of what to look out for on student computers.

 

Win 7 Security 2012 is a fake anti-spyware program that has found its way on a number of Windows computers. It (and other similar fake anti-spyware programs) causes problems for your PC by presenting you with a fake warning about computer viruses and system problems it offers to fix (for a fee.)

 

If your laptop is infected with Win 7 Security 2012, you may receive fake system alerts like the following:

 

System warning!

Continue working in unprotected mode is very dangerous. Viruses can damage your confidential data and work on your computer. Click here to protect your computer.

 

System warning!

Security Essentials Ultimate Pack software detects programs that may compromise your privacy and harm your systems. It is highly recommended you scan your PC right now. Click here to start.

 

Security Alert!

Your computer is being attacked from a remote machine! Block Internet access to your computer to prevent system infection.

 

Critical Warning!

Critical System Warning! Your system is probably infected with a version of TrojanSpy.HTML.Visafraud.a. This may result in website access passwords being stolen from Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Outlook etc. Click Yes to scan and remove threats. (recommended)

 

Please keep the following in mind:

1. All Sidwell-issued laptops are equipped with both anti-virus software and Microsoft Security Essentials.

2. If you encounter a pop up that tells you about computer viruses and system problems, do not click on it. Click on Ctrl-Alt-Del to try to end the process.

3. If your laptop is infected with the Win 7 2012 virus (or any other similar virus), bring your laptop to the to the IT office for virus removal when you return from Winter Break.

 

4)      Finally, IT personnel will be working next week, but between 12/23/11 and 1/3/11, IT Help Desk Support will be limited as a result of Winter Break. Students are encouraged to think of temporary fixes if you have minor technical difficulties during this time. For example,

 

-if your keyboard does not work, feel free to plug in an external keyboard to your laptop until you return.

-if your touchpad fails, feel free to plug in an external mouse until you return.

 

During this time, please continue to send help desk tickets to ms_help@sidwell.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

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