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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.