Stay connected with your children.
And that was the message a veteran of law enforcement delivered during his “Always Connected” presentation at Eisenhower Intermediate School on Thursday evening, October 22.
Lieutenant Tom Rich, a nationally recognized speaker who has 30-plus years of experience in New Jersey law enforcement and is a former DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) teacher, presented to parents and guardians of 4th Grade and 5th Grade students who attend the two Intermediate Schools in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District—Eisenhower and Hillside.
The theme of his presentation was “Helping Kids Navigate Today’s Digital World.” This program was co-sponsored by the PTOs at both Eisenhower and Hillside,
Before he provided his informative session to the adults, he presented at school assemblies that week at both Eisenhower and Hillside, which, according to Dr. Laura Bassett, the Eisenhower Principal, was “tailored to their age/interests - and were very engaging.”
Lieutenant Rich impressed upon the students their digital safety and online responsibilities, including when texting or in group chats, making safe, responsible choices on and offline, showing kindness, healthy relationships and self-esteem and recognizing online dangers and warning signs.
“Our students responded well and seemed to take some great lessons away,” Principal Bassett noticed.
According to Principal Bassett, “The parent presentation had over 60 parents in attendance for an excellent session with a focus on online safety, devices, and strategies parents can use to help keep children safe. He was knowledgeable, realistic, and relatable, drawing on his experience as a police officer, DARE instructor, and parent in New Jersey.”
Dr. Tali Axelrod, the Principal at Hillside, was impressed with the presentation that evening.
“He took plenty of time to answer their questions and offer practical guidance to help them navigate online safety and make informed decisions about their children’s use of technology,” Principal Axelrod said.
Principal Bassett absorbed the performance by Lieutenant Rich.
“Personally, I appreciated his approach and his message as both an educator and a parent myself. In our schools, we want our students to understand the impact their words and actions have both in-person and online, and we want them to be empowered to make safe choices for themselves and show kindness in how they treat others online,” Principal Bassett said.
She continued with her assessment of the presentation.
“As a parent of upper elementary-aged children, I know first-hand how complicated and challenging it is to navigate devices and media to keep my children safe and to help them develop the skills they need to make good choices. We got great feedback from the parents who attended,” Principal Bassett revealed. “They asked great questions and left with practical tools and tips. We're glad our community wanted to partner with us on this important topic, and we appreciate our two school PTOs for funding this program!”
Principal Axelrod added.
“A big shout-out to our PTOs for sponsoring this valuable program and making it possible for our families!”