What is Securly?

Securly is a robust digital safety solution designed to protect students while they navigate online environments. It offers comprehensive monitoring and filtering services that ensure a safe, secure, and productive digital learning experience.

How Our District Uses Securly

1. Web Filtering: Securly provides advanced web filtering to block inappropriate content and ensure that students have access to safe and educational resources. This helps maintain a focused and productive learning environment.
2. Activity Monitoring: The platform monitors students’ online activities and identifies any concerning behavior or content. This allows us to intervene early and provide the necessary support if needed.
3. Alerts and Reporting: If Securly detects potential risks, such as cyberbullying or signs of self-harm, it generates alerts that are reviewed by our school’s safety team. This ensures timely intervention and support.
4. Parental Controls: Securly offers tools that allow parents to set controls and monitor their child’s online activities at home, providing an additional layer of safety and peace of mind.
5. Classroom Integration: Teachers use Securly in their classrooms to manage and monitor students' internet use during school hours. This helps ensure that students stay on task and use online resources appropriately.

Benefit for Teachers

• Enhanced Focus: By using Securly in the classroom, teachers can more effectively manage students' online activities, ensuring they stay engaged with educational content and minimize distractions. This supports a more focused and productive learning environment.

Benefits for Students

• Safe Online Environment: By filtering out harmful content and monitoring activities, Securly helps create a safe online environment for students to learn and grow.
• Early Risk Detection: Early identification of potential issues allows us to provide timely and effective support.
• Parental Engagement: With Securly’s parental controls, families can actively participate in managing their child’s online safety.

Resources for Parents

We want to ensure you are well-informed about how Securly supports your child’s digital safety. Here are some valuable resources:

1. Securly Parent Guide: Download the Parent Guide - This guide provides a detailed overview of how Securly works and how it contributes to a safer learning environment.
2. Online Safety Tips: View Tips - Practical tips and advice on how to talk to your children about safe internet use and online behavior.
3. Securly Dashboard Overview: Learn More - An introduction to Securly’s parental control features and how you can use them to monitor and manage your child’s online activities.
4. Support and Contact: If you have any questions or need assistance with Securly, please contact our tech support team at digitalsafety@seguin.k12.tx.us or call 830-401-8642.

What is Gaggle?

Gaggle is a comprehensive digital safety platform that helps schools monitor and support students' online activity across various digital tools and platforms. By leveraging advanced technology, Gaggle identifies and addresses potential risks, such as cyberbullying, self-harm, and harmful content, in real-time.

How Our District Uses Gaggle

1. Safety Alerts: If Gaggle detects concerning behavior or content, it alerts our school’s designated safety team. This allows us to take appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.
2. Monitoring Communication: Gaggle scans email, documents, and other online communications for signs of distress or harmful behavior. This helps us intervene quickly if a student is in need of support.
3. Support Resources: Gaggle provides valuable insights and resources that our district uses to offer additional support and counseling services to students who need them.

Benefits for Students

• Early Intervention: By identifying issues early, we can provide timely support to students, helping prevent problems from escalating.
• Safe Learning Environment: Gaggle ensures that our digital learning spaces are secure and supportive, fostering a positive educational experience.
• Increased Awareness: Students gain awareness about responsible digital citizenship and online safety.

Resources for Parents

We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is crucial. Here are some resources to help you understand and support your child’s digital safety:

1. Gaggle Parent Guide: Download the Parent Guide - This comprehensive guide offers an overview of Gaggle’s features and how it helps ensure student safety.
2. App Watch List: It is important to stay up to date with the latest digital tools your students are using. The Gaggle Safety team often discovers social networks, websites, and mobile apps that pose potential risks to student safety and well-being.
3. Online Safety Webinars: Register for Webinars - Join webinars to learn more about online safety, digital citizenship, and how Gaggle supports our students.

What is Common Sense Media?

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology. They provide trusted information, education, and an independent voice to families who need help navigating the complexities of raising children in the digital age. Their resources include age-appropriate recommendations for movies, TV shows, books, and apps, along with valuable advice on digital literacy and citizenship.

How We Use Common Sense Media

We integrate Common Sense Media's resources into our curriculum to promote digital literacy and responsible online behavior among our students. We use their lesson plans, videos, and activities to teach students about:

• Internet Safety: Understanding the importance of privacy settings, recognizing online risks, and knowing how to protect personal information.
• Digital Footprint: Learning how online actions can have long-term consequences and the importance of creating a positive digital presence.
• Cyberbullying: Recognizing, preventing, and responding to online bullying in a constructive and supportive manner.
• Media Balance: Encouraging healthy habits by balancing screen time with other activities and understanding the impact of excessive use of digital devices.

Resources for Parents

We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for fostering responsible digital citizens. To support you in this effort, here are some valuable resources from Common Sense Media that you can explore:

1. Family Media Agreement: Establish clear guidelines and expectations for media use at home.
2. Parent Guides: In-depth information on a variety of topics, including social media, screen time, and online safety.
3. Reviews & Recommendations: Age-appropriate ratings and reviews for movies, TV shows, apps, and games to help you make informed decisions.
4. Digital Citizenship Tips: Simple tips to help your child develop good digital habits and stay safe online.
5. Resources for Navigating Current Issues: Advice and resources for addressing timely topics like mental health, diversity, and learning at home.

Common Sense Media - Parent Resources

We encourage you to explore these resources and engage in open conversations with your child about their online experiences. Together, we can help our students develop the skills they need to navigate the digital world with confidence, respect, and responsibility.

In today’s digital age, safeguarding our children’s online experiences is more important than ever. We are committed to providing parents and educators with the resources and tools needed to protect our students and ensure they navigate the internet safely. Explore our curated materials to stay informed, proactive, and empowered in fostering a secure digital environment for our youth.

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity refers to the practices and technologies used to protect computers, networks, and data from unauthorized access, attacks, or damage. In a world where we increasingly rely on digital platforms, cybersecurity is essential for safeguarding personal information, maintaining privacy, and ensuring the integrity of online systems. Whether it’s protecting against malware, phishing attempts, or data breaches, cybersecurity plays a crucial role in keeping our digital lives secure.

How to Protect Yourself

Protecting yourself and your family online doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some basic steps everyone can take to enhance their cybersecurity:

• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid using the same password across multiple sites and make sure your passwords are long, complex, and difficult to guess.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security by enabling 2FA can help protect your accounts even if your password is compromised.
• Educate About Phishing: Teach your family to recognize suspicious emails, messages, and websites that may attempt to steal personal information.
• Keep Software Updated: Regularly updating your devices and applications ensures you have the latest security patches to protect against vulnerabilities.
• Monitor Online Activity: Stay aware of the sites your children visit and the apps they use, and have open discussions about safe internet habits.

Resources for Parents

We understand that keeping up with the latest in cybersecurity can be challenging. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of resources to help parents stay informed and proactive:

1. Parent Tip Guide: As children are exposed to technology at younger ages and often surpass adults in understanding it, it's essential for parents and caregivers to guide them in practicing healthy cybersecurity habits and making safe, informed choices online.
2. Parent Guides: In-depth information on a variety of topics, including social media, screen time, and online safety.
3. Chatting with Kids About Being Online: The article is a booklet from Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that provides parents with guidance on how to talk to their children about online safety and responsible internet usage.
4. Fraud Tips: Protect yourself and your family from online fraud with tips from Fraud.org, a project of the National Consumers League.