SPAPSD Presents: Navigating the Digital Playground

Cyber Safety & Digital Footprints

What does cyber safety really mean for students today? In Episode 5 of Navigating the Digital Playground, we focus on cyber safety and digital footprints, exploring how students navigate privacy, social media, and online decision-making and how families and schools can support them along the way. Sarah O’Donnell is joined by Officer Kris Marchel, School Resource Officer at Ben Franklin Junior High, and Liz Peterson, Library Media Specialist at SPASH. Together, they discuss why nothing online ever truly disappears, how screenshots and servers impact digital footprints, and why curiosity and guidance matter more than punishment when things go wrong. This episode also shares practical advice for families, including how to talk with kids about online choices, what to do if something concerning happens, and where to turn for help. Throughout the conversation, guests emphasize building trust early, keeping conversations non-judgmental, and remembering that behind every screen is a real person. For additional resources, transcripts and episodes visit www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground [www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground]

Setting Tech Boundaries at Home

How do families strike the right balance between giving kids access to technology and keeping them safe online? In this episode of Navigating the Digital Playground, Sarah O’Donnell is joined by Dr. Brian Casey, Director of Technology for the Stevens Point Area Public School District, to talk through what healthy tech boundaries really look like at home. Together, they explore how students are growing up in a digital world, the safeguards built into school-issued Chromebooks, and why no filter or monitoring tool can ever replace parent involvement. Dr. Casey shares practical insights on device monitoring, screen time, digital citizenship, and the importance of ongoing conversations with kids about online safety, privacy, and risk. This episode is especially helpful for families navigating phones, social media, gaming platforms, and emerging concerns like online exploitation and sextortion, with a focus on education, trust, and partnership rather than fear. Topics include: * How school-issued Chromebooks are filtered and monitored * What parents can (and can’t) rely on technology to do * Why conversations matter more than blocking everything * Tools and options families can explore at home * Helping students know when and how to ask for help This conversation is designed to support families with real-world guidance as we work together to help students use technology in healthy, safe, and responsible ways. For resources, transcripts and additional episodes, visit ⁠www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground⁠ [www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground]

Social Media and Mental Health

In Episode 3 of Navigating the Digital Playground, school counselors share what they are seeing when it comes to students’ digital lives and wellbeing. From social media algorithms to emotional regulation and attention, counselors discuss how online habits often show up in students’ moods, relationships, and school experiences. They explain why awareness matters, why strict limits are not always the answer, and how supportive conversations can help students navigate technology in healthier ways. This episode offers families and educators professional insight into how digital behavior and mental wellbeing are connected, and how schools and families can work together to support students in an always-on digital world. For resources, transcripts and additional episodes, visit www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground [www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground]

Inside the Student Scroll

Inside the Student Scroll invites listeners to hear directly from students about what it’s really like to grow up online. In this episode, two SPASH seniors share how they use platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Discord, what helps them feel connected, and what can quietly make social media harder to navigate. They talk openly about comparison, exclusion, screen time, privacy, and the pressure to grow up too fast online. Most importantly, they share what they wish adults understood, and how parents and educators can have more supportive, honest conversations about digital life. This episode is a reminder that while technology is a powerful tool for connection, listening to student experiences is essential to helping them build healthy, safe digital habits. For resources, transcripts and additional episodes visit www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground [www.PointSchools.net/digitalplayground]

Welcome to the Digital Playground

In our first episode, host Sarah O’Donnell, Director of Communications for the Stevens Point Area Public School District, introduces Navigating the Digital Playground — a new podcast created to support families as we help students grow, learn, and stay safe in today’s digital world. Sarah is joined by Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner and Director of Secondary Education Jeff Mlsna for an honest conversation about why digital citizenship and digital wellness matter right now. Together, they reflect on: • What we’re hearing from students and families about technology • Trends that are impacting learning, behavior, and well-being • The role schools play in teaching safe, responsible digital habits • How families can support healthy tech use at home • Why the district created the Digital Age parent forums — and now, this podcast Cory and Jeff share perspectives from the classroom, recent data, and the district’s ongoing work to help students navigate social media, online behavior, screen time, and emerging tools like AI. They also highlight the importance of partnership: schools and families working together, having conversations, and staying connected as the digital landscape continues to evolve. This episode sets the stage for the series ahead and offers reassurance that no one is navigating this alone. Our goal is to provide families with helpful information, practical tools, and accessible resources, whenever you need them. Explore transcripts, upcoming episodes, family resources, and event dates at: pointschools.net/digitalplayground [https://www.pointschools.net/digitalplayground] If you have concerns about your child’s digital habits or well-being, please connect with your school counselor or a trusted professional. This podcast is designed to support, not replace, personalized guidance.