Category: Blog

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released a PSA warning that attackers are exploiting people’s trust in sites that use HTTPS. Cybersecurity training has in the past rightly encouraged users to look for the lock icon next to the URL in the browser, but many users still believe this icon is proof that the site they’re on is legitimate.

While the lock is important, it only means that traffic to and from the site is private; the lock DOES NOT ENSURE that the SITE’s operator is trustworthy.

FBI RECOMMENDATIONS:

The following steps can help reduce the likelihood of falling victim to HTTPS phishing:

• Do not simply trust the name on an email: question the intent of the email content.
• If you receive a suspicious email with a link from a known contact, confirm the email is legitimate by calling or emailing the contact; do not reply directly to a suspicious email.
• Check for misspellings or wrong domains within a link (e.g., if an address that should end in “.gov” ends in “.com” instead).
• Do not trust a website just because it has a lock icon or “https” in the browser address bar.

See the Public Service Announcement (PSA) here.

This August, our district will change the Chrome policy around what apps and extensions students may use from the Chrome Web Store.  

We will be shifting…

FROM:   ALLOWING ALL apps and extensions EXCEPT for the ones we actively BLOCK

TO:   BLOCKING ALL apps and extensions EXCEPT for the ones we actively ALLOW.

Also in August, we will reduce the number of force installed apps and extensions for students and will relocate some of those apps/extensions to the district section of the Chrome Web Store to allow students the choice of whether or not to install them. Students may need assistance in installing apps and extensions desired by instructional staff (see this support page for some guidance).

Students and staff may request to have apps or extensions unblocked and/or made available on the district section of the Chrome Web Store by using the form linked below.

http://links.pccsk12.com/requestforapporextension

Before leaving for your well-deserved summer vacation, please comply with the directions of your principal and main office to turn in or secure all classroom technology equipment such as document cameras, microphones, interactive pens, and remotes. On your last school day, please also power off projectors, interactive flat panels, sound amps, and desktop computers, etc. You may leave printers and copiers plugged in and powered on.

Please also secure or take home all District-assigned devices (laptop, Chromebook, iPad, etc.), as well as all personally-owned devices.

District-assigned devices should be brought back when you return to school in the fall OR upon separation of service from the District (retirement, resignation, lay-off, etc.) (please see this document if you are separating from service).

Thanks for your cooperation in helping safeguard district tech!

Thanks for your service! Before heading to your next chapter, please remember to return your District-issued technology equipment, including laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, Apple TVs, etc. Please complete this form and please make note of any damages or issues when you turn it in as well.

Equipment provided directly by the District should be returned to the Technology Department via the building technician. Please submit a Service Request to arrange a pickup with the building Technician. We suggest that you back-up any personal files to a personal flash drive (or upload them to a personal cloud storage account such as a personal Gmail Google Drive account or a Dropbox account), and then remove any personal data from District equipment before you return it.

Equipment purchased via overage funds, EEF grants, PTO funds, etc. should be returned to the building office secretary.

If you need to take your data with you, please follow the process outlined by Google and Google Takeout: https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout

More info and directions on Takeout: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3024190?hl=en

Lightspeed Technologies (found in our secondary schools), and Teach Logic (found in our elementary schools), the manufacturers and service providers for our audio systems provided some tips for the care of our classroom audio system over the summer.

The P-CCS Tech department urges that microphones be stored in a secure location as buildings are responsible for their replacement should they be damaged or missing.

Before leaving school for your summer break, here are a few tips for summertime care of the systems:

• Charge the microphone batteries fully (8-10 hours, remember to turn off the microphones) after the last day of use.
• Disconnect the microphones from the charger.
• You may wish to remove the batteries and store them with the microphone(s).
• You may unplug the systems from the wall power outlet to conserve electricity.
• Store systems and mics in a place where they will be safe from damage while summer projects/cleaning might take place.
• The batteries will hold a residual charge over the summer, and will only need to be charged up overnight before the first day of use.
• If there will be construction and/or renovation in a particular area or room, some type of bag or covering for the amplifier or the REDCAT will help protect the components.

At the beginning of the next school year:

• Remove any type of bag or covering for the amplifier or the REDCAT, if used.
• Plug the system back in (if it was unplugged over the summer).
• Fully charge the batteries again (8-10 hours).
• The system is now ready for use.

REMC will again be offering free virtual classes in the months of July and August. These courses are designed with practical ideas and implementations that can be utilized in your classroom and school. Classes include the new MITEC standards, 21things4students, Design thinking and much more. Click on this link to read more about this great and free opportunity. Please note that the deadline for registration is July 5th for July classes and August 2nd for August classes.

Before leaving for your well deserved summer vacation, please comply with the directions of your principal and main office to turn in or secure all classroom technology equipment such as document cameras, microphones, interactive pens, and remotes. On your last school day, please also power off projectors, interactive flat panels, sound amps, and desktop computers, etc. You may leave printers and copiers plugged in and powered on.

Please also secure or take home all District-assigned devices (laptop, Chromebook, iPad, etc.), as well as all personally-owned devices.

District-assigned devices should be brought back when you return to school in the fall OR upon separation of service from the District (retirement, resignation, lay-off, etc.) (please see this document if you are separating from service).

Thanks for your cooperation in helping safeguard district tech!

Thanks for your service! Before heading to your next chapter, please remember to return your District-issued technology equipment, including laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, Apple TVs, etc. Please complete this form and please make note of any damages or issues when you turn it in as well.

Equipment provided directly by the District should be returned to the Technology Department via the building technician. Please submit a Service Request to arrange a pickup with the building Technician. We suggest that you back-up any personal files to a personal flash drive (or upload them to a personal cloud storage account such as a personal Gmail Google Drive account or a Dropbox account), and then remove any personal data from District equipment before you return it.

Equipment purchased via overage funds, EEF grants, PTO funds, etc. should be returned to the building office secretary.

If you need to take your data with you, please follow the process outlined by Google and Google Takeout: https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout

More info and directions on Takeout: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3024190?hl=en

Lightspeed Technologies (found in our secondary schools), and Teach Logic (found in our elementary schools), the manufacturers and service providers for our audio systems provided some tips for the care of our classroom audio system over the summer.

The P-CCS Tech department urges that microphones be stored in a secure location as buildings are responsible for their replacement should they be damaged or missing.

Before leaving school for your summer break, here are a few tips for summertime care of the systems:

• Charge the microphone batteries fully (8-10 hours, remember to turn off the microphones) after the last day of use.
• Disconnect the microphones from the charger.
• You may wish to remove the batteries and store them with the microphone(s).
• You may unplug the systems from the wall power outlet to conserve electricity.
• Store systems and mics in a place where they will be safe from damage while summer projects/cleaning might take place.
• The batteries will hold a residual charge over the summer, and will only need to be charged up overnight before the first day of use.
• If there will be construction and/or renovation in a particular area or room, some type of bag or covering for the amplifier or the REDCAT will help protect the components.

At the beginning of the next school year:

• Remove any type of bag or covering for the amplifier or the REDCAT, if used.
• Plug the system back in (if it was unplugged over the summer).
• Fully charge the batteries again (8-10 hours).
• The system is now ready for use.

Do you want to learn more about the TextHelp suite of tools for teachers & students? Checkout TextHelp’s Training Portal!

TextHelp’s tools include:
Read&Write : A UDL tool for literacy
EquatIO: Make math digital
WriQ: Instantly access student writing & level
Fluency Tutor: Increase student fluency & track progress

According to Texthelp’s Training Portal:
Technology can be the spark for wonderful things, but its real value comes from empowering users – in the workplace, at school or at home. To get the most out of TextHelp products, they offer three main areas of support.

Courses – From learning the basics to integrating into instruction, their short courses bring together strategies and best practice. Each course has simple instructions, videos, and great examples to help you become experts in their software. You can gain achievements along the way!

Certification – Here is a chance to show what you know with two levels of certification: Level 1 Certified User requiring passing an assessment and Level 2 Role-Specific Practitioner requiring passing and a project. Earners receive badges and certificates.

Resources – Why recreate the wheel? They have plenty of checklists, lesson plans, strategies, help/tip sheets, presentations, and ideas to get you started and keep you going. Many are contributed by educators just like you.

Head to: https://training.texthelp.com/course/index.php