After School App

Some students have recently received texts from the "After School App". The wording in the text is, 

"An anonymous boy picked (student's name) on AfterSchool afterschoolapp.com./ManliusPebbleHillSchool" 

The hyperlink at the end takes you to the app on the app store.

The After School App is billed as "Funny Anonymous School News for Confessions & Compliments". It is an anonymous posting app where students can write anything in a "chat" with students only from their school. No adults (teachers, administrators, parents) are allowed as participation has to be verified. According to the site the verification comes through Facebook accounts, I'm not sure if there is another way. If you want to learn more about the app, here is some more information from Common Sense Media and Kids Privacy. 

If your child received this text they should delete it and block the number. My best research tells me that another student chose contacts from their phone that the message was then sent to, not that their phone number was shared with the site. 

I am sharing this with parents as opposed to students since it is Friday afternoon. I didn't want students to go all weekend without more information on the text they received. Please talk with your child about the app and if they use it. If they do use it, please do some research before deciding whether to allow them to continue to post in it or not.

Skyzone Social

The Middle School Leadership Team is sponsoring a field trip to Skyzone on Friday, November, 4^th. Students will leave school at the end of the day (3:15) and travel by Birnie Bus to Skyzone on Erie Blvd. They will jump for 90 minutes (4 – 5:30), and return to school at 5:45. They should be picked up in front of the Phoenix at 5:45 PM.

This activity is designed as a fun way for students to spend time together informally. Teacher chaperones will accompany the trip. The discounted group rate for a 90 minute jump is $17 and it includes the required sky socks.

If your child will be attending, they must have: a signed permission slip for MPH (found here), $17 to jump (MPH will pay upfront so students should give exact change or check made out to MPH to Mrs. LaHaye), and a completed online waiver for Skyzone (found here: https://syracusestore.skyzone.com/waiver/). Students will not be permitted to jump unless they have all 3 of these. Skyzone does not make exceptions for students missing waivers. Please check with Skyzone to make sure you have a waiver on file before Friday. 

In order to reserve the space at Skyzone we need to know if students will be attending by Tuesday, November 1^st. Please have your child return the attached permission slip and money to Mrs. LaHaye or Ms. Hoekstra by Tuesday, 11/1. Students will not be able to attend the social if their materials are not in by then as we have to pre-pay with Skyzone.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. We are looking forward to the trip!

Kendall Hoekstra

Head of Lower and Middle Schools