Dear Parents of GMRSD Students,

Please be aware of the websites your children are

visiting. Many GMMS students are frequenting

www.myspace.com. They put their names, pictures, and

personal information on the site and also write journal

type entries called “blogs.” The information they share

makes it very easy for individuals to locate a child.

This is especially concerning considering recent evidence

that these sites are being frequented by individuals who

are seeking to harm children or otherwise misuse

information.

In order to become a member of the site, the students must

indicate they are at least 18. Unfortunately, however,

these sites do not provide measures to authenticate these

claims, thereby allowing minors to post information to

websites typically used by adults. There is some very

disturbing information on these sites.

Once school personnel became aware of the fact that our

students were using this website as well as

www.crush007.com and www.xanga.com, we contacted the

local prosecutor’s office to inquire about the dangers of

the sites. They were very concerned about the children’s

safety and have arranged to have a representative from the

Division of Criminal Justice in Trenton visit the Middle

School on June 1. The representative will meet with the

students at the middle school by grade level and present

information about Internet safety and, especially, the

potential dangers involved with using these sites.

Please ask your child about this presentation and

reinforce the dangers they face when they use these sites.

Also keep your computer in an area where you can monitor

your child’s activity on the web and help protect him/her

from possible predators.

Thank you and have a safe summer.

Sincerely,

Mark Ippolito

Middle School Principal

Linda McClune

Middle School Counselor