MARYSVILLE The Marysville Community Coalition invites parents and teens to a Family Night free dinner and presentation on Jan. 23 to discuss the teen phenomenon of MySpace.com, a social networking web site that creates online friendships, but is also fraught with dangers.
The MySpace program will be 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23 in the Marysville-Pilchuck High School Auditorium, 5611 108th St. NE. Dinner starts in the school cafeteria at
6:15 p.m.; please RSVP by calling 360-653-0899. Admission is free.
The program will be presented by Technology Director Ken Ainsworth and the Marysville School District technology department staff, along with high school students will go online to demonstrate in real time both the positive aspects of MySpace, and the dangers that can occur through, for example, posting too much personal information online, said Cathy Schindler, MCC Chair. Students from the middle and junior high schools will also be on hand to offer comments and answer questions.
Co-chair Sue Kendall said that we want parents and other attendees to see that while there is a social upside to using MySpace for e-mailing, chatting and sharing files with friends, it is an open online forum that can give predators and other undesirable individuals access to your teens, as well as vital personal information. We hope to give parents as much information as possible so they can make informed decisions about MySpace.
Concurrent with the 7 p.m. MySpace forum for parents and directed mostly at teens, Family Night will also give the option to attend a presentation on teen issues presented by the Districts English Language Learning program. Free child care will be available, and Camp Fire activities will be available for children ages 3-10.
The Coalition is a community partnership of caring, involved members committed to promoting safety, diversity and awareness in responding to the needs of youth in their respective communities.