Providence Day School Hosts Cyber Behavior Awareness Town Hall

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Cyber Behavior Awareness Week, Providence Day School, in conjunction with ZABRA, a social media parenting solution, will host a town hall meeting October 23, 2013, at 7 p.m. on the potential dangers children and teens face from social media sites. The event features Josh Shipp, nationally-recognized teen behavior expert and host of Lifetime's "Teen Trouble." Josh has been sought out as an expert in teen counseling on CNN, Good Morning America and 20/20.

The event also features local Charlotte sports personalities, business leaders and behavior experts, including:

• Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers Running Back, and cyber-citizen advocate
• Dr. Tara Egan, founder of Charlotte Parent Coaching
• Dr. Sean Knuth, clinician at Southeastern Psych
• Paul Adkison, founder of ZABRA and local Charlotte parent

During a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Egan, experts will discuss parenting in the digital age, recognizing warning signs of risky online behavior, and guiding children and teens through online influences. Panelists will also address questions from the live audience and online participants via Twitter and Facebook.

"As a global school that values technology as a tool to connect our students with the world, we have a responsibility to develop good digital citizens who understand the implications of their actions," says Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw, Head of Providence Day School. "We take this role seriously, and actively engage our students, parents, and faculty on this issue.  Hosting the town hall on our campus is a great way for Providence Day to show our commitment to this very important Cyber Behavior awareness initiative."

At the event, parents will receive a Good Cyber Citizen Pledge that serves as an opportunity for them to discuss cyber-safety with their children. The pledge will serve as a contract that their children use social media to keep in touch with friends and family, but in a responsible, healthy way, outlining the responsibilities of both the parents and the child for good cyber behavior.

"We're extremely excited that Providence Day School and key members of the community have helped bring this event together as part of Cyber Behavior Awareness Week," says Paul Adkison. "As a father of three young children, I know firsthand how worried a parent can be about issues like cyber-bullying or sexting. We look forward to giving Charlotte parents peace of mind and resources on these sensitive matters."  

In addition to the information discussed during the event, additional resources regarding cyber-safety and online bullying are available at ZABRA.com, JoshShipp.com and CharlotteParentCoaching.com.

About Providence Day School 
Founded in 1970, Providence Day School is an independent, coeducational college preparatory school located on a 43.5 acre-campus in southeast Charlotte. Providence Day School exists to inspire in its students a passion for learning, a commitment to personal integrity, and a sense of social responsibility. Providence Day School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, participates in the ABC (A Better Chance) Program and holds memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools, Educational Records Bureau, National and Southern Associations of College Admission Counselors, and the College Board. Providence Day School complies with the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice.

About ZABRA
ZABRA exists to provide support and guidance to parents with children who are active users of social media networks. ZABRA monitors a child's activities and communications while using popular social media sites, and provides parents guidance on how to discuss difficult issues with their children. Parents don't allow their children to talk to strangers, or go to places they aren't familiar with. ZABRA helps parents exercise the same precautions in the online world by placing a halo of digital protection around children while they are interacting with social media. For more information, visit ZABRA.com.

SOURCE ZABRA