Skip to main content

Simmons Middle School

We Are BUCS: Building Unity, Character, and Success

Popular Links

🎁 Give the Gift of Safety: The "Pause Before You Click" Rule 🛡️

Posted Date: 11/24/25 (09:00 AM)
View Original Post


Simmons Bucs Techy Tidbits banner with a a pencil in the shape of a rainbow

November 2025

🎁 Give the Gift of Safety: The "Pause Before You Click" Rule 🛡️

Happy holidays! While you're hunting for gifts on Etsy, streaming festive movies, or finding recipe inspiration on social media, don’t forget—cyber criminals are working overtime too!

Online scams spike during the holidays as fraudsters exploit our distraction and the shopping rush. Watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals, fake payment alerts, phishing emails, and fraudulent shopping sites.

The best defense? Slow down and think before you click.

That's why Common Sense Media and Take 9 are encouraging young people, parents, and educators to pause—for just nine seconds—before clicking, sharing, or downloading.

Nine seconds can be all it takes to keep you and your family safe from scams, data theft, and phishing attacks. In our hurry-up, do-it-now lifestyle, we can all benefit from taking a few seconds before we click.
  • Make it a habit. Encourage your kids and yourself to pause for nine seconds before clicking, downloading, or sharing online.
  • Share this resource (pausetake9.org) with family, friends, students, and colleagues as a trusted guide for online safety. 
  • Talk about it with your family. What made you pause, and how did it feel? Was it a strange link, an unfamiliar sender, or a deal that looked too good to be true?
Learn more and find easy-to-use resources at pausetake9.org, and be sure to make this holiday season meaningful, happy—and safe!

Tip provided by Danny Weiss, Common Sense Media's Chief Advocacy Officer

October 2025

💡 Common Sense Media: Digital Citizenship Week 🏄‍♀️🛡️


September 2025

The Secret to a Faster Device✨ A Quick Guide to Cache & Cookies ✨

What are Cache and Cookies?
  • Cache: Think of the cache as your browser's short-term memory. When you visit a website, your browser saves temporary copies of elements like images, logos, and other files. This way, the next time you visit the same site, it can load much faster because it doesn't have to download everything again.
  • Cookies: Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device. They remember information about you to personalize your experience. This is why a website remembers your login information, shopping cart items, or language preferences.
Why Clearing Them is Important
  1. Improves Performance and Speed
  2. Fixes Website and Login Issues
  3. Enhances Privacy and Security.
When Should You Clear Them?
Clearing your cache and cookies is a great first step in troubleshooting any browser-related issues. It's also a good practice to do periodically—perhaps once every few months—to keep your device in top shape.
How to clear your cache and cookies. In Chrome browser, click the 3 dots in the top right hand corner. Go to settings at the bottom. Select Privacy and security then delete browsing data. Change time range to all time and select delete data.

August 2025

welcome back to school graphic
Welcome back, middle schoolers and families! 🎒 My name is Ms. Smith and I am the Technology Coach at Simmons Middle School. I am so excited to start a new school year with you! The Technology Department is here to support you with your HCS issued device and online learning tools. Let's make this a great year of learning and discovery! 🚀💻

🔒 Your Guide to the HCS Acceptable Use Policy 💻

The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is a cornerstone of responsible Chromebook use. Upon receipt of the HCS device, you have agreed to the HCS Acceptable Use Policy. "Acceptable Use" means using the privileges given in a responsible and ethical manner. Remember these important details:
  • No Expectation of Privacy: The Chromebook and HCS Google accounts are property of Hoover City Schools, and all activity can be reviewed.
  • Rules Apply Everywhere: All filters and acceptable use rules apply whether your student is at school or at home.
  • Consequences: Improper use can lead to suspended privileges or device revocation.
Please click HERE to review the HCS Middle School Chromebook Acceptable Use slidedeck.
Click HERE to review the HCS Acceptable Use Policy in full.

📚 Chromebook Quick-Start Guide for Parents & Students 💻

As a reminder, each device is owned, labeled, and inventoried by Hoover City Schools. Chromebooks have a clear case that should not be removed or the warranty will be voided.

To ensure the longevity and proper use of your HCS Chromebook, please keep these guidelines in mind:
Care & Handling:
  • Keep food/drinks away and avoid extreme temperatures.
  • Report damages or lost/stolen devices immediately.
  • Bring a charged device to school daily.
  • Do not add personal stickers or drawings.
Home Use:
  • You and your student are responsible for device activity outside of school.
  • Discuss where the device will be stored, used, and charged at home, ideally outside the student's room for monitoring.
  • Establish family rules for at-home use.
  • Protection Plan: An optional Protection Plan is available annually at myschoolfees.com for unforeseen damages.
Please click HERE to review the HCS Parent Chromebook Guidelines
For more tips on device usage and digital citizenship, visit www.commonsensemedia.org.

✨ Chromebook Updates: Keep It Fresh! ✨

Please check your Chromebooks for an update on a weekly basis, especially when preparing for assessments like iReady or ACAP. It's a great idea to check to see if your Chromebook needs an update every Monday morning.
steps on how to update your chromebook