Last week, Centre Avenue and Rhame Avenue Elementary Schools hosted a special guest, Ms. Katie Duffy Schumacher, founder of the “Don’t Press Send” campaign, for an engaging and age-appropriate presentation on digital responsibility and mindful online communication.

Ms. Schumacher’s visit included separate sessions tailored for grades K–3 and 4–6, focusing on helping students understand the role of technology in their lives and how to interact with it in healthy and respectful ways. With warmth and clarity, she emphasized the importance of valuing in-person interaction over screen time and shared tools for setting healthy boundaries in our increasingly digital world.

Among the key takeaways from her presentation were:

* Technology has a place—but it must be balanced. Children should know when and where devices are appropriate, how long they should be used, and how to communicate thoughtfully while using them.
* Adults are still learning, too. Many parents did not grow up with smartphones or social media and may not have the knowledge or experience to guide their children effectively without support.
* Parental oversight is essential. At the elementary level, parents should be fully monitoring all device usage. Ms. Schumacher stressed that children are not developmentally equipped to judge what is appropriate online, making parental controls and open communication vital.
* The 3 R’s: Rules, Responsibility, and Respect. These guiding principles should govern every child’s online behavior. Students were reminded that kindness, inclusion, and thinking before clicking are always the right choices.

Ms. Schumacher also led students in reflecting on what it means to be a true friend - someone who is safe and trustworthy, not just someone they’ve met online. She encouraged students to speak up when they feel ignored in favor of a screen by saying, “I can wait until you are done. I deserve your attention.”

In her discussion, she urged students and parents alike to prioritize offline activities that bring joy, maintain balance, and ensure that all contacts and communications are known and understood by adults at home.

As a takeaway, all students received packets to bring home, offering guidelines for parents to establish thoughtful device usage rules. Each elementary classroom also received a copy of Ms. Schumacher’s children’s book, “Bye Bye Wifi”, a gentle and engaging story that reinforces the lessons of balance and mindfulness.

Earlier in the week, Ms. Schumacher also brought her message to middle school students at East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School, reminding them that kindness, caution and responsibility should guide their digital behavior as well.

Click here for more information about the “Don’t Press Send” campaign and its mission.