Grande Prairie, AB – Schools within Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) will host free evening screenings of the movie Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age for families interested in learning about the impact of technology on children and how to help find balance. Bezanson School will host a showing tonight, September 26. Peace Wapiti Academy shared the movie prior to the start of school. Area families can view it at Helen E. Taylor School in Wembley on October 11, Beaverlodge Elementary School on October 16, and Ridgevalley School on November 14. Scheduling for additional showings is ongoing – dates and times will be published in school newsletters and on school Facebook pages. Grades 6-12 students will view a shorter version during class time.

According to the movie website, the 67-minute documentary was filmed in 2015 and uses unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, to reveal how tech time impacts kids’ development, while offering solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance. Physician and award-winning documentarian Delaney Ruston created the film based on what she was seeing in her own family and the friction she was experiencing as she attempted to negotiate screen time.

“It’s never too late to start a conversation about technology, but often doing it in baby steps is more effective,” says Dr. Ruston. “Having weekly, short, calm conversations with your family about tech is so important.” PWPSD Deputy

Superintendent Darren Young says as educators, teachers must keep up with and utilize technology as it evolves. He calls the film “a timely resource for PWPSD staff, students and families.”

“As our teachers work to incorporate technology in the classroom, they are also faced with the distractions and dilemmas the tools create,” adds Mr. Young. “By emphasizing good digital citizenship throughout all curriculum and instruction, and providing resources such as the Screenagers movie, we hope to build a solid foundation for our students, while working together with families to support their children in the responsible use of technology in learning, and in their continuing conversations at home.”

For more information and to view the movie trailer, visit www.screenagersmovie.com.

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Information provided by the Peace Wapiti Public School Division.