CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
Bring digital safety education to your child’s school
Connected Communities is a first-of-its-kind program for 4th and 5th graders that brings together students, educators, and parents to align around online safety needs for our kids. It’s already transforming schools across the country — and you can help bring it to yours.
Talk to your school about hosting Connected Communities.
What is Connected Communities?
Connected Communities is a three-day, in-person program led by Bark’s online safety education experts. The program fills a critical gap in many schools’ efforts today: it focuses on building healthy habits and developing key skills to stay safe online, early.
By bringing parents to the table, the program also opens the door for more communication with the school around what is being done to keep kids safe.
Follow-up lessons throughout the year help keep the conversation going for students, teachers, and families alike.
With Connected Communities, you’ll have insight into what the school is doing to help protect kids online and opportunities to create conversations when needed.
What we cover
Kids today are growing up in a world we never had to navigate. Between constant notifications, group chats, and social media pressures, they need guidance — not just rules.
Connected Communities helps parents and kids to understand:
Social media algorithms
What kids face and what misinformation may look like
Digital resilience
How to manage feelings caused by online reactions
Tech as a tool
What are the appropriate ways to use your phone or social media
How to ask for help
Getting support from your child’s school when needed
Bring Connected Communities
to your child’s school
Your voice matters, and schools listen to parents. We’ve made it easy to get the conversation started.
Simply copy and paste this pre-written letter that you can personalize and send to your school’s principal, PTO, or district office. It explains what Connected Communities is, why it matters, and how Bark supports schools through the entire process.
Dear [Principal’s name],
I am a parent of a 4th/5th-grade student at [School Name] and would love for our school to participate in Bark’s Connected Communities program. This three-day, in-person program helps students, parents, and educators work together to teach safer digital habits.
Students learn to:
- Understand social media and spot misinformation
- Build digital resilience and manage online emotions
- Use technology responsibly
- Ask for help when they need it
Parents and educators are also engaged, creating open communication and giving everyone insight into what students experience online. Schools across the country report lasting benefits in students’ online behavior and confidence.
Bark provides full support to implement the program, including workshops for students, parent engagement, and educator training. You can learn more here: https://www.bark.us/learn/barks-connected-communities/.
Thank you for considering bringing Connected Communities to [School Name].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Help shape our Connected Communities program
We want to hear from you: What do you wish you knew more about when it comes to online safety education?
What participants are saying
“This type of constructive, hands-on training will leave a lasting impression on our students that we hope will translate into a lifetime of responsible and effective internet and device use.”
—Jacque Fewin, Executive Director of Technology, Lubbock-Cooper ISD
“Well it’s like I knew most of that information in the back of my brain and never really thought about it but now it’s in the front of my brain and I’m actually thinking about it.”
—Student from East Woods School
“I thought this was gonna be a boring cyber security preso but this is by far exceeded expectations and talked an about real life stuff!”
—Student from Macfarlane Park ES
Our sessions include:
Student workshops
In-person training in topics like group texting, media literacy, social media, cyberbullying, healthy digital habits, and more.
Parent engagement
Receive up-to-date education on what your kid is facing online, and what you can do to help, including warning signs.
Educator training
Support for educators on key trends and challenges to keep an eye out for during the school day, and how to provide help when needed.
Get more information on Connected Communities.
Ready to make a difference?
Your voice can bring Connected Communities to life at your school. We’d love to chat with you and even reach out to your child’s school on your behalf.
