Thinking about a first phone or smartwatch for your kid this holiday season? Come see what’s out there before you buy. Devices & Delights is an alternative device fair - a free, drop-in evening for families. You can try out tech made with kids in mind, like kid-friendly landlines, simpler phones and watches, and tools for managing screens at home. We will have information on each device, and you’ll take home a booklet that compares them all in detail. Bring the kids! We’ll have appetizers for as long as supplies last. When: Monday, November 9, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Come and go any time. Where: Caboose Tavern in Vienna, upstairs in the Loft. 520 Mill St NE, Vienna, VA Please RSVP so we know how many booklets and appetizers to plan for. It’s free and open to everyone! Thanks to Caboose Tavern in Vienna for hosting us!

At our November meeting, we will be joined by special guest John McGowan, Director of Technology from West Chester Area School District. He'll answer questions about new screen time guidelines for K-5 at WCASD. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month -- alternating between virtual meetings at noon and in-person meetings at 7:00.

Join Schools Beyond Screens Chicago, Illinois Families for Public Schools, and Three Cities Social Club for a free film screening of Your Attention Please. As the real-world consequences of social media come into focus, a resilient coalition of parents, Gen Z reformers and whistleblowers are swinging back. Can we rebuild the tools of our time to serve humanity, or will we remain captive to the scroll?

Screens at school: what's the right balance? Districts across Central Virginia are working through that question right now. Henrico adopted new student screen-time limits in August, and Chesterfield is no longer sending Chromebooks home with students in kindergarten through second grade. Join us for a free community conversation with five people who look at it from very different angles. Meet the panel • Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, Virginia state senator and classroom teacher, who is working on this issue at the state level • W. Monty Jones, professor of education at VCU with a Ph.D. in instructional technology • Dr. Kate Bowers, pediatrician and founder of Firefly Pediatrics • Madison Irving, Henrico School Board chair and Chesterfield County teacher • Angela Petry, Licensed Professional Counselor, Owner of Phoenix Behavioral Health LLC Bring your questions You can send one in when you RSVP, and we'll pick several to ask the panel (similar questions may be combined). You're also welcome to ask in person. Who should come Parents, teachers, school leaders, grandparents and anyone who cares about kids and learning. Every point of view is welcome, and you'll leave with ideas you can use at school and at home. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 6:00–7:30 PM North Courthouse Road Library 325 Courthouse Rd, North Chesterfield, VA 23236 Free A free, nonpartisan educational event hosted by The Balance Project – Central Virginia, a chapter of The Balance Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Not sponsored by the library.

Join fellow PA Unplugged advocates to share your stories, experiences, educator feedback, concerns, and more on the following topics: -Online state testing -Safe, effective, and legal ed tech platforms, -the overuse of screens in schools -the unintended consequences of 1:1 device programs The goal of our individual public comments is illustrate and educate on what is happening inside the classroom and to ask the BOE to work with PDE and the Governor on offering a paper/pencil state test option. Time of meeting is TBD. Those that register for public comment will do so as a private citizen, not through PAU.

On Thursday, November 19th at 6:00pm, join Distraction-Free Schools Illinois as we host Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, neuroscientist, educator, best-selling author and expert in the field of human learning. The event is being held at Northwestern University in the McCormick Auditorium, located on the first floor of the Norris University Center. Doors open at 5:45pm. Walk-ins are welcome but in order to guarantee a seat*, please RSVP here. *McCormick Auditorium has a capacity of 300 people. A $10 donation per person to the Distraction-Free Schools Policy Project is appreciated. Donate here: https://www.distractionfreeschools.org/donate Parking can be found at the NU Lakeside Parking Structure located at 1857 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60201. Additional parking can be found at the Lot 211 - South Campus Parking Garage located at 1841 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60208. Any questions? Email us at DistractionFreeSchoolsIL@gmail.com Learn more about Distraction-Free Schools Illinois here: www.distractionfreeschools.org/illinois-action

Thinking about a first phone or smartwatch for your kid this holiday season? Come see what’s out there before you buy. The Mindful Tech Showcase is a free, drop-in evening for families. You can try out tech made with kids in mind, like kid-friendly landlines, simpler phones and watches, and tools for managing screens at home. We will have information on each device, and you’ll take home a booklet that compares them all in detail. Bring the kids! We’ll have appetizers, and you’re welcome to stay for dinner afterward. When: Thursday, December 3, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Come and go any time. Where: Capital Ale House Midlothian, upstairs in the Loft. 13831 Village Place Dr, Midlothian, VA 23114 Please RSVP so we know how many booklets and appetizers to plan for. It’s free and open to everyone! Thanks to Capital Ale House for hosting us!