School-Related Updates Now Accessible Through Facebook

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JOHNNY HUYNH
Staff Writer
In today’s technologicallyadvanced world, social media outlets make posting information fast and efficient.
Since last summer, AHS has created a Facebook page that is currently followed by over 840 current and former students.
During the planning stage, several social networking outlets were considered, but it was decided that Facebook was the most accessible for students to receive updates.
The page is operated by affiliates in the Guidance Office. Its postings consist of general announcements on upcoming events around the school, as well as promoting the livelihood of the Associated Student Body (ASB) and relevant school and college-related deadlines. It serves as another outlet for students to get information about events straight from the operating faculty.
Even though there are various ways to know about events and deadlines happening around the school, such as the Student Portal and the school website, Facebook has become a more up-to-date form of reaching out to students.
However convenient it may be, since it allows students direct communication to staff members, it does not intend to be another method of personally contacting school officials.
“The page [intends] to have only the generic stuff,” counselor Bindi Crawford said, “We can’t [use Facebook to] reach out to students or send personal information over the web.”
Addressing any personal and confidential issues publicly online, rather than behind a closed-office door, would be a violation of privacy.  In any case, a student will be referred to personally show up to the office for any concerns.
“[The page is] more reachable than the student portal. It’s better because people actually check Facebook more,” senior Taneshia Ngo said. “[But]
it’s not a big deal […] It just helps when I see [posts] on a news update.”
According to Crawford, it has received over 33,000 views so far. The page is technically still in a trial stage, but will stay if its efficiency is proven and does not receive any great amount of discrepancies.
Students are also advised to be extra careful about any postings placed upon the page that could be representative of the school and of oneself.
“Join it! Like it! It’s for good and not evil,” Crawford said enthusiastically.