• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

Carson City Schools hosts 'Screenagers' documentary viewing, talk on screen-time effects

Event Date: 
February 20, 2020 - 5:30pm

The Carson City School District will host two showings of a 60-minute documentary titled "Screenagers Next Chapter — Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience" Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Bob Boldrick Theatre in the Carson City Community Center. The two showings, beginning at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m., will be free and open to the public. Parents are encouraged to bring their children.

Technology specialists with the school district have also invited a panel of experts from the community to host a discussion and question and answer (Q&A) session from 6:45 – 7:15 p.m. Viewers who come for the 5:30 PM show are invited to stay until 7:15 p.m. and participate in the Q&A, and the viewers for the 7:30 p.m. show may arrive early at 6:45 p.m. to participate in the Q&A and then stay for the video. Click here to view the movie trailer.

SCREENAGERS is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and offers parents and families proven solutions that work. What started out as a personal story for one has grown into a national movement, helping millions of teens and their families navigate growing up in a world with instant access to screens.

“The Carson City School District continues to make a concerted effort to educate our students, parents and families about responsible use of technology to enhance learning,” said Dr. LeAnn Morris, Instructional Technology Coordinator, with the Carson City School District. “The goal of showing this new documentary, released in October 2019, to our community is to bring parents, children and educators together again to help foster healthy conversations about how screen time impacts their lives. The District previously hosted the original "Screenagers - Growing Up In The Digital Age."

Physician and Filmmaker Delaney Ruston decided to make SCREENAGERS when she found herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. Ruston felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially around mobile phones, social media, gaming and how to monitor online homework. Hearing repeatedly how other parents were equally overwhelmed, she realized this is one of the biggest, unexplored parenting issues of our time.

As a director, Ruston turned the camera on her own family and others — revealing stories of messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. The film will introduce Hannah, a 14-year old victim of social media bullying, who struggled trying to hide her social media use from her mom. And Andrew, whose love of video games turned into an addiction taking him from earning straight A’s to flunking out of college.

Interwoven into these stories, are cutting edge science and insights from thought leaders Peggy Orenstein, Sherry Turkle, Simon Sinek and leading brain scientists who present evidence on the real changes in the brain when kids are on screens. SCREENAGERS goes far beyond exposing the risks of screen time, it reveals multiple approaches on how parents and educators can work with kids to help them achieve a healthy amount of screen time.

About The Panel
Mandy Chambers, school counselor at Carson High School. Mandy was a Teacher at CHS from 1999-2004 and has been a School Counselor at CHS from 2004-present.

"As a school counselor, and a parent of a middle school and high school student, I'm very interested in the topic of emotional and mental wellness of our children, as well as the connection screen time has to that,” Chambers said. “We are navigating, with our kids, a new frontier in terms of the digital age and screen time. It's important that we are aware of what they have access to, how it can affect them, and how we can help them maintain mental wellness and resiliency."

Ananda Campbell, library media specialist at Carson High School. Augi and Betsy Campbell-Richards, 6th-grade students at Carson Middle School. Ananda has instructional technology experience as the library media specialist at Carson High School. Augi and Betsy are middle school students at Carson Middle School and new to the world of social media and personal devices.

"As a family, we are exploring this digital universe and learning how to manage our tech-habits in a healthy way," Ananda said.

Tracy Protell, MD, board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and pediatrician. Dr. Protell has been seeing patients at Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. and Stateline, Nev. for the past 7 years. She attended medical school at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine and completed her combined psychiatry and pediatrics residency training in Pittsburgh, PA. She is also a mother to two spirited, curious young children.

"The effects of technology and media exposure are evident every day in my medical practice and home life, and I often help families navigate this rapidly changing and shifting world in which our children live," Protell said.

Monica Campbell, licensed marriage and family therapist. After ten years working in public rural health, hospice care, and with foster youth, Monica has been in private practice in Carson City and Zephyr Cove, Nev. since 2010. Monica specializes in treating adolescents with depression and anxiety. She writes a weekly blog, Restoring Relationships, that provides education, information and compassion to parents of adolescents who need mental health support. In session, Monica focuses on teaching adolescents emotional tolerance for self and others through skills building, role-playing and self-acceptance.

"Every day, teens are coming into session with me to talk about the same issues the teens in the film talk about,” Monica said. “Social media isn't the only culprit teens face when it comes to limited resources and skills for self-calming and self-acceptance, but it is a big piece. The most important part of my work is addressing the contributors to adolescent suicide. Because of my frequent interactions with teens, I'm able to comment on their experiences and what I've seen helps them to reduce screen time in favor of face to face connection. Studies show a caring, non-judgmental interaction with another person is effective in reducing suicidal thoughts, making plans for suicide, or having access to the means of suicide."

Top Stories

... or see all stories

Hello fellow anglers. We have a few things coming up soon. As we all know, the California opening day fishing season will start on April 27. The lakes in Mono and Inyo counties will open for the year.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of an ongoing telephone scam. In this scam, the original callers are claiming to be a family member who was involved in an accident.

MINDEN — Douglas County is excited to announce that Brook Adie has accepted the position of Community Services Director. Adie served as the Assistant Community Services Director from 2021-2023, and has held the role of Interim Community Services Director since July 2023.

A suspect sought by the Carson City Sheriff's Office for a battery that happened earlier this month at a local bar is in California law enforcement custody.

Carson Montessori students watch the egg drop competition

All students at Carson Montessori gathered this week around the scissor lift eagerly anticipating the start of the Engineering EGGstravaganza. Each grade created eight carefully engineered contraptions to house and protect their prized egg for the school-wide egg drop.

On April 9, Sierra Nevada Forums, in partnership with the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada, will host “The truth about Carson City road funding: straight from the horse’s mouth.”

In July 2021, a dry lightning storm caused a number of fires throughout Carson City, the largest being the Prison Hill fire, burning roughly 175 acres in a matter of hours, and came dangerously close to homes.

Recently, a terrible incident in Eastern California left one man dead and another injured following a mountain lion attack. This has led to concern throughout mountain lion country on whether or not its safe to recreate. While mountain lion attacks are few and far between, there are a number of ways to stay safe and aware.

The Active 20-30 Club of Carson City No. 140 will host a Battle of the Bands competition on Saturday, April 20 at Fuji Park in Carson City.

Nevada Humane Society, Carson City Pet of the Week is Laffy Taffy, who is as sweet as candy and will keep you “Laffying” with his goofy antics.

GreenUP!, an environmental education non-profit working with local businesses, asks the community to support sustainable dining by bringing their appetites to Carson City Green Dining Restaurants while the banner flies now through Sunday, March 31.

Mark Twain Days Festival is back this year, May 10-12, with some big changes. Visit Carson City approached the Brewery Arts Center and asked them to partner for the planning of the second year of the festival, which is held in honor of Mark Twain, our region’s most famous writer.

These two photos by Nancy Sawyer, taken early Tuesday night over the Carson City sky, shows a magnificent array of rolling waves, like they were taken from pallette to canvas.

Spotted three birds, possibly turkey vultures or golden eagles, behind Buzzy's Ranch Road in Carson City early Wednesday. This is possibly part of a spring mating ritual. Bring your small pets inside.

Celebrating its Spring Fling Bunco fundraiser, Soroptimist International of Carson City will begin with a stuffed baked potato bar including bacon, butter, sour cream, broccoli and a side salad at 5:30pm. A no-host bar will be available. At 6:30pm the fun begins including prizes for top Bunco achievers.

United Federal Credit Union is expanding its footprint in Nevada. United opened a new branch in Minden on Monday, March 18, 2024. United has been operating in Nevada since 2009. The Minden branch is United’s ninth location in the state.

Looking for a place to take your little ones this week? Look no further! Here is a list of family-friendly (and fun!) activities and events happening this week around the capital city.

The Hangar Tavern is Carson City’s newest bar that offers casino gaming machines, which opened up shop about two months ago off Airport Road.

The airplane-themed business is split sectioned, with the tavern taking up space on one side, which includes several seating options and multiple flat screen televisions for watching sports, while gaming takes up the other half.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation is granting local workforce boards $5 million to address barriers to employment.

The Carson City Symphony, conducted by Music Director David Bugli and Assistant Conductor Brian Fox, presents a concert, "We Got Rhythm," on Sunday, April 28, at 4 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E William Street in Carson City.

Carson Middle School English Teacher Rhonda Holloway, Seeliger Elementary Fourth Grade Teacher Toni Nielson and Mark Twain Fourth Grade Teachers Kylie Jensen and Alyson Haas were recent recipients of the “Apple Award” from the Delta Kappa Gamma NU Chapter in the total amount of $500. There were more than 14 total applicants. Delta Kappa Gamma is an educational organization of teachers who support other teachers.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is investigating a battery which occurred at a Carson City bar on March 17, 2024. The Carson City Sheriff’s Office has obtained surveillance footage of the incident and is attempting to identify the suspect in the pictures above.

On Tuesday, March 26, at approximately 7 a.m., the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and East Fork Fire responded to the 900 block of Arrowhead Drive in the Gardnerville Ranchos for a report of an unconscious individual lying on the side of the road.

Another early spring storm system will move into the Carson City area and surrounding counties Wednesday bringing gusty winds, valley rain and mountain snow to the region, according to the National Weather Service.

A saturation event was organized last week by the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, Office of Traffic Safety, and Sheriff's Traffic Enforcement Team to improve traffic safety in the Mound House area.

Women's Drum Circles for all levels, or no experience, of drumming continue this Saturday, March 30, beginning at 10 a.m. at Dark Willow Emporium in Carson City. With fun, creativity and supportive community, the HealthRhythms protocol offers evidence-based improvement in well-being and empowerment.

According to Redfin, home prices in Nevada were up 9.7 percent year-over-year in February 2024. At the same time, the number of homes for sale in the state fell by 20.8 percent. While home prices are on the rise, the supply of homes for sale is not meeting demand, creating what is considered a “tight” housing market across the Silver State.

Each year, the Chamber’s Leadership Institute class embraces a class project to enhance the quality of life within our community. Some of the projects have supported the needs of our charitable nonprofits while others have benefitted the citizens-at-large through public enhancements within the cemetery, on public trails, senior center, library, children’s museum and more.

Shovels turned Monday in Carson City at a ceremony to launch the beginning of construction for a new $18.4 million fire station and emergency operations center.

Inde the Belgian Malinois dock diving dog of Carson City is ready to make a big splash again, this time in a national favorite pet competition.