Education officials are warning parents in the Evanston area about a 'sexting' incident involving the boys' baseball team at Evanston Township High School. 
 
 The athletic director of Evanston Township High School has pulled the varsity baseball team from the state playoffs after "inappropriate photos" of girls at the school were distributed among some players, officials said.The team was supposed to play Taft High School in the first round of playoffs Friday evening. But the school informed the Illinois High School Association that it would forfeit the game -- and hence the playoffs -- because there were "not enough players to play the game," said IHSA assistant executive director Craig Anderson.Anderson said he was told by the school's athletic director, Chris Livatino, that the decision was made "because of suspensions and disciplining of players.""This would have been the opening game," Anderson said. "I'm sure it's disappointing."Livatino could not be reached for comment this morning. In a letter to parents and guardians , ETHS Supt. Eric Witherspoon said the district had received a report that girls at the school had sent “inappropriate photos of themselves to ETHS boys who were members of the varsity baseball team, and some of the boys, in turn, were circulating the inappropriate photos.”"Upon receiving this report, school administration initiated an investigation into the facts of the situation to determine what occurred," Witherspoon said. "Appropriate actions have been taken."In the letter, Witherspoon cautioned that "the incident above is not an isolated one. We know that as more and more young people become connected in the digital age, sexting will remain a top concern for parents and educators. Please take the time to educate yourself and your child about the consequences of sexting."The Evanston Police Department and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services declined to take any action, according to the letter. 
 
 chicagobreaking@tribune.com 
 
 Twitter: @chicagobreaking ||||| May 23, 2013 05:13 PM 
 
 The following information has been shared with ETHS parents/guardians: 
 
 May 23, 2013 
 
 
 
 Dear ETHS families, 
 
 Earlier this week, the high school received a report about a possible "sexting" situation involving ETHS students. Sexting can best be described as sending, sharing, viewing, receiving or possessing indecent visual depictions of oneself or another person over the internet or via cell phones. 
 
 The report alleged that ETHS girls had sent inappropriate photos of themselves to ETHS boys who were members of the varsity baseball team, and some of the boys, in turn, were circulating the inappropriate photos. Upon receiving this report, school administration initiated an investigation into the facts of the situation to determine what occurred. Appropriate actions have been taken. The Evanston Police Department as well as DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) have been consulted, and at this time they have declined to take any action. 
 
 The incident above is not an isolated one. We know that as more and more young people become connected in the digital age, sexting will remain a top concern for parents and educators. Please take the time to educate yourself and your child about the consequences of sexting. Talk about the pressures to send revealing photos and discuss the importance of self-respect and respect for others. Encourage your child to tell an adult if s/he receives an inappropriate photo via email, social media, text, or other group chat applications, and advise them not to forward the photo to other friends. If they do send it on, they may be violating the law. 
 
 As you talk with your teen about sexting, remind her/him that once something is in the digital world, it never really goes away. Photos can remain online indefinitely. College admissions officers and employers often review the internet to be sure that nothing in a person’s past may overshadow a potential acceptance or hire. Making good decisions with technology now will help support your child’s plans for the future. 
 
 At Evanston Township High School, our goal is to support all our students and their families. You are a vital partner in our mission, and we appreciate everything you do to support your child at home and at school. Below are some links to resources that can help all of us become more knowledgeable about this issue. I hope you find them useful. 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 Eric Witherspoon 
 
 Superintendent 
 
 
 
 http://www.athinline.org/facts/sexting 
 
 http://www.netsmartz.org/sexting 
 
 http://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/digital-abuse/texting-sexting 
 
 http://www.connectsafely.org/tips-to-prevent-teen-sexting/ 
 
 23 de mayo del 2013 
 
 Estimadas familias de ETHS, 
 
 A comienzos de esta semana, la escuela recibió un reporte sobre un posible "sexting" que involucraba a estudiantes de ETHS. Sexting se puede describir como enviar, compartir, ver, recibir o poseer imágenes visuales indecentes de uno mismo o de otra persona en internet o mediante celulares. 
 
 El reporte alega que niñas de ETHS habrían enviado fotos de ellas mismas a jóvenes de ETHS que eran miembros del equipo varsity de béisbol, y algunos de estos jóvenes, a su vez, fueron circulando estas inapropiadas fotos. Al momento de recibir este reporte, la administración de la escuela inició una investigación sobre los hechos de esta situación para determinar qué pudo haber ocurrido. Han tomado las acciones adecuadas. El Departamento de Policía de Evanston, así como DCFS (Departamento de Servicios al Menor y la Familia), han sido consultados y al momento ellos han declinado de tomar cualquier acción. 
 
 El incidente descrito más arriba no es uno aislado. Sabemos que más y más jóvenes se están conectando en esta era digital y sexting continuará siendo una preocupación prioritaria para los padres y educadores. Por favor tómese un tiempo para educarse y educar a su hijo acerca de las consecuencias del sexting. Hable acerca de las presiones de enviar fotos reveladoras y discuta la importancia del auto respeto y el respeto por los demás. Anime a su hijo a contarle a un adulto si recibió una foto inapropiada mediante el correo electrónico, los medios sociales, mensajes de texto u otro grupo de aplicaciones de conversaciones por internet, y aconséjele que no reenvíe la foto a otros amigos. Si ellos la envían, podrían estar violando la ley. 
 
 Mientras habla con su adolescente acerca del sexting, recuérdele que una vez que algo está en el mundo digital, nunca desaparece. Las fotos pueden permanecer en internet indefinidamente. Los funcionarios de admisiones de las universidades y empleados usualmente revisan el internet para asegurarse que nada en el pasado de una persona pueda ensombrecer una potencial aceptación o contratación. Tomar buenas decisiones con la tecnología ahora ayudará a apoyar los planes para el futuro de su hijo. 
 
 En la Escuela Preparatoria del Municipio de Evanston, nuestra meta es apoyar a todos los estudiantes y sus familias. Usted es un socio vital en nuestra misión y apreciamos todo lo que usted hace para apoyar a su hijo en la casa y en la escuela. Debajo hay algunos enlaces de recursos que nos pueden ayudar a todos a ser más conocedores acerca de este problema. Espero que les sirva. 
 
 Atentamente, 
 
 Eric Witherspoon 
 
 Superintendente 
 
 
 
 http://www.athinline.org/facts/sexting 
 
 http://www.netsmartz.org/sexting 
 
 http://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/digital-abuse/texting-sexting 
 
 http://www.connectsafely.org/tips-to-prevent-teen-sexting/
– The Evanston Township High School baseball team was supposed to be suiting up for a state playoff game tonight, but a sexting controversy brought the season to an early end. It seems girls at the Illinois school sent "inappropriate" photos to their boyfriends on the team, and school officials got wind of it when the boys started sharing them, reports the Chicago Tribune. The athletic director suspended those involved, then pulled the team out of the playoffs because he didn't have enough players left to take the field. You can read the superintendent's letter to parents here. The police aren't getting involved.