HOWELL – It was time for school but the classes, workshops and lectures were all for parents.
Parent University utilized Howell Middle School North’s auditorium and several classrooms. It involved many district administrators, staff and special guests who presented lectures and break-out sessions.
Of the many timely topics discussed included presenters Jeanna Ribbon and Kristin Nolan who headed the panel, “Are You Mindful of Your Teen’s Social Media?” Parents hear a lot from teens about when they are scrolling through feeds they are often (consciously or unconsciously) comparing themselves to those around them, especially their peers.
The pair noted that people tend to post the highlights about the perfect outfit, hair, friend activity or event, and of course it’s fun to scroll through them. All of this can also damage self-esteem when your life doesn’t feel as perfect. It can make you start over-analyzing your own social media presence, counting the likes your latest post got and pushing yourself to look effortlessly perfect, too, regardless of how you’re really feeling.
Teens and young adults are increasingly reporting that social media can also be a source of stress. This type of socializing is more important than it looks. Teenagers are still figuring out their place in the world, and it is often through their relationships that they begin to make sense of their identity. It isn’t in their interest to stop using social media entirely. Finding a way to have healthy relationships and a healthy self-esteem while still using social media is.
Another session was “Emotion 101: Helping Your Child Identify, Understand, and Manage His or Her Emotions” headed by guidance counselors Sara Glynn, Jessica Eisenberg and Samantha Murillo. They discussed the challenge of navigating emotions and how they could work with their children on identifying and understanding emotions.
Parents were also provided resources that they could use at home to discuss emotions/feelings with their children such as children’s books that discuss emotions, sample questions to help their child talk about their feelings.
Greenville Vice Principal Suzanne Gabriel presented the class “Family, Food and So Much Fun” which explored ways to find time in your busy schedule to sit down as a family and really enjoy a meal together.
Participants learned how to create a weekly meal planning calendar with their children, discover recipes for family favorite meals through the exploration of recipe resources, create hassle-free weekly shopping lists, and promote synergy in the preparation. Gabriel noted that “time, unlike money, needs to be spent. What better way to do that then with your family?”
Members of the Howell Township Police Department were also part of the university. Police Chief Andrew Kudrick and department personnel discussed student programs taking place within the school district. Information about Student Resource Officers and the 5th grade L.E.A.D. Program was shared during the night.
The program “Kindergarten Success Equals First Grade Success: Turning Early Learners
Into Life-Long Learners” was a popular class. It was presented by district kindergarten teacher Christina DeKovics who spoke to parents about the skills that are beneficial for their child to possess in order to transition successfully to first grade.
Topics included expectations for the second half of kindergarten, social-emotional development, beginning of first grade expectations, and academic strategies to prevent the summer slide.
Assistatant Superintendent, Curriculum and Personnel, Bruce Preston and District Math/Science Supervisor Erin Fedina conducted the workshop “Middle School Placement, Academic Success, and Social Emotional Wellness: Why the right-challenge placement matters more than a challenging placement.”
The administrators told the audience that every parent wants to give their child the best opportunities in life and that parents want to know how they can help their child in putting their best foot forward. They discussed how to prepare them for the unknowns of their next steps in school and beyond.
Adelphia/Ardena School music teacher Jennifer Hardy-Wiessel conducted the workshop, “Mindful Parent, Mindful Child” discussing with parents how mindfulness is a powerful tool for decreasing stress, dealing with anxiety, improving concentration and other general health benefits. She said mindfulness is a word heard often these days and that many people still find the concept a little confusing.
Wiessel said many adults find that practicing mindfulness helps them relax and deal with the stressors of life and it helps bring children and caregivers closer, teach compassion, and accept life as it is.
School Nurse Michelle Lynn spoke to parents about ways they could engage their children’s school to support student health and learning. She noted that students who have parents engaged in their school lives are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, better student behavior, and enhanced social skills.
Lynn stressed the importance of educating students about healthy nutrition, physical education and activity, and managing chronic health conditions, providing opportunities for students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors and provide access to health services for students with chronic health conditions.
Other workshops included helping to reduce a child’s stress, removing inappropriate behavior with appropriate behavior, STEAM Based Purposeful Play, We Are All Math People! Nurturing Your Child’s Number Sense and What Can You AS a Parent Do to Positively Impact Your Child’s Success.
The keynote speaker of the night was Ian Hockley of the organization Dylan’s Wings of Change.
School Superintendent Joseph Isola said, “The inspiration for Parent University was born from a desire and commitment to build strong school-home partnerships. The district has gone to great lengths to keep our community informed. We believe that when parents have access to information and a deeper understanding of issues facing their children, we are more likely to have successful outcomes.” Another Parent University program is being scheduled for fall.
