|
Welcome
to the Parent Network website. It is hard to imagine
that summer is winding down. Soon we will be in
the full swing of another school year. With it
comes new books, backpacks, schedules and activities.
Doesn’t
it seem as though our lives become busier each year?
As parents, we feel overwhelmed by the constant changes
in technology and the complexities that encompass the
lives of our children. How on earth can we navigate
through a world that changes so rapidly and at the same
time assist our children through the maze of uncertainty?
Where can we go for support on issues that we often feel
isolate us from others or we feel embarrassed to discuss?
Parent Network
provides education to the parents of our network schools
in many ways. We have several Parent Network events throughout
the year. Our organization consistently posts new information
on our website to include articles written by experts in
the fields of child rearing, education, learning challenges,
health and social issues to name a few. To expand our educational
resources, we have partnered with a non-profit parent educational
institute that holds workshops during the school year to
include a myriad of topics. The dates, times and places
of the workshops will be available on our website so that
you may mark those events on your calendar that speak to
you and your family.
We work feverishly
to provie the most current parent education to you. However,
we are only successful when we have parent involvement.
We welcome parents to become involved in Parent Network
by sending us your ideas and comments. Of course, we always
have positions available amongst our various committees.
If you would like to become a volunteer, or have a topic
that you think would be of interest to other parents, please
contact us at secretary@myparentnetwork.org.
I am looking
forward to a great year and meeting you.
Susan Shofer
Baron
Parent Network President
There is currently a bill in Maryland
to create a task force to study how to improve financial
literacy in the state. This task force will study the ability
of consumers to understand basic financial concepts and
the problems created by a lack of financial literacy or
knowledge; and will make recommendations regarding how
to address specified problems and the benefits and drawbacks
of requiring financial literacy education as part of primary
and secondary education.
Click
here to open a PDF of the bill.
A PBS Special Frontline: a must-see for
all parents
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline
The parents in attendance at the Robert
Stutman lecture last week were called to react to the problems
of teenage substance abuse in three ways:
Availability – As parents, we can
monitor the prescription drugs in our own medicine cabinets
so that they are not misused. We should understand that the
drugs available to our children come from many sources, not
just a shady character in the school yard.
Absence of immediate harmful effects – Teenagers
need to understand the dangers of substance abuse even though
the effects are not necessarily immediate. Honesty is an
important component in any discussion with teenagers.
Attitude – Parents need to reject
the attitude that these destructive behaviors are part of
a “right of passage”. There are two main differences
in substance abuse from 20 years ago – more potent
drugs and earlier age of first time use.
For more information on how to talk to
your children at any age, visit the following websites:
www.TheStutmanGroup.com
click on Parent Resources and Information Drug Education
(PRIDE)
www.ParentingIsPrevention.org
www.theAntiDrug.com
Traffic
Safety Classes
The “Maryland
College Sports-TV Initiative” is part of the national
Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports TV to reduce exposure
of young people to alcohol advertising during college
sports telecasts. Find out more here. On
the right-hand side of the page is the "Maryland
College Sports-TV Initiative" page:
http://cspinet.org/booze/CAFST/md_sports_init.htm. The
Maryland page includes a link to the brochure, a list
of MD colleges who have and have not signed onto the
College Commitment, and a list of Maryland endorsers.
The Maryland initiative is encouraging Maryland college
officials to eliminate alcohol ads during their sports
broadcasts.Click
here to view brochure.
Parent Network
assumes no responsibility whatsoever for the content
of any posted events and publications. Some events and
publications posted on this site are neither sponsored
by or endorsed by Parent Network. Such events and publications
are posted for information only.
|
