Parent Academy 2012-13 free workshops announced

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Connected 4 Kids Coalition of Indian River County (C4K) in partnership with CASTLE and Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activities Program is sponsoring four free Parent Academies for the 2012-2013 school year.

Over 40 years of research indicates that families involved in their children’s education and positive parenting result in greater academic achievement and engaged children.

It is paramount that parents have resources and support to be the best parent they can be. The Parent Academy recognizes the important role and responsibility parents/guardians have and aims to sustain them on their parenting journey. The parent workshops are on the following dates:

Monday, November 5, 2012 – Finding Kind– Taking a Look at Bullying – Seen through the eyes of girls presented and facilitated by Christie Strieter, Supervisor with the Girl Scouts of South East Florida. Location: Vero Beach Elementary

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 – Parenting Through the Roller Coaster Years – How to best parent during those difficult teen years. Presented and facilitated by nationally acclaimed parenting expert and best-selling author Margaret Sagarese. Location: Storm Grove Middle School

Monday, February 25, 2013 – Promoting Positive Behavior in Children. Presented and facilitated by local parenting expert Charlotte LaJoie. Location: Glendale Elementary

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 – Prevent Summer Brain Drain – How to make sure your child doesn’t lose precious ground, academically and socially. Location: Pelican Island Elementary

Parents are encouraged to bring school age children with them to participate in age-appropriate break-out sessions on same or related topic.

An RSVP is necessary as there are only 20 slots per youth breakout session.

No childcare will be provided for children younger than Kindergarten age, but parents are welcome to keep the younger child with them during the large group presentation.

As a bonus, free dinner is provided.

All workshops will take place from 6-7:30 p.m., with dinner being served from 5:30-6 p.m.

Please RSVP to (772) 770-5040 or BFord@IRCGov.com.

Don’t miss our first Parent Academy of the school year on bullying on November 5. Did you know that: 160,000 children stay home from school each day to avoid a bullying situation?

It is believed that 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally, or physically. Cyber bullying is increasing at an alarming rate. Bullying affects the bully, the bullied, and the bystander.

In bullying situations, 4% are resolved with peer intervention, 11% with adult intervention, and in an alarming 85% of the cases, there is no intervention at all.

Come learn more about resources and websites useful in dealing with bullying. Learn about relational bullying and its prevalence, especially in the world of girls.

A School District of IRC Resource Officer will be on hand to answer questions about the school definition of bullying and the District’s policy on dealing with bullying. Discuss the importance of acts of kindness to counteract bullying, name calling, and exclusion.

Be sure to bring your children to participate in the age appropriate breakout sessions about bullying.

A special thank you to the hosting schools and our sponsors: Tobacco Free Partnership, Vero Beach Flash, and an anonymous sponsor.

For more information, please contact Barbara Schlitt Ford at (772) 770-5040 or BFord@IRCGov.com.

About Connected4kids.org

C4K’s mission is to benefit children living in Indian River County by connecting organizations, information, resources, and families to one another. This Coalition works together to share information, collaborate on group projects, and to connect families in need of services with the resources available to most efficiently meet every child’s physical and emotional needs.

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