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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150415T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150415T140000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182546Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T161019Z
UID:2162-1429099200-1429106400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2015 Deans' Luncheon
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2015-deans-lunch/
LOCATION:Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart\, 9101 Rockville Pike\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20814\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Upper School Dean of Students Program
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150407T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150407T103000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T040028Z
UID:2161-1428395400-1428402600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2015 Spring Speaker: Ron Lieber
DESCRIPTION:How To Talk To Your Kids About Money\nSpring Speaker Program featuring Ron Lieber \nDownload Flyer
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2015-spring-speaker/
LOCATION:National Cathedral School – Hearst Hall\, 3612 Woodley Road NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20016\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.parentscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ron.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150303T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150303T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160503T150646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T021229Z
UID:2636-1425373200-1425384000@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2015 Middle School Student Leader Breakfast
DESCRIPTION:“If I Knew Then What I Know Now”\nPCW hosted 48 students at its annual Middle School Student Leader Breakfast on Tuesday\, March 3\, 2015\, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. An administrator/faculty member from each of the 24 participating member schools accompanied the students and attended a separate meeting led by Mr. Rodney Glasgow\, SAES Head of Middle School.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2015-middle-school-student-leader-breakfast/
LOCATION:St. Andrew’s Episcopal School\, 8804 Postoak Road\, Potomac\, MD\, 20854\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Student Leader Breakfasts
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150210T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150210T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T165037Z
UID:2160-1423557000-1423569600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2015 Upper School Student Leader Breakfast
DESCRIPTION:The Parents Council of Washington hosted its annual Student Leader Breakfast on Tuesday\, February 10\, 2015 at the Georgetown Preparatory School. Fifty-six students from the junior and senior classes of twenty-nine Parents Council member schools attended and participated in the event. \nSeven topics were addressed during the large group session including: \n\n\nTime Management and Stress\nHonesty and Integrity\nRecent Instances of Social Unrest\nThe Power of Schools Beyond School Borders\nRisk-taking Behavior\nWho Teens Confide In\nThe Power of School Censorship
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2015-high-school-student-leader-breakfast/
LOCATION:Georgetown Preparatory School\, 10900 Rockville Pike\, North Bethesda\, MD\, 20852\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Student Leader Breakfasts
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150204T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150204T113000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160503T152326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T174627Z
UID:2641-1423038600-1423049400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2015 Best Practices Forum: Re-thinking Success: How Schools Define\, Recognize and Encourage Students’ Diverse Strengths
DESCRIPTION:Re-thinking Success: How Schools Define\, Recognize and Encourage Students’ Diverse Strengths\nPCW’s annual Best Practices program presents a panel of experts to discuss their individual schools’ experiences on a particular topic. PCW has been offering programs for 50 years that are instructive and useful to teachers\, parents and the community. \nDownload Best Practices E-Binder
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2015-best-practices-forum/
LOCATION:The Langley School\, 1411 Balls Hill Road\, McLean\, VA\, 22101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Best Practices Forum,Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20141119T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20141119T110000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T023432Z
UID:2158-1416385800-1416394800@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Parent Speak
DESCRIPTION:Ramsey Room\, Lower School Building \nThe Parents Council of Washington (PCW) hosted its second Parent Speak program for the parent communities of its member schools on Wednesday\, November 19\, 2014 at The Potomac School.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-parent-speak/
LOCATION:Potomac School\, 1301 Potomac School Road\, McLean\, VA\, 22101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Speak
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20141007T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20141007T210000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T041732Z
UID:2157-1412708400-1412715600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Fall Speaker 50th Anniversary Event: Susan Cain
DESCRIPTION:Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking\nDownload 5 Tips for Raising a Quietly Strong Child flyer (PDF) by Susan Cain.\n\nSee photos of the event here. \n 
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-fall-speaker-susan-cain/
LOCATION:Holton-Arms School\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.parentscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Susan-Cain.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140924T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140924T113000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160428T210801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T174959Z
UID:2569-1411547400-1411558200@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Orientation: featuring Dr. Patricia Lyons on The Soul of Success
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Patricia Lyons\, The Soul of Success\nThe Parents Council of Washington (PCW) hosted its annual Orientation Program for Representatives and Parent Association Presidents of its member schools on Wednesday\, September 24\, 2014 at the National Presbyterian School (NPS).
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-pcw-orientation/
LOCATION:National Presbyterian School\, 4121 Nebraska Avenue Northwest\, Washington\, DC \, 20016\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140507T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140507T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T173434Z
UID:2155-1399453200-1399464000@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 PA Presidents' Forum
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-pa-presidents-forum/
LOCATION:Washington Episcopal School\,  5600 Little Falls  Dr.\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20854\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140409T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140409T103000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T163254Z
UID:2156-1397032200-1397039400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Spring Speaker: MINDS\, Inc.
DESCRIPTION:Being Mindful\nUsing Mindfulness to Cultivate Resilience\, Focus\, and Compassion at Home and at School\nMINDS\, Inc. and Slow Lunch
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-spring-forum/
LOCATION:The Langley School\, 1411 Balls Hill Road\, McLean\, VA\, 22101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Speaker Series
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140408T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140408T140000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160824T200956Z
UID:2153-1396958400-1396965600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Deans' Luncheon
DESCRIPTION:Download Stone Ridge Campus Map (PDF)
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-deans-lunch/
LOCATION:Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart\, 9101 Rockville Pike\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20814\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Upper School Dean of Students Program
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140304T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140304T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160503T184636Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T030609Z
UID:2652-1393923600-1393934400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Middle School Student Leader Breakfast
DESCRIPTION:The Parents Council of Washington hosted its annual Middle School Student Leader Breakfast on Wednesday\, March 4\, 2013 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Approximately 50 students and 25 administrators primarily from the 7th grade of twenty-five Parents Council of Washington member schools attended and participated in the event.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-middle-school-student-leader-breakfast/
LOCATION:St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School\, 1000 St. Stephen's Road\, Alexandria\, VA\, 22304\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Student Leader Breakfasts
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140212T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140212T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T042834Z
UID:2154-1392193800-1392206400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Upper School Student Leader Breakfast
DESCRIPTION:The Parents Council of Washington hosted its annual Student Leader Breakfast on Wednesday\, February 12\, 2013 at the Georgetown Preparatory School. Fifty students from the junior and senior classes of twenty-five Parents Council of Washington member schools attended and participated in the event.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-upper-school-student-leader-breakfast/
LOCATION:Georgetown Preparatory School\, 10900 Rockville Pike\, North Bethesda\, MD\, 20852\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Student Leader Breakfasts
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140128T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140128T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T174635Z
UID:2035-1390897800-1390910400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2014 Best Practices Forum: Community Service: Its Purpose\, Impact and Programs Within Our Schools
DESCRIPTION:Community Service: Its Purpose\, Impact and Programs Within Our Schools\nLaura Friberg\, PCW Board member and program co-chair\, welcomed the participants and panelists and introduced Stone Ridge Head of School Catherine Ronan Karrels.  Ms. Karrels spoke of the importance of the best practices topic and noted the important work of the Parents Council.  Joan Levy\, PCW President announced the celebration of PCW’s 50th year and highlighted PCW’s role and mission. \nDownload 2014 Best Practices E-Binder
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2014-pcw-best-practices/
LOCATION:Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart\, 9101 Rockville Pike\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20814\, United States
CATEGORIES:Best Practices Forum,Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20131114T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20131114T113000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182406Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T170339Z
UID:1761-1384417800-1384428600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Parent Speak
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-pcw-parent-speak/
LOCATION:Holton-Arms School\,  7303 River Road\, Bethesda \, MD\, 20817\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Speak
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20131016T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20131017T210000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T140212Z
UID:2033-1381948200-1382043600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Fall Speaker: Dr. Brad Sachs
DESCRIPTION:Parent-Child Communications\nMighty Words: Creating Conversations that Change Children’s Lives\nOn October 16\, 2013\, the Parents Council of Washington hosted its fall speaker program at the National Cathedral School. The featured speaker was Dr. Brad Sachs\, psychologist\, educator\, consultant\, best- selling author and Founder and Director of The Father Center that specializes in meeting the needs of new\, expectant\, and experienced fathers. \n 
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-pcw-fall-speaker-dr-brad-sachs/
LOCATION:Bullis School\, 10601 Falls Rd\, Potomac\, MD\, 20854\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Speaker Series
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130919T084500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130919T114500
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T174956Z
UID:2034-1379580300-1379591100@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Orientation: featuring Michelle Kriebel on Communication Between Schools and Parents
DESCRIPTION:Communication Between Schools and Parents\n\nStarting the School Year on the Right Ear – Effective Communication Between Parents\, Teachers and Students\nFeaturing: Michelle Kreibel – Parent Educator\nThe Parents Council of Washington (PCW) hosted its annual Orientation Program for Representatives and Parent Association Presidents of its member schools on Thursday\, September 19\, 2013 at the National Presbyterian School. \nPCW President Joan Levy then welcomed participants and introduced Michelle Kriebel as keynote speaker of the topic\, “Starting the School Year on the Right Ear: Effective Communication Between Parents\, Teachers and Students.” \nBook references/resources: \nRaising Resilient Children by Brooks and Goldstein \nThe Pressured Child by Michael Thompson \nThe Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine \nLOL… OMG by Matt Ivester \nQuiet by Susan Cain \nFierce Conversations by Susan Scott \nMasterminds and Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-orientation-meeting/
LOCATION:National Presbyterian School\, 4121 Nebraska Avenue Northwest\, Washington\, DC \, 20016\, United States
CATEGORIES:Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130502T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130502T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T173446Z
UID:1760-1367485200-1367496000@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 PA Presidents' Forum
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/papto-presidents-networking-transition-coffee/
LOCATION:Washington Episcopal School\, 5600 Little Falls Parkway\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20816\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130411T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130411T114500
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T044449Z
UID:1754-1365674400-1365680700@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Spring Speaker: Common Sense Media
DESCRIPTION:What Every Parent Should Know About Kids and Technology but Didn’t Know to Ask!\n\nPresentation from Common Sense Media\nSpeakers: April McClain-Delaney and Linda Burch from Common Sense Media\n \n \nBoard Member Joan Levy welcomed attendees and thanked the Landon School for hosting the program. Ms. Levy then introduced and welcomed Common Sense Media’s Washington Director\, Ms. April McClain-Delaney. \nCommon Sense Media is focused on the media impact on kids and teaching them to be savvy\, responsible media users by providing trustworthy information and tools for families to have a choice about the media they consume. The organization offers developmentally age-appropriate rating information on movies\, apps\, games and websites\, educates through programs teaching skills\, safety and ethics\, advocates on issues that shape the media’s impact on kids and researches to provide reliable data on children’s use of media. \n• 7.5 million Facebook users are younger than 13.\n• The #1 way teens prefer to communicate is through face-to-face interaction as opposed to texting.\n• Over 4 billion hours of video are watched on YouTube each month.\n• 33% of the 14-24 age group receive texts or online messages that include sexual words.\n• The average number of texts teens send per month is 3\,417. \nWhat can you do to help your kids be safe\, smart and responsible media users and creators? \n• Engage in a positive way with your children while using technology. Keep lines of communication open and learn what they are creating.\n• Help develop a dialogue of rules to use with your kids.\n• Try to keep media in public spaces and outside of the bedroom for as long as you can.\n• Try to keep cell phones out of the bedroom.\n• Encourage balanced use and keep an eye on the clock.\n• Be a role model and watch what they watch.\n• Talk to young children about cyberstalkers and cyberbullying.\n• Use privacy settings and keep passwords secure.\n• For 5th-8th graders\, recommend what they can download and discuss.\n• Keep an eye on ratings\, explain that nothing is private and cheating is unacceptable.\n• Need to distinguish a difference between online and offline lives. Devices need to be turned off. \n 
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-spring-speaker-common-sense-media/
LOCATION:Landon School\, 6101 Wilson Lane\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20817\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Speaker Series
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130411T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130411T100000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T171318Z
UID:1692-1365669000-1365674400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Spring Representatives Business Meeting
DESCRIPTION:A Meeting for PCW Reps and PA Presidents ONLY.\nIncludes a briefing from the Student Leader Breakfast and the Middle School Student Leader Breakfast.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-pcw-spring-reps-business-meeting/
LOCATION:Landon School\, 6101 Wilson Lane\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20817\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130410T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130410T140000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160824T201000Z
UID:1694-1365595200-1365602400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Deans' Luncheon
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-deans-luncheon/
LOCATION:Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart\, 9101 Rockville Pike\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20814\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130305T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130305T083000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T045339Z
UID:1695-1362472200-1362472200@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Middle School Student Leader Breakfast
DESCRIPTION:The Parents Council of Washington hosted its annual Middle School Student Leader Breakfast on Tuesday\, March 5\, 2013 at the Potomac School. Fifty students representing the seventh grade classes of twenty-five Parents Council of Washington member schools attended and participated in the event. Students were accompanied by an administrator\, teacher or counselor from each school.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-middle-school-student-leader-breakfast/
LOCATION:Potomac School\, 1301 Potomac School Road\, McLean\, VA\, 22101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Student Leader Breakfasts
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130213T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130213T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T171041Z
UID:1696-1360744200-1360756800@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Upper School Student Leader Breakfast
DESCRIPTION:The Parents Council of Washington hosted its annual Student Leader Breakfast on Wednesday\, February 13\, 2013 at the Georgetown Preparatory School. Fifty students from the junior and senior classes of twenty-five Parents Council of Washington member schools attended and participated in the event. Dean of Students of Georgetown Preparatory\, Mr. Chris Rodriguez\, welcomed the students and encouraged them to learn from each other and exchange information to provide important feedback to their school communities on the challenges they are faced with today. Parents Council Board Member\, Ms. Fran Barnes\, opened the program\, explained the agenda and introduced former Parents Council Board Member\, Ms. Mary Cohen\, as moderator of the student discussions.\n\nSix topics were planned for the main group setting: \nTime Management and Stress\nDiscussion on how students felt they balanced school\, homework\, sports\, extracurricular activities and college applications mixed with family time\, down time and getting enough sleep. Students expressed that they managed and handled time constraints and stress well for the most part. Many agreed that teachers were generally understanding and flexible\, but that falling behind in class work can quickly happen with one missed day. Creating a relationship with teachers and advisors was a key component to success as well as providing mandatory study halls or special programs offering guidance on combating stress and strategies to better manage the academic and athletic work loads. \nAcademic Honesty\, Integrity and Cheating\nMs. Cohen highlighted that many athletic and political cheating problems are occurring in public today and asked the students whether cheating is taking place in their schools at the academic or sports level and whether schools were handling any instances appropriately. An overwhelming majority indicated that academic cheating was taking place in their schools and that administration was not consistently addressing or disciplining the issue. Cheating predominantly centered on homework copying or looking up answers on Google. There was an agreement that stress created pressures and students felt a misunderstanding of what cheating or plagiarism entails was present mainly at the freshman grade level. Student run Conduct and Review Boards\, Advisory Councils and Honor Codes were mentioned as used widely in the schools\, yet penalties were made randomly under unclear policies or rules. Simple violations led to the same punishment as major offenses. The consensus was that schools needed to stress the notion of personal integrity and open communication. \nSchool’s Influence on Regulating Students’ Lives\, Behavior and Speech Off Campus Property\nMost students shared that schools should be concerned\, hold students accountable and discipline for behavior off property\, yet expressed that not enough responded or intervened. According to most students\, the entire school community is affected and impacted directly in a negative manner. Students should respect and represent their schools at all times to protect the reputation and image of the student body outside of school hours. In some cases\, students felt that schools should only be responsible for notifying parents about incidents and allow families to handle the consequences necessary. \nSense of Connectedness with Administration and Teachers\nThere is an overall connection established\, an investment made in them and support generated. There were comments about faculty needing to be more open minded about stereotyping and that with students showing more respect through more positive\, responsible actions or by developing better relationships with the administration and faculty\, teachers could see the potential in every student and be helpful with breaking the mold for students to grow and change effectively. \nTechnology and Social Media\nStudents were asked about the amount of time spent plugged in\, what the preferred method of communicating with friends was and whether there was a concern about the permanence of internet postings or digital footprint tracking. Facebook profiles\, texting and Skype were all popular methods used to communicate between friends. It was noted that it would be a hardship for students to give up electronic devices for one week. Students admitted to posting negative comments on social media sites that would have been left unsaid in a face-to-face conversation. There was a fear of missing out on information expressed that prompts students to constantly check email and social media\, however prioritizing before logging on\, self-disciplining and thinking about the consequences of permanent digital records were found to be important and something that most felt needed to be worked on. \nAlcohol/Drug Awareness and General Risk-Taking Behavior\nStudents were asked about the types of substances used and how schools were responding to problems. Drinking was the number one substance abused especially at weekend parties with some reporting that smoking pot has become more widespread with students in the senior classes. Schools have taken action by implementing required programs for freshmen\, but these seminars should be repeated in the upper grades. Student led group meetings\, replacing rigid policies with educational classes about addictions to encourage students to seek help or look out for each other instead of imposing severe consequences or punishment should be the schools’ focus and would prove to be more effective. \nFollowing a break in the large group session\, four small groups were organized. Ms. Cohen presented each group with a series of written questions to select from and discuss freely on their own for the remainder of the morning session ranging from school rivalries\, diversity and homosexuality\, socialization outside of school boundaries\, male/female dating relationships as well as the line between keeping a confidence and keeping a friend safe. A few groups had enough time to expand into open topics of their choice including more on the subject of alcohol and time management\, social differences\, removing privileges and/or traditions and students’ voices.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-high-school-student-leader-breakfast/
LOCATION:Georgetown Preparatory School\,  10900 Rockville Pike\,  North Bethesda\, MD\, 20852\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Student Leader Breakfasts
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20130131T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20130131T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T140818Z
UID:2031-1359621000-1359633600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2013 Best Practices Forum: The Use of 21st Century Technology in Our Schools: Peaks and Pitfalls
DESCRIPTION:The Use of 21st Century Technology in Our Schools: Peaks and Pitfalls\n\nSee The Use of 21st Century Technology in our Schools e-Binder (Download MS Word Doc) \n \n\nBest Practices Executive Summary\nThree panelists from Holton-Arms\, Woods Academy and The Langley School presented on the use of technology within the Lower School\, Middle School and Upper School classrooms of their respective schools. \nUPPER SCHOOL PRESENTATION David Rossell – Director of Technology at Holton-Arms\nAcademic Technology:\nHolton-Arms is one of the early leaders in One to One computing-one device per student. The school’s philosophy and vision for academic technology strive to educate students as responsible technological citizens: \n\nby working with them every day to learn to be capable of cataloging\, sorting and evaluating information from a variety of sources to extract data. To know where to look for information and know how to read sources is critical.\nby preparing them to be competent in technical expertise with any device and to be able to keep up with technological changes.\nby teaching them to be responsible with electronic communication\, to make right choices. Digital citizenship is addressed in all divisions and goal is to reduce unfortunate decisions. It is important to understand that information sent once lives on forever on a server somewhere creating problems in their future through association of past decisions that could affect college or job search.\nby showing them how to be flexible and proficient in managing a variety of devices and knowing how to choose the appropriate tool (iPad\, laptop or desktop) to accomplish the job necessary.\nby helping them be sophisticated in media consumption and creation. To look critically at the images they are bombarded with in the media and make sound decisions. To create presentations and be able to present to a crowd of people.\nby expanding the classroom and engaging with experts. Technology should be a force multiplier to leverage new capabilities through facilitating collaboration between students\, teachers and parents and facilitating a culture of creative risk taking. Willing to take the appropriate steps to try new things in their intellectual lives.\n\nTo implement the school’s vision\, Holton-Arms created the Online School for Girls for leadership and online education. Online education is a powerful tool for girls to communicate with other girls they may not otherwise encounter or have access to. It makes economic sense by pooling resources creating a way for students to meet girls from other regions and socio economic circumstances. \nHolton-Arms is also a leader in blended learning using technology in combination with classroom discussion. Blended learning is not a substitution for personal interaction or to offer more homework\, but a way to use time more efficiently and to enhance learning. Teachers are intrinsically involved with online work and in the classroom \nAdvantages of One to One computing program:\nThe focus is for students to be working on content. Good technology does not fragment the learning community\, but instead enhances it and brings it together. \n\nBlended learning is more difficult without it.\nThere is immediate access to a range of information.\nProvides valuable research and study tool. It’s difficult to share a computer at home.\nOffers the opportunity to teach girls media literacy for college now within a more controlled environment. Students able to try new things\, make mistakes within a caring community with less severe consequences.\n\nAll Holton-Arms Grade 5 students have iPads for research in the classroom. Families purchase and own the device\, but the school specifies the brand\, model and who the family purchases the device from. \nDoes the type of device matter? Yes\, a great deal. It should lay flat on the desk. A raised screen increases insecurity and the ability to know if student is really engaged in classwork. Classroom management and collaboration work better with flat devices. \nAudiovisual equipment plays a significant role in combination with One to One computing. There is a difference on how teachers teach and students learn when there is the ability to project wirelessly. \nDavid discussed the uncertainty of what the future of academic technology holds. He mentioned that it will still take time to get a handle on how things are going to settle out. It is an exciting\, but also confusing time. \nMIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTATION JP Clubbs – Grade 7 & 8 Social Studies Teacher at Woods Academy\nJP discussed that in order to prepare children for the next level\, it is important to accept changes with technology and move forward with the ups and the downs. It is a challenge to always be flexible to change as technology is constantly changing\, however it is amazing to see the progress from microfiches in the past to online textbooks today\, students now have research tools in hand for whatever they want at their fingertips. \nPeaks and benefits of using technology:\nTechnology does not hinder\, but instead expands and enhances students’ learning experiences and that it is alright to fail. That is what makes students stronger. For example\, a shy student who may not take the risk to raise his hand in class to respond to a question can anonymously do so through an iPad. Technology engages students who may not otherwise choose to get involved creating more confident learners and responsible digital citizens. \n\nThe school feels it is good to be in 2nd place in the technology process. There is the chance to avoid all of the initial glitches and vet the process better. To make sure that the software programs are proven and reliable and continue to enhance learning for students.\nThis generation wants access to information immediately and needs to understand how to go about the process. How do we research? How do we find the answer?\nTechnology enhances ALL types of learners: auditory\, kinesthetic or visual.\nThere are many programs and apps available offering endless opportunities to help enhance student learning\, further developing student skills and addressing learning types. Woods Academy uses over 90 apps. JP mentioned Kurzweil as one program example. Kurzweil is an interactive based program that helps develop reading and writing. It can highlight words as students read or it can read words to the student.\nTechnology encourages collaboration among teachers\, students and parents. Another program called Drop Box is useful to share and edit work using tools and providing immediate feedback.\n\nImportant factors for technology in the classroom to work:\n\nFaculty buy-in is important to the success of the school’s technological programs.\nFaculty training is also key for teachers to expand their knowledge.\nSupport from administration and parents creates the ultimate team. Children know they can do it.\n\nPitfalls of using technology:\n\nThe expense. School must budget for iPads it purchases for the students. Currently\, Woods Academy 8th graders have access to iPads for the school year and return them at the end. The program will be expanding to 7th graders. Access to sites are limited and the school teaches the students how to understand the iPad and how to use it responsibly. The school maintains and updates the iPads and provides firewalls to prevent access to some sites.\nDistractions can be a problem. There are different technologies available to work with this issue. iPads are sometimes not properly taken care of. The school works with the students to develop responsibility. Administration needs to monitor\, manage and tweak to minimize pitfalls.\nBesides the iPad program\, Woods Academy also uses laptop carts and has a computer lab that is used by the Lower School. There are two computers within the classrooms and bright link projectors that incorporate the use of electronic interactive pens.\nTechnology and electronic devices enhance student learning differently than chalkboards\, marker boards and whiteboards. It is more exciting for the students to use.\n\nLOWER SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTATION Christine Lindsay – Director of Technology at The Langley School\nThe Langley School developed an iPad pilot program for all 8th graders last year. This year\, the program has been expanded to all middle schoolers 6th through 8th grade. iPads are purchased by the school and apps are managed by the school through a central management system. Students use the iPads for the school year and bring it home with them every day. The 3rd grade team employs project based learning with iPads within the classroom only. The 4th grade uses laptops and the 5th grade uses MacBook Airs. The different platforms allow the students to pick the tools they like to use. Both paper and electronic are chosen by the 8th graders. \nThe school uses Google Apps for Education. Everything is saved in Google drive for access from anywhere. \nGoals were established for the school’s technology vision:\n\nOffer instructional technology training for the teachers to change classroom teaching. This is accomplished through one-on-one instruction with a large tech staff\, faculty meetings and teachers showing/sharing ideas with each other.\nCreate responsible use of technology through speaker presentations to students\, faculty and parents to broadcast the same message and address the implications of what students do online. Common Sense Media curriculum units used in grade levels.\nDevelop a blended learning program. Moodle\, Educate 2.0 provide outside discussions beyond the classroom. Student notes submitted on device result in better grades\, more organization-no more lost papers.\nEnsure a dependable hardware and infrastructure is in place to provide support. Network administrators are on board to help.\n\n3rd grade pilot program:\nEach student has the use of an iPad within the classroom. Apple TVs are interactive with the iPads on screen. Students can share with and walk peers through ideas. The goals include: \n\nallowing students to be more independent and self-directed. Students learn how to use apps/iPads on their own.\noffering students more flexibility and becoming more adept to working collaboratively. Students need to determine how to share iPads.\nproviding differentiated learning by figuring out what works for the students.\nallowing for more frequent assessments of students.\ndeveloping research skills.\n\n87% of the apps used by The Langley School are creative based apps. iMovie\, Garage Band\, iStop Motion\, Book Creator and Toontastic are among a few examples. Students can create self portraits for their wallpaper through the camera feature to personalize their iPad. \nStudents play with the different apps and decide which ones to use. Some apps develop reading fluency allowing students to record voice memos as they practice reading. They can listen and redo\, keep the best one and email to the teacher. The teacher can then assess the students and pull the ones who need the most help. Other apps provide math and technology assistance. Kahn Academy videos can be accessed. One class made their own mini Kahn Academy videos. Explain Everything app is also popular for students to show others and allow their personalities to shine. Daily reflection at the end of the day is included. Students can take pictures with their iPads throughout the day to use as launch for journal writing. Spell City is an example of one of the skill building apps. \nChris sought feedback directly from the faculty about the benefits of using technology within the classroom and some of the thoughts were that it instills cooperation and learning from peers\, expands opportunities for choice and can be an important tool to more deeply assess students. \nAll three panelists agreed that Steve Jobs never realized the impact Apple products would make in schools and education. Schools are ordering iPads and incorporating them to change the way teachers are teaching. Apple still does not fully understand how much usage is going on with the schools today. \n> View Langley School slides presentation. \nQuestions and Answers:\n\nHow do you handle students who may not be able to afford iPads/laptops?\nHolton-Arms: Families contribute a portion of the expense. Tuition covers the rest.\nHow can iPads be used for math and spelling?\nSpell City website and app are useful. Math Bingo is also an app available.\nDo students take notes on iPads?\nHolton-Arms: Notes are taken on iPads or laptops either typing or tablet mode. It depends on subject. Some students use Notability app or select another app that works for them.\nLangley: Middle School uses apps-paper and pencil ok too.\nHow do you integrate technology at a young age?\nLangley: Kindergartners use iPads 30 minutes a day in the classroom when they need it. Talk to your school’s Director of Technology for advice on how to introduce slowly at home.\nWhere do students go wrong when using One to One computing?\nHolton-Arms: Biggest challenge is Tumblr\, Facebook and Instagram. These are the new venues for teens to make harmful mistakes. Social media networking has replaced passing notes in class or saying something damaging.\nHow do you work with a student who may have difficulty taking notes by typing?\nLangley: Some students take pictures of teacher’s notes on the board with their iPads.\nWoods Academy: Multiple methods… Teachers email to students or students can use voice memos.\nWith a wide range of media literacy in parent community\, how can schools keep parents updated?\nWoods Academy: Parent training available through summer institute. Parents of students with iPads are invited to talk about computer apps\, technology\, permissions\, content etc… Expert is also invited outside of school. Blogs are used to keep in touch/update parents.\nHow do schools approach online reading/textbooks vs. traditional book reading since the brain processes differently?\nHolton-Arms: Approaches online textbooks cautiously. There are not any good standards in place right now. It is difficult to find a single platform. Publishers are not set-up yet and need more time to work out strategy.\nLangley: Middle School using online math textbooks only for problems. Videos are included to understand concepts\, can be downloaded anywhere. Books are available for students who prefer that.\nWoods Academy: With any technology\, a mix of traditional style of learning is also used.\nFor notetaking styles and purposes\, are schools providing keyboards or teaching typing skills?\nA stylus can be used for students who prefer writing.\nLangley: 3rd grade students have access to an online tutorial website for introduction to typing. 4th grade may not be typing traditional way\, but can type fast (30-45 words/min).\nHolton-Arms: Physical keyboards are not as common. Glass keyboard on touch screen more common. Students learning how to type on different devices. Parents can purchase keyboards. There are many types to choose from to fit student. However\, most students who thought they needed one\, do not use it.\nWoods Academy: Students need to learn to double check spelling. School purchases keyboards for students who prefer working with them.\nIs there anywhere parents can go to learn more about technology?\nYoutube is a good source. Ask children to teach you what they know. Also opens discussion of what they have on their devices. Apple Genius Bar.\nHolton-Arms: School gives students detailed instructions on how to operate device. Parent seminars were organized in the past\, but cancelled due to lack of participation. Parents can meet with Technology Directors to partner together.\n\n  \nPROGRAM AGENDA\n8:30 – 9:15 Registration\, Coffee and Networking \n9:15 – 9:30 Opening Remarks \n9:30 – 10:30 School Presentations:\nLower School – The Langley School\, Chris Lindsay\, Director of Technology\nMiddle School- The Woods Academy\, Joseph Powers Head of School\nUpper School- Holton-Arms School\, David Rossell Director of Technology \n10:30- 11:45 Questions and Answers
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2013-pcw-best-practices-the-use-of-21st-century-technology-in-our-schools-peaks-and-pitfalls/
LOCATION:Holton-Arms School\,  7303 River Road\, Bethesda \, MD\, 20817\, United States
CATEGORIES:Best Practices Forum,Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20121101T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20121101T210000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T140146Z
UID:1867-1351794600-1351803600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2012 Fall Speaker: Annie Fox
DESCRIPTION:“Why 21st Century Kids Need 21st Century Parenting” — Addressing Social Media\, Peer Approval Addiction and the Culture of Cruelty.\n\nAnnie Fox\, M.Ed.\, is an educator with 30+ years experience\, an award-winning author\, and a popular online advisor for teens and parents. View event flyer.\n\n  \n\nEvent Summary\n\n\n\n\nComments from Attendees\n“I thought Annie Fox was terrific and provided very insightful recommendations as to how to manage all sorts of issues not just with children. Thanks for bringing her to DC.” \n“It was a great talk\, great food\, and a generous contribution from the Parents’ Council.”\n\n\n\nAnnie Fox presented “Why 21st Century Kids Need 21st Century Parenting” — Addressing Social Media\, Peer Approval Addiction and the Culture of Cruelty. \nAnnie offers online advice through her website in response to questions received from teens to parents seeking guidance within an increasing complex world. She has written books on dating and stress for teens\, is the author of the Middle School ConfidentialTM series on confidence\, family and friends and speaks to students\, parents and teachers at a variety of events. \nAnnie began by thanking everyone for attending the evening presentation. She explained that she has been answering email and offering advice to teens\, teens and parents from around the world since June 1997 and that it has been fifteen years of interesting email and questions. She personally replies to each email within 24 hours and since she does not advertise\, she thinks that most children hear about her through word of mouth and reach out to her out of motivation to talk to an adult who will listen and guide them through difficult waters. In 1997\, children were faced with many of the same problems today’s parents faced when they were young such as crushes\, friendship issues or having parents that do not understand them. Within the last five years however\, social media has played a more important role. Children are now with peers 24/ 7 and this changes the way they think and behave when adults are not around. Annie mentions that with social media acting against our efforts\, it is more difficult today to be the person who influences children to be better people and although we cannot change the bigger world\, we can change the children that we launch into the 21st century. \nAnnie shared a few email examples she has received from parents. One concerned mother wrote about how disappointed she was in the way that her younger daughter treated her older daughter who struggled with an intellectual disability. She asked how she could get her younger daughter to be nicer to her sister. Annie responded that this is an example of how there exists a disconnect between the hearts and minds of children. Because of social media and the speed that messages are delivered\, children do not realize how their decisions affect others. Children today lack empathy-they tend to not think about who is on the receiving end of their comments. Annie added that empathy is a teachable skill\, that we should not assume our children are empathetic. Children do things they are not proud of-rumors are spread or comments are posted. We need to be having conversations with them to guide them\, to make sure that their secret world is less secret. This will not guarantee that they will always do what we want them to do\, but they need to have our voice inside their head. For example\, parents cannot hand over any technology without providing clear\, solid guidelines as to how that technology should be used. \nAnnie shared another parent email from a father who wrote about his 14 year old son getting into trouble at school\, being rude at home and arguing about everything. He asked if his son’s behavior could be a combination of school\, a phase or being a teenager. Annie responded that it could possibly be all of the above issues. She mentioned that the age of 14 and 15 may be the ugliest time for children. They are often mortified of themselves and morph into something despicable. It can be hard to feel compassion for them. \nAnnie described that 85% of the emails she receives from teens are signed “Confused.” She defined confused as a word meaning the inability to think clearly. These “Help-what should I do” emails are sent to her because the path is not clear to the person writing. Annie sometimes asks the children to give advice to peer conflict and has found that children are generally capable of providing great feedback. Some suggestions included “talk calmly to your parents” or “parents like to be reassured.” So she asked herself why don’t children know the answer to their own conflict? The answer is because they are caught in the middle of it. When parents or children are caught in the middle of a conflict or in stressful situations\, it is very difficult. Nobody\, neither parents nor teens\, can be in emergency mode and in critical thinking mode at the same time. Parents need to calm down and understand that there is not any urgency. They may not like the situation created\, but they need to lead to be more effective in solving the problem and role model at the same time. If parents do not calm down\, the message to children is “this is how adults act when stressed.” We simply cannot parent effectively when we are under stress. Guiding children toward independence means that the choices they make should be choices they are proud of. \nParent objectives: achieving them and asserting them\nAnnie showed a picture of her daughter with the caption “When she grows up\, I want her to be…” She explained that parents have ideas of what they want their children to be. She asked the audience what their thoughts/wishes were for their children and some mentioned they would like their children to be happy\, resilient\, a good person/someone involved in the community\, comfortable in their own skin\, self aware\, accepting\, confident\, a good citizen\, a good friend\, balanced\, self-sufficient\, grounded and independent. \nAnnie observed that we can come up with a long list of wants for our children. Her list included emotionally mature\, honest\, empathetic\, healthy\, responsible\, money savvy\, resourceful\, fulfilled in his/her work\, resilient\, lifelong learner\, good parent/partner and person of character. She then asked whether all of these were teachable skills. She explained parents should be thinking about long term parenting objectives. The main goal for parents is to raise an independent\, fully functioning adult who can be launched into his/her next chapter with skills. Parents should be thinking about these objectives every day and have a plan to work on each day. It’s not enough to state objectives and not do anything about them. Objectives challenge us to think. We need to take the time to teach\, walk the walk and share the knowledge with our children. They need to have our voice in their head guiding them when we are not there with them. \nAnnie then asked the audience to think about the top 3-5 objectives or teachable skills they would like their child to have by the time they reach 18 and are launched into the world. Next\, she asked the audience to think about what they do on a daily basis to reinforce those objectives or teachable skills. \nAnnie followed by telling the story about a mother who had trouble getting her 15 year old son up in the morning. Because he would not get up on time for school by himself\, they were always running late. Annie asked her what her goal was with her son and she mentioned that it was for her son to be self-efficient. Annie then asked her how she has tried to solve the problem and reach her goal. The mother explained that she laundered his clothes\, set up three alarms\, woke him up\, laid his clothes out for the next day\, made breakfast\, made his lunch and checked that he had his homework in his binder and backpack. Her actions were obviously not working. Children cannot be self-efficient if parents are doing everything for them. Annie suggested a few solutions: \n\nThe mother should apologize to her son and explain that she dropped the ball; that her job is to teach him self-efficiency. That should grab his attention.\nShe should then state the morning agenda. For example\, let him know that from now on she will be pulling out of the driveway by 7:20 a.m.\, that she would love his company and hopes that he will join her.\n\nAnnie went on to say that with this solution\, the son will test his mother on the first try. He will be mad with her and blame her when she leaves him behind because he was not ready\, but that he will be there on time on the second try. Problem solved. However\, the mother will probably not be able to or be willing to try this solution because it’s hard to not feel needed as a parent. She will feel like a failure or bad parent if her son misses school and will not trust that he can do make the better change. Annie reinforced that as children become self-sufficient\, it’s true that they need parents less\, but that it has nothing to do with love. By our continuing to overdo\, our children look good on paper\, but do not have basic life skills. She explained that over-functioning parents raise under-functioning children. This is why it is important to reinforce objectives and encourage our children to meet the objectives. As an example of that\, Annie showed a picture of her son sewing his ripped jeans. She had realized before he went to college that she had never taught him how to sew so taught him really fast. Parents must walk the walk and look for opportunities to reinforce the objectives. \nThe next question Annie asked the audience to think about was what they might be doing to undermine their goals/objectives. She reminded everyone that the goal is to raise fully functioning\, independent children. She explained that parents need to avoid “Velcro parenting.” They could be undermining their goals when they are stressed with their children usually because they do not agree\, like\, trust or understand what their children are doing\, feeling\, saying or thinking. She stressed that there are things we cannot control or fix and that we cannot rush in\, take over and do for our children when we do not like a situation. When we take over something that is our child’s responsibility\, we tend to justify it by thinking “if I don’t do it\, it won’t get done\,” “it’s easier and faster this way\,” “she needs me to help her\,” “he never does it right” or “they are just kids\, they will learn another time.” But we are not fooling anyone. It’s important to see parenting in terms of mentoring. Parents need to ask themselves how their children are supposed to learn otherwise. From clueless peers? That could be in direct conflict with what parents are trying to accomplish with and teach their children about. \nOne area parents can control is reinforcing children to disconnect and turn off from technology at times to avoid connectivity addiction. Scientists are finding that the brain changes quickly when exposed to the internet and creates a different way of thinking. The article “iCrazy” in Newsweek mentioned that differences exist in the brains of those who use the internet and those who don’t. Brains were scanned in a study that showed the decision-making section of the brain with a heightened impulsive in those who used the internet. With just five hours of exposure\, one hour a day\, the brain showed changes where we respond emphatically to people. This discovery may explain a lot about cyber-bullying. Try to offer more family connection\, unplug for a while and make children understand that it is not a punishment to unplug. Scheduling a family dinner without any technology three times a week is proven to reduce high risk behavior and improve grades. \nStress in children\nAnnie discussed the affect stress has on children and how their brains work against them when they are under stress. Even if children do not get into trouble\, they feel guilty and have regrets that surface later. They tend to be sorry about dropping a real friend in favor of a “fake” one\, telling a secret they swore to keep\, lying to parents\, always messing up\, quitting a sport because friends told them to\, starting a fight and seriously injuring someone\, punching a wall and breaking two knuckles or bullying another child for no reason. These regrets come from social pressure and children need a quick relaxation technique to de-stress and be able to think. Parents think that high achieving children feel pressure to get into good colleges\, but social stress is what is the most pressure for children. Children are not writing to her about academic stress\, but rather social stress. They ask how they can even study with so much going on. When reading some of the emails she receives\, Annie questioned where the parents are. But parents may not know what their children are feeling since their sons or daughters are not opening up about their problems. In one particular email\, Annie shared that a teen felt that her parents needed her life to be perfect and she was afraid of disappointing them. Most children do not want Annie to tell them they need to talk to their parents. They are unable to talk to the people they need help from the most. Annie does suggest they try to talk to people who love them. Children tend to begin thinking they can never get it right if they always hear about what they should have done or what they fail to do. They feel as if their parents are always on them which is why it is important for parents to catch their children in the act of doing something right and tell them that they are doing something right especially if it was not something they were asked to do. Children need to hear that parents love them and that they are doing things right. It can be as simple as thanking them for cleaning up the kitchen after themselves. Everything we do as parents should be a vote of confidence\, giving our children a chance. They should be mastering age appropriate life skills and are more capable than we think they are. We should be taking a look at what we think they should be doing on their own\, asking ourselves if we can step back and provide an opportunity for them to do on their own and give them plenty of moments to do on their own. Children enjoy that. \nMastering boomerang issues Annie described boomerang issues as issues that keep coming back. For example\, she hears from parents complaining about wet towels left on the floor and from teens complaining that their parents are yelling at them for leaving wet towels on the floor. Everyone is tired of boomerang issues. Parents should stop yelling and it will stop. \nAnnie encouraged the audience to think of a boomerang issue they do not want coming back. She asked several questions for thought: \n\nWhat emotion is typically triggered? Anger and frustration were felt by most audience members.\nWhat do you do next? Most expressed that they yell or lecture.\nDoes that create more or less stress in you? More in your child? Everyone felt it was more stress for both. Interpersonal stress means things are not working.\n\nAnnie offered that when we are stressed\, we “act out” and are unable to ask for what we need. At these times\, we need to ask ourselves what our children might actually need. The behavior is not what we should be reacting to\, but rather the emotional need. Acting out is a veneer\, a decoy. We respond to the acting out. We need to be astute enough to be patient as parents\, to peel it back and not react to it. While the behavior is not acceptable\, we need to calm down in response to it and everyone will calm down in return. Only then can we find out what is going on for real and fix it. We should be calmly asking “how can I help you?” For example\, a child may have a conversation with you where you discover that the bad behavior has an underlying cause. A child may fight with a sibling\, but the underlying cause may be because they actually want more attention from a parent. Annie reminded everyone that when children are stressed\, they are unable to ask for what they need. That is an invitation for parents to dig deeper. How might we help our children improve or identify what is going on and provide them with what they need? It may take some coaxing\, but we need to find the source of the frustration\, fear or sadness underneath. The anger expressed is the veneer. In our culture\, it’s easier to show anger\, but that is a mask. \nWe need to invite our children to talk about what is underneath. This will help us come closer to managing their emotional intelligence and creating effective relationships. This is all in our thoughtful response… \n\nFigure out what someone really wants\, provide some or all of it and maybe…\n\ntheir irritating “childish” behavior becomes less frequent leading to maturity and independence\nyou experience more compassion and love leading to a stronger parent/child bond\nyou respond more effectively to an old problem resulting in the disappearance of boomerang issue and a happier family\n\n\nAcknowledge\, be understanding\, listen sympathetically\, encourage and our children will feel heard.\n\nAssumption or Fact?\n\nOur children will always need our help.\nWe always know what is best for our children. This comes from “if we do it for them\, they will learn to do it for themselves\,” “our way of doing things is better\,” “if they don’t need us as much\, they won’t love us as much.”\nA good parent does as much as possible for a child. “If I’m too strict\, they will hate me\,” “children of stay-at-home parents are less independent than those of working parents\,” “the way my parents raised me will work just fine for me\,” “parents who push their children toward independence do not really love their parents.”\n\nAssumptions Tool Kit\nUnreasonable assumptions can keep you from understanding the truth about situations\, other people and yourself. Annie asked the audience to name one of their parenting assumptions and then ask themselves: \n\nWhere did that assumption come from?\nHow does that assumption help me?\nWhat problems has that assumption caused?\nHow might things be different if that assumption was wrong?\n\nParents must decide whether they still want to parent with that assumption. \nIt’s all about…\n\nmaking our expectations of children’s behavior online and offline crystal clear\nteaching them to take care of themselves and be mindful of the feeling of others\ngiving them age appropriate opportunities to use their judgment and help them de-brief after mistakes\n\nIf we parent well\, children will eventually not need us\, but they will always need and use what we have taught them. Children will go to their peer group. Make sure they use their judgment and are good judges of character when they are with their peers. \nQuestions\nThe following questions were addressed at the end of Annie’s presentation. \nQuestion 1. When is it age appropriate to give a child a cell phone?\nAnnie suggested to not give a child a cell phone before 6th grade and when given there should be appropriate guidelines. Children should know that cell phones can be weapons\, they need to know about text messages. With more maturity\, the less likely children will do something silly. \nQuestion 2. How to come up with consequences that are not punishment\, but teach a child the lessons needed in terms of turning school assignments in on time? Parent allowed long break after school with homework starting after dinner.\nAnnie felt that the 1 hour ½ break given the child after school was too long. Parents should renegotiate and ease homework in earlier. She suggested following a schedule: snack\, 30 minute screen time\, homework started before dinner. Students have a “contract” with their teachers and if the child does not deliver\, the teachers will offer the consequence. Once child has fulfilled the expectations\, it could be a good time for parents to offer more screen time in return. \nQuestion 3. How to teach children the difference between real and fake friends?\nAnnie mentioned that children already know the difference. She suggested to acknowledge the goodness in the child\, to talk about the definition of a good friend vs. another kind of friend. Ask child to evaluate his/her friends and determine which category each one falls in. It is important that children not turn off their empathy and that they not feel used\, taken advantage of or no longer trusted. Children deserve good friends and should create space from those who are not. \nQuestion 4. Should a child have a computer in the bedroom?\nAnnie asked the parent what her instinct was. The parent said that it was to not have one. Annie then asked if her child was honest and of good judgment. Annie mentioned that the child could give the parent her best case of why she wants a computer in her room\, for the parent to let the child know that the parent has the power to grant the request and ask the child to anticipate what the parent feels. \nQuestion 5. How far do we let a middle school aged child fall?\nAnnie asked the parent if the teachers were aware and whether they were working with the child. Parent was concerned that teachers are not responding right away. Annie suggested that parents step in as part of the team. \nHow to reach Annie:\nAnnie’s books are available on her website: anniefox.com. Her latest book for adults is now available: Teaching Kids to Be Good People. She can also be reached by email at annie@anniefox.com\, by facebook on facebook.com/cruelsnotcool and via twitter at twitter@annie_fox. \nHandouts from Annie Fox: \n\nA Parent’s Pledge\nBroken Kids\nDoing the Right Thing
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2012-pcw-fall-speaker-annie-fox/
LOCATION:National Presbyterian School\, 4121 Nebraska Avenue Northwest\, Washington\, DC \, 20016\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.parentscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/annie_fox.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20120920T084500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20120920T113000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T175347Z
UID:1866-1348130700-1348140600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2012 Fall Orientation: featuring Michelle Kriebel on Top Ten Parenting Tips
DESCRIPTION:Michelle Kriebel\, a parenting expert\, presenting the “Top Ten Parenting Do’s and Don’ts”.\n\nEvent Summary\nMichelle’s presentation highlighted ten top parenting tips geared for parents of children ages K-12. She stressed that the list is not absolute\, but merely a suggestion of helpful ideas\, opinions and thoughts for families to start a conversation. \nShe first asked everyone to take a deep breath\, relax and think about how or where they would like this year to go for a few minutes. Members of the audience then shared some of their thoughts before Michelle launched her top ten tips. \nTip #1: Own your imperfections\nOur children are both impressed and sometimes intimidated by us. Parents can seem as solid as a brick\, so perfectly together. However\, she noted that when you look closely\, bricks are not actually perfect. There are visible imperfections and cracks. It’s healthy for parents to be aware of their imperfections and for families to laugh and talk about them collectively. Being perfect (or trying to be) sends a potentially negative message that children need to do everything and do it well. It’s important to show our vulnerable side in an age appropriate way\, to let our families know that we do not always have it all together. Michelle then asked the group to share their imperfections or mistakes with each other and an energetic conversation ensued. \nTip #2: Create a family bucket list\nMichelle mentioned that we all get caught up with everyday life and suggested sitting down as a family at the beginning of the year to create a bucket list framework: what would each member like to do in this lifetime? The list should not include chores or goals\, but rather fun or creative desires related to travel\, hobbies and interests. Such lists are necessary to give families something to celebrate together and to force parents to really listen to what their children want to do. It is a great opportunity to get to know them better. Michelle again asked the group to write down three things on their list that they want to experience in life. A few members shared their thoughts with enthusiasm. \nTip #3: Balance/scale your family’s media diet\nMichelle pointed out that the world is different today. With technology always evolving\, changing and available 24/7\, it’s important to ask the right questions about technology use in the family household and make sure to have appropriate conversations. “Is technology use fixing boredom or being used with intention?” Children who are using technology out of boredom can be in a very dangerous place. The intentional use of media such as researching a topic or sitting down to watch a TV program as a family is ok and can actually be a great educational source. She also mentioned that using technology on the bus ride home is ok for children to decompress. Technology overuse is a problem because it detracts from real creativity\, learning and imagination. She urged families to have technology downtime\, to learn how to put technology and gadgets down or away. She cautioned parents that they really do not know the extent of what their children are seeing and hearing and that some of it can be scary and/or inappropriate. \nTip #4: Focus on your priorities\nUsing a glass jar full of large plastic balls representing priorities in one’s life\, Michelle stressed that it’s easy to get bogged down with the little\, insignificant things in everyday life represented by the small beads that settled in between the balls in the jar. Parents should work hard to stay focused on the big things and not worry about the small stuff. If the beads are placed first in the jar\, there is no longer any room for the balls to fit. We need to start with the big stuff that we care about and that is meaningful to us first instead and challenge ourselves to think of our key values. She then asked members to discuss the “beads” that fill up their “jars” and create a source of frustration. She then further challenged the group to find solutions to eliminate the small stuff and focus more on the important issues. \nTip #5: Establish a “family friendly” calendar\nHave your children engage in activities that they really like rather than activities that are a means to an end. This latter aspect of over-scheduling is what causes children stress. They need to look forward to fun\, not feel rushed. The calendar should not be just about the children\, but also include events for the whole family or just for parents. Weekends tend to revolve around the children’s schedules in the United States as parents feel pressure to cater to their children and have them do it all\, but it’s important not to plan every activity around the children and reassess priorities. Members shared activity ideas to do as a family and discussed solutions to lessen feeling overwhelmed. \nTip #6: Turn off\nChildren and families need down time to “do nothing.” Michelle referenced the book Don’t Just Do Something\, Sit There! by Silvia Boorstein that offers a three-day retreat plan on how to achieve calm\, clarity and joy through meditation practices. She urged that time outside of school hours should be used as true downtime. Waking up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday to meet with a tutor is not an example of good use of non-school time. \nTip #7: Don’t get caught up in the group!\nTaking volunteers from the audience\, Michelle asked six people to try and balance a stick resting on their fingers. The task was easy performed individually\, but when everyone was asked to work together\, it was almost impossible to meet the goal. The main point of the exercise was to show that it’s hard to hold the line on particular issues that you as a parent may care about when other parents who are involved may have different priorities/values. \nTip #8: Minimize the distance between where you are and where you want to be\nMichelle quoted the phrase “pain is certain\, suffering is optional.” Parents need to do their best to accept what’s in front of them and live in the moment. \nTip #9: Recharge\nBe aware that it’s important to do things for yourself that will give you renewed energy. You are letting your children down if you are not whole. \nTip #10: Set boundaries\nParenting is not a popularity contest. Children benefit when parents say no to things in their lives. We must set boundaries not only for our children\, but for ourselves and we should never try to be our children’s best friend. \nIn conclusion\, all of the props that Michelle had used for each “tip” formed a happy face. She explained that we are not robots; we are not the same as others and parenting needs to be approached differently. There is no straight way to parenting\, but rather it is a culmination or combination of all of the tips together. \nEvent Agenda\n8:45-9:15 Light Breakfast/Meet and Greet \n9:15-9:45 Orientation \n\nWelcome from National Cathedral School\nWelcome from PCW President and Introduction of Board members\nOverview about Parents Council\n\n9:45 – 10:15 Break out session with board liaisons \n\nDuties of PCW representatives\nAnswer questions\n\n10:15-10:30- Short Break \n10:30-11:40 Speaker\, Michele Kriebel\, Parenting Expert\, “The Top Ten Parenting Do’s and Don’ts!” \n11:40-11:45 Wrap Up
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2012-pcw-fall-kick-off-featuring-michelle-kriebel/
LOCATION:National Cathedral School\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.parentscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Michelle-Kriebel_0.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20120510T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20120510T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T142505Z
UID:1865-1336640400-1336651200@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2012 PA Presidents’ Forum
DESCRIPTION:The Parents Council of Washington hosted its annual Parents Association Presidents Forum on Thursday\, May 10\, 2012 at the Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda\, Maryland.  Current and incoming Parent Association Presidents from PCW member schools were invited to attend this networking event.  The program included a panel presentation featuring Erin Seale\, PA President of the Langley School\, and Mimi Youmans\, PA Head Clerk of the Sandy Spring Friends School\, who shared their valuable insights on the leadership role of the PA President in their school community. \nFollowing their remarks all of the PA Presidents attending the event engaged in an informative discussion on how to be successful in this important role. \nThe two Chairs of Parents Association Presidents Forum\, Elizabeth Glabus and Melanie Mason\, welcomed all of the PA Presidents to this PCW sponsored program.  They introduced Mrs. Susan Stern\, the Elementary Grades Director at the Washington Episcopal School\, who gave a warm welcome to all of the PA Presidents\, PCW Board members and guests and presented an overview on the many activities and school sponsored travels of the WES students this spring.  Melanie Mason\, a PCW Board member\, began the Forum by presenting the question\, “If I knew then what I know now…” and asked each of the two panelists to share their insights as they approach the end of their PA President tenure. \nErin Seale\, the current PA President at the Langley School\, began her remarks by suggesting that the role of PA President would be best served by a two year term.  Based on her experiences\, there is not enough time to look at the big picture and plan for the future when you are primarily dealing with upcoming current events at your school.  The calendar is set so early that it is difficult to plan strategically when you only serve for one school year.  She recommended to the incoming PA Presidents that they begin their strategic planning now and consider those events that you would like to change in order to better serve the parents and the school community.  In addition\, Ms. Seale emphasized the importance of the Chair Elect and stressed the need for that parent to be given a significant role in the Parents Association.  One of the main events on the Langley School calendar is the Fall Fair\, which requires over 100 parent volunteers.  Ms. Seale remarked that in past years the Parents Association found recruiting all of these volunteers to be a challenge and they often did not have all of the volunteers needed until the week before the event.  Now they manage a computerized listing of all parent volunteers for school events throughout the year\, which has been highly successful.  The audience discussed several options that schools use to recruit and manage their volunteer listings online\, such as Volunteerspot\, Survey Monkey\, Sign-Up Genius\, and PTO Manager.  Some Parents Council member schools noted that they have a Parents Liaison\, who is a paid staff member of their school\, assist them in working with all of the parent volunteers. \nMimi Youmans\, the present PA Head Clerk at the Sandy Spring Friends School\, spoke to the PA Presidents about her tenure in the Parents Association leadership role.  Although the title is Head Clerk\, the position is that of a PA President.  She also said how helpful it was to her to be the Assistant Head Clerk last year\, which gave her an opportunity to “get a great sense of the flow of events last year.”  When reviewing her role this year as PA Head Clerk\, Ms. Youmans stressed the importance of consolidating communications within your school.  Effective and timely communications with parents is an ongoing challenge at most schools\, and it is important to find the best way to reach out to parents with information about Parents Association news and events.  Some schools include Parents Association news about upcoming events as part of the school newsletter.  Others permit the PA to send out information directly to parents either via the Parents Association or through grade representatives.  It is important to be creative in your communications and also to effectively market your PA programs and events to your parent community.  Most of the PA Presidents in the audience agreed that the school administration reviews these communications before they are distributed electronically to school families.  One PA President remarked that it would be helpful if parents could self-select the information they want to receive electronically from the school and the Parents Association by email addresses.  There was consensus among the PA Presidents that we must consistently reach out to our parents and follow-up with R.S.V.P.’s and thank you acknowledgements.  The PA Presidents noted that virtually all correspondence with parents and families is now done electronically and there is very limited use of US Mail.  Lastly\, it is helpful for parents to be able to access previous PA announcements and newsletters in the online archives on the school’s website. \nFollowing the presentations by Erin Seale and Mimi Youmans\, the discussion on the role of the Parents Association President was opened to a Questions and Answers session for all of the participants.  The PCW Co-Chairs\, Elizabeth Glabus and Melanie Mason\, moderated the discussion and presented several subjects for the panel to consider.  The questions and responses included the following topics: \n\nHow does your school communicate with parents during an emergency?   The majority of the PA Presidents said that their schools use emails\, text messages and robo calls to notify parents during an emergency.\nWhat is the structure of your Parents Association Board?  The Langley School PA Board consists of ten members\, including the Chair\, Past Chair\, Secretary and at-large members.  The PA Board does not have a Treasurer\, as that role is managed by the school.  The Parents Association meets once each month and the Head of School and the Director of Parent Relations are invited to attend.  The Sandy Spring Friends School does have a Treasurer as part of the Parents Association Board and the Head of School does not attend PA Board meetings.  Holton-Arms has a Volunteer Coordinator position on the PA Board.  This Board member serves for a two-year term and uses online sign ups to help connect parent volunteers with various PA committees.  At the Washington Episcopal School\, the Director of Development serves on the Parents Association Board and the PA President is a member of the school’s Board of Trustees.\nAre Parents Association Meetings open to all parents?  One PCW member school has two open meetings each year and minutes of these all-school meetings are published for those who did not attend.  At the River School all parents are invited to attend Parents Association meetings.  The Langley School hosts a speakers series at their PA meetings to encourage more parents to attend the eight meetings held each school year.  At the Browne Academy they host evening speakers and serve food and provide child care to make it easier for parents to attend Parents Association programs.\nHow do you use social media to communicate with your parent community?  Several of the PA Presidents shared that they maintain a Facebook page to reach out to more parents and that this has been very successful.  The Head of School at the Browne Academy has a Twitter account.  The Langley School has found Facebook to be an effective way to communicate with alumni students.  The Communications Director at the Sandy Spring Friends School manages the Facebook page on behalf of the school community.  The Parents Association Presidents discussed that Facebook is more appropriate for “soft news” such as sporting events\, photos\, etc.  The McLean School features more “human interest” stories on their Facebook page.\nHow do you encourage more volunteers for your Parents Association?  The Heights School plans a Wine and Chocolate evening event in September at which parents are encouraged to sign-up for committees and activities throughout the school year.  It is important to remind parents that you will become more a part of the school community if you participate in the Parents Association.  Some of the Parents Association Presidents remarked that a personal request or phone call may encourage more parents to volunteer.  At the Washington Episcopal School they host a golf outing to invite fathers to participate.  Many of the PCW member schools have Fathers Committees and host events for these parents to share in the school experience.  At the Sandy Spring Friends School\, the fathers have a “Dads Diner” where they prepare and sell food as a fundraiser for the school.  Fathers are encouraged to volunteer as grade representatives and to serve on the Parents Association Boards at all PCW member schools.\nDo your schools sponsor auctions as fundraisers?  Some of the PA Presidents shared that they sponsor auctions as important fundraising events for their school community.  The proceeds from these types of events are directed towards areas such as technology\, scholarships and financial aid\, after school programs and enrichment programs for teachers.\nHow do you welcome new families into your school community?  At the Sheridan School the Parents Association works with the Admissions Office to create a Buddy program for new students and their families.  In addition\, they reach out to the new families throughout the school year.  At the Washington International School the PA President meets all of the incoming families and they are welcomed to the school community at a picnic in early September.  The Commonwealth Academy prepares a booklet of “Frequently Asked Questions” that is given to all new families as a helpful reference guide and includes a wide range of topics such as PE clothing\, auctions\, lunch programs\, etc.  Other schools host ice cream socials and cocktail parties to welcome new students and their parents to the school community.\nHow does your nominations and elections process work to build your PA Board?  Some of the PA Presidents stated that the nominations are requested on the Parents Association website.  Others are selected by a Nominations Committee or the Executive Committee and then often vetted by the school administration.  At most schools\, the President and President Elect leadership model is helpful in planning for leadership transitions for the Parents Association.\n\nElizabeth Glabus and Melanie Mason\, the PCW Co-Chairs of the Parents Association President Forum\, thanked each of the PA Presidents for attending this important event and for their thoughtful and insightful comments.  They hoped that the discussions were helpful and wished all of the participants the best of luck in the coming school year.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2012-pcw-papto-presidents-networking-transition-coffee/
LOCATION:Washington Episcopal School\,  5600 Little Falls  Dr.\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20854\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Parent Association President and PCW School Representative Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20120425T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20120425T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160818T162543Z
UID:1824-1335344400-1335355200@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2012 Middle School Student Leader Breakfast
DESCRIPTION:The Parents Council of Washington hosted the Middle School Student Leader Breakfast on Wednesday\, April 25\, 2012 at the Potomac School.  Fifty-four seventh grade students representing Parents Council member schools were invited to attend this event.   Each student was accompanied by an administrator\, teacher or counselor from his or her school. \nThe students participated in a moderated large group discussion on important topics and then continued sharing their insights in smaller group settings.  The administrators and faculty members participated in an informative session on facilitating meetings and open dialogues which was led by Jerry Kountz\, the Intermediate School Head at Potomac. \nBetsy Mandel\, Parents Council Board member and Past President\, welcomed all of the students and administrators to the Middle School Student Leader Breakfast.  She thanked the Potomac School for hosting this unique program for the third year and introduced Jerry Kountz\, the Intermediate School Head.  Mr. Kountz welcomed all of the attendees and congratulated the students on their selection to represent their school at this important Middle School program.  He noted that this forum is a great opportunity for all of the participants to have meaningful conversations about what is happening in our schools and how we can work together to improve our school communities.  Following an overview of the two simultaneous sessions that were planned for the students and the administrators\, he introduced Michael Fishback\, a Humanities teacher in the Intermediate School\, who served as the Moderator for the student session. \nMr. Fishback gave a warm welcome to all of the students and encouraged them to actively engage in the discussions during both the large and small group sessions.   As rising eighth grade students in schools throughout the Washington\, D.C. area\, the students are in a position to affect change and positively influence the students and adults at their schools.  It is important for the students to share the common concerns of their peers and also to collaborate on ideas and suggestions that they can then bring back to their school communities. \nTo begin the large group discussion\, Mr. Fishback asked a series of questions and asked the students to “Get Up and Move” to another chair in the circle and then speak to the new students seated next to you.  The questions included: \n\nYour family has a pet that is not a dog.\nYou traveled somewhere within the U.S. over spring break this year.\nYou have performed for an audience in the past year.\nYou have attended a school other than your current school.\nYou have at least one really good teacher this year.\nYou have a friend who felt stress in the past week.\nYou chat online on a regular basis.\nYou have a good system for your own time management.\nYou have ever witnessed someone being bullied or excluded.\nYour school has “cliques” of any kind.\nYou had a disagreement with a parent in the last week.\n\nFor some of these questions\, Mr. Fishback asked the students to share their Middle School experiences with the entire group.  The issues and challenges the students described were focused in five major areas.  These discussion topics were: \n\nGood time management both at school and at home\nMeeting their teachers’ expectations\nMaintaning the trust and respect of their parents\nManaging the expectations of their parents and coping with stress\nManaging their social life including issues such as cliques\, friendships and dating.\n\nStudents spoke of the challenges of organizing their daily schedules so that they are able to complete all of their assignments and prepare for upcoming tests.  Some students felt that the academic workload is becoming more difficult and teachers are not always realistic in the amount of homework each student can manage given their other extra-curricular activities.  Parents encourage their children to excel in all of their classes which can create stress both at school and at home.   The students want to meet their parents’ expectations\, but feel that their parents do not always understand the complexities of their daily lives.  In addition\, the students commented on the many distractions that they need to manage\, including television and the internet. \nAnother important aspect of their Middle School experience is the dynamics of their social lives and friendships.  Many of the students shared that their social life impacts their focus in school.  Their friendships are constantly changing and they are developing relationships with their peers that are not as directly influenced by their parents as when the students were younger.  Some students expressed their desire to become more independent and take more responsibility for their own schedules and school work.  Several students indicated that they were aware of bullying in their grade at school\, and others commented that exclusion represents bullying as well.  Throughout the large group discussion it was evident that the friendships that the students share play a significant role in their Middle School lives. \nFollowing the large group discussion\, Mr. Fishback asked the students to form smaller groups and to then discuss these five important topics in two small group sessions.  The students shared their ideas and suggestions with one another without an adult moderator and then one student presented a brief summary of their small group discussion to the entire group of students. \nDuring the student session\, Mr. Kountz along with Barbara Pommer\, the Potomac Middle and Intermediate School Counselor\, conducted a workshop session with the administrators and faculty members who accompanied the student delegates.  The program was designed to offer guidance on facilitating effective meetings.  To illustrate the concept\, Mr. Kountz asked each administrator to consider “Six Thinking Hats.”  Each colored hat represents a way of thinking and “when we change our hats\, we change our thinking.”  He described the “Six Thinking Hats” as follows: \n\nWhite – data\, figures\, information\nRed – feelings\, emotions\, intuition\nYellow – values\, benefits\, positive usefulness\nBlack – cautions\, dangers\, problems\, weakness\nGreen – creativity\, novel ideas\nBlue – process thinking – leader of meeting\n\nBy considering each of these styles of thinking\, participants will be able to keep meetings focused and more efficient.   It also allows individuals to express their emotions at the appropriate times in a nonthreatening setting.  Meetings will become more productive and participants will be less likely to think negatively on a specific topic of discussion. \nTo conclude the Middle School Student Leader Breakfast\, all of the students and the administrators and staff members joined the Parents Council Board members to share closing remarks.  Lisa Jobe and Laurie Kirk\, the PCW Middle School Student Leader Breakfast Co-Chairs\, thanked everyone for their participation.  Each of the attendees was encouraged to take ideas and suggestions back to their schools to benefit their Middle School communities.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2012-pcw-middle-school-student-leader-breakfast/
LOCATION:Potomac School\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Student Leader Breakfasts
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20120418T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20120418T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160823T171626Z
UID:1823-1334739600-1334750400@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2012 Spring Speaker: Andrea McCarren
DESCRIPTION:WASTED: Young and Using – Underage Drinking\nProgram Summary \nThe Parents Council of Washington hosted the annual Spring Representatives Forum at the Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart on the morning of Wednesday\, April 18\, 2012.  The highlight of the Spring Forum was the guest speaker\, broadcast journalist Andrea McCarren\, who presented an overview of her series “WASTED:  Young & Using” on WUSA-TV which focuses on underage drinking by students in the Washington\, D.C. area. PCW Representatives\, PA Presidents and interested parents from member schools were invited to attend.  The event began with welcome remarks by Molly La Rochelle\, Parents Council President\, and Catherine Ronan Karrels\, the Stone Ridge Head of School.  Shelley Gunner\, Vice President of the PCW\, shared with the audience a summary of the recent Student Leader Breakfast. \nOn February 8\, 2012\, the Parents Council of Washington sponsored the tenth Student Leader Breakfast for 52 juniors and seniors representing 27 Parents Council member schools.  Shelley Gunner presented a summary of the topics that were discussed by the students in both large and small group settings.  Issues such as time management\, the college admissions process\, bullying\, academic integrity and life after high school were discussed.  In addition\, the high school students presented their viewpoints on important issues including alcohol and drug use in area high schools and the challenges they face as they navigate social media\, such as Facebook.  A more complete Summary of the Student Leader Breakfast is available on the PCW website. \nFollowing the Summary of the Student Leader Breakfast\, Kristen Waksberg\, PCW Board member and Spring Forum Chair\, introduced the guest speaker\, television journalist Andrea McCarren.  The recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award and eight Regional Emmy Awards\, Ms. McCarren began her career with WUSA-TV in 1991.  A graduate of Vassar and the London School of Economics\, Andrea McCarren taught the first broadcast journalism course at Harvard.  In addition\, she has covered the Clinton Administration for ABC News and traveled extensively around the world.  Recently\, Ms. McCarren’s series “WASTED: Yound & Using” has focused media attention on the prevalence of underage drinking in the Washington\, D.C. area. \nMs. McCarren began her remarks to the Parents Council audience by referencing research conducted by Penn State University which revealed that one out of every five teenagers binge drinks\, while only one out of 100 parents believes that their teenage child binge drinks.  This gap is significant and is cause for concern among parents.  In some cases\, underage drinking can have tragic consequences as shown in Ms. McCarren’s video entitled Desaleen’s Story which can be viewed at:http://wusa9.com/news/article/197734/435/Teen-Records-Fatal-Drunk-Driving-Crash-As-It-Happens.  This heartbreaking documentary tells the story of young students who were involved in a fatal car accident because they were driving at 94 m.p.h. while under the influence of alcohol.  Desaleen hopes that other teenagers will learn from her mistakes and listen to her compelling message. \nAs part of her investigation for her Channel 9 WUSA television series\, “WASTED: Young & Using\,” Ms. McCarren discovered that one Washington\, D.C. retailer was frequently selling alcohol to minors.  Through lengthy videotaped surveillance\, Ms. McCarren witnessed students entering the Town Square Market on MacArthur Boulevard and then leaving with purchases of beer and alcohol.  The license plates on the automobiles driven by the students were from D.C.\, Maryland and Virginia.  When interviewed in the parking area\, the teenagers acknowledged that they were able to purchase alcohol without providing identification proving that they were 21 years of age or older.  However\, when Ms. McCarren entered the store and spoke to the owner\, he denied selling alcohol to minors.  The owner was subsequently arrested and a trial in D.C. Superior Court is pending.  The full video was shown to the Parents Council and can be viewed at: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=188243. \nMs. McCarren stated that her research on this important issue indicates that 26% of high school students acquire alcohol through their parents or other family members.  During a ride-along with Montgomery County Police\, she was on the scene of a party in a private home where underage drinking occurred.  Most of the students were 16 years of age and 35 students received citations from the police.  The parents of each of the teenagers attending the party were asked to come to the location of the party to take their children home.  As a result of her coverage of this incident and her series “WASTED: Young & Using\,” Ms. McCarren received numerous threatening emails\, some of which were forwarded to law enforcement for the protection of Ms. McCarren and her family. \nThe question was asked\, “What can we do as parents?” to help protect our children and to encourage them to make good decisions when faced with difficult situations.  Ms. McCarren suggested that attending a court proceeding involving a drunk driver and listening to Victim Impact Statements can have a meaningful impact on many teenagers.  It is important for our students to fully understand the possible consequences of their actions.  To conclude her remarks and to highlight a positive story\, Ms. McCarren shared the video of Dillon Lewis\, who was intoxicated and seriously injured in a single car accident.  The video includes an interview with him at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center as he describes how grateful he is to have a second chance after his drunken driving accident.  The video can be found at:http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=189287. \nFollowing her presentation\, Andrea McCarren answered questions from the Parents Council audience regarding underage drinking by students.  Ms. McCarren offered suggestions for parents on how to communicate with their children as well as with other parents in their school communities.  In closing\, she thanked the parents for their support and for attending the Parents Council Spring Forum to discuss this important issue.
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2012-pcw-spring-rep-forum/
LOCATION:Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart\, 9101 Rockville Pike\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20814\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20120309T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20120309T140000
DTSTAMP:20260424T110733
CREATED:20160406T182421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160824T201005Z
UID:1822-1331294400-1331301600@www.parentscouncil.org
SUMMARY:2012 Deans' Luncheon
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.parentscouncil.org/event/2012-pcw-deans-lunch/
LOCATION:Landon School\, 6101 Wilson Lane\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20817\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Upper School Dean of Students Program
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR