SECOND ANNUAL PARENT CONFERENCE
“MAKING THE GRADE” WORKSHOP TOPICS
SESSION 1 (9:15 am – 10:15 am)
HOW MUCH DOES HIGHER EDUCATION REALLY COST YOU
It’s never too early to start saving for college, whether your child is in high school or just starting kindergarten. Learn the ins and outs of College Saving Programs.
Presenters: Scott Greenfield - Met Life Agency Sales Director
Jason Adkins – Financial Services Representative
Mario Govic – Met Life Chairman’s Council
NAVIGATING THE SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONSPROCESS
Take a tour through the college admissions process. Learn about the parental role in supporting your child – Myths of College Admissions: how special interest effect college admissions, how college view transcripts, the college essay and what to expect in a college interview.
Presenter: Scott White, Director of Guidance, MHS
TACKLING THE ATHLETIC CULTURE
Integrating academia and athletics; understanding the needs of athletic students and the pitfalls to avoid. Learn strategies that you can use to help them succeed.
Presenter: Dr. Ben Brennan, Student Assistance Counselor
ADD/ADHD ~ GET THE FACTS
What you can do to help your child have a successful school experience. Learn about diagnosis, what the school system can do for you, how to advocate for your child, strategies and techniques for home or school.
Presenter: James Wasserman, LCSW
IMPROVING YOU CHILDREN’S LITERACY SKILLS:
A Home Toolkit
As parents, how can you assist your children with reading and writing? You may not realize it, but you already have most of the tools you need. We’ll show you how to sharpen those tools and use them to help your children become better readers and more effective writers.
Presenter: Sheila Crowell, Writing Specialist and co-founder of “The Writers’ Room Program
PROMOTING DIALOGUE ABOUT GIFTED EDUCATION
Let’s examine the positive exchange of information, resources and problem solving that can take place between parents and teachers who work with gifted children. How to bridge effective communication between parents and teachers.
.
Presenter: Karen Rosnick, PACE District Coordinator, CommunityMiddle School, WestWindsor-PlainsboroSchool District
UNDERAGE DRINKING
Far too many parents turn a blind eye to underage drinking, filing it under “rites of passage.” Learn about the ramifications and what you can do to dissuade you children from using illegal substances. Empower yourself to keep the children you love safe, healthy and drug-free.
Presenter: Delma Downey-Miles, Executive Director, Essex Prevention Resources, Verona, NJ
SESSION 11 (10:30 am – 11:30 am)
ADOLESCENTS: NAVIGATING THIS COMPLICATED DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE
What are our children going through and how can we stay connected when they push us away? What are normal growing pains and when is it time to get help?
Presenter: Jamie Wasserman, LCSW
MATH AT HOME: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT MATHEMATICAL LITERACY
Do your children love math? What can you do to encourage such a love? This workshop offers some activities that you can do with your children, along with tips on making math part of your family perspective.
Presenter: Amy Rabb-Liu, Ph.D
HOW MUCH DOES HIGHER EDUCATION REALLY COST YOU
It’s never too early to start saving for college, whether your child is in high school or just starting kindergarten. Learn the ins and outs of College Savings Programs.
Presenters: Scott Greenfield – Met Life Agency Sales
Jason Adkins – Financial Services Representative
Mario Govic – Met Life Chairman’s Council
THE COMPETITIVE EDGE: HELP YOUR STUDENT MAKE THE GRADE
Come and learn from parents how you too can get your student into competitive colleges. Learn about successful supplemental educational services that can make a difference in your student’s high performance. We’ve got the recipe for success!
Presenter: JoAnn McCullough, Executive Director, IMANI, Inc.
HOW TO ACCESS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUR SPECIAL CHILD
Parents often are eager partners in their child’s educational growth. To become an advocate for your child requires knowledge of what to do and when to do it if your child needs support in school. This workshop will provide parents with insight as well as the necessary tools and terminology to access supportive services for students who may be struggling in the classroom.
Presenter: Thomasina McBride, Special Education Consultant and Parent Adovocate.
BULLYING: PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Help children resist becoming victims and/or bullies.
Presenter: Dr. Ben Brennan, Student Assistance Counselor
NAVIGATING THE MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM *For Parents of Pre-K -12th Grade Students
A panel focusing on student “Transitions and Social Expectations”
Moderator: Joseph Putrino, Jr., Asst. Principal, HillsideSchool
Panelist: Eve Robinson, Executive Director, Community Pre-K
Susan Bryant-Gaither, Family Coordinator, Community Pre-k
“Preparing Pre-KSchool Children for Kindergarten”
Grades K-5: Kathy Carter, Teacher, HillsideSchool, Wendy Sabin
Grades 5-6: Joseph Putrino, Asst. Principal, HillsideSchool,
Debbie Branker Harrod, Parent
Grades 6-8: Latifah Jannah, Student Asst. Counselor, Mt.Hebron
MontclairHigh School: Liz Voltman, Teacher, MHS