South Franklin News

Westerville City School District’s “Parent Prep” returns to an in-person event this year after two years of a virtual format. The free workshop series provides parents and caregivers the opportunity to take sessions on various topics, including mindful parenting, healthy relationships, substance education, college and career planning and mental health and school resources.
This year’s event will be on March 4 at Westerville North High School. Sessions are for adults only due to topics addressed and content shared; no students or other children are permitted to attend. Registration opens Feb. 6. Additional sessions may be added in the coming weeks. Anyone interested in registering or viewing a current list of sessions is encouraged to visit www.wcsoh.org/ParentPrep.

The district’s Student Well Being and Mental Health team organizes the event, which is sponsored by Westerville Education Challenge with support from the Westerville Parent Council.

 

PARENT PREP SESSION DETAILS:

(Note: Additional sessions may be added in the coming weeks.)

 

•    Operation Street Smart (K-12, Double session)

Franklin County Sheriff's Office will provide a hands-on session about current and up-to-date narcotics information on trends, terminology, paraphernalia, and physiological effects to those individuals who deal with today's youth on a daily basis.

•    Everyone Grieves - Basic Information for Kids and Families (K-12)

This session shares basic information about what grief is, how it happens, how we learn to manage it (or not), and how it impacts many aspects of our lives — from childhood through adulthood. This presentation will provide suggestions for lightening that load so we can get unstuck and get our joy back.  

•    Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)  (K-12)

Session Description: QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.

•    Cultivating Resilience in Our Children (K-12)

This interactive session will provide participants with an overview of the hopeful concept of resilience and its importance in our children’s ability to face adversity and toxic stress. We will discuss strategies to uncover the resilience already there in our children and strategies to cultivate brand new characteristics of resilience that ultimately shape a child’s view of self, others and the world around them. Participants will leave with 3-5 strategies to foster resilience in their child.

•    Overview: WCSD Student Well Being Resources (K-12)

Learn about the various student well being resources available at each school/level to help your student be successful. Participants will leave with a better understanding of WCSD resources and how to access them. Time will also be left at the end of the session to talk through resources specific to your needs.

•    Stress and Regulation (Grades 6-12)

Interactive session discussing various levels of stress along with techniques and strategies aimed at gaining better control over stress levels. Participants will be able to recognize signs of stress along with 3-5 strategies to manage/decrease stress levels.

•    Social Media/ Digital World/Relationships (Grades 6-12)

Instagram. Snapchat. TikTok. This interactive session will explore teen relationships in today’s digital culture. Participants will get tips and resources about communicating and setting appropriate digital boundaries with teens, including a family media agreement.

•    Staying Safe in a Digital World (Grades K-5)

YouTube. Fortnite. Roblox. This interactive session will explore friendship and media for kids in today’s digital culture. Participants will get tips and resources about communicating and setting appropriate digital boundaries for kids, including a family media agreement.

•    Let’s Talk about Mental Health (K-12)

Session to discuss warning signs and stats surrounding anxiety, depression (suicide included)  and other common mental health diagnoses. Participants will be able to identify signs and symptoms along with strategies and resources if/when needed.

•    Support for Organization and Work Completion and More (Grades 6-12)

This session will provide participants with an understanding of executive functioning. We will discuss planning, initiation, organization, time management, and metacognition as it relates to adolescents. You will leave with a better foundation for supporting your child through daily homework and long term projects.

•    Support for Organization and Work Completion and More (Grades K-5)

This session will provide participants with an understanding of executive functioning. We will discuss planning, initiation, organization, time management, and metacognition as it relates to young children. You will leave with a better foundation for supporting your child through daily homework and long term projects.

•    Emotion Regulation (K-8)

Participants will learn why students need regulation to best perform at school and home. Additionally, techniques and strategies will be given to help students identify need for break/regulation and ways to adjust, manage and balance their emotions and energy.

•    College Scholarships (Grades 9-12)

Participants will learn about scholarship opportunities, deadlines and tips on completing local, state and national applications to be competitive.

•    BirdieLight (K-12)

Presenters from this organization will provide education and awareness about the dangers of Fentanyl and unintentional Fentanyl ingestion.

•    Earn While You Learn (Grades 9-12)

Come learn about the variety of work-based learning opportunities for students! Many of these opportunities allow students to earn money while also earning high school credits. Did we mention these also provide a pathway to graduation?

•    Vaping 101 (K-12)

Presenters from Franklin County Public Health department will offer vaping education and resources to help participants better understand its risks.

•    Pathways to High Demand Careers in Business Logistics, Healthcare, and Engineering (Grades 6-12)

Personalize your high school experience by enrolling in coursework that allows you to explore your career interests and may even lead to earning an industry credential!  This hands-on session will provide you an opportunity to experience each pathway and learn more about the options available to your student in high school.

•    SARNCO - Healthy Teen Relationships (K-12)

Presenters from SARNCO will offer education around healthy relationships. It will cover the dynamics of teen relationships, appropriate communication and ways to empower teens to make healthy choices and provide additional local and national resources.

•    Intense Children and Overexcitabilities (K- 12)

Ever wonder why some individuals struggle with life-changing events and others seem to be able to pick up the pieces? This session will focus on what overexcitabilities are and how they relate to an individual’s mental health and development, and will offer strategies for supporting our more intense children and teenagers as they develop their identities in today’s world.

•    Introduction to SchoolLinks (Grades 6-12)

Come learn about the powerful tool our district uses for career and college exploration! Parents will learn features of the platform, tips for monitoring student progress, and more!

•    Conflict Resolution (Grades 6-8)

Adolescent development, their brains and the challenges and opportunities in middle school.  Participants will discuss 10 strategies to utilize in their home to help their child(ren) and them navigate these years.

Original source can be found here.