Happening Tonight! A Big Topic for Modern Families: Social Media, Messaging & Youth

All DASD parents are invited to join in a conversation about living with technology and reconnecting with your kids. There will be a meeting tonight – Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm – at the Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center.

Michael Blanche, MSS, LCSW, a counselor specializing in adolescents and young adults will be the guest speaker. He is well known for his insightful presentations that address the real-world challenges facing adolescents and young adults. He will share his observations about how our kids are being impacted by social media, the “misinformation highway,” the availability of substances, and more.

He will be joined by Jonathan Blow, DASD Technology Integration Coordinator, and Kristie Burk, DASD’s Ivy Academy Director. (Kristie is also a Shamona Creek mom.)

The goal of the meeting is to help parents navigate the damaging messages children are receiving and the overexposure to media and technology. The conversation will also include ways to encourage a healthy balance with technology.

All are welcome to attend. No RSVP required.

Say ‘yes’ to NOPE…because navigating parenthood has its challenges

Here are some scary statistics provided by the school district that freak out parents:

• Average age of first use is 12 years old.
• Each day 2,000 teens try prescription drugs to get high for the first time.
• 1 in 5 teens has abused prescription drugs.
• In 2013, 24 citizens died from a heroin overdose in Chester County

Here’s one more eye-opening statistic … 100% of all teens are former elementary school-aged kids.

This Thursday, January 22, DASD will be hosting a Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education program called, “NOPE for Parents.” All parents are welcome. The program starts at 7 pm and will take place at 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown.

Learn about issues facing our youth  with drugs, alcohol and peer pressure. Experts and family members will explain the facts regarding the issues your children are facing each day, including prescription drug abuse, drug interaction, signs of substance use, addiction, parenting strategies and where to get help.

The evening NOPE program is for parents to understand the issues facing our youth. DASD high school students will attend NOPE presentations during the day on January 20 at DHS East, January 21 at DHS West and January 28 at STEM.

To RSVP, school officials ask that you email Ginny Warihay at gwarihay@dasd.org by Jan. 21.

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Save the Date: DASD Parent University – Math in Focus

Attention all Kindergarten through fifth-grade parents, the Downingtown Area School District (DASD) is welcoming all moms and dads back to the classroom with a elementary math refresher. Specifically, the district will be teaching Math in Focus on three occasions in September. 

During the Parent University, you will learn the Singaporean pedagogy in and out of the classroom; strategies to support your child at home; and hands-on problem solving. All three sessions will be the same; so feel free to choose the one that best fits your schedule. This is not a mandatory program.

DASD Math In Focus Parent University Flyer

Download: Math in Focus Parent University Invite

DETAILS
WHO: All Parents, Grades K-5
WHERE: DASD Administration Building, 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown
WHEN: Three sessions, all will be the same.

• Thursday, September 4 @ 1:30-3 pm
• Thursday, September 4 @ 6:30-8 pm
• Wednesday, September 24 @ 10-11:30 am

About Singamore Math: Math in Focus: Singapore Math by Marshall Cavendish, for Grades K-8, is the U.S. edition of Singapore’s most widely used curriculum, bringing Singapore’s effective approach to  mathematics to U.S. classrooms. Math in Focus is based on the curriculum and pedagogy in Singapore. Singapore Math emphasizes problem solving and positive attitudes toward mathematics, while focusing on student development of skills, concepts, process and metacognition.