A goal of Clarkston Schools repeated on several occasions is to ‘keep kids younger for longer.?
But eventually kids have to grow up and learn about issues that will effect them as teenagers and adults.
District officials decided that the transition between middle school and junior high is an ideal time to begin discussing these issues and will launch a new ‘healthy transitions? program this year on May 10.
All seventh graders and their parents are encouraged to attend the event, which will take place at Clarkston Junior High School. There will be a morning and afternoon set of presentations. Students are required to be in school that day, are parents can attend as well ? simultaneously attending a different set of presentations.
The program is being coordinated by Carla Teare, the Safe and Drug Free Schools coordinator for Clarkston Schools.
Teare said the program will not focus just on negative things to avoid, but encourage students to seek out ways to improve their lives.
Teare said the programs for parents will help them understand the issues their children are likely to face in the near future and suggest ways to increase communication.
‘We really believe that we want our parents involved in the education process as well,? Teare said.
Coupled with the move from one building to another, Teare said the seventh to eighth grade jumped seemed like the ideal time to reach out to students. Key topics for students include sexuality and drug education.
‘They’re at the age where this is going to be the challenge. They’re going to be at crossroads where they’re going to say ‘Okay, I am going to try something or I’m not,?? Teare said.
The sessions also focus on the academic changes students will experience from the grade and building shift. Teare, however, stressed the academic program is much more than a building tour.
‘Some of these kids went to Clarkston Middle School last year, so the building is familiar to them and their parents. It’s not about that… it’s more about the presentation, the connecting with parents if they stay for lunch and that kind of thing.?
Even though presentations end before lunch, parents attending morning sessions are encouraged to stay, while parents attending afternoon sessions are encouraged to come early and have lunch with their children to discuss the content of their lessons.
Students are not the only ones who can benefit from these lessons though. According to Teare, parents might be surprised to see what their kids are facing compared to what they faced at the same age.
‘There’s so much out there in the media for these kids. They’re way older than (their parents?) generation was, growing up in terms of what they see and hear. Not in age, but definitely in exposure,? Teare said.
While students are learning what to expect over the next few years of their education and social lives, parents can learn about what to expect from presentations by Bob Philips and Barb Flis on ‘What Every Parent Needs to Know.? The presentations cover topics like drugs, sexuality, academic success, healthy relationships, health and communication.
There is no need to RSVP, interested parents or guardians can simply arrive at school on May 10 and attend presentations. Morning presentations being at 8 a.m. Lunch runs from 10:40?11:10 a.m. Afternoon presentations are preceded by lunch running from 11:25 ? 11:55 a.m. Presentations run from Noon ? 2:40 p.m.