EVENTS

PSB School Counseling Parent/Guardian Workshop Series

Events are open to all parents, guardians, and staff of the Public Schools of Brookline as well as neighboring community members.

SAVE THE DATE

6/7/23—ADHD & Executive Functioning: Symptoms and Strategies (virtual)

MAY

What are you Puffing?

Vaping and our Youth

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from

5:30—6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Vaping has recently become a troubling trend in our schools and communities. This workshop focuses on how to recognize vaping devices and products and the physical impact vaping has on the body.

This event will NOT be recorded.

JUNE

ADHD & Executive Functioning: Symptoms and Strategies (virtual)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Join us to learn about ADHD and simple strategies to help your child develop stronger executive function skills at home, including initiation, attention, time awareness, organization, and self-monitoring. There will be a focus on strategies beyond the checklist for household tasks, projects, and homework.

What will be covered:

Understanding ADHD and its symptoms
Strategies for helping your child develop stronger executive functioning skills at home
Q&A on ADHD challenges and concerns

Presenter: Kristen Jacobsen, MS CCC-SLP

Kristen Jacobsen is a speech-language pathologist and co-director of Cognitive Connections where she has 30 years of experience in working with educational professionals, parents, and students to improve executive functioning skills. Kristen is co-author of the award-winning and research-based 360 Thinking Program.

CONNECT Flier - Brookline - ADHD 6-7-23.pdf

PAST EVENTS

MAY

Substance Prevention and Early Awareness

Wednesday, May 3, 2023 from

6:00-8:00 p.m. In-person

Brookline High School

THEATRE at 22 Tappan Street

Join us for an educational parent/guardian talk about substance use prevention with an interactive experience.

Brought to us by Team Sharing Inc., HOPE’S ROOM is a mock child's bedroom designed to show POSSIBLE SIGNS of substance use in daily life. From indicators to clever hiding places, our goal is to give parents one more tool to keep their children safe from the epidemic of substance use. This event hopes to bring awareness and assist in early intervention for families to recognize early signs of substance use.

The educational talk will feature Brian O’Keefe from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Gary Carter from Team Sharing Inc., and members of the Brookline Police Department.

This multi-agency collaborative event is for an adult audience only. This event is open to all PreK-12 parents, guardians, and staff of the Public Schools of Brookline as well as neighboring community members.

MARCH

Healthy Balance: Screen Time

Monday, March 6, 2023 from

5:30—6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Increasingly, data suggests that exposing youth to large amounts of time in front of screens (TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone) can have negative effects on physical and mental development including issues with memory, attention, and language skills. This workshop is designed to provide the tools and vocabulary needed for children and adolescents to make wise choices about balancing daily screen use while focusing more attention on exercise and nutrition.

JANUARY

The New Norm: Privacy Concerns of Students

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from

5:30—6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Today’s youth post their whole lives on social media platforms that seem to be ever-changing. Cell phone cameras and other recording devices present privacy issues for students and educators alike. New platforms for speech bring new concerns as to what speech is protected and what is not. This in-service workshop addresses what types of speech issues might arise in the context of Tik-Tok and other platforms, and what can (and cannot) be done by the school district.

Presenter: Sean P. Kelly is an attorney licensed to practice in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He is a trial attorney at the Marcotte Law Firm in Lowell, MA. He has conducted numerous trials across MA and NH. He is a member of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, Greater Lowell Bar Association, Fellow at the MBA Leadership Academy, named to 2022 & 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Stars, and is a former Director of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Sean is currently a School Committee member in the Town of Westford, where he was recently re-elected for his second term. During his tenure there he served as liaison to multiple committees including contract negotiations with the town's largest bargaining entity (the teacher's union), Superintendent Search Committee, Community Access Television, Healthy Westford, and the Recreational Facility Feasibility committee.

DECEMBER

Underage Substance Abuse

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from

5:30—6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Underage substance use continues to be a major issue in our schools and communities. Substances are readily available in many communities. Teen drug users may easily obtain over the counter or prescription medications from a variety of sources, including their family's medicine cabinet. Information about the opioid epidemic is included in this virtually-presented workshop.

Presenter: Cory Mashburn, M.Ed. has over 20 years of experience working with youth and people with disabilities, as well as over 10 years expertise in the field of prevention services. As the father of two young children he understands the importance of equipping youth, their parents, and their communities with the knowledge and skills to enable young people to become the best version of themselves.

NOVEMBER

How Are Kids Doing Now?

A talk for parents/guardians of children in grades PreK-12

Monday, November 7, 2022 from 6:00—7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Before the pandemic, screen use, anxiety, and social problems (like bullying and fighting) were top concerns for parents. The last few years have made some of these issues even more challenging. This talk will examine how kids are doing emotionally and socially, in light of the pandemic and increased screen use. Research will be summarized, and practical approaches to family life that can help children develop emotional resilience, healthy social skills and friendships, and sensible screen and social media habits will be discussed during this presentation. We will discuss how to move forward to a healthier "new normal" and how to help parents be most productive in guiding their children towards a full social and emotional recovery. Question & Answer period following the talk.

Featuring Dr. Elizabeth Englander

Director of Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center and Professor of Psychology at Bridgewater State University

Dr. Englander is a nationally-recognized expert in the areas of bullying and cyberbullying, childhood causes of aggression and abuse, and children’s use of technology.

OCTOBER

Navigating the Cyber World

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 6:00—7:30 p.m. via Zoom

This workshop reviews the challenges and dangerous situations that may arise through use of the internet, social media, and smartphones. It is important for parents, guardians, and school staff to be aware of the popular apps, social media sites, and programs used by youth online. This workshop explains the issues and possible consequences of cyberbullying, sexting, and revealing identifying information to strangers.