Wakulla County Coalition for Youth and School Board will Host Family Night Out 

Attention parents and guardians of all new 6th graders:

You are invited to Family Night Out, Friday, August 10, 2007. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

{sidebar id=1}Sort of like a roller coaster ride, making the move from 5th to 6th grade can be exciting and scary for students and parents.  It can be an unpredictable time with the 6th grader feeling upbeat, inquisitive, and thoughtful one minute or sad and apathetic in the next.  Moving to middle school can cause many complex and sometimes conflicting concerns, emotions, and behaviors for young adolescents and their parents.  Not only do students experience stress during this time, but parents are often concerned about so big a change for their children. Students and parents may have many questions, fears, and even misconceptions.

To address this transition, address new feelings, and prepare for middle school, a special Family Night Out is planned for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday night, August 10, 2007 at the First Baptist Church in Crawfordville.  It is air conditioned!

Guest speaker Dr. Lonnie Carton is a nationally recognized family therapist and host of a syndicated radio feature,  Take a Minute for the Family. She helps parents and children successfully navigate the rough waters of the middle-school years through an insightful program,  Stepping Into Adolescence.  Also on the program are Beth O’Donnell, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, and Wakulla Middle School Principal JoAnn Daniels with more insight and help for parents and guardians of new 6th graders.  On the same night, for the youth, YMCA Camp Leaders will lead fun activities in the gym.  Youth who have experienced 6th grade will be available to answer questions from your 6th graders.  Following an hour in separate groups, everyone will come together for a hot dog supper.

The night is intended to be helpful and fun.  It is a cooperative venture between the Center for Prevention Research at Florida State University, the Wakulla County School Board, and the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth.  There is no cost to attend although reservations are requested, and you will be asked to complete an anonymous survey.

We hope to see you 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 10, and we ask that you call 528-7137 right away to sign up.  Continue to enjoy summer break…safely.  

Did you know...

Youth surveys consistently reveal that alcohol, tobacco and drugs are easy to obtain.  Research also reveals that students with involved parents, no matter their income or background, are more likely to:

• Be drug-free
• Earn higher grades, and enroll in higher-level programs
• Be promoted, pass their classes
• Attend school regularly
• Have better social skills, show improved behavior and adapt well to school
• Graduate and go on to post-secondary education

This information originally published on  August 6, 2007.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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