December 5, 2006 Parent Education Series: Curfews and Parties
December 5, 2006 Parent Education Series Minutes: Curfews and Parties: A Parent to Parent Conversation
Speakers: Ilisa Rooke-Ley, Public Defender and parent of 3 South Students, Laurene Larson, SEHS Counselor, Nancy Meyer, SEHS Psychology teacher and SEHS parent, Randy Bernstein, Principal.
• We learned that teenagers' frontal lobe is not yet fully developed and therefore decision making capabilities are impeded, which is one of the biggest reasons to be strong when it comes to asking where they are going and following the curfew and park closure laws
• The state curfew law requires all minors to not be out, unless coming home from work or an activity or other legitimate purpose, between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• We also learned that it is illegal to be in a park after 11 p.m.
• It is illegal to give alcohol or marijuana to others as a student and of course, as a parent
• If a student gets into an accident after leaving your home and becoming intoxicated, you as the parent may be liable if you have notice that your child is making or has made those poor choices before.
• Teens can not drive with another teen in the car (without an adult) until 6 months after earning their driver's license. They stated that this is being widely ignored.
• We were advised to not let our kids bully us into letting them do things we are against. If they say everyone else is doing "it", remind them that you have spent their lives teaching them not to follow the crowd.
• If you let your child drive your car and you know that they are drinking alcohol or taking drugs, you may be liable monetarily for any accident or injury that occurs.
• Watch out for MySpace Bulletin, which can sends news of a party to literally hundreds of kids in 5 seconds.
• Think twice about having your teen spend the night where there are not parents at home. If you notice that your teen and their friends are constantly hanging out at a house where parents are not around, question that and wonder what is going on when the kids are unsupervised.
• Great suggestion: Have your teen call you from the landline of the house where they are to your cell phone so you can see the number and reach them when you need them. Why not contact the parents and ask if they are ok with your teen being there? (but ask them not tell the kids that you called)
• Ask teens to turn off their phones and computers at midnight so they won't be communicating about parties late at night.
• Nancy suggested that you partner with other parents to gain support for staying strong when it comes to watching out for the safety of your teen.
• A parent shared a book called Walking After Midnight about forgiveness associated with a husband who was killed when a high school party got out of control and she kindly donated a copy to South.
• We were advised to not disclose to our teens what we did in high school if we don't want them to know. If they ask, you can tell them that you'll talk to them when they are 25 and that this doesn't matter right now, but their safety does.
• Arm your students with strong information and not just scare tactics.
• Create a code word that they can use when they get into challenging situations that other teens won't know that it means "pick me up right now".
• Tell them that you will trust them until something happens and if it does, there will be consequences.
• Lean on other parents for support and above all else, choose safety over being popular or cool with your child. *Randy stated that 18 students were suspended for drug and alcohol use during last school year, with 6 being ninth graders. As of December 1st this year, we already have 18 suspended with 3 of them being ninth graders.
• He reminded parents of the Zero Tolerance rules surrounding athletes caught drinking or using drugs which cover 24/7 from the first day of practice until the end of the school year. 1st suspension will be 3 weeks from the sport, 2nd suspension results in 6 weeks off and a 3rd suspension means the student will be suspended from athletic competition for a full calendar year.
• Students are not being very smart about posting pictures on MySpace.com and if a school official sees a student drinking or using drugs or being in the picture with others who are this will result in suspension from the sport, with the above 1st, 2nd and 3rd consequences.
• There is a rise in young people abusing prescription medicines now, so be sure to lock these up just like you would your alcohol.
• Your teen needs to think of you as nerdy and dorky in order to be able to transition out of your home after high school, so just accept that fact now.
• We heard some scary information about the date rape drug that it is tasteless and not traceable and right now there is a high risk of exposure. This drug does not allow memories to form and when a teen has been exposed they can not remember what happened to them the night before.
• Randy noted that while survey data shows that about 22% of students have smoked marijuana or consumed significant amounts of alcohol in the last month; this means that over ¾ of students have not done so. Parents may want to be clear with their children that “everyone is NOT doing it”.
• Talk to your kids about what they learn at ASAP (Aids and Substance Abuse Program)
• Laurene suggested a number of excellent books to deal with these issues: Queenbees and Wannabees-teen girl issues, Get out of my life, but first can you drive me and Cheryl to the mall? and Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends.
• Laurene Larson's "10 tips for communicating with your SEHS student" (Abbreviated, find the full sheet in the Counseling Office)
1. Set rules and expectations in advance.
2. Be positive!
3. Expect good grades AND good behavior.
4. Discuss issues and LISTEN to what they say.
5. Be aware of changes in friends, sleeping patterns, mood.
6. Let your teen experience failure.
7. Get to know their friends.
8. Buy a school phone directory and use it!
9. Know the laws about minors. Curfews, driving etc.
10. Laugh with your kids.
Speakers: Ilisa Rooke-Ley, Public Defender and parent of 3 South Students, Laurene Larson, SEHS Counselor, Nancy Meyer, SEHS Psychology teacher and SEHS parent, Randy Bernstein, Principal.
• We learned that teenagers' frontal lobe is not yet fully developed and therefore decision making capabilities are impeded, which is one of the biggest reasons to be strong when it comes to asking where they are going and following the curfew and park closure laws
• The state curfew law requires all minors to not be out, unless coming home from work or an activity or other legitimate purpose, between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• We also learned that it is illegal to be in a park after 11 p.m.
• It is illegal to give alcohol or marijuana to others as a student and of course, as a parent
• If a student gets into an accident after leaving your home and becoming intoxicated, you as the parent may be liable if you have notice that your child is making or has made those poor choices before.
• Teens can not drive with another teen in the car (without an adult) until 6 months after earning their driver's license. They stated that this is being widely ignored.
• We were advised to not let our kids bully us into letting them do things we are against. If they say everyone else is doing "it", remind them that you have spent their lives teaching them not to follow the crowd.
• If you let your child drive your car and you know that they are drinking alcohol or taking drugs, you may be liable monetarily for any accident or injury that occurs.
• Watch out for MySpace Bulletin, which can sends news of a party to literally hundreds of kids in 5 seconds.
• Think twice about having your teen spend the night where there are not parents at home. If you notice that your teen and their friends are constantly hanging out at a house where parents are not around, question that and wonder what is going on when the kids are unsupervised.
• Great suggestion: Have your teen call you from the landline of the house where they are to your cell phone so you can see the number and reach them when you need them. Why not contact the parents and ask if they are ok with your teen being there? (but ask them not tell the kids that you called)
• Ask teens to turn off their phones and computers at midnight so they won't be communicating about parties late at night.
• Nancy suggested that you partner with other parents to gain support for staying strong when it comes to watching out for the safety of your teen.
• A parent shared a book called Walking After Midnight about forgiveness associated with a husband who was killed when a high school party got out of control and she kindly donated a copy to South.
• We were advised to not disclose to our teens what we did in high school if we don't want them to know. If they ask, you can tell them that you'll talk to them when they are 25 and that this doesn't matter right now, but their safety does.
• Arm your students with strong information and not just scare tactics.
• Create a code word that they can use when they get into challenging situations that other teens won't know that it means "pick me up right now".
• Tell them that you will trust them until something happens and if it does, there will be consequences.
• Lean on other parents for support and above all else, choose safety over being popular or cool with your child. *Randy stated that 18 students were suspended for drug and alcohol use during last school year, with 6 being ninth graders. As of December 1st this year, we already have 18 suspended with 3 of them being ninth graders.
• He reminded parents of the Zero Tolerance rules surrounding athletes caught drinking or using drugs which cover 24/7 from the first day of practice until the end of the school year. 1st suspension will be 3 weeks from the sport, 2nd suspension results in 6 weeks off and a 3rd suspension means the student will be suspended from athletic competition for a full calendar year.
• Students are not being very smart about posting pictures on MySpace.com and if a school official sees a student drinking or using drugs or being in the picture with others who are this will result in suspension from the sport, with the above 1st, 2nd and 3rd consequences.
• There is a rise in young people abusing prescription medicines now, so be sure to lock these up just like you would your alcohol.
• Your teen needs to think of you as nerdy and dorky in order to be able to transition out of your home after high school, so just accept that fact now.
• We heard some scary information about the date rape drug that it is tasteless and not traceable and right now there is a high risk of exposure. This drug does not allow memories to form and when a teen has been exposed they can not remember what happened to them the night before.
• Randy noted that while survey data shows that about 22% of students have smoked marijuana or consumed significant amounts of alcohol in the last month; this means that over ¾ of students have not done so. Parents may want to be clear with their children that “everyone is NOT doing it”.
• Talk to your kids about what they learn at ASAP (Aids and Substance Abuse Program)
• Laurene suggested a number of excellent books to deal with these issues: Queenbees and Wannabees-teen girl issues, Get out of my life, but first can you drive me and Cheryl to the mall? and Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends.
• Laurene Larson's "10 tips for communicating with your SEHS student" (Abbreviated, find the full sheet in the Counseling Office)
1. Set rules and expectations in advance.
2. Be positive!
3. Expect good grades AND good behavior.
4. Discuss issues and LISTEN to what they say.
5. Be aware of changes in friends, sleeping patterns, mood.
6. Let your teen experience failure.
7. Get to know their friends.
8. Buy a school phone directory and use it!
9. Know the laws about minors. Curfews, driving etc.
10. Laugh with your kids.
posted by Parent Council @ 9:14 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home