Mission of the Program:

In order to help our parents, students, and teachers work together as a “family unit,” we offer a Parent Education program that spans the entire Oak Grove experience from Preschool through 12th grade.

Elementary and Secondary Parent Ed Schedule
Grades 1st-12th

Description: Our Parent Education program takes a two-pronged approach. First, the program is designed to support parents in raising children and adolescents through workshops on subjects such as child development, communication strategies, harm prevention, and academic support. As students advance to the secondary level, we also include sessions on college readiness and the transition into adulthood. The second goal of the program is to build relationships and support networks among parents, teachers, and community members. Oak Grove is a close-knit community, and we seek to create a healthy dialogue between staff and families in order to best serve the needs of our students.

RSVPs and Snacks:
While RSVPs are not required, we always appreciate knowing who is planning on attending. Please email willhornblower@oakgroveschool.org if you are coming. This workshop is adults-only. We also need a few volunteers who would like to bring some tasty snacks. Please email Will if you are interested.

ECP and Early Elementary Parent Education/Family Partnership
Preschool-3rd grade

Gathering in the Main House once a month, Parent Ed begins just after you’ve said good-bye to your child (anytime after 8:00am) and continues until 10:30am.

The goal of Parent Ed is to support both parenting and teaching by building pathways between home and school. We place high value on this aspect of our program and urge families to attend. Parent Ed is your time, an opportunity for families to share the complexity and similarity of their experiences during the young family years. We want parents to feel comfortable bringing their comments and questions to our morning discussions. These meetings offer a chance to wonder out loud, deepen understanding of our individual children, their relationships and growth, and of child development in general. The goal is to increase self-understanding, balance, and joy in family life.

Each month a different teacher from the early elementary program will join us in Parent Ed for the first hour, 8:00-9:00am. Parents of OGS students from Preschool through 3rd grade are welcome to join.

Elementary and Secondary Parent Education Schedule
Second Semester

Unless otherwise announced, evening and morning sessions are in the Student Center in the High School. The schedule is subject to change, so please see the calendar or the latest “This Week at Oak Grove” for any last minute changes.

Evening sessions are in the Student Center and morning sessions are in the Main House (unless marked otherwise).

Date and Time	Topic	Suggested Grade Level	Description
1/28/2020 (8:00-9:00 am)	Morning Parent Education: Mindfulness at school and home	PK-12th	Mindfulness teacher Jeanette Berkovitz will review the school’s program and lead the group in a Mindfulness exercise. We will meet in our beautiful new Reflective Classroom.
2/5/2020 (8:00-9:00 am)	High School Meet-and-Greet	6th-8th	This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the High school teachers and to explore their curriculum. This meeting is on a Wednesday.
2/6/2020 (6:00-9:00 pm)	Pub Night hosted by OGS Parent Council	PK-12th	In “An Evening of MAD Comedy,” Joe Raiola reflects on his life in humor and his 33 years as a member of the legendary “The Usual Gang of Idiots.”
2/11/2020 (6:30-8:00 pm)	Evening Parent Education: Sexuality and the Empowerment Program	6th-12th	For our next Parent Education workshop, Tobi Jo Greene of the Empowerment Workshop will be joining us for a discussion on adolescence and sexuality. She will share strategies on how to initiate healthy conversations with your child about sexual health and sexuality. Educators from the Empowerment Workshop are working with our High School and Middle School this year. Tobi will also describe some of the lessons and activities that are used in those programs.
3/4/2020 (6:30-8:00 pm)	Teen Panel on Social Media and Online Safety	PK-6th	Many parents today share an interest — and even sometimes a bit of concern — about their kids’ digital lives, especially during the teenage years. In partnership with Common Sense Media, we are hosting a Teen Panel so that you can hear from the kids themselves about the ups and downs of their digital world. Teens will share details about their digital habits, their perspectives on social media, and their recommendations for parents of younger students. This is also an excellent opportunity to hear about the latest trends in social media and gaming. This panel is recommended for parents of students of all ages.
3/3/2020 (6:30-8:00 pm)	Evening Parent Education: Play-based learning at school and in the home	1st-12th	Oak Grove School is committed to supporting learning through play at all grade levels. This workshop will allow parents to experience a variety of play-based learning activities that happen on campus. In addition, the presenters will offer suggestions on how to create stimulating play-based learning environments in the home.
3/10/2020 (6:30-8:00 pm)	Evening Parent Education: Anxiety and Adolescence	1st-12th	Licensed psychologist Meghan Rudd will lead a discussion on adolescent anxiety and strategies that caregivers can use to support young adults.
4/15/2020 (8:30 – 9:30 am)	Morning Parent Education: Impact Teen Drivers	1st-12th	Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. This class, led by Impact Teen Drivers, will explore the best ways to make sure that our teens are safe as they start driving or riding in cars with their peers. This class is required for all parents who wish for their students to be able to drive on the Oak Grove campus. Note: This class is on a Wednesday morning at 8:30 in the Student Center. If you would like to come early, you can observe our High School Student Council open meeting.
4/28/2020 (8:00-9:00 am)	Morning Parent Education: Campus Tour with Jodi	1st-12th	Join Head of School Jodi Grass for a historical tour of the Oak Grove campus.
5/5/2020 (6:30-8:00 pm)	Evening Parent Education: Teenage Brain Development	6th-12th	Have you ever wondered why teenagers act the way they do? New studies on neurological development in teens explain many of the puzzling behaviors that teens exhibit. We will share some of the findings, as well as some strategies for caregivers to create safe, empathetic connections with children.
5/19/2020 (6:30-8:00 pm)	Evening Parent Education: Topic to be Announced	1st-12th	Topic to be announced

Early Childhood Parent Education meets on Thursdays from 8:00-10:30am in the Main House on the following dates. Adrienne and Laurie will discuss emergent issues relating to Early Childhood. Each session, they are joined by one of the Elementary or ECP teachers.

• 1/23 Adrienne/Laurie/Carrie

• 2/6 Adrienne/ Laurie/Bettina

• 3/19 Adrienne/Laurie/Emma

• 4/30 Adrienne/Laurie/Laila

• 5/28 Adrienne/Laurie/Terra

HISTORICAL DATA
Parent Education Schedule
First Semester

Unless otherwise announced, evening and morning sessions are in the Student Center in the High School. The schedule is subject to change, so please see the calendar or the latest “This Week at Oak Grove” for any last minute changes.

Date and Time	Topic	Suggested Grade Level	Description
Tuesday 9/24/2019 (6:30 pm)	The Self-Driven Child (Evening Session)	PK-12th	Please join us for our first Parent Education event as we discuss William Stixrud’s book: “The Self-Driven Child.” Please come even if you didn’t have a chance to read the book over the summer.
Thursday 9/26/19 (8:00-10:30 am)	Open Discussion	PK-3rd	Parent Ed with Adrienne, Laurie, and Hope in Main House.
Tuesday 10/1/2019 (8:00 am)	The Self-Driven Child (Morning Session)	PK-12th	Please join us as we discuss William Stixrud’s book: “The Self-Driven Child.” Please come even if you didn’t have a chance to read the book over the summer.
Tuesday 10/8/2019 (6:30 pm)	A Preventative Approach to Drug and Alcohol Use (Evening Session)	5th-8th	A Preventative Approach to Drug and Alcohol Use: Early Adolescence. As children begin adolescence, it is an important time to begin a dialogue with your child about making healthy choices regarding drug and alcohol use. We will review some best practices around prevention and harm reduction. We will meet in the Student Center.
Thursday 10/17/19 (8:00-10:30 am)	Open Discussion	PK-3rd	Parent Ed with Adrienne, Laurie, and Carole in Main House.
Tuesday 10/29/2019 (6:30 pm)	How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready (Evening Session)	7th-12th	What does “college readiness” mean? Oak Grove’s college counselor Jennifer Thompson will discuss the latest research on the best ways to ensure that children are ready to take on the rigors of college as well as the challenges of living on their own.
Tuesday 11/5/2019 (8:00 am)	Morning Parent Education: Topic to be announced. (Morning Session)	K-12th	Join us for snacks, beverages, and a discussion on challenges currently facing parents.
Wednesday 11/13/2019 (6:30 pm)	A Discussion on Inclusion with The Pacific Pride Foundation (Evening Session)	PK-12th	Educators and activists from The Pacific Pride Foundation, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group, will discuss how to create a more inclusive environment for children who are exploring their gender and sexuality.
Tuesday 11/19/2019 (6:30 pm)	Discussing Sexuality with Elementary Students (Evening Session)	K-5th	What is the best way to initiate conversations about sexuality with a younger child? At what age should these conversations happen? Educators will answer these questions and more during our workshop.
Thursday 11/21/19 (8:00-10:30 am)	Open Discussion	PK-3rd	Parent Ed with Adrienne, Laurie, and Chris in Main House.
Wednesday 12/4/2018 (6:30 pm)	Jay Fields: Teaching Your Child Resilience and Self-Awareness (Evening Session)	PK-12th	Somatic Educator Jay Fields will share some strategies to help children (and parents) become more resilient, connected, and self-aware.
Thursday 12/12/19 (8:00-10:30 am)	Open Discussion	PK-3rd	Parent Ed with Adrienne, Laurie, and Serra in Main House.