Our goal is to provide advocacy sessions that will empower parents to help their children be successful throughout the school year and beyond. These sessions are also designed to support family growth and sustainability. These sessions were suggested and developed with Parents Challenge parents.
THESE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO BE A RESOURCE FOR PARENTS WHETHER THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND PUBLIC, CHARTER, OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR CHOOSE TO HOMESCHOOL.
These sessions are not geared to tell parents what to do, they will be geared to provide parents with tools and resources to make informed decisions regarding their child’s education that can be applied at school or at home. Ideally, these sessions help parents to ask questions, seek additional support, develop goals with their children, learn to assess performance data and develop skills to monitor their students’ overall progress. These sessions also support low-income families with financial and community resources.
2020-2021 Parent Schedule
SPRING Semester
Orange – Tracks (must commit to the entire track to receive credit)
NOTE: ALL SESSIONS THIS SPRING ARE BEING HELD VIRTUAL
Date
Topic
Time
Session #16: Resilience and Grit
Mandatory Meeting (All Families)
The past year has taught us about stress and hardships but also resilience in ourselves and our community. Learn what resilience is and how to foster it in yourself and your family. This session will focus on specific skills and activities for families to boost resilience and strengths. Also learn about the GRIT Resilience Course available for free from the National Institute for Human Resilience at UCCS. The GRIT Course provides foundational education on stress and resilience, as well as concrete steps to reaching out to others in your community and family. This course is packed with resources and healthy activities to use for yourself and to provide to others!
THIS SESSION IS FOR ALL FAMILY MEMBERS
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Nicole Weis,
UCCS
National Institute for Human Resilience
Tue, Feb 2nd, 2021
Session #17: Self-care isn’t Selfish…
Self-Care for adults is important, perhaps urgent, and incredibly valuable.
During this unprecedented pandemic, working with your student as a parent or as a teacher feels like the most difficult job on the planet.
This session is designed to provide opportunities to gain a morale boost, give you some reassurance that what you do matters, and to have some fun. We will engage in research-based practices for personal and professional development.
Learn how to build your SELF ToolKIT with new Knowledge, Inspiration, and Tools for you and your scholar.
THIS SESSION IS FOR ALL PARENTS
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lori Bitar, CEO
Academic Advocates
Session #18: Coronavirus Pandemic 9 Thoughts Adults Should Consider
We are dealing with unexpected challenges and risks during the coronavirus pandemic (i.e. healthcare, finances, social isolation). If that weren’t enough, millions of us are also facing parenting and childcare challenges.
It is important to recognize that these challenges can feel even more overwhelming as our families try to deal with the confusion caused by unplanned changes in routines, moods, and social interaction during this pandemic.
THIS SESSION IS FOR ALL PARENTS
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sandra Kwesell, Founder
Pillars for Success – Families in Transition
Mon, Feb 15th, 2021
Mon, Mar 15th, 2021
Mon, Apr 12th, 2021
Track #1: Cooking Matters at Home
(must commit to all three (3) sessions)
February 15th – The Family Kitchen
Staying Inspired – How planning, help from the family, some new spices and a bit of aesthetics can help make meal-time more exciting and enjoyable. We will discuss ways the kids can help in the kitchen and inexpensive ways to try new meals. We will have a cooking demo – something spicy/flavorful – Chicken Étouffée or Chicken Shawarma.
March 15th – No More Mealtime Madness
Quick Dinner Solutions – Healthy dinner options that can be made quickly. We will have a cook along for the adults and kids– Salmon Patties and Greens, and Mac N Cheese with healthy fixings. We will discuss crock pot options, defrosting premade meals, and share dinner ideas from the group. We will also discuss the nutritional value of food items used throughout the demo and answer nutrition questions.
April 12th – Say Yes to Fruits and Veggies, Drink to your Health
Veggies 5 Ways and Healthy Beverages – Simple ways to get our families more fruits and veggies. Smart drink ideas for special occasions. We can have a cooking demo with optional cook along– Veggie Stir fry with cashews, veggies 5 ways, dips and sparkling fizz.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Jessie Henderson
Taylor Hargis
Care and Share
Session #19: Advocating for yourself? You CAN handle remote learning!
THIS SESSION IS FOR STUDENTS – MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lori Bitar, CEO
Academic Advocates
Session #20: Is It All About You?
How does “who you are” impact “what you do” and “how you relate to others?”
This session will introduce personality and learning styles in relation to working with others. This information is helpful in building and maintaining relationships with others in your family and making strong contributions at work. You will learn various styles and identify your own style. After understanding your personal style, you will practice your understanding in this interactive session.
THIS SESSION IS FOR STUDENTS – MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
Bridgitt L. Mitchell, Ed.D.
Administrator, Professor and Consultant
Series: Must commit to both sessions
Tue, Mar 2nd, 2021
Tue, Apr 6th, 2021
Track #2: College and Career Success
Must commit to both sessions
The next step, college…then what?
How do I research the type of job that I am interested in pursuing, before I select the college and how do I prepare the budget to help me pay for my interest?
THIS SESSION IS FOR STUDENTS – MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Kristi Smith,
Colorado Early Colleges, Colorado Springs
Thu, Mar 4th, 2021
Session #21: Cyberschooling
(Online and Blended Learning Options for Colorado Families)
Colorado families are blessed with an abundance of online and blended learning opportunities. This workshop will provide families with information on their options, how to evaluate online schools, and provide guidance on how to support students in the online learning environment.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tillie Elvrum Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families Parent Support for Online Learning
Tue, Mar 9th, 2021
Session #22: Adulting 101
(Practical, social and emotional skills every young person should have)
Dealing with People
One of the most underrated – but most important skills – is learning how to deal with people. If you are great at interaction with others, you will have increased opportunities with schooling and with work. But is it something you can learn? The answer is unequivocally yes! In this session we will cover how to interact with parents, peers, teachers, and employers.
THIS SESSION IS FOR MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
James Divine,
Speaker, Educator, Author, Musician
Thu, Mar 18th, 2021
Session #23: Learning the Language of Maths
Whether developing initial number sense, or synthesizing differential equations, learning the language of mathematics (yes, shortened properly should be maths) is vital for all learners, regardless of age.
THIS SESSION IS FOR K-12 STUDENTS
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lyn Osbourne,
ASD-20 Instructor
Tue, Mar 30th, 2021
Session #24: Innovation in Healthcare
How do you navigate all the changes in the Healthcare arena? Who do you call, where do you go, how do you receive service and support? Attend this session and find out all the particulars related to this industry.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Josh Shi,
AFP Foundation
Thu, Apr 8th, 2021
Session #25: Adulting 101
(Practical, social and emotional skills every young person should have)
Around the House: Cleaning and Organization
Do you want to earn bonus points with your parents? If you know how to properly clean AND you implement a cleaning and organizing strategy, you will have an improved relationship with your parents. The bonus is that spending time cleaning and organizing can actually gain you MORE time to do what you want. And it could lead to a profitable side business for you, even as a teen.
THIS SESSION IS FOR MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
James Divine,
Speaker, Educator, Author, Musician
Thu, Apr 15th, 2021
Session #26: Parent Session Refresher
If you have taken the 6-week parenting class, in 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020, you do not want to miss out on getting an update on additional tools especially during this time of COVID-19. It will be great to share positive outcomes and challenges being faced.
THIS SESSION IS FOR ALL PARENTS
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sandra Kwesell, Founder Pillars for Success – Families in Transition
Tue, Apr 20th, 2021
Session #27: Engaging Business for Good
Today many businesses face significant barriers erected by cronyism and a rigged economy that make it hard for principled entrepreneurs to succeed. This seminar explores how to overcome these barriers, new consumer/leadership trends that are changing business for the better and practical strategies for engaging in business as a force of good.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Josh Shi,
AFP Foundation
Please be advised. These sessions could be changed or postponed due to instructor cancellations, school dynamics or limited sign-up.
