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.
Parent Meetings – Fall 2018
Date
Topic
Time
Returning Families – Mandatory Meeting
Peacemakers in Training
This session will introduce a set of relational principles that parents can model and teach to inspire and equip their children to resolve conflict constructively and build healthy friendships. Each family will receive a set of twelve 10-page activity booklets that they can use at home as they weave these principles into daily life.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Corlette Sande
Relational Wisdom 360
New Families – Mandatory Meeting
Preparation for Parent/Teacher Conferences
(No Homeschool Families)
You are your child’s 1st teacher and research says that children who have involved parents are more likely to enjoy school, graduate, have better social skills and many more opportunities in life. This session is designed to assist parents in equipping themselves with all the tools to support their child’s education – Day One and forward.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dr. Wendy Birhanzel
COO – HSD2
New Homeschool Families – Mandatory Meeting Returning Families can attend this session.
10 Tips for Successful Homeschooling
You are going to start a new homeschool year! Starting out as a new or returning homeschool family can be a daunting task. You may experience self-doubt or fear as well as pressure; pressure to choose the perfect curricula; pressure over testing; pressure with record keeping; and pressure in managing your home. Throw in decisions on a teaching style or educational method and these quickly overwhelm the strongest of families. Come, be encouraged, and get some tips for successful homeschooling as you begin to walk out this new homeschool year.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Barbara West
Homeschooler since 1988
Series: Must commit to all six (6) sessions
Sep 4th – Oct 9th, 2018 (Tuesdays)Strategies for Success – Parent Session
(must commit to all six (6) sessions)
Parents did you know that children think differently from adults?
The SOS for Parents is a program that teaches parents to understand and successfully redirect/reverse challenging behaviors by:
- Disengaging from the power struggle
- Establishing and maintaining crystal clear boundaries
- Learning behavioral techniques to avoid misperceptions and communicate effectively
- Empowering the child to initiate pro-social behavior choices by implementing the technique of “irresistible influence” to effectively replace futile power struggles
- Building the child’s self-esteem and sense of mastery by presenting the child with choices that guarantee the adult’s ultimate control while simultaneously empowering the child
- Implementing well-timed praise seasoned with sincere and appropriate empathy.
Location: Garden Ranch YMCA
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sandra Kwesell
Founder – Pillars for Success
Thu, Sep 6th, 2018
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
Practical Skills for Improving Student Learning
This session will demonstrate effective answers on how to build reading and math success for children and teens. You will understand unique methods to help improve attention span, comprehension, reading speed and accuracy, decoding letters, number, and words properly, math abilities, spelling, handwriting along with self-confidence and school success.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Steve and Sheilah Shapiro
The Learning Connection
Thu, Sep 27th, 2018
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
Succeeding at Home and at School without Feeling Overwhelmed
In this very interactive session, Students will explore the people who have most influenced their lives for the better, so far, discover a personal vision for success and learn how to turn intentions into action. They will learn how to get the most out of the time they spend in class and how to use just the right tools and tangible ‘best practices’ to stay organized. Parents will learn how to love their kids well by practicing the ‘platinum rule’ and how to give them enough space to practice personal accountability. Everyone will learn the language of personal accountability, how to recognize and avoid self-defeating behaviors, and ‘how to learn’ from inevitable failures as well as successes.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bob Heavers
Priority Management
Sat, Oct 13th, 2018
College Preparedness and Tour (UCCS)
The Next Step: an interactive workshop to answer essential questions to plan and prepare for life after high school.
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Author – Kristi Smith
Colorado Springs Early Colleges and a tour of UCCS
Tue, Oct 16th, 2018
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
Mental Health (Coping)
A multi-media presentation on Ending the Silence for families. This will be for Parents/Guardians ONLY. We will draw parallels between coping skills for parents and children, emphasizing coping skills and parent self-care.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
National Alliance on Mental Health “NAMI”
Thu, Oct 25th, 2018
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
How to increase family financial resources
Finding time to manage your “side hustle” can be challenging with all that life can throw at you. Join us and learn how to get more out of your schedule and find success in your passion.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bridge to Wellbeing
Tues, Nov 29th, 2018
The Brain and How Boys Learn
This session focuses on the difference between the brains of males and females and how it impacts learning as well as how each gender experiences the world. This will be great for parents, because it gives you information that will help inform you on how to interact and relate to your young man.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dedrick Sims, CEO
Sims-Fayola Foundation
Re-Scheduled
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
C6th Power
How to ensure we are building creative and contributing citizens- it’s all about including the ARTS!
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Linda Weise
Founder
The Conservatory
Fri, Dec 7th, 2018
Parent Mixer
Showcase your Side Hustle or Craft and Fellowship with other families
5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Sat, Dec 15th, 2018
College Tour
Toni & Guy/PPCC
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Parent Meetings – Spring 2019
Date
Topic
Time
Tue, Jan 8th, 2019
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
Braintraining and Tapping
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Judy Hanke
Nancy Kelly
Thu, Jan 24th, 2019
NSCW Jan 20-26
National School Choice Week Event
Mandatory Meeting (New and Returning Families)
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dr. Regina Lewis
Professor – PPCC
Founder – Regina Speaking
(POSTPONED FOR SPRING)
Mini Series: Must commit to two Saturday sessions
Mini-Series – Returning Families
(starting 3rd Year in Parents Challenge)
- Financial Planning
Join us for this half day series to better learn how to manage your budget, get a handle on your credit, and build for your future! - Emotional Intelligence (EI)
One of the most important life-long skills that is necessary for success in a person’s personal and professional life is the ability to manage emotions when under pressure. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It includes three skills: emotional awareness; the ability to harness emotions and apply them constructively to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes regulating your own emotions and cheering up or calming down other people.
This interactive training will consist of the following:
- Increase your awareness of the situations that put you at risk of having your emotions lead to unskillful behavior and poor decisions
- Identify patterns, triggers, and emotional habits that either drive or derail your relationships and career
Location: TBA
8:30 am – Noon
P. Johan Sekovski
Entrepreneur, Author, Real Estate Essentials
Dr. MelindaJoy Mingo
Director of Human Relations, CEC
Professor, PPCC
Thu, Feb 7th, 2019
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
How to improve Communication Skills
Connecting Across the Spectrum – The ability to connect with someone who has a differing opinion than yours is a great quality to have. This program will give you the tools needed to successfully engage and share your beliefs with non-like-minded in a positive and constructive manner. Additionally, you will be provided with a step-by-step guide to building a bonded and thriving community.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Grassroots Leadership Academy
Mon, Feb 25th, 2019
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
Five Minutes of Courage
Come and learn how to make the world a better place. Truth that makes a difference. Five Minutes of Courage allows Jo to assist those who need factual, science-based data about substance abuse affecting the workplace, school environment of home.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Jo McGuire
Five Minutes of Courage
Thu, Mar 14th, 2019
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
How to Research School Choice Options
It is good public policy to give families the opportunity to choose a school that best fits their needs. In this session, we’ll cover how educational freedom is helping students remove barriers. Learn what kind of educational choice programs operate in America and provide messaging tools and tips to communicate the value of educational freedom to others in their community.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Grassroots Leadership Academy
Sat, Mar 23rd, 2019
College Tour
USAFA
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thu, Mar 28th, 2019
Parent Class Refresher
This is a follow-up for Parents that have taken the 6 week parenting class, in 2017 and 2018, to receive additional tools and to share outcomes.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sandi Kwesell
Tue, Apr 16th, 2019
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
How to keep kids safe on the Internet
This generation has grown up viewing technology as a toy rather than a tool. In this workshop, learn the basis of addiction and how to create habits that help you utilize technology.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Apex Generation Leadership
Thu, Apr 25th, 2019
Character Development – 15 minute dialog
Practical Life Skills for Teenagers
The American Dream looks different for everyone, but whatever yours looks like, it’s within your reach! You have the knowledge and power to define success for yourself and work for it. Join us to learn how to build your resume, ace an interview, manage your time and gain new marketable skills that will bring you closer to the job you want, and set you on a path to live out your dreams.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bridge to Wellbeing
Series: Must commit to all six (6) sessions
Feb 12th – Mar 19th, 2019
(Tuesdays)
Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World
(must commit to all six (6) sessions)
Location: TBA
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sat, Apr 27th, 2019
Community Event w/Youth-oriented Organizations
Summer, Before/After School Resources for Families
9:00 am – 11:30 am
Thu, May 16th, 2019
Focus Group
Development of Sessions for 2019-2020
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
All Meeting Locations: Southeast YMCA, 2190 Jet Wing Drive (unless otherwise noted)
Childcare and Meal provided at each session
