Stop the Madness – Parenting for Real Success w/ Lew Epstein, LCSW
Do you ever worry about whether your child is experiencing too much pressure?
There is a growing awareness that often  ............ (click below for full description)
Monday, March 3rd ~ 7:30 – 9:00  ~ Fee: $5

Parenting Anxious Children w/ N. Distel, Ph.D & E. Jeffries Ph.D
Is your child being hindered by excessive anxiety? In this workshop parents will learn  ...... (click below for full description)
Wednesday March 19 ~ 7:00 - 8:30  ~ Fee: $5 

Boys will Be Boys ...or Maybe Not with Mark S. Lowenthal, Psy.D.
In this workshop, we will identify the social and emotional challenges that boys encounter at school, at home and on .... (click below for full description)
Tuesday, April 1st ~ 7:30 – 9:00 ~ Fee: $5 

Helping your Child with Separation & Divorce with Laura Prato, LCSW
This workshop will focus on helping your child stay together while everything seems to be falling apart. We will examine how children of different ages....
Wed April 9th ~ 7:30 – 9:00 ~ Fee: $5 

The Superintendent's Town Hall Meeting scheduled for this evening, February 5th, is postponed due to inclement weather.

FROM FATHERLESS TO FATHERHOOD – Tuscan’s own Mr. Kevin Mason, Assistant Principal, is ready for his close-up!  Come see this timely documentary starring Mr. Mason Thursday evening in the Tuscan Auditorium.  Filmmaker Kobie Brown and Mr. Mason will conduct a panel discussion about the film after the screening.  Reception at 7pm in the library; screening at 7:30.  Do not miss this Maplewood premiere!

School Superintendent Dr. Osborne will hold the annual Elementary Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, February 5th.  He will briefly discuss his vision for the elementary schools and answer questions in a Town Hall meeting format.

In addition Dr. Osborne gave the State of the District Address on January 15th. 
The text of the Report can be found here: State of the District Report

The Parenting Center is pleased to announce the launch of the Maplewood South Orange Adoptive Parents Group.   We’ll be meeting monthly, on a Tuesday evening, at the Parenting Center, in Maplewood.  Our goal is to build a community that can help support all of our families.   We look forward to sharing resources, ideas, stories & strategies with adoptive parents in Maplewood & South Orange.   All adoptive parents are welcome! Find the flier with more dates and location here

Next meeting is Tuesday, January 28, 2014

All meetings will be held from 7:30-9:00 pm 
Questions?  Contact Jami Thall:  jamithall@gmail.com or Lorraine Caputo: lorrainecaputo53@gmail.com

A Special Screening

Thursday, January 23rd - 7:30pm

Tuscan School Auditorium Reception in Tuscan Library 7:00 -7:30pm

From Fatherless to Fatherhood: Because Families Matter

Music executive and filmmaker Kobie Brown created this documentary film and initiative that explores the causes, effects and possible solutions to father absence. The film focuses on fathers, including our own Kevin Mason, who grew up without fathers and their journey to become the best husbands and fathers they can be. Panel discussion with producer/director Kobie Brown and documentary subject Tuscan Assistant Principal Kevin Mason.
For more info contact The Parenting Center @ 973-663-5600 x1850 or kweiland@somsd.k12.nj.us 

Girls Leadership Institute programs are made possible by a partnership with the PTAs, the Parenting Center and GLI bringing programs to support families and their children.

We have four GLI workshops on the calendar currently for 2013/2014 in SOMSD: Elementary School Level: 
4th/5th Grade - Say How You Feel, Ask for What You Need Parent Daughter Workshop 4 Wednesdays Beginning January 15 
4th/5th Grade - Navigating Challenging Friendships Parent Daughter Workshop 4 Wednesdays, Beginning February 12 
K/1st Grade - Tools for Sunny and Cloudy Days with Friends Parent Daughter Workshop 4 Wednesdays, Beginning March 26 

We also have a Middle School Level: 6/7 Grade - Be Who You Are, Say What You Mean Parent Daughter Workshop at Maplewood Middle School - December 5,6,7 

This coming winter and spring the Elementary School Programs are taking place at Tuscan School.    A reminder that these programs are OPEN to the public and available to ALL families across the SOMSD schools. 
You can  go to the GLI website for more details on all available programs: http://www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org/content/girls-leadership-institute-new-jersey 
~ Thank you, Tracy Freeman Adult Programs Chair

Sponsored by the Elementary PTAs and the Parenting Center, FBI Special Agent Joshua Wilson will present "Cyberbullying: invisible, prevalent, instantaneous" and share information on internet safety.  
Whether your child uses technology or not, there is valuable information to learn about internet safety and how to talk to your children about it.
December 3rd
7:30pm
Seth Boyden School

Holiday Toy Drive from November 18th ~ December 10th
Please donate toys for needy children within the South Orange & Maplewood School District.

Please drop off an unwrapped toy (or gift card) for children ages infants – 16 yrs at:
the drop off box at Tuscan  orThe Parenting Center, 525 Academy St., Maplewood
Share your holiday cheer and help put a smile on the face of a child this holiday season. 

Girls Leadership Institiute is a national non-proift offering programs for girls.  For the second year classes are being offering in our area hosted at district schools.  Four additional workshops are available for 2013/2014 in SOMSD:

Elementary School Level:
4/5 Grade  - Say How You Feel, Ask for What You Need 
4/5 Grade  - Navigating Challenging Friendships  
K/1  - Tools for Sunny and Cloudy Days with Friends
Middle School Level.....

Save the date for November 19th @ 7:30pm at Marshall School for a free film viewing of Richard Lavoie's "How Difficult Can This Be?: the F.A.T. City workshop (Fear Anxiety Tension)
Often referred to as transformative, and as the best educational film ever made, you will literally experience what it is like to be learning disabled.  If you love a child with learning differences - you should see this film!
Parents, guardians, caretakers and staff are welcome!

The Parenting Center and Elementary PTAs work together to provide programming to assist parents and guardians support their family and student's learning experiences through speakers, workshops, film viewings, parent groups and more.  Find more at theparentingcenter.info

Adults and staff welcome on October 29th, 7:30pm  at South Mountain School in the cafeteria.
Sponsored by your elementary PTAs and the Parenting Center, this program is free.
In Ungifted, cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman—who was relegated to special education as a child—sets out to show that the way we interpret traditional metrics of intelligence is misguided. Kaufman explores the latest research in genetics and neuroscience, as well as evolutionary, developmental, social, positive, and cognitive 

(click the image for the schedule)
Parenting can be joyous and rewarding as well as challenging. As parents meet the many demands faced by families today, they often need support to supplement their own knowledge and skills. The South Orange - Maplewood School District has established The Parenting Center to support parents as they help their children grow and develop.

The Parenting Center grew out of community requests expressed in many focus groups and surveys conducted by Schools for Success, a district educational research project funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
The Center's goal is to be a dynamic resource in our community addressing the full range of children's needs and parent's

On October 3rd the Elementary PTAs and the Parenting Center are hosting what has become an annual curriculum night for elementary parents and guardians.
Hosted for all district elementary families at Clinton School on Thursday October 3rd at 7:30pm: 
"Parents will have the opportunity to participate in content-based workshops presented by department staff.  The purpose of these sessions is to give parents hands on opportunity to learn about the curriculum and to better understand and support their child's academic experience."    Find the flyer here with details on presenters and the session topics.

The Parenting Center is sponsoring a monthly support group for
parents of elementary and middle school children diagnosed with
ADD/ADHD or children who have attention difficulties. It will
offer parents the opportunity to share information, concerns and
solutions.
This group is led by Madelyn Petrow-Cohen, LCSW. She is in
private practice in the Maplewood/South Orange area and has
extensive experience working with children and families.

2012-2013 DATES: all meetings are 7:30pm @ Board Office
February 11
March 11
April 15
May 6

Tuscan girls in Grades 4 and 5, and Grades Kindergarten and 1 are invited to participate in a series of workshops about communication and leadership this spring at Tuscan School. Please see the flyers from the Girls’ Leadership Institute for more information.
The fall session hosted at Tuscan for Grades 2-3 was very well attended and had a waiting list!  If the Tuscan scheduled sessions do not fit your schedule GLI is offering workshops at other locations in the district.  Find information on http://www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org   Scholarships are available; information is on the GLI site.

Friendly reminder of two district events in the next week sponsored by the district Parenting Center and the Elementary PTAs:

The Parenting Center and the Elementary PTAs present a free event for parents - Child and Adolescent Psychologist  Dr. Adam Price will discuss:

• How children can learn to persist when challenged to develop the critical self-regulation skills necessary to stay on track.
• Learn strategies to end power struggles and be a positive force in your child's education.
• Discover ways to help your child develop motivation from within, do you do not have to be the driving force behind their academic success.

Tuesday February 5th, 7:30pm   South Mountain School Cafeteria

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Paul Tough (author of How Children Succeed) speak at Clinton Elementary School on Monday, November 12th at 7:30 pm.
Details on the flyer; seats are free and not reserved.
Brought to you by the Parenting Center and Elementary School PTAs.

Elementors have arrived at Tuscan!   Today marked the first day of Elementors, Columbia High School students who come to Tuscan to work with groups of students during recess time.   Coordinated through the Parenting Center with our social worker and social work interns, CHS students are working with first graders as reading buddies.  

Complimentary childcare will be provided for this event.  To sign up your child use the SingupGenius link by Friday 10/19
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A45A9AC2AAB9-somsd