B-PEN (Brookline Parent Education Network)
helps parents navigate the
social, emotional and developmental challenges affecting today’s teens and
pre-teens – common challenges that can lead to risky behavior. An outreach
initiative that collaborates with Brookline school administrators and PTO’s,
the organization’s goals are to facilitate parent connections:
* with other parents,
* with school and town resources, and
* with helpful information via written/electronic materials on a wide variety of teen concerns.
WHY NOT POT?
New PARENT NETWORK NEWSLETTER ON MARIJUANA AND THE TEEN BRAIN
Marijuana
is the most widely used illegal drug among today’s young people, and in
Brookline, marijuana use is on the rise. This is fueled in part by the
decriminalization of marijuana in Massachusetts and the misperception that
marijuana is harmless. However, it is twice as potent as it was decades ago,
and 1 in 6 teens who try marijuana become chronic users. At the recent forum, keynote speaker
Yasmin Mashhoon, PhD, of Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, explained how marijuana impacts the developing adolescent brain and Peer Leaders discussed marijuana attitudes and use at BHS. Check out the latest Parent Network Newsletter, "WHY NOT POT? MARIJUANA AND THE TEEN BRAIN," which reports on information learned at the forum. For the middle school edition, click here. For the forum brochure, click here.
EVER HEAR OF THE "CINNAMON CHALLENGE?"
Ever hear of the "cinnamon challenge?" Seems far-fetched, but apparently a game challenging people to swallow a teaspoon of cinnamon without water in 60 seconds is one of the latest fads among kids, and doctors are warning that it can be extremely dangerous. Though Brookline school nurses have not seen any cases yet locally, the game has gone viral via YouTube clips, and parents are being urged to chat with their kids about this potentially dangerous fad. To learn more, check out 'Cinnamon Challenge' Sparks Health Concerns .
PARENT NETWORK CONNECTIONS
One of B-PEN’s primary missions is to provide opportunities for parents to connect with one another regarding some of the common social/emotional issues all our adolescents face as they develop. To complement regular PTO meetings, grade-geared Parent Network get-togethers at each school provide opportunities for helping parents get to know, support and strategize with one another around
common developmental concerns. For help starting a Parent Network or more information on B-PEN’s offerings and resources, contact B-PEN coordinators June Harris, jharris@brooklinema.gov or Karen Campbell, kcampbell@brooklinema.gov. * * * MEETING REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS To support and encourage parents of 6th–9th grade Brookline Public School students in the formation of Parent Networks, B-PEN offers Meeting Reimbursement Grants of up to $50-$100 (depending on participation numbers) for food and supplies. There are 10 grants available for the balance of the 2011-12 academic school year. For more information, click here… |
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