Click on the audio file above to listen to an audio file sent on behalf of Keith Schumacher, Male Involvement Chair for Georgia PTA.
We know there are many questions as we get ready for the first day of school, August 17. This infographic may answer a few, but don’t forget that your school also has plans in place that are specific to your school building and students.
With the school year being cut short and many academic and summer programs now being offered online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local teens may be seeking reliable information regarding their health and wellbeing. Teens, ages 15 – 19, who are seeking to learn how to make positive choices about their health have a new option. It’s called The Teen Experience Health Series. These six-week virtual classes are free and are being offered by the Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) program of the Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH).
The Teen Experience will feature informative and interactive 45-minute classes that will be conducted via Zoom videoconference and taught by an experienced adolescent health professional from the FCBOH. Teens can enroll in as many classes as they prefer. Parental consent is not required to register. The first class is Teen Pregnancy and STI/HIV Prevention and will be held Thursday, June 25 at 1 p.m. The class will be repeated on Friday, June 26 at 1 p.m. Youth enrolled in this session will have an opportunity to discuss ways to prevent unplanned pregnancy and STIs/HIV and reduce at-risk behaviors.
All classes will go live at 1 p.m. Students can sign up for the June 25 class at: bit.ly/TeenExperience-June25 or the June 26 class at: bit.ly/TeenExperience-June26
For more information about the Teen Experience Series, call Kristin Dixon at 404-612-1688 or email kristin.dixon@fultoncountyga.gov.
Timeline PhotosThe Fulton County Board of Education will meet on Thursday, June 18, at the South Learning Center, 4025 Flat Shoals Road in Union City. The school board will first meet at 4:30 p.m. for Executive session with the action meeting immediately following. At 6 p.m., the Budget Hearing will begin. Residents in Fulton County can watch meetings on: Comcast Channel 24, Google Fiber TV Channel 145, or AT&T Channel 99. Meetings are also streamed live on our district website: www.fultonschools.org.
Fulton County Government is seeking teen leaders to serve as a voice for youth and communities throughout metro Atlanta. The Fulton County Youth Commission is a LEADERSHIP PROGRAM designed to help get tomorrow's LEADERS involved TODAY! As Youth Commissioners, they will address the many issues presently facing youth through the influences of government mandates, policies and legislation. Students will become familiar with how local government resolves youth issues and will make suggestions for the best solutions, but most importantly, help facilitate change.
The application can be found on the Fulton County's website. fultoncountyga.gov/services/youth/youth-commission
To be considered, students must meet the following criteria:
1) Submit program APPLICATION filled out in its entirety by June 26th, 2020.
2) Submit a TWO PAGE ESSAY.
3) Submit a one page typed NOMINATION STATEMENT from a teacher, counselor, principal, pastor/religious leader, or community member who has known the applicant for at least one year.
4) Must be in the 9th - 11th grade during the 2020-2021 academic school year.
5) Must attend a Fulton County School, Atlanta Public School, Private or Charter within Fulton County lines.
6) Must be a Fulton County resident.
25 Years of Education, Prevention & Action for Adolescent Health
Calming Their Fears:
Talking to Children & Young People About a Nation in Crisis
Current nationwide protests — enveloped in race, police brutality, civil disobedience, and social injustice — can be hard topics for anyone to discuss, let alone discussing with children and young people. How do we talk to our young people about this crisis? How do we protect their feelings and keep them safe in a public health crisis compounded by a social unrest? How do we calm their fears?
Please join us Wednesday, June 10, at 6:00 p.m. for deep discussion and Q&A led by Judge Penny Brown Reynolds. Psychologist, Dr. Rachel Elahee, parents, and teens across Georgia, will also be part of this important discussion.
Judge Penny Brown Reynolds
Founder, Judge Penny Brown Reynolds Foundation &
Professor, Georgia State University College of Law
Dr. Rachel M. Elahee
Psychologist, Certified Diversity Practitioner,
Certified Professional Coach & Author
Parent Roundtable, our new summer panel series, is where parents, young people, experts, and whole communities intersect for important discourse and the exchange of critical information to help get through what’s sure to be a challenging summer.
Sign Up Today
Visit the GCAPP Parent Toolkit for experts’ tips on how to talk to children (pre-K to high school) about the protests, race and social injustice. Thank you for visiting, and please provide suggestions for content you would like to see added to the toolkit. Send suggestions and feedback to parents@gcapp.org.
Power Resource: News From the Field
Photo credit: Ben Hendren/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The current barrage of disturbing videos and images, 24/7 news coverage, and intense actions can be harmful to tweens and teens and may have lasting effects, according to experts. They report that this is not the time for young people to try to navigate their feelings alone, but need guidance toward as much positive energy as possible.
"Vicarious trauma through screens is real, especially for marginalized communities who may have experienced similar actions first-hand," said Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician who teaches at the University of Michigan. The stress of watching traumatic events on television and smartphones "lingers within our bodies and minds," Radesky added. It is suggested for parents find ways to channel that energy with positive actions, such as deep breathing and re-grounding exercises, before playing with or talking to your kids. Read full article here.
