Our Goals

• Create, strengthen, and support the connections between and among students and adults in our community.
• Reduce the risk factors that contribute to unhealthy behaviors and strengthen the protective factors that foster young people’s healthy development and physical, social, and emotional well-being.

Long-standing research demonstrates that prevention of unhealthy behaviors is associated with effective parenting; strong, positive family and school bonds; clear standards and limit-setting; opportunities for healthy risk-taking; postponement and/or reduction of inappropriate behaviors; and positive role models. Participants gain better understanding of:

• Risk-taking behaviors, healthy and unhealthy
• Child and adolescent development
• Effective parenting skills
• Cultural and social pressures on young people and families
• Benefits of parent networking 

Parent Discussions

Sponsored by the Parents’ Association, these grade level parent-to-parent events allow for relationships to develop, experience to be gathered, and an ethos of a connected community to be built. Conversation topics range from how to get a five-year-old to fall asleep on her own, to more difficult conversations later on about drinking and driving for the parents of 17-year-olds. For more than 10 years, these discussion groups, led by trained parent facilitators, have created a culture of conversation and connectivity among Park parents, demonstrated by the “Park Connects moments” — as parents call them — that now take place every day, in the carpool line, on the sidelines of a game, or in a phone call. As decades of research confirm, there’s no question that a more connected community provides a healthier and safer environment for all of our children.

Parent Education Workshops

These topical seminars are led by members of the Park School Health Team in partnership with outside professionals, to help guide parents through division level specific issues and challenges. These seminars provide insights into the latest research, as well as opportunities for thoughtful discussion and getting to know your peer parents.

2023-2024 Park Connects

Parent Discussions and Parent Education Workshops

PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN Workshop and Parent Discussion Parent Discussion	Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Thursday, January 25, 2024	6–8 p.m. 6:30–7:30 p.m.
PRE-K– GRADE 3 Sexuality Workshop	Monday, January 8, 2024	6–7:30 p.m.
GRADE 1 Parent Discussion	Monday, October 23, 2023	6:30–7:30 p.m.
GRADES 1–3 Workshop and Parent Discussion	Monday, February 26, 2024	6–8 p.m.
GRADES 4–5 Workshop and Parent Discussion	Wednesday, March 27, 2024	6–8 p.m
GRADES 4–6 Sexuality Workshop	Monday, October 16, 2023	6–7:30 p.m.
GRADE 6 Parent Discussion	Monday, April 8, 2024	7–8 p.m.
GRADES 6–8 Workshop and Parent Discussion	Monday, December 4, 2023	6–8 p.m.
GRADE 8 Parent Discussion	Thursday, April 18, 2024	7–8 p.m.
GRADE 9 Parent Discussion Parent Discussion	Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Monday, May 9, 2024	7–8 p.m. 7–8 p.m.
GRADES 9–10 Workshop for Parents and Students	Tuesday, January 30, 2024	6:30–8 p.m.
GRADE 10 Parent Discussion	Tuesday, November 7, 2023	7–8 p.m.
GRADES 11–12 Workshop and Parent Discussion	Thursday, February 22, 2024	6–8 p.m.

---

Park Connects Team

Park Connects programs and activities are created and run by a team of Park School faculty and staff and advised by parent volunteers.