6th-8th Grade Park Connects
Parent Discussion — 6th through 8th Grade
Wednesday, December 4 • 7-8:15 p.m.
Location: Middle School Commons
Our Park Connects Parent Discussion sessions have a new format this year! Members of the counseling and health team will be present at the start of the gathering to introduce themselves, recommend some talking points, and briefly answer questions about age-related topics. A trained parent Park Connects facilitator will guide the remainder of the discussion, where parents will have the opportunity to bring up new topics and share insights and ideas.
Middle School Counselors Kara Ker, Tucker Snow, and Edwin Gordon and Human Sexuality instructor Ashley Edwards will join the beginning of the session on December 4 and have provided suggestions for conversation topics below for parents to consider.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow Park parents!
See resources and RSVP below!
Guiding Topics and Supporting Resources
6th-8th Grade Parent Discussion:
Navigating Teen Talk: Understanding Slang in Middle School
Join us for an informative discussion on the increasing use of slang among Middle Schoolers and its impact on our school community. We’ll explore why slang is a normal part of adolescent development and identity formation, while addressing the importance of teaching youth about appropriate language use in different settings. We’ll help foster a brief discussion about how to create a space where every student can express themselves freely while also keeping things respectful and communicating well.
Guiding Topics and Supporting Resources
Books:
- “Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language” by Gretchen McCulloch
- “Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety” by Dr. John Duffy (2019)
Articles:
- Teen Slang Words in 2024: A Dictionary for Parents, Article can be found Here
- Gen Alpha Slang 101: How to Understand Kids This Back-to-School Season, Article can be found Here
Podcasts:
- Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled – Various episodes discuss language and communication
- The Language of Love by Dr. Laura Berman – Covers topics related to communication and relationships
Suggest topics for future discussions here!
