Park Connects

Park Connects is a school-wide program designed to support our students’ health and well-being and help reduce the risk factors that contribute to unhealthy behaviors. Park Connects brings together parents, students, faculty, and the broader community.

Our Goals

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:

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 Seminars

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.

2022-23 Program Offerings

Parent Discussions

Pre-K and Kindergarten Parent Discussion
Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP

1st Grade Parent Discussion
Thursday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP

12th Grade Parent Discussion
Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. RSVP

6th Grade Parent Discussion
Thursday, October 6 at 7 p.m.  RSVP

9th Grade Parent Discussion
Tuesday, October 11 at 7 p.m.  RSVP

10th Grade Parent Discussion
Wednesday, October 19 at 7 p.m. RSVP

3rd Grade Parent Discussion
Tuesday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP

2nd Grade Parent Discussion
Wednesday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP

8th Grade Parent Discussion
Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m.  RSVP

4th Grade Parent Discussion
Wednesday, November 2 at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP

7th Grade Parent Discussion
Monday, November 7 at 7 p.m.  RSVP

5th Grade Parent Discussion
Tuesday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP

11th Grade Parent Discussion
Monday, December 12 at 7 p.m.  RSVP

Grade 9 Parent Discussion #2
Monday, January 9 at 7 p.m.  RSVP

Grade 1 Parent Discussion #2
Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP

Grade 6 Parent Discussion #2
Tuesday, January 31 at 7 p.m.  RSVP

Pre-K and Kindergarten Parent Discussion #2
Thursday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m.  

Grade 8 Parent Discussion #2
Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m.  

Parent Education Seminars

Lower School Educational Workshop Pre-Kindergarten- 2nd grade
Tuesday, October 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. RSVP

Middle School Educational Workshop 
Tuesday, November 15 from 6-7:30 p.m. RSVP

Lower School Educational Workshop (3rd-5th grade)
Wednesday, January 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. RSVP

Upper School Educational Workshop 
Wednesday, January 25 from 6-7:30 p.m. RSVP

Grade 10 Parent/Student Workshop
Wednesday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m. (This is the first of two offerings)
Monday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP
(This is the second of two offerings)

“Can We Talk?”

Driving, Sleep, Stress, Communication and more.

10th grade students and parents are invited to participate in an evening dedicated to the issues that are on the minds of teens and parents and the skills it takes to dialogue in healthy ways about these important topics.   You don’t want to miss this unique opportunity to engage in conversation and activities with your family, fellow 10th grade classmates, their parents, class advisors and counselors. 

This is the first of two offerings for this workshop.  Families are only expected to attend this program once.  Hosted by School Counselors and Class Advisors.

*If your child plays a winter sport, we strongly encourage you to attend this session.

A pizza dinner will be provided.

Grade 4-6 Sexuality Workshop for parents
Monday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to get together with other Park parents, and Human Sexuality Educator Debbie Roffman, to learn important skills for communicating with 9- to 12-year olds about this vital topic.

Pre-Kindergarten-3rd Grade Sexuality Workshop for parents 
Monday, January 23 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP

Forget “The Talk”!

Nuturing sexually healthy children and teens is an ongoing process that begins at birth.  While seemingly daunting and mysterious to many, it’s actually quite straight forward and calls on the same awareness and skills you already possess!  Come and learn about the five universal nurturing seeds of children, the five corresponding roles for adults, how all of that applies to sexuality, and how 30+ years of research demonstrates that speaking early and often with your kids safeguards their health.

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.  

Tracee Fruman, 
Jenn Sober

Park Connects Co-Chairs, Parents’ Association

Debbie Roffman

Human Sexuality Educator 
droffman@parkschool.net

Amy Ancona

Lower School Counselor
aancona@parkschool.net

Lauren Blum

Park Connects Coordinator 
parkconnects@parkschool.net

Katie Watts

Middle School/Upper School Counselor
aedwards@parkschool.net

Ashley Edwards

Human Sexuality Educator 
aedwards@parkschool.net