The screening of Louder Than A Bomb has been rescheduled for Monday, April 9, at 7 pm in Gaffney Auditorium on New Trier High School's Winnetka campus. FAN sends a monthly email about our programs.  If you are not on our list, sign-up to keep up to date with this and other programs.

FAN Idol 2012 is coming in May! We are looking for potential speakers! Our search is on for professionals who can give presentations on parent-related issues. Respond by March 15.  More information for potential speakers.

Educating the Whole Student: Integrating Academic, Social and Emotional Learning with Roger Weissberg

Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 7:00 PM
New Trier High School, Winnetka Campus, Gaffney Auditorium, 385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka, 60093

It’s clear that social and emotional competence is essential to authentic success in adulthood. A confident, hopeful individual, versed in self-management strategies, resourceful, resilient, empathetic, ethical, respectful – isn’t this the outcome so many of us desire for our children? In what ways can social and emotional learning (SEL) be taught in schools, and what sort of academic benefits derive from SEL skills?

In 1994, Roger Weissberg, Ph.D., along with others, including Daniel Goleman, Eileen Rockefeller Growald, and Tim Shriver, co-founded the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) at the Yale Child Study Center. Now headquartered in Chicago, CASEL is the preeminent international organization committed to making evidence-based social, emotional, and academic learning an essential part of preschool through high school education. For the past three decades, Dr. Weissberg has trained scholars and practitioners about innovative ways to design, implement, and evaluate family, school, and community interventions.

For this program, Dr. Weissberg, a long-time resident of Wilmette, will reflect on his own family's experiences within New Trier Township schools, and his time spent in his children's classrooms. He will also broaden his scope and provide an overview of social and emotional learning (SEL), which was mandated in Illinois public schools with the passage of the Illinois Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Dr. Weissberg will describe the benefits of a preK-12 SEL program, providing research about the links between academic success and SEL. He'll also describe CASEL's current ventures and future direction, particularly its national Collaborating Districts Initiative, supported in part by a new multi-million dollar grant from the NoVo Foundation.

After Dr. Weissberg's presentation, he will be joined at a panel that will include Catherine Wang, Glencoe D35 Director of Curriculum; Ryan Mollet, Central School (Glencoe) Principal; and Tim Hayes, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services at NTHS. Glencoe D35 has been utilizing CASEL-based SEL initiatives in its schools for the past two years; Ms. Wang and Mr. Mollet will discuss how D35 implements SEL programs within the district's school communities, and how parents can help develop their child’s fundamental skills for life effectiveness. Mr. Hayes will offer information and insights about NTHS' SEL programs to create safe, caring learning environments.

Sponsored by the Family Awareness Network of New Trier Township Schools (FAN), New Trier High School’s ECGC Parent Committee, Glencoe D35, and Erika’s Lighthouse. CPDUs available for education professionals; no pre-registration required. If you are an Illinois-licensed social work professional, you can receive CEU hours for attending FAN programs - get more information and pre-register. All programs are free and open to the public.

  More information about Roger Weissberg's program Educating The Whole Student.

Kids Do Well If They Can: Collaborative Problem Solving with Ross W. Greene
Thursday, March 1, 2012, 1:00-4:00 pm AN AFTERNOON PROGRAM
New Trier High School, Northfield Campus, Cornog Auditorium, 7 Happ Road, Northfield, IL

Afternoon presentation sponsored by FAN and North Shore Academy (member school of North Suburban Special Education District, NSSED).

Ross W. Greene, Ph.D., has found that children and adolescents with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges lag behind their peers in three very crucial skill areas: flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem solving. Can you think of many situations in a young person’s life that don’t require the exercise of one or more of these three skills? Dr. Greene is Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Greene described these struggling kids in his highly-acclaimed, life-changing parenting guide book The Explosive Child, which focuses on why kids exhibit challenging behaviors, and why traditional behavior management techniques may not be effective.

Dr. Greene is the originator of Collaborative Problem Solving Approach (CPS), a method for helping children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.The guiding philosophy of CPS -- Kids do well if they can -- connotes that behaviorally challenging kids are already motivated to do well but have difficulty in situations demanding flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving. This is in stark contrast to the more commonly-held belief that a child’s misbehavior is the result of his planned, intentional, purposeful manipulations, or because the child’s parents are passive, permissive, inconsistent disciplinarians.

Dr. Greene’s workshop will explain the core ingredients of the CPS model. Parents, educators and clinicians will learn about CPS as a process – it’s not a quick fix-it. The goal is to solve problems durably, to teach skills, and to change fundamental aspects of the way caregivers interact with a child (whether the child is behaviorally challenging or not).

Sponsored by the Family Awareness Network of New Trier Township Schools (FAN) and North Shore Academy (member school of North Suburban Special Education District, NSSED).

CPDUs available for education professionals; no pre-registration required. If you are an Illinois-licensed social work professional, you can receive CEU hours for attending FAN programs - get more information and pre-register. All programs are free and open to the public.

More information about Ross Greene's program: Kids Do Well If They Can

FAN Idol
Thursday, May 10, 9:30am to noon
New Trier High School/West Campus (Room C234, 7 Happ Road, Northfield)

FAN Event Dates for the rest of the year.

Save these dates for more great upcoming FAN programs.  All are at 7 pm unless noted. Get on our mailing list to hear about the speakers and topics.

• Mar. 12
• April 17 (added)
• May 1
• May 17 (added)

If you are an Illinois-licensed social work professional, you can receive CEU hours for attending FAN programs - get more information and pre-register.

Did you miss a program?

Authentic Success: Raising Youth to Thrive in a Challenging World with Ken Ginsburg, MD

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Ken Ginsburg, M.D. is a pediatrician specializing in Adolescent Medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.  Dr. Ginsburg’s most recent books are Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings, published by The American Academy of Pediatrics, and Letting Go with Love and Confidence: Raising Responsible, Resilient, Self-Sufficient Teens in the 21st Century Century.  More about the Ken Ginsburg events..

Podcast of Ken Ginsburg's "Authentic Success" talk  (2:14:00, mp3 file, it may stream for you, or in Windows right-click on the link and select "Save As" to download the file)

What Does a High-Quality Education Mean?  with Yong Zhao, Ph.D.

New Trier Winnetka Campus, 385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka, IL

Yong Zhao, Ph.D. is Presidential Chair and Associate Dean for Global Education at the University of Oregon, and author of Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization. Dr. Zhao spoke last spring to New Trier faculty. He will discuss American education and the implications of globalization upon it. Co-sponsored with ALL the public school districts in New Trier Township! More, including a brief video with Yong Zhao we recommend you watch ...

Podcast of Yong Zhao's "High-Quality Education" talk  (1:42:00, mp3 file, it may stream for you, or in Windows right-click on the link and select "Save As" to download the file)

An Evening with Wendy Mogel

Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Ave., Glencoe, IL

Wendy Mogel, Ph.D., is an acclaimed clinical psychologist, parenting expert, and the author of the best-selling parenting book, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. Her 2010 book, The Blessing of a B Minus, shows parents how to navigate the teenage years, including independence, the pressure to compete, and communication obstacles.  For this presentation, Dr. Mogel will reorient us to take a long-range view toward allowing our teens to become, accept and embrace their imperfect but fully human selves. She will identify ways we can guide our teens with “leadership that is respectful of their developmental phase and their individual spirit,” helping them to become resilient, self-reliant and appreciative adults. Sponsored by FAN and Am Shalom.   More about the Wendy Mogel event...

Audio from "An Evening with Wendy Mogel" is not available.

So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood

The School of Sts, Faith, Hope & Charity, 180 Ridge Ave., Winnetka, IL

For over 40 years, Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., has been a singular force exploring how the advertising industry shapes public health issues. Dr. Kilbourne comes to our area to talk about the hot-button issues outlined in her book co-authored with Diane Levin, Ph.D., So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Children.

All children, boys and girls, receive a very powerful and very damaging kind of sex education from the popular culture. Even very young children are routinely exposed to portrayals of sexual behavior devoid of emotions, attachment, or consequences. Media messages about sex and sexuality often exploit women's bodies and glamorize sexual violence. Girls are encouraged to objectify themselves and to obsess about their sex appeal and appearance at absurdly young ages, while boys get the message that they should seek sex but avoid intimacy. These messages shape their gender identity, sexual attitudes and behavior, values, and their capacity for love, connection, and healthy relationships well into adulthood.  More about the Jean Kilbourne event...

Here's a list of our programs from 2010-2011 with links to more information

Email updates from FAN

FAN has a email list which receives monthly reminders on our schedule and pointers to web resources of interest.  Add me to the FAN email list (just accept the default type and style selections).

FAN connects with Perspectives Charter School, Chicago

FAN has begun to cooperate with Perspectives Charter Schools in Chicago to lend some of our strengths in parent programming to their parents.   We look forward to parents from Perspectives Charter Schools being able to attend some of our programs this year.  If you are interested in supporting this effort, contact Lonnie or Susan.

Parent Education Consortium

PEC (Parent Education Consortium) prepares a consolidated calendar of programs in or near New Trier Township of interest to parents.  PEC has a website with all these programs and others.  http://www.peccalendar.org  The website is kept up to date with new programs and changes (as best they can).  All of these programs are open to the general public, most without admission fees or reservations required. Current PEC Calendar (pdf).

Here are selected events (see the PEC calendar (on-line) for complete information on these and other events):

Friday, January 27, Raising Creative and Compassionate Kids in Today’s Pressure-Filled World, 9:30-11:00 AM, Sacred Heart Parish Center, corner of Gage and Burr Sts., Winnetka, IL

Today’s cultural
pressures on children — media saturation, materialism, test-driven schools, and the fast pace of life — threaten to undermine some of the basic building blocks of healthy child development. But we, as parents and adults who care for children, can navigate these difficult waters when we under- stand what it is children need and how we can best help them in these rapidly changing times. Learn hand-on advice on how to create a safe, open, and imaginative environment for children and how you can take back childhood for your children. This topic will be presented by Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed.D., Professor Emerita at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, where she taught teachers for more than 30 years and was a founder of the University’s Center for Peaceable Schools. Nancy has written and spoken extensively about the impact of violence, especially in the media, on children’s lives and social development and how children learn the skills for caring relationships and positive conflict resolution. She is the author and co-author of five books and has written numerous articles. Her most recent book is Taking Back Childhood. Sponsored by The Alliance for Early Childhood, www.theallianceforec.org.

Tuesday, January 31, An Evening with Rob Evans, 6-7:30 PM, Countryside Montessori School, 1985 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook

There is no harder job than being a parent. Nothing else touches so much of a person so deeply — or so unpredictably—and there is no training for it. As the pace of life accelerates, as media influences intensify, and as the future grows less predictable, parents find it harder to know how to raise children of character, caring, and competence, how to resist negative influences in the surrounding culture, how to help foster strength and resilience in children. Rob Evans, Ed.D. will outline key dilemmas in raising children and adolescents today and offer concrete suggestions for successful coping at home and school. Dr. Evans is a clinical and organizational psychologist and the Executive Director of The Human Relations Service in Wellesley, MA. A former high school and pre-school teacher, and a former child and family therapist, he has worked with schools and families for thirty years. He has consulted with over 1,500 schools around the country. His presentations are known for their lively wit and plain talk. Dr. Evans is the author of many articles and three books, including Family Matters: How Schools Can Cope with The Crisis in Childrearing. Call Karen at 847-498-1105 or email karen@countrysidemontessori.org to reserve a space.

Thursday, February 23, Don’t Be Average, 7:00 PM, Loyola Academy Theatre, 1100 Laramie, Wilmette

Titled “The Dr. Phil for teens” by FOX and “The Teen Dear Abby” by CNN, teen expert Josh Shipp has earned an international reputation as a leading authority on getting through to teens. His goal is to help teens "get it" and help those who care about teens -- "get through to them." Josh Shipp has been a guest media expert on countless media outlets including CNN, MTV, FOX, ABC, TLC, and in print in The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post and OPRAH.com. Josh explains the world of teenagers in a fresh, hip, intelligent matter that is straightforward and entertaining to digest. He will be speaking to the junior class in the morning. All parents of juniors are expected to attend. Sponsored by Loyola Academy’s Guidance Department’s Health & Wellness Program. All parents and guests are welcome at each program. No fee is charged. No reservations required. To find out more please contact Selina McGuire at 847-920-2512 or smcguire@loy.org

Friday, March 2, Friday Salon: Parents – Don’t Let Them Leave Home Without Signatures, 4-5:30 PM, Women’s Exchange, Winnetka Community House Annex, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka,

Join Kate Van Dyke, MA, from Coaching, Inc., as she shares the needs when "having the conversation" with young adults 18+ about health, legal and medical documents. As part of this SALON, Kate will also review the significance of having a Health Power of Attorney document for the 18+ in our life. Call 847-441-3406 to RSVP.

Wednesday, March 7, Let’s Talk Sense About Sex, 7:00 PM, Loyola Academy Theatre, 1100 Laramie, Wilmette

Healthy sexuality is a topic we cannot evade or ignore today. What is the difference between sex and sexuality? How do you answer the tricky questions your children pose about sexuality? How do you overcome the negative influences from our popular culture? Terry Nelson-Johnson, D.Min. is an energetic and passionate speaker who uses his gift of humor to help parents deal with this sensitive subject matter. Dr. Nelson-Johnson will be presenting to the entire Junior class. All parents of juniors are expected to attend. Sponsored by Loyola Academy’s Guidance Department’s Health & Wellness Program. All parents and guests are welcome at each program. No fee is charged. No reservations required. To find out more please contact Selina McGuire at 847-920-2512 or smcguire@loy.org

Wednesday, March 21, Teens & the Law: What Parents Need to Know, 7:30 PM, Deerfield High School, Room E114, 1959 N. Waukegan Rd., Deerfield

Presented by a Lake County judge, Chris Stride, Chief of the Juvenile Division of Lake County State’s Attorneys Office, Claudia Kasten, defense attorney, Elliott Pinsell, and the Deerfield Police. You won’t want to miss this informative and eye-opening program covering such topics as “sexting,” consequences of fake I.D. use, underage drinking and drug use, parental liability, etc. Sponsored by the Deerield Parent Network. For more information, email deerfieldparentnetwork@gmail.com

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Volunteers make FAN go!

FAN’s Board invites new participation in a variety of roles. If you are an interested parent or professional, who would like to contribute to or learn from a vital organization-- that is committed to educating and connecting parents -- we invite you to please contact Lonnie Stonitsch or Susan Rooney. Planning has already begun and we await your contribution. At every school in New Trier Township we have one or more liaisons - you can help FAN by being a liaison. You can join the FAN board and help in your area of interest and expertise. Want to know more about how you can help and the time required, and the benefits? Write or call Gail Nusekabel.

Parent Networks

Parents are encouraged to form and join new parent networks. Interested? Drop us a note.  A parent network is a small group of parents, of middle school and beyond, who gather for a discussion, facilitated by a local professional, about the joys and challenges of raising children in our communities. 

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Need help now?  FAN does not provide emergency services, but recommends these services

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FAN’s Mission Statement

Family Awareness Network of New Trier Township (FAN)  makes a positive difference in families' lives by building parents' confidence and helping them connect with other parents, their children, the schools and the community through effective educational programs, active parent networks and other practical parenting resources.