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Parent University set for February at Lyons Township High School
Updated: February 4, 2013 6:01AM
WESTERN SPRINGS — Parent Community Network, a network of area parents and community members, recently named Char Wenc, author and national speaker, as the keynote speaker for the 16th annual Parent University to be held Feb. 2 at Lyons Township High School, South Campus, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road, Western Springs.
Parent University, an informative educational half-day event, held annually since 1998, typically draws between 175-250 attendees. The agenda is speakers discussing issues facing today’s parents and youth from pre-school through high school.
Parents and educators attend the keynote session and then can choose up to three breakout sessions to attend. There are also tables set up in the snack room where attendees can visit community resource groups as well as network together.
Wenc is a nationally recognized speaker and author on communication, parenting and creating cooperative environments at home, at work, and in the classroom. She is a professor in the doctorial programs at the Adler School of Professional Psychology and Loyola University Chicago. For more than 25 years, Wenc has been a professional communicator as a parent, teacher, clinical counselor and television speaker. She teaches skills that make a difference in how people live together. She shares her knowledge and experience with passion, humor and realism.
Parent University attendees can choose from over 20 interactive breakout sessions on such topics as drugs in the suburbs, wired students, motivating kids, teaching about money and chores, positive peer relationships, birth order and personality, impact of fathers, single parenting, building resilience, student anxiety, time management and college readiness.
This year will also include a forum to share, discuss and ask questions on middle school issues.
Parent University will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 2. The cost is $20 (pre register by Jan. 24) or $25 at the door. This includes all sessions, and wells as continental breakfast and light snacks donated by local businesses. Child care (age 3-10) is available for $7 (must pre-register).
Registration forms will be available in mid/late December. Most residents should receive a brochure through their local school; though they can be downloaded from PCN’s website (www.parentcommunitynetwork.com). This site is the source for additional information on Parent University as well as articles, book recommendations, newsletters and a discussion forum. Visitors to the site can subscribe and receive periodic updates directly to their email account.
Volunteers are needed before as well as on the day of Parent University. To help email pcn4lt@yahoo.com or pcn@parentcommunitynetwork.com.
