The Parenting Awareness Conference was held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Kennedy Middle School

Keynote Address: Mental Fitness: Building Blocks of Resilience and Wellbeing
Jennifer DelRey, PhD - Newton-Wellesley Hospital Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Staff Psychologist Associate Director The Resilience Project

Building resilience, happiness, and wellbeing is both a science and an art. Developing the “building blocks” that lead to growth and development in the face of adversity and improved mental wellness can be taught and learned. This talk will present a backdrop of what resilience is and why it matters, a framework for supporting wellbeing, and share specific tools that can help young people – and the adults who support them – to thrive.

Plugged in Parents: Digital Media and Electronics Management
Sandy Malec - Director of Educational Technology and Library, Waltham Public Schools

This presentation will help parents navigate their children’s Digital Media. It will explain the popular social media sites and how to manage their child’s use of it. It will also demonstrate the technology that they have available to them in the WPS.

Preparing Your Family to Navigate Grief, Loss, and Change
Christine Lambright, LMHC & Claire Blackford, LCSW

Many families experience a range of losses over time that can bring a mixture of emotions and stress. This session will look at how children & teens understand and experience grief differently than adults. We will also explore ways that families can cope together by making space to share feelings, acknowledging what has changed within the family, and communicating about future plans.

Addressing Family Stress & Depression
Jessenia Urrea, MPH & Rebekah Gibbons, LICSW - Families for Depression Awareness

Does your family have the strategies they need to address life’s stressors? By being knowledgeable about self- care and mental health, your family can get and stay on the path to wellness. Participants learn how to identify symptoms of stress in themselves and family members, manage stress as a family, respond when symptoms become “more than stress,” and get help for themselves or a family member.

Growing Together, The benefits of connecting around plants
Jessica S. Herwick - life-long educator, master gardener & curriculum designer. Current Director of Education & Community Programs at Waltham Fields Community Farm

● Explore the wonderful world of exploring nature and growing plants together for food or beauty with your children, middle schoolers and teens.
● Discover the benefits of applications caring for plants and cooking together can have on young learners.
● Explore fun ways to encourage family time and engage with the outdoors. Incorporate fresh foods into your family dinner time.
● Engage children in activities to help them better understand the source of fresh food.
● Explore herbs or flowers together.
● Build confidence, patience and empathy through connecting with nature.

Parent Panel: Cultivating a Sense of Belonging in the School Community
Susan Sutherland - Parent Information Center, Waltham Public Schools

In this session, we will hear from a panel of parents who will share their experiences and involvement with their child's school and the district, and how it has contributed to their sense of belonging in the school community. Through their stories, we will gain insights into what works and what doesn't work in creating a sense of belonging for parents, and learn about strategies for improving parent engagement in the school and school community. By the end of this session, participants will have gained insights into the challenges and successes of family engagement and will be motivated to help create and promote a welcoming and inclusive learning environment.

Career Exploration and Training: Summer Internship Opportunities for High School Students
Medjine Lucien - Waltham Partnership for Youth, CET Program Coordinator

Waltham Partnership for Youth is a nonprofit organization that Collaborates with youth, families, and partner organizations to address long-standing systemic inequities while building a community of belonging and opportunity for Waltham youth. Join us to learn more about the WPY High School Summer Internship Program that aims to link Waltham youth to a diverse group of employers across the city.

Apoyando a los recién legados en WPS/Supporting Newcomers in Waltham Public Schools Presentation
Sara Hamerla - Waltham Public Schools Multilingual Department & BELPAC Leadership - Haybi Barrios, Adela Escobar, Alexandra Jimenez, Carolina Lara

Join Us to meet the Bilingual Parent Advisory Council (BELPAC). We advocate for families of students in the Multilingual Programs. This session will be a two-way dialogue to learn together about ways we can support new students in our schools.

Están invitados a conocer el BELPAC! Abogamos para las familias de estudiantes en los programas multilingües. Vamos a dialogar para aprender de las maneras que podemos apoyar estudiantes recién llegados en nuestras escuelas.