We parents like our kids to think that we have all the answers, but in reality sometimes we can use a little help or some new ideas. Parents in Districts 203 and 204 are fortunate to have a one day annual Parent University available to us in addition to a variety of other helpful events sponsored by our school districts. These two school districts have been running Parent University for over fifteen years.
Jean Donovan, Illinois PTA District 36 Director and Neuqua Valley PTSA president, says that "The value of interaction and opportunity to talk face to face with other parents who may have the same experiences or concerns can never be replaced by any book or online site."
Cathy Piehl, who has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in social work, had not attended before last year because she thought the event was for younger or more inexperienced parents. She attended a workshop about helping students transition to college, one about special ed and how to be a partner in the development of your child's IEP (Individual Education Program), and one on bullying in Elementary at last year's Parent University and found that "You learn so much from other parents and their experiences, it can be very powerful. "
This year’s Parent University will be held at Neuqua Valley High School on Saturday, February 6 from 8am-2:15pm. The cost is $20 for half the day or $30 for the full day. Registration is first come first serve and due by January 29. The registration form is available online linked from District 204’s homepage www.ipsd.org.
The day begins with breakfast, followed by Keynote Speaker Gloria DeGaetano addressing the topic “Parenting Well in a Media Age.” This seems like a useful topic for parents of any ages of children given the proliferation of social media these days. This is followed by a workshop session, and then for those who are staying the full day – lunch and another workshop session.
Most of the workshops are available both morning and afternoon. There are three workshops each available for early childhood, elementary, and all ages, plus there are five for middle/high school. Each of these topics should provide parents with some useful information from experts.
Here is a sampling of what’s available. Help Your Teen Survive and Thrive in High School and Beyond, presented by Dr. Amy Avery, North Central College. Raising Self-Sufficient and Responsible Kids, presented by Claudia Evenson, CSADC Director of Outreach Services, Rosecranse. Taming the TV: Developing Healthy Media Habits, presented by Beth Miller, M. Ed. PCI Certified Parent Coach. Helping the Underachieving Kid Succeed in School and Life! Presented by Dr. Michael Litow, The Education Center.
"Too often, in today's high tech, mobile society, parents feel isolated and alone in their parenting efforts and while a lot of parenting advice can be accessed by sitting at home reading a book or on-line article, Parent University offers Moms and Dads and caregivers a chance to come together, network and share the joys and challenges of this all-important job in a fun, interactive environment where they have the opportunity to ask follow-up questions directly of the experts," says Jane Wernette, co-chair of Parent University.
It can be difficult for busy parents to find time to attend something like this, but if it can be worked into your schedule, take a look at the brochure online. You may see one or more workshops that could be useful for your family. If so, now is the time to register!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
2010-01-08 NCC Study Abroad in Costa Rica
(Not published in the Beacon since it doesn't fit "local content" guidelines)
Pura Vida! My oldest daughter had an amazing fall term. Jessica was one of seventeen students and a teacher who went on a North Central College study abroad trip to Costa Rica from late August through mid-December. "Pura Vida" is a phrase commonly used by ticos (Costa Ricans) that is hard to describe but is both a greeting a way of life.
The students lived with host families while experiencing a foreign culture and language. The first eight weeks they attended COSI in Quepos. There they had Spanish class four hours each weekday and Ecotourism class two afternoons each week. They also had a cooking class and a dancing class. COSI is located on a mountain with stunning views of the ocean and jungle below.
The students had lots of free time and enjoyed visiting the beach and other local hang-outs, and many weekends they took trips to other parts of the country. While there they were treated as locals and got the local discounts that tourists would not. The students had a lot of independence. They took buses or taxis or walked to their destinations.
Quepos is a small town located on the Pacific Coast. It is a gorgeous area of mountainous jungle, home to abundant wildlife and located adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The park has two beautiful beaches and visitors can see sloths, caimans, monkeys, lizards, and many other creatures in their natural habitats. It is usually very hot and humid there and rains a lot, and most places are open air and do not have air conditioning. Geckos are abundant inside and out and are good to have around because they eat lots of bugs.
At the ninth week the students traveled to Nicaragua for a couple of days and that was quite an interesting and different experience as well, including some difficult border crossings. Back in Quepos they had a few days of vacation before moving to the capital city of San Jose November 1. Everyone met their new host families and got settled in and then began either internships or more schooling for the final six weeks.
I imagine it would be scary to be so far from home and move in with a family you have never met before, and then to do it twice in such a short time!
Things in San Jose were very different than in Quepos. The weather was cooler and the city surroundings offered restaurants, movie theaters, and shopping malls like any large city anywhere. The students saw many new movies that came out in the U.S. during that time, but in Spanish. Since they were no longer in school together every day they didn’t see as much of each other.
While there Jessica experienced an earthquake, visiting volcanoes and national parks, horseback riding, white water rafting, snorkeling, boat rides, whale and dolphin watching, nature exploration, riding on a moped, playing in a waterfall, living near a beach, living in a big city, and all kinds of things that are very different from being at home. It was also different not having cell phones nor having internet access at home.
Here are some quotes from students who went on the trip.
I had the greatest learning experience of my life by studying abroad in Costa Rica . There is so much to learn not just from a language aspect but from a cultural aspect. Being immersed in a foreign culture is life changing. I learned so much from the obvious like cooking different foods to being as open minded as one can be.
Megan King, St. Louis , MO
The trip really opened my eyes about the rest of the world. I saw so many things and did so many things that I would have never done; I do not regret a thing. I made so many friends and regularly keep in touch with them. My Spanish has improved dramatically and I plan on improving it even more. Costa Rica has changed my entire life and will keep doing so solely because of its impact on my life.
Tanvi Potdukhe, Woodridge
Costa Rica was incredible! I did a lot of things that I never thought I would or could. I went on many memorable and crazy adventures, made many new and cherished friends from all over the world, and, of course, learned a lot of Spanish which will help me with my career goals. Most importantly, however,being completely out of my cultural context gave me the opportunity to step outside of myself and look at who I really am. The greatest lessons I learned while abroad were about myself. I came back with much more confidence in my personal identity, and that is something I will forever be grateful for.
Jenna Slack, Carol Stream
It is an incredible feeling now to look at a map, see Costa Rica located so far away from the U.S. , and know that I have family and friends there with whom I will keep in touch for years to come. Though my home is in Naperville , because of the people I grew so close to I now feel as though I have a home in Costa Rica as well.
Also, the trip was invaluable in terms of improving my ability to speak Spanish. There is such a difference between taking Spanish classes here in the U.S. , where we study grammar, vocabulary, and literature, and actually getting out into the Spanish-speaking world and learning to speak more like a native. I feel far more confident now in my ability to communicate in Spanish in any situation and know that this skill will serve me well both personally as I keep up my relationships with my Costa Rican friends and also career-wise as I look for a job.
Katie Braun, Naperville
Looking back at the first few weeks of our study abroad experience in Costa Rica , I can recall the feelings of excitement, astonishment, independence, but also of fear, loneliness, and adjustment. We had just arrived in a beautiful and exotic country and were about to experience a new culture, perfect our knowledge of the Spanish language, and visit breathless beaches, jungles, and volcanoes, but were intensely missing our families and loved ones, living with people we did not know, and adjusting to the fact that we would be there for 15 weeks. As I look back at that wonderful point in time, I can see how much each one of us grew as individuals and how much more we valued our families, friends, and home. It was such a blessing that we were studying abroad as a group, not only because there were 17 other people who were experiencing the same things, but also because we often leaned on eachother for support and advice.
I can speak for myself and for the whole group when I say that the level of our Spanish language skills reached enormous heights. Not only did we learn the language in our classes taught by professionals, but we also learned as we spoke with our homestay families, our newly made friends, and our co-workers in our internships. It was an experience that will truly be treasured in my life and that has helped me become more of the individual I am today.
Evita Predki, Lemont
Pura Vida! My oldest daughter had an amazing fall term. Jessica was one of seventeen students and a teacher who went on a North Central College study abroad trip to Costa Rica from late August through mid-December. "Pura Vida" is a phrase commonly used by ticos (Costa Ricans) that is hard to describe but is both a greeting a way of life.
The students lived with host families while experiencing a foreign culture and language. The first eight weeks they attended COSI in Quepos. There they had Spanish class four hours each weekday and Ecotourism class two afternoons each week. They also had a cooking class and a dancing class. COSI is located on a mountain with stunning views of the ocean and jungle below.
The students had lots of free time and enjoyed visiting the beach and other local hang-outs, and many weekends they took trips to other parts of the country. While there they were treated as locals and got the local discounts that tourists would not. The students had a lot of independence. They took buses or taxis or walked to their destinations.
Quepos is a small town located on the Pacific Coast. It is a gorgeous area of mountainous jungle, home to abundant wildlife and located adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The park has two beautiful beaches and visitors can see sloths, caimans, monkeys, lizards, and many other creatures in their natural habitats. It is usually very hot and humid there and rains a lot, and most places are open air and do not have air conditioning. Geckos are abundant inside and out and are good to have around because they eat lots of bugs.
At the ninth week the students traveled to Nicaragua for a couple of days and that was quite an interesting and different experience as well, including some difficult border crossings. Back in Quepos they had a few days of vacation before moving to the capital city of San Jose November 1. Everyone met their new host families and got settled in and then began either internships or more schooling for the final six weeks.
I imagine it would be scary to be so far from home and move in with a family you have never met before, and then to do it twice in such a short time!
Things in San Jose were very different than in Quepos. The weather was cooler and the city surroundings offered restaurants, movie theaters, and shopping malls like any large city anywhere. The students saw many new movies that came out in the U.S. during that time, but in Spanish. Since they were no longer in school together every day they didn’t see as much of each other.
While there Jessica experienced an earthquake, visiting volcanoes and national parks, horseback riding, white water rafting, snorkeling, boat rides, whale and dolphin watching, nature exploration, riding on a moped, playing in a waterfall, living near a beach, living in a big city, and all kinds of things that are very different from being at home. It was also different not having cell phones nor having internet access at home.
Here are some quotes from students who went on the trip.
I had the greatest learning experience of my life by studying abroad in Costa Rica . There is so much to learn not just from a language aspect but from a cultural aspect. Being immersed in a foreign culture is life changing. I learned so much from the obvious like cooking different foods to being as open minded as one can be.
Megan King, St. Louis , MO
The trip really opened my eyes about the rest of the world. I saw so many things and did so many things that I would have never done; I do not regret a thing. I made so many friends and regularly keep in touch with them. My Spanish has improved dramatically and I plan on improving it even more. Costa Rica has changed my entire life and will keep doing so solely because of its impact on my life.
Tanvi Potdukhe, Woodridge
Costa Rica was incredible! I did a lot of things that I never thought I would or could. I went on many memorable and crazy adventures, made many new and cherished friends from all over the world, and, of course, learned a lot of Spanish which will help me with my career goals. Most importantly, however,being completely out of my cultural context gave me the opportunity to step outside of myself and look at who I really am. The greatest lessons I learned while abroad were about myself. I came back with much more confidence in my personal identity, and that is something I will forever be grateful for.
Jenna Slack, Carol Stream
It is an incredible feeling now to look at a map, see Costa Rica located so far away from the U.S. , and know that I have family and friends there with whom I will keep in touch for years to come. Though my home is in Naperville , because of the people I grew so close to I now feel as though I have a home in Costa Rica as well.
Also, the trip was invaluable in terms of improving my ability to speak Spanish. There is such a difference between taking Spanish classes here in the U.S. , where we study grammar, vocabulary, and literature, and actually getting out into the Spanish-speaking world and learning to speak more like a native. I feel far more confident now in my ability to communicate in Spanish in any situation and know that this skill will serve me well both personally as I keep up my relationships with my Costa Rican friends and also career-wise as I look for a job.
Katie Braun, Naperville
Looking back at the first few weeks of our study abroad experience in Costa Rica , I can recall the feelings of excitement, astonishment, independence, but also of fear, loneliness, and adjustment. We had just arrived in a beautiful and exotic country and were about to experience a new culture, perfect our knowledge of the Spanish language, and visit breathless beaches, jungles, and volcanoes, but were intensely missing our families and loved ones, living with people we did not know, and adjusting to the fact that we would be there for 15 weeks. As I look back at that wonderful point in time, I can see how much each one of us grew as individuals and how much more we valued our families, friends, and home. It was such a blessing that we were studying abroad as a group, not only because there were 17 other people who were experiencing the same things, but also because we often leaned on eachother for support and advice.
I can speak for myself and for the whole group when I say that the level of our Spanish language skills reached enormous heights. Not only did we learn the language in our classes taught by professionals, but we also learned as we spoke with our homestay families, our newly made friends, and our co-workers in our internships. It was an experience that will truly be treasured in my life and that has helped me become more of the individual I am today.
Evita Predki, Lemont
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