Active Parenting Classes Start This Week at Orcas School

Dinners and childcare included

The Orcas Island School District is once again offering parenting classes for the parents of students, from Kindergarten through 12^th grade, beginning this week.

Building on the Success of the “Active Parenting” Program, used in years past for elementary grades, the Readiness to Learn Program is teaming with the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership (OIPP) to bring 4 series of classes this year, one specifically for Spanish-speaking families.

Starting on Wednesday, March 3, Leota Shaner will facilitate the “Active Parenting Now in 3” sessions for the next 3 Wednesdays, for parents of  2^nd– 5th Graders.

Shaner’s sessions will begin at 5:30 in the school library. Also, a Family Dinner will be provided in the Orcas School Home Ec. room at 5 p.m. before the classes.  Childcare will be provided during the classes. Parents who’d like to register for the class and to take advantage of childcare and/or dinner beforehand, at 5 p.m., are asked to call Margie Doyle, RTL Coordinator, at 376-1566, or email at mdoyle@orcas.k12.wa.us .

The classes will help parents to:

• Strengthen communication and problem-solving skills
• Promote respect and cooperation with your child

• Use positive discipline techniques and encourage responsibility

  The classes, dinner and childcare (provided by the Orcas High School Key Club) will continue March 10 and March 17. A $15 donation is requested, but all are welcome regardless of ability to donate

The next night, Thursday, March 4^th, Marta Nielson, OIPP Director, will begin a 5-course “Active Parenting for Teens” class for Parents of 6^th -12^th graders.  A donation of $25 is requested for the Parenting for Teens class, but again, all are welcome regardless of ability to donate. Childcare for younger children and older student homework supervisionwill be provided during classes by Key Club for the “Active Parenting for Teens” classes, which will run on Thursdays through March, until April 1. The sessions start at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.

“Active Parenting in 3” for Parents of Kindergarteners and 1st graders will be offered later in the month, on Mondays, March 15, 22 & 29. These sessions will begin at 5:30, with dinner and childcare provided. Please call 376-1566 or email mdoyle@orcas.k12.wa.us to register. Ethna Flanagan will teach this class.

Erin O’Dell, Family Advocate for Orcas Family Connections, will teach an Active Parenting Now class for all Spanish-speaking parents, regardless of their child’s school grade, at the same time in an Elementary School classroom.

All parents are welcome to attend all classes.

The classes are sponsored by the Readiness to Learn Program and Orcas Island Prevention Partnership,  with help from a grant from the United Way of San Juan County.

To register, call 376-1566, or 376-1547, or email mdoyle@orcas.k12.wa.us