Happy February! Here are some of the great parent education opportunities that are coming soon in the Issaquah School District:

Success: Stay Organized, Manage Time and Study Skills
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Pacific Cascade Middle School, 24635 SE Issaquah-Fall City Road, Issaquah, WA
Help your teen succeed by learning practical organizational, time management, and study skills that be personalized to the individual learning style. Put basic office supplies to use and reduce mind clutter. This presentation is by Jenni Butz of Pacific Learning Academy.

Anxiety — Yours, Mine, and Ours
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Issaquah High School, 700 2nd Ave., SE, Issaquah, WA
This lecture will discuss research on teen stress by author of Wise Minded Parenting (among other publications), Laura Kastner, PhD. Some stress is good! Challenges energize, focus, and motivate use. Stress management and resilience are key personal strengths that can determine success or failure. Learn how to help, rather than hinder, your teens' stress management.

State of Mind Mini-Conferences
Saturday, March 19, 2016 Issaquah High School, 700 2nd Ave., SE, Issaquah, WA
Saturday, April 2, 2016 – Liberty High School, 16655 SE 136th St., Renton, WA
Saturday, April 23, 2016 –Skyline High School, 1122 228th Ave. SE, Sammamish, WA
12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m.
Adults and students are invited to attend one, two or all three State of Mind miniconferences focused on topics related to youth mental health. Each school miniconference will have a different focus, including how to cope with stress, how to help friends who are struggling with depression, or how to detach from technology. Each mini-conference will also offer a core of basic classes in topics such as the impacts of drugs on the developing brain, healthy relationships, body image, and living with mental illness. Registrations for these conferences, as well as programs with a list of speakers and topics, will be available by February 15th.

Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human Kick Off Event
Friday, April 29, 2016 at  6:00 p.m.
Issaquah Senior Center
The Issaquah Schools Foundation and ArtEast are partnering on the "Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human" project. This very special months-long event will bring an art exhibit focused on the themes of mental illness and mental health to Issaquah schools and community. The exhibit itself will run from April 18 through June 30th and feature juried art located at three different art galleries in the greater Issaquah area. In addition, the exhibit will serve as a platform for panel discussions, tours, and school/ community art, poetry and music activities focused on the theme of mental wellness. Everyone is invited to attend this kick-off event, which will be followed by a reception located at the ArtEast gallery on Front Street in downtown Issaquah. Put this on your calendars! More information and a complete list of activities will be provided later in the spring.

Lastly, I caught this segment on the Today show and thought it was worth sharing. Might be a good time of year to discuss those safety plans with your family! Fire Safety Video