by Mary Kay Melvin
PA News Editor
Whether you have heard of Dr. Ken Ginsberg and love his books or have yet to discover him, you are in luck. A fantastic opportunity awaits San Francisco Day School community members on November 12 when Ginsberg will present Raising Resilient Children and Teens. This free event is offered by SPEAK (Speakers for Parents, Educators and Knowledge coalition). The presentation is open to all parents and educators and will take place at the Hall of the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral. The address is 245 Valencia Street (at 14th Street). Limited on-site parking is available.
Ginsberg, a nationally recognized pediatrician in adolescent medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, aims to start a national dialogue among parents and children of all ages. From that discussion, he hopes to redefine perceptions of success and to evaluate the significant physical and emotional damage that stress and everyday pressure can have on development. Central to his work are strategies for raising resilient children who are capable of dealing with life’s difficulties and who learn from personal defeat.
Ginsberg is the author of “A Parent’s Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Your Child Roots and Wings” and “Less Stress, More Success: A New Approach to Guiding Your Teen through College Admissions and Beyond” (co-authored with Marilee Jones).
The School’s SPEAK liaisons are Courtney Cooney and Jennifer Holderness, co-chairs of the SFDS Parent Education committee.
As a committee, Courtney said, “our goal is to inform the SFDS community—educators, parents and children—about educational events taking place in and around the city. There are many great resources in the Bay Area. There are book signings, films, and cultural events at museums; all of which offer learning opportunities for parents and children.”
Furthermore, Courtney said, she and Jennifer plan to work with parents, the administration, and the Parents Association to offer a deeper understanding of certain programs integral to SFDS (such as the Differentiated Learning Program and the Responsive Classroom). “Through ‘My Voice,’” Courtney said, “we hope to hear from more parents on what educational issues are of concern or interest to them and thus provide the impetus for other timely and worthwhile events,” she said.
SPEAK, which launched last year, is a coalition of San Francisco independent schools (K-8) that have joined together to enhance parent education. Its goal is to enrich the education and learning experience for member schools’ families, children, and communities. For more information about the group, please visit its newly updated web site at www.speaksf.org.
SPEAK will hold its second event, Smart Parenting in an Online World, on March 23, 2010, at 7 p.m. at the Greek Orthodox Hall. This panel discussion on parenting in the digital age will feature the following people: Ann Zehren, CommonSense Media; B.J. Fogg, Stanford professor and author of “The Psychology of Facebook;” and Matt Levinson, assistant director and head of the middle school at The Nueva School.
This community forum will address the unique challenges faced by parents trying to manage and understand the revolution in communication and information technology that is part of their children’s lives. It is an extraordinary opportunity for parents to gain insight into the educational, social, and psychological implications of growing up as a digital native, according to SPEAK organizers.
SPEAK coalition members are Cathedral School for Boys, Children’s Day School, The Hamlin School, Katherine Delmar-Burke School, Live Oak School, Marin Country Day School, Presidio Hill School, San Francisco Day School, San Francisco Friends School, The San Francisco School, and Synergy.
