Parents

By August, the telltale signs have emerged. “Back to School” specials appear in newspaper ads. Prominent displays of notebooks, backpacks, and school supplies pop up in discount stores. And many parents start looking downright eager about the end of summer, when they can re-establish a normal routine.

Besides new school outfits and supplies, there are great ways to help your kids start off on the right foot for a successful school year, says a panel of mid-Michigan principals assembled by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

A prom is usually an unforgettable occasion. Even adults far removed from their high-school years tend to remember the event—what they wore, who their date was, where they went afterwards, and whether or not they attended the dance.

A panel of Michigan principals assembled by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) recognizes how special proms can be for high-school students. The principals also have suggestions that can lessen prom anxiety for both parents and students.

Years ago, a student's graduation from high school was marked by small family parties. Today, in many communities, those quiet gatherings have mushroomed into all-out, open-house celebrations that seem to fill every weekend in June.

How Not to Kill Kids Love of Sports. ( Link WSJ )

WORK & FAMILY By SUE SHELLENBARGER

All Soccer, All the Time? How Not to Kill Kids' Love of Sports"> August 9, 2007

Whatever your child’s plans after high school—whether it’s enrolling in a four-year college, a two-year community college, the military, or
vocational training—it’s vital to keep an eye on future goals when choosing a high-school class schedule. So says a panel of mid-Michigan
principals assembled by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.

Heading to Florida or other warm-weather destinations for spring break used to be a rite of passage enjoyed mainly by college students. But in recent years, high-school juniors and seniors have been joining in the annual ritual, too.

It’s a development to which Michigan principals wish parents would “just say no.” That, at least, is the consensus of a panel of mid-Michigan principals assembled by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

Organization is the key to getting the most out of a parent-teacher conference, according to a group of Michigan principals polled by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

In fact, they say, the first thing that both parents and students should do is to sit down together to talk about an upcoming conference, then compile a list of questions or concerns to discuss with the teacher.

Information About Your School 

Stand Up

Stand Up is a community-based national campaign designed to give parents the tools they need to get their kids the education they deserve.

Rules for Parents (in pdf format)
Excerpted from cover article "Secrets of the Teen Brain." (Source: Time Magazine, 05-10-04)