South Orange Middle School Holds First Parent Academy

’s first took place on Tuesday evening and it was a huge success.  

Created by , the Parent Academy is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the school’s relationship with parents, and to create a total “community of learners,” in which all stakeholders, students, staff, and the community, are engaged in ongoing learning to ensure success for our children in high school and beyond.   

Broken down into three time periods, the more than 150 parents who attended were able to choose from five informative presentations on topics that are highly relevant for parents of teens or soon to be teens. 

Alison Steiner, a SOMS Social Worker and Fran Cristalli, a SOMS Guidance Counselor, gave an insightful presentation about the social and emotional lives of middle schoolers and the ways in which they are defining themselves in relation to their peer group.  Anthony Mazzochi, the Supervisor of Fine Arts for the school district, provided tips on how parents can keep their children on track musically during the middle school years, a crucial time for the growth of musicians. 

As educational institutions across the state of New Jersey implement the new Anti-Bullying Law, the district’s in-house counsel, Jessica de Koninck, gave parents an overview of the new law and the ways in which it is affecting the day-to-day lives of our students and educators. 

A session on reading for pleasure in middle school with Margaret Freedson, a professor from Monclair State, outlined strategies that will help keep teens interested in pleasure reading and shared her views on recent trends in teen literature and reading.

Uglialoro presented the final session, which focused on how parents can support their childrens’ math learning digitally.  It was a practical and insightful look into the high-quality on-line resources that help parents help their children in advancing and reinforcing math skills.

Attendees had great things to say.

“The turnout was impressive and the breakout topics varied to offer something for everyone.  My husband and I found both the content of the workshops and the sense of community enriching,” said Mary Barber, mother of an SOMS 6^th grader.

Deidra McLaughlin, mother of an SOMS 7^th grader, found the evening insightful.

“This event broadened my understanding of how I can help my son become a more successful student in middle school and beyond," said McLaughlin.  "The presenters gave us adaptable information, sprinkled with a little humor.  I hope more Parent Academies are planned because they slow us down for a couple of hours to focus on tools to help us guide our kids in the right direction.”

Another Parent Academy is planned for the spring.