Penn & PTO to host Parent Academy on “Trends in Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use” on Thursday, March 30

 

Penn High School Principal Steve Hope, and Penn Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) president Ann Amico Moran, announced the formation of Parent Academy, a program designed to provide parents with important parenting resources as they guide their children through high school.

 

The first Parent Academy presentation, “Trends in Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use”, will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, in the LGI-A (enter through Door A).

 

The featured speaker will be Bryan Fox, a 22-year Mishawaka Police Department veteran and Certified Drug Recognition Expert.

 

“The Penn PTO Parent Academy is a chance for parents to hear about pertinent issues from drug use to study skills,” Hope said. “The Penn PTO will continue to bring relevant information to Penn parents to support the P-H-M triangle of success — parents, teachers and students.

 

“These parent nights are an opportunity to not only learn, but to share,” Hope continued. “There will be question and answer sessions associated with each academy night.” 

 

Moran encouraged Penn parents to take advantage of the Parent Academy presentations.

 

“As parents of teens, we are faced with complicated scenarios with little formal training on how to navigate them successfully,” Moran stated. “The Penn High School PTO wishes to address some of the "hottest" issues happening with our teens here at Penn High School through the Penn Parent Forum.  We will bring together experts and real parents to discuss topics that many of us have a hard time navigating, let alone admit that our teens are faced with the topics on a daily basis.

 

“The Penn PTO feels it is important to start the conversation so that we can guide our teens in the best way we can,” Moran added.  “We hope that you will join us for the open presentations and dialogue at these presentations.”

 

The concept of the “Parent Academy” emerged from several conversations between the Penn PTO and Hope, with the goal of creating a regular series of community outreach events.  

 

In addition to educating our student population, Penn High School is committed to educating the community about a wide range of topics geared to support the parents of Penn High School students.

 

The first Parent Academy presentation, “Trends in Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use”, features Bryan Fox, a 22-year Mishawaka Police Department veteran and Certified Drug Recognition Expert.

 

Fox brings his expertise and knowledge of current drug trends to the Penn PTO Parent Academy Night. Fox is a familiar face at Penn High School. He has been a part-time School Resource Officer at Penn for the last nine years and has spoken to Penn freshmen students about the dangers of drinking and driving and drug use for the last eight years. As a Certified Drug Recognition Expert, Fox is specially trained to use his knowledge of physiology, to recognize not only the signs of impairment in an individual, but specifically what types of drugs a person may be using.

 

Future topics include:

• Navigating the college process (applying for college, applying for scholarships, filling out financial aid forms).
• Technology (HAC and Canvas help).
• General wellness and mental health support (suicide prevention, self-esteem, body image).
• How to be a good Penn Parent (assisting the transition from middle school to high school, supporting a successful academic and social experience in high school.
• Cyber security (online persona, screen addiction).
• LGBTQ support.