Parent Education

To help promote healthy Breck families by sponsoring programs and events supporting the mental, physical, emotional and behavioral aspects of a student's life. Programs and events may include national or local speakers, discussion groups, book clubs, community events and parent website resources.

Upcoming "Think Ahead" Meetings

The Parent Education Committee hosts Parent Think Ahead meetings in the format of small group discussions surrounding topics related to the needs and transitions of children in specific grades. Please join us for our Spring Think Aheads!  If your child is in 2nd Grade, 4th Grade or 8th Grade come socialize with other parents while we hear from Deans and School Counselors about what to expect in the coming school year.  The meetings all include small group "Think Ahead" discussions about scenarios related to these transition points.  Please RSVP as lunch is served.

Grade 2

Monday, April 9, 2012 | 11:30-1:00 PM | Heritage Room, Anderson Ice Arena.
First ever 2nd Grade Think Ahead. Cathy Preissing, Lower School Dean, will speak on the transition to 3rd Grade. Please RSVP to Cheryl Jacobs by April 5. Light lunch will be served.

Grade 4

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 | 11:30-1PM | Heritage Room, Anderson Ice Arena. Katy Pearson, Middle School Counselor, will speak on the transition to 5th Grade and Middle School. Please RSVP to Kate Berman by April 8. Light lunch will be served.

Grade 8

Monday, April 16, 2012 | 11:30-1:00PM | Heritage Room, Anderson Ice Arena. Staci Prior, Upper School Counselor, will speak on the transition to 9th Grade and Upper School. Please RSVP to Dawn Larsen by April 13. Light lunch will be served.

Alcohol Awareness Events

On January 4-5, Breck parents were invited to hear two dynamic speakers in anticipation of their talks with 8th grade and Upper School students. Ryan Travia, Director of Harvard University's Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Services, presented two programs. His evening presentation for parents was entitled "The Scientific Understanding: Your Brain and Body on Alcohol." Prior to meeting with students, Mr. Travia met with parents over lunch and previewed his student talk, "A Whole New Educational Approach to Curbing Alcohol Use and Abuse." In conjunction with Mr. Travia's more fact-based presentation, parents and students also heard the emotionally charged personal story of Aaron Cooksey of Campus Outreach Services. Mr. Cooksey's program was entitled, "Drop Your Pride ... Addictions, Alcohol and Choices," the story of a top athlete who hit rock bottom.

For more information, please click on the following links:
aods.harvard.edu (Office of Alcohol and other Drug Services)
harvarddapa.org (Drug and Alc Peer Advisors)

Sleep and Its Role in Learning, Health, and the Well-Being of Students

On November 7 the Breck community hosted sleep experts Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom and Dr. Conrad Iber of the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wahlstrom is the Director of the Center for Applied Research and Education Improvement (CAREI) in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.  Her colleague, Dr. Iber, is a Professor of Medicine and Section Director of Sleep Medicine at the University of Minnesota and serves as Director of the HCMC Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center.
Drs. Wahlstrom and Iber presented "Sleep and Its Role in Learning, Health and the Well-Being of Students" to a large crowd in the Cargill Theater. Click on links below for PDFs of the presentation and additional information.

       Sleep Event Presentation (802K)
       Consequences of Sleep Deprivation (150K)
       Sleep and School Performance (2MB)
       When Worlds Collide (195K)