Question of the Week: Have You Talked to Your Kids About the School Shooting?

Did you tell your children? Do you have advice to share with other parents on how to approach this delicate conversation?

The morning of Dec. 14 came as a shock to all parents. We watched news of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut with tears in our eyes and a lump in our throats. While the rest of us went about our mornings on Friday, 26 innocent lives were lost at a suburban school much like the ones where we send our own children. Many questions were raised throughout that day and over the weekend, not the least of which was: "How do we explain this to our children?" Counselors, psychiatrists and others have offered ideas for talking to children about what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary. Social media has been abuzz with parents asking each other, "Will you? If so, how?" Some parents decided it was best to say nothing, while others …

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Parent Volunteering: Are We Over-Extending Ourselves?

The Roswell Patch wants to hear from you!

A recent New York Times article examined the issue of uber-involved moms who are becoming burnt out due to an over filled schedule. But is that the case in Roswell? To much on the plate and not enough time spent with the people who mean the most to them has pushed many parents to the place where they are now resisting the urge to put their hand up every time a request is made at their school's Parent/Teacher Association meeting, according to the author, Hilary Stout. The article - called "Frazzled Moms Push Back Agains Volunteering" - delves into the idea that, because many schools are struggling in this economy, the pressure put on parents - and particularly super-moms - has reached a "fever pitch." The article even quoted a PTA …

Mountain Park ES Raffle Raises Money for Students

Mountain Park Elementary School held their annual Holiday Extravaganza, Sat. Dec. 4.

Mountain Park Elementary School recently held their popular Holiday Extravaganza on Dec. 4 and once again, it was a success on a number of levels.  Students, parents, vendors, entertainers and many people from the local community came out to support the school while they enjoyed some holiday fun. Nearly the entire school building was packed with people purchasing holiday gifts in the vendor market, checking out the incredible baskets up for raffle, purchasing treats from the "Sweet Shop" and enjoying live entertainment from the local community. The basket raffle is one of the most popular features of the Extravaganza. Each classroom creates a "basket," which often exceed regular basket sizes (see: Braves tent, or "Keep the Good Times …

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