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Dear Shepaug Families:
It's Spring, prom time, and a time of excitement in the life of our learning community. This morning, I spoke with our Instructional Leaders about the ways in which we as a learning community can take a more pro-active stance on the dangers of risky behaviors. After our discussion, I found an article from a 2008 newsletter that continues to be relevant, and I would like to share it with you (I've updated it where necessary):
While spring is an invigorating time, it also heralds a particularly dangerous time for our high school teenagers. We worry as more high schoolers obtain their licenses and are on the road. Similarly, we worry about teenage partying with all the assorted dangers of alcohol and other drug use.
Parenting has never been more demanding as, on any seemingly innocuous evening, problems can quickly develop. To support you, we thought we would reprint the following lessons which have been offered by other Shepaug parents over recent years.
1.Some people believe teenagers have to start partying sometime, so why not now. They need to understand...
· the sooner a child begins drinking or using other drugs, the greater the likelihood that that child will become an alcoholic or addict. There is a direct correlation between early risk-taking and destroying lives.
~ when teenagers are undergoing major physical and psychological
changes, even small alcohol or other drug use can cause serious
developmental problems
~ you are putting yourselves at risk, since the laws regarding hosting
teenage parties have changed (we'll devote a Parent's Corner to the
specifics soon).
2. Some parents/adults believe teenagers will drink or use other drugs
anyway, and it's better to take their keys and let them party at their house.
Parents/adults are responsible...
· for the safety and health of each teenager at their home.
· for any intoxicated or drugged 14 year old girl of whom someone has
taken sexual advantage.
· for any injury due to falls, fights, etc.
· for any alcohol poisoning or deaths.
· for contributing to a teenager's breaking the law, as well as the law
concerning underage guests in your home.
3. Some parents go away for a week end and leave their teenage son or
daughter home alone or with a babysitter. Parents need to know...
· their son/daughter alone may not be able to resist the temptation or
pressure to hold a party at their house. Babysitters face enormous
pressure to become involved in parties and/or may be overwhelmed
by persistent teens!
4. In the era of cell phones, teenagers are in immediate contact with each
other. A party is quickly communicated to a large number of teenagers who
can easily alter their plans. Many sons and daughters had convinced their
parents they were going elsewhere, e.g. going bowling or getting something
to eat.
5. Staying overnight at a friend's house needs to be carefully checked out.
Often this is a plan to reduce parents' ability to directly supervise their
child. Some parents allow their son or daughter to stay overnight at
someone else's home. Those parents need to know...
· if the other parents are home.
· what the other parents' beliefs are regarding teenage use of alcohol
or other drugs.
· if their child will be there all night or is going elsewhere.
· if the host parent will check on their child's whereabouts and
condition throughout the evening.
6. Some parents, whose child has been out for the evening, discourage their child's alcohol or other drug use ...
· by insisting when their son or daughter arrives home that he or she
kisses them goodnight and talks to them.
As mentioned earlier, the above lessons have been provided by other parents over the years, with minor editing to bring them up to date in terms of the law. We offer these not to be pedantic and threatening but to assist you in this tough job of parenting. If you have questions or need to talk to someone, please consider calling our guidance counselors, social worker, nurse or me. We can support each another.
I am open to any input that you may wish to offer regarding these important issues. To extend our efforts to be pro-active, we will include a Parent's Corner feature in each of our upcoming newsletters, featuring a topic about which parents may be interested or concerned. I hope that you find it helpful as we work together to navigate the perils of parenting!
Fondly,
Kimberly Gallo
Principal | 
