Creating a caring, connected, safe community in partnership with ALL adults and youth
THE PEN CONNECTION
November 2013

Aspen Leaf   
In This Issue
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With the PEN Kick Off and the PEN 101 successfully completed we are settling into the school year.
We are looking forward to our next presentation - Using Parent Power to Ensure Your Student's Success - with Clay Roberts on November 13th in collaboration with Catalyst High School.  PEN has worked hard over the past 12 years to develop powerful collaboratives that allow us to bring world renowned speakers like Clay to our community.  We are also pleased to be working with Sister Carmen Community Center which will enable our parent engagement efforts to become further reaching.  
  
To enhance our work with PEN School Team Communities we have developed a Coaching and Training Division consisting of parent mentors, board members, the Program Director and myself who will support these teams to take PEN into action in their schools.  PEN has been doing this work by the sheer will of its devoted volunteers.  We believe that it will take committed, paid staff to ensure that what we have created continues to support our families in the future.   We ask for your financial support to help us build a community where all of our families and youth are thriving.  Donate to PEN or join us for one of our upcoming FUNdraising events. 

Most sincerely,

Paula Nelson
PEN Executive Director
(303) 880-6030

PEN EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
 

 

 UPCOMING EVENTS:

'PARENT POWER' WITH CLAY ROBERTS

November 13th, 6:30-8:00

Boulder Valley Christian Church

Contact Meredith Preston

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION HERE

In collaboration with
 
  
  


START A PARENT BOOK GROUP TODAY
 
PEN supports parents coming together to form parenting book groups based on a range of varied parenting books. We offer you guidelines, helpful hints, and book recommendations aiding parents to form their own parenting book groups. Parenting Book Groups offer parents the opportunity to explore issues in raising youth that are common to all parents. Many busy parents don't have enough time to connect with their peers or build a network of support.  These Groups not only help to inform you about adolescent issues, but they also help you to connect with parents that are dealing with similar questions and issues. I would be delighted to hold a kick-off parenting book group meeting at your school/community event.  Just let me know if you have the parent interest and audience, and we'll go from there! 
 
Learn more about how we can support you in forming parenting book groups in your community.
 
Thank you to Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette for hosting a PEN sponsored parenting book group information session on October 22.  It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to discuss options that would work best for the parents present.  Connecting with other parents, comparing notes, gleaning tools from other's experiences, and breaking down barriers to conversation are positive benefits local parents have found through PEN sponsored parenting book discussions for the past 8 years.  The book groups use strength based parenting books to gather information and get the conversation started.  PEN volunteers and Sister Carmen Center in Lafayette are working in collaboration to provide this and other community parent engagement opportunities. 
 
Please contact PEN Representative Fawnda Hathaway, 303-604-2547 or see Start Your Own Group for information on PEN sponsored book groups and book suggestions. Contact Julie Piller, Sister Carmen Program Director, 303-665-4342 x140 to learn more about this valuable community resource. In addition see:  Sister Carmen Center and check out their video featured on Dateline.


  
  
  
CONTACT KATHY VALENTINE WTH QUESTIONS ABOUT PEN'S COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS CALENDAR OF EVENTS.  
Kathy Valentine [email protected] 303-810-6456.
Scholarships and interpretation are available for all events.
                                   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
SUPPORT PEN by participating in these FUNDRAISING EVENTS!

 

arc logo 
Save your gently used clothing and household items for an arc Thrift Stores "Fill a Truck" fundraiser November 1-8.  The arc truck will be on site at the Louisville Albertson's store off of McCaslin.  You can drop off your donations to Paula or bring to the site.  Help PEN earn $1000 by filling the truck! Tax receipts will be provided.
  

  
 

Register Now for the PENtastic Wine and Cheese Fundraising event on Colorado Gives Day, Tuesday, 
December 10th, 5-8 pm,  Bistro 4, Louisville.
 
 

Please contact Paula Nelson, PEN Executive Director with questions about these fundraising events.  [email protected] 303-880-6030
 
SCHOOL TEAM NEWS

 

 
PEN 101 ORIENTATION/TRAINING SUMMARY:

 

The orientation was attended by a dynamic mix of board members, volunteers, presenters, and past and present school team members.  Everyone left with a clearer understanding of PEN and began to work on action plans for their schools.  Read the Summary here.

 

 

PEN MONTHLY COACHING:

 

We have established a Coaching Team to work with School Team Leaders and representatives. Our Program Director, Betsy Fox, will be on a short leave while she is restoring her home from the floods.   Please contact Paula Nelson, PEN Executive Director for any of your needs.

 

 
PEN Coaching Sessions will have a specific focus each month. Deepen your skills, share your successes, work together to problem solve, and to keep updated on current PEN happenings. Please download the School Team Action Plan Questionnaire and bring to the Coaching session. 

  

PEN Coaching and Training
Wednesday, November 7th
12:00-1:30pm
Location: The Egg & I
2574 Baseline, Rd., Boulder
  
Questions?  Contact me at [email protected] or 303.880.6030.

COMMUNITY COLLABORATOR HIGHLIGHT
 
 

Known around the Front Range as a school where students are free to be themselves, and to learn however it bests suits them as individuals, Catalyst enrolls a diverse group of students who thrive under a lively, refreshing atmosphere. 
  

 

 

 

Catalyst student Eli Ball helps build a home for Habitat for Humanity as part of Catalyst's Service Week

 



Join us for the HOPE Lights the Night 5th Annual Candlelight Vigil on November 20th.





Pen is dedicated to creating healthy families and youth in our community. It is important to us to share information on resources and events to help develop your parenting skills. A list of our collaborators can be found on our website.

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Parent Engagement Network | [email protected] | http://penbv.org
415 Sunland St
Louisville, CO 80027

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