October was a busy month here at MPMS with so many events including a fun spirit week for the students and staff as well as a week to reflect on showing unity as a school community. Unity Week was a huge success with so much student participation toward a common goal of putting an end to bullying and promoting acceptance and kindness throughout our school.

Throughout the month of November, we will continue to encourage our school community to build each other up and treat each other with kindness and respect daily. November 13 is World Kindness Day and we will join many schools across the nation and world in recognizing the importance of this day by wearing blue.

How do you handle the change in your child’s attitude, behaviors, moods, etc. as they transition into the teen and pre-teen years? The way in which you respond to these “whirlwind” changes are important in helping your child navigate the sometimes “murky” waters of adolescence. Below are a few tools that may help you with parenting your own adolescent so that you can:

- Encourage your child to open up and talk so you can better understand your child

· Find out how other parents survived challenging tween behavior--and still raised great kids

· Break the “nagging cycle,” give your kids responsibilities, and get results

· Talk about tough topics such as; sex, drugs, and alcohol so your kid will listen

· Discover how to help your child to disregard peer pressure and make smart choices--for life

Web resources-

American Psychological Association-

https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/help-kids

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-development/healthy-relationships/parents-child/communicating/index.html

Books-

How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk by Adele Farber and Elaine Mazlish

How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years by Julie A. Ross

Podcast-

How to Talk to Kids About … by Dr. Robyn Silverman (Such topics include: anxiety, homework, over-scheduling, overcoming fears and embracing kindness, race and racism, sex and equality, challenging behaviors)