South Meadows Parent News
January 2, 2018
Parent News
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Break with family and friends and are ready to start the new year. I am excited to be back and look forward to seeing students grow and learn and take on new experiences with enthusiasm. Their presence and active participation in school will pay dividends as they move on to high school.
Respectfully,
Mary Mendez
Dates to remember
January 2- School resumes
January 11th- AVID Family Night 5:30pm
January 15th-No School Martin Luther King Day
January 18th-Parent Meeting 6:00 pm
January 24th-Dual Language 6th grade Parent meeting 6:30 pm
January 25th-Coffee with the Principal 7:30am
Supporting Teens Facing Disrespect and Sexual Harassment
This is a summary of an article that I thought parents might be interested in.
In this article in Usable Knowledge, Richard Weissbourd and Alison Cashin (Harvard Graduate School of Education/Making Caring Common) say that disrespectful, sexualized interactions and sexual harassment are “stunningly common in young people’s lives – in the music and media they consume, in school hallways and classrooms, and on college campuses. They’re happening among our children, and we are doing shockingly little about it.” Specifically, 72 percent of male students and 80 percent of female students told researchers they had never had a conversation with their parents about how to avoid sexually harassing others, and similar percentages had never had conversations about various forms of disrespect and harassment. Weissbourd and Cashin suggest six ways parents and educators can talk to teens about these issues:
• Define the problem. Many young people don’t have a clear picture of what harassment looks and sounds like. They need specifics to help them establish clear boundaries in their minds – to understand, for example, that comments on someone’s clothes or appearance can be unwanted, that catcalling (which many men think is a form of flattery) is frightening and infuriating to many women, and that even if words or behaviors are meant to be funny, they may scare and offend others.
• Step in when you hear a sexist or degrading comment and stick with it. Too many adults don’t say anything when young people use language that offends them. “Passivity not only condones these comments,” say Weissbourd and Cashin. “It can also diminish young people’s respect for us as adults and role models. Even if teens can’t absorb or act on our words in the moment, they often still register our words and internalize them as they mature.” It’s a good idea to think through what you might say if you hear words like “bitch” or “hoe” and how you’ll respond if kids say, “We’re just joking” or “You don’t understand.” Don’t give up easily. Work to build young people’s empathy for others. And this isn’t just a male-to-female problem. “Sometimes girls and young women in particular can demean and undercut each other in the context of romantic and sexual relationships…” say Weissbourd and Cashin.
• Teach kids to be critical consumers of media and culture. Many teens have never critically examined the online and entertainment waters in which they are immersed 24/7. Teachable moments occur when you’re with young people and listen to song lyrics or hear news reports. In some cases it’s effective for adults to share their own experiences with harassment or disrespect.
• Talk about what kids should do if they’re a target. Teens need strategies to deal with everything from a friend jokingly calling them a “slut” or “bitch” to being sexually harassed by a stranger. Ask young people about their experiences and reactions so far, what worked and what didn’t, and how they might respond to hypothetical scenarios. They need to think through whether they should confront perpetrators, get support, tell a teacher or school counselor, or talk to a parent or another respected adult. Role-playing can be very helpful.
• Encourage and expect upstanding. When teens witness harassment and disrespect, they have the advantage of understanding peer dynamics and being more credible than adults. But first they have to have the courage and wisdom to intervene. “Learning to be an ‘upstander’ is a vital part of becoming an ethical, courageous person,” say Weissbourd and Cashin. “Yet upstanding can be risky – perpetrators can turn on upstanders. That’s why it’s important to brainstorm strategies with young people that protect both them and the victim.” Again, role-playing can provide practice at using words, gestures, and body language.
• Help kids build a broad base of recognition and self-worth. The most vulnerable teens are those who are highly dependent on romantic and sexual attention, who crave peer approval, and who have lower social status or are part of a marginalized group (this can include LGBTQ youth). Kids need to build skills and a sense of efficacy in academics, the arts, sports, service, student government, and other activities. They might also decide to take collective action against harassment and degradation, which can be another source of self-worth.
SUSO
Zone Winter Sports Begin December 4th
Monday and Wednesday-Volleyball
Tuesday and Thursday-Basketball
Participants can ride the activity bus home.
Sign up sheets are in the office.
Volunteers wanted for AVID
Tuesday- 9:15 and/or 11:40
Wednesday-9:15
Thursday-9:15 and/or 11:40
If any of these times work for you please let me know. It is a great way to see what our students are learning.
Mary Mendez, Principal
Email: mendezm@hsd.k12.or.us
Website: http://schools.hsd.k12.or.us/southmeadows
Location: 4690 SE Davis Rd, Hillsboro, OR, United States
Phone: 503-844-1220
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/874310209328004/