Family Wellness Wednesday

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Sometimes it feels hard to connect with teens when school is in session. Their attention is pulled in many directions. It’s divided between family, friends, after school activities, sports, hobbies, and more. As parents, our time is also at a premium. School breaks may offer a chance to spend high-quality time bonding with our teens. Let’s make this holiday season a time to remember. Here are three ways to connect with teens and be in the moment – together.

Many of us take for granted the interesting things and goings-on in our hometowns. Whether you’re “city or country mice” or somewhere in-between, there are always things to get out and see. Consider playing tourist together. Ask your teen for suggestions of things to do and go from there. What if they’re not sure where to start? Popular websites like Yelp and TripAdvisor or apps including Culture Trip and All Trails provide ample tips to get you moving.

Giving back and supporting others not only benefits those in need — it’s good for your health! Helping those around you builds resilience. Watching how you choose to contribute to your community can help develop positive character traits in your teen — they’re more likely to follow your lead. They’ll also learn to see life through another person’s perspective. Gather used coats and gently used clothing for a winter coat drive. Make meals for the elderly or the sick. Raise a small sum of change to donate to a cause of your choice. Send a cheerful, encouraging card to someone in the military. Work together at a food pantry or soup kitchen. No matter what you do, giving to others always feels right. It feels even better when giving together as a family.

We know from years and years of research that a parenting style where you balance appropriate levels of warmth, support, monitoring, and control will help you raise a young person poised to be his or her best self.

However, finding the correct balance is up to you.

How will you show your teen you love and support him unconditionally?You know what makes him smile from ear to ear and what makes him say “Eww Mom!” (or, “Dad stop!”).

How will you react when your teen makes a mistake?You know what the situation is. Maybe you can use it as a learning opportunity. Maybe some clear, firm, guidance is necessary.

What do you need to do to help your teen be safe? You know what specific challenges in your neighborhood or your child’s peer group may be.

These are hard questions! But you already have many of the answers. We’re here to support you in your journey as a parent. Remember these important points as you work towards strengthening family communication.

By: Reading Rockets

During the holiday season, consider adding some new traditions for your family that will make meaningful memories and strengthen foundations for reading and learning success.

• Listen to audio books while you’re traveling to visit family, wrapping gifts or cooking for the holidays.

• Lyrics to holiday songs are fun to read and sing together. It is also good fun and good collaborative writing practice to make up your own lyrics to familiar tunes.

• Start a story-telling tradition by revisiting holidays of the past. Old family photographs at holiday gatherings will help prompt stories about your own life and family traditions.

• Put reading and writing skills to practical use. Plan holiday meals by reading cookbooks together, writing the shopping lists and finding the needed items at the store by reading signs and labels. Read the recipe and cook together. During the simmering and baking, kids can write and decorate menus or place cards for special holiday meals.
• Set aside time just for reading. Curl up on the couch together and read aloud an old favorite or check out books about another culture’s winter celebrations.
• Work on those letters. Improve writing skills with notes or letters to relatives and friends, thanking them for their holiday gifts.

We will continue to provide monthly workshops to our GPISD families virtually! You can join us from the comfort of your home or when you are out and about doing errands.

The purpose of these sessions is to educate and empower our families with knowledge to support their students at home.

All sessions are from 6- 7:30 p.m. And if you are unable to attend session, don't worry!! You can always watch the recorded session.

Click here to view all of our workshops. Our Spring schedule will be shared in January.

Click here to view our past recordings.

Come to learn and enjoy fun ways to help your child be ready for school !

PACT is a two-part educational session designed to enhance your parenting skills. During the first half of the session, you'll learn about a specific topic that can benefit your family. Following that, you will have the opportunity to apply what you've learned during the second half, engaging with your children in a practical way.

If you are a parent of a Pre-K or Kinder student, please ask your student's teacher if your school provides PACT sessions. If so, please join our next class....you don't want to miss it! If one is not offered at your school, please ask your teacher on how we can bring PACT to your school.

You may also contact our Family Engagement Specialist, Ruth Minotti at ruth.minotti@gpisd.org for more information.

See photos below from our PACT meetings this past month.

In GPISD, we have chosen to begin providing transition services to students beginning in 6th grade to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities. Students from our specialized programs will attend RISE, a transition facility for students in middle and high school, to develop skills related to Employment, Independent Living, Fine Arts, Sensory, and Fine & Gross Motor. RISE is an extension of the classroom allowing for generalization of skills learned on their campuses.

RISE is designed to be inclusive for all students with disabilities. Lessons are designed with each individual class in mind.

To learn more about RISE please visit https://www.gpisd.org/Page/46666

Click here to see Spanish flyer.

There are seven Texas Medicaid Waivers that support long-term and community-based services for people with disabilities or special health care needs in order to help them live in their community. Sign your child up for the Medicaid Waiver Interest Lists as soon as possible, even if you think you may not need care or services in the future. It will be years, sometimes 15-20 years, before your child's name comes up for consideration.

For CLASS, DBMD, and MDCP call 1-877-438-5658. For STAR+PLUS HCBS call 1-877-782-6440 and for HCS and Texas Home Living call your local LIDDA. For Dallas county residents Metrocare is the local LIDDA and they can be reached at 214-333-7000.

See attached documents below for more information.

Skills and Strategies document provides families and educators a checklist of skills and strategies by age range in order to build independence at home and school. This is a great resource for assessing skills as well as selecting areas of focus. Each age range also includes some strategies and action steps. (document attached in English and Spanish)

We are excited to announce our new Call 4 Care initiative, allowing parents to call 972-522-7070 for assistance with mental health, food, clothing, and other essential needs.

The Counseling Center provides support for students facing behavioral or emotional concerns, including depression, anxiety, grief, and self-esteem issues, with services offered both in-person and virtually.

Also, the Social Work Hub offers clothing, uniform support, and food assistance, including monthly food boxes and extra meals during holidays.

We also provide school supplies, hygiene products, and other items to assist families at home.

If your family needs support in any of these areas, please do not hesitate to reach out through Call 4 Care at 972-522-7070 or visit our website www.gpisd.org/Call4Care if your family needs assistance.

Spanish flyer click here.

• in a homeless, domestic, or other similar type shelter
• in a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
• in a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
• doubled-up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

If you answered yes to any of the above, your child might be able to receive help through a federal law called McKinney-Vento Act.

Please click here to provide us with some basic information and someone will reach out to you.

The Grand Family Service Center serves as a one-stop resource center for GPISD families and newcomers to our district.

This facility provides a wide array of essential services, including assistance with student registration, language proficiency assessments, assistance with lunch applications, access to food, clothing, school supplies, and much more.

Established with the objective of minimizing travel across the district, the center offers a supportive and welcoming environment to efficiently meet the diverse needs of our families.

Director of Family & Community Engagement

Email: maria.herrera@gpisd.org
Website: https://www.gpisd.org/FamilyCommunityEngagement
Location: 1301 E Coral Way, Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Phone: 972-522-3196
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPISDfamilyengagement/