Parent Series Webinars - Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School

To kick off the new year, Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School will be hosting a series of webinar-based seminars that match the content that we teach our students, but is tailored for parents and guardians!

Gwynedd's Wellness Wheel curriculum provides our students with interactive and engaging lessons that focus on physical and mental health, self-awareness, leadership, diversity, equity & inclusion, and many practical life skills that provide balance – all of which are essential for success at Gwynedd and beyond.

Now, you are invited to explore some of that same content, but customized for adults and where applicable, structured in a way that facilitates nuanced conversations about these topics with your teens at home. Some topics will feature information that will make parents, teachers and guardians more aware of circumstances that could threaten their teen’s sense of self and well-being, while others may offer information that supports effective parenting and/or partnering with Gwynedd staff and faculty. Our Wellness Wheel curriculum is informative and engaging, so we hope that you will join us!

Upcoming Webinars

Oct 26 2023

Assembly

2023 Webinars

February 1: "Parenting Daughters in the Digital Age"

Our conversation about 'Parenting Daughters in the Digital Age' will feature Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair a clinical psychologist who specializes in helping us better understand how we can counter the ‘neurological, psychological and social fallout tech poses’ while strengthening relationships with our children and ensuring that they have the social skills that they will need to succeed.

From the comfort of home, join an informative conversation with GMAHS Principal Eileen Carty and Dr. Steiner-Adair as they discuss the fascinating science around how our digital world has changed our teens’ brains, what it means for all aspects of a child’s development and how we can ensure that our children are kind, compassionate, and ethically centered in an age in which one-to-one conversation and engagement has been replaced with snapchat and texting.

Register Here!

February 15: "The Course Selection Process"

During course selection, students meet with their counselors to determine their class roster for the upcoming year. During the series, Mrs. Monica Lapp, Director of School Counseling will review courses for the 2024-25 school year, how the course selection process works, including how to determine and select courses. The Counseling Department will answer any questions you may have.

Participation in this seminar is restricted to parents of currently enrolled students.

March 22: "Alcohol and Teen Relationships" - Recording Available

We all know that underage drinking can have devastating consequences for teens and their families. As prom season approaches, these issues become even more prominent in the news and within our social circles. Although statistics are shared, what is often left unsaid are the consequences for parents who wittingly or unwittingly create the conditions in which their underage children can access alcoholic beverages. Join us for a candid conversation with Officer Shannon Gallagher of the Lower Gwynedd Township Police Department about how parents can act to counter the peer pressure their teen may face to consume alcohol and the laws and penalties associated with social hosting in PA. We will also share tips about how to have effective conversation with teens who ‘know it all’. This segment is hosted by Mrs. Kate Tobias, Faculty for Gwynedd’s Physical Education and Health Department.

Recording

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May 10: "The Effects of Marijuana & Vaping on the Teenage Mind & Body"

Join us on Wed, May 10 at 7PM for the fourth installment of the Gwynedd Parent Series, "The Effects of Marijuana and Vaping." Vaping and marijuana use has become more mainstream and socially acceptable. Often the health impact of using both products is downplayed or conveyed as being safer than other choices such as smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. We will first explore whether or not these assumptions are valid. Then, we will help parents and guardians to better understand the impact that inhaling these substances may have on a teen's developing mind and body. Kate Tobias, Gwynedd's Health and Phys. Education faculty, Natalie Ullman '14, and Sarah Messina, MA LMFT will host the discussion. Reserve your spot today!

Sarah Messina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been working with Child Guidance Resource Centers since 2014. Sarah has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from LaSalle University and a Certification in Addiction Treatment. Trained in Eco-Systemic Structural Family Therapy and Parent Child Interaction Therapy, Sarah believes in the importance of the family and the power of the parent-child relationship. Currently, Sarah is a practicing therapist who provides prevention education and therapy resources to families. These programs include parent, child and family therapy groups, as well as psychoeducation for parents, caregivers, schools, and communities.

Natalie Ullmann is a Licensed Social Worker. Natalie has an Undergraduate Degree in psychology from Catholic University of America and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Temple University. Since entering the mental health field, Natalie has worked as a School Social worker; Domestic Abuse Children’s Counselor; Mental Health Clinician for a juvenile detention center; and is currently working as a Therapist for children, teens, and adults. In addition, Natalie has been working for Child Guidance Resource Centers for 3+ years facilitating parent groups, family groups, and high school programs based in positive family relationships and drug and alcohol prevention. Natalie also graduated from Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in 2014!