Hello Aiken Families!

We hope you all had a safe and healthy winter break!  While 2020 may have been a challenging one, we hope you and your families had the opportunity to look back at the good that last year brought us!  Please look over the following important updates and check out the attachments!

AIKEN EDI M2 CLUB (Mixed Media Club)

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committees of Aiken, Charter Oak, and Norfeldt invite you to a book discussion of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi on Tuesday, February 23rd from 6:30-7:30pm by Zoom. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (A Remix Of Stamped from the Beginning) is a book about the history of race and racist ideas in America. Best-selling young adult author Jason Reynolds took Ibram X Kendi's Stamped and made it accessible for younger people (and adults) while maintaining its focus on the complexities of racist ideas and their pervasiveness in our culture. This book is not written like a typical history book; instead it provides an overview of how racial constructs and attitudes were developed for the purposes of power. During our meeting, we will discuss ways parents can stamp out racism in our own lives and communities.

For an overview of the book and its intended audience, check out this 6 minute interview of the authors on The Daily Show.  

A few limited number of book copies will be available upon request. A free audiobook version is available through the West Hartford Public Library. 

Please register by February 12th here.

COMMUNITY OF CONCERN

Supporting Teen Mental Health: A Panel Discussion for Parents

Thursday, January 14th

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Join a virtual discussion with WHPS staff and community clinicians to learn how parents and caregivers can help teenagers manage stress during this challenging time. Topics include the stresses teens are facing, realistic parent expectations and when to be concerned, how the schools are supporting mental health, and how families can utilize school and professional support systems. Please email questions for the panelists to whcommunityofconcern@gmail.com. Click here to register.  

Moderator: Scott Ratchford, Equity Advancement/Family Engagement & School Psychologist

Panelists: WHPS Social Workers - Liz Anderson (Conard), Diedra Dietter (Hall), Tangel McFadden (KP); Community Clinicians - Dr. Ishrat Quadri (Pediatrician), Dr. Jeffrey Landau (Psychiatrist), Janel Davis (Outpatient Therapist at Yale New Haven Hospital), Chris Dutton (Director of Community & School Services at The Bridge Family Center)

Hosted by West Hartford Community of Concern, a parent group that works to support the well-being of teenagers in our communit

Please check out this YouTube Video!

https://youtu.be/6D6Ge1VXySo