Parent Engage 360

Episode 11: Talking About Race with Children

Discussions about race are crucial to raising awareness, creating change, and ultimately eradicating racism in society as a whole. These conversations can be uncomfortable, however they are necessary. 
Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she discusses the best ways to approach talking about race with your children. For this episode, Liz has partnered up with Barbie Smith, Q-Comp peer evaluator, and Peace Mitchell, student achievement advisor at Northdale Middle School, to get their take on navigating these important conversations.

Episode 10: Career Readiness

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she discusses career readiness with Eric Feigum, career and college specialist at Andover High School, and Jes Lipa, director of STEP and technical education.
Learn about the unique opportunities high school students in Anoka-Hennepin Schools have to learn about and explore varying career paths. Get information on STEP and hear from our guests about common questions they receive and resources available for students interested in starting a career following high school.

Episode 9: College Readiness

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she discusses all aspects of community, technical, public and private college readiness with Colleen Neary, career specialist at Anoka High School, and Mai Nhia Xiong-Chan, vice president of enrollment at Hamline University.
Tune in as they walk listeners through the processes of pre-college courses, testing, applications and admissions, financial aid, and more. Learn about the resources available from Anoka-Hennepin Schools, as well as other outlets and help prepare your student for their future.

Episode 8: Parenting During a Pandemic

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she discusses parenting during a pandemic with Tina Tamura, Andover High School Assistant Principal, and Dr. Ben Flannery, pediatrician. 
Parent Resource Center

Episode 7: Early Intervention and Prevention - Substance Use

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she learns about the topic of substance use from Colleen O'Neil, Anoka-Hennepin Schools Chemical Health Prevention Specialist, and Cindy Doth, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation School and Youth Outreach Manager. 
As parents, schools, and communities, understanding what is happening socially and developmentally, and how it may intersect with substance use is crucial in early intervention and prevention. Join us as we help parents gain knowledge about teen substance use and how to set the stage for open communication with their teen(s).
https://hazeldenbettyford.org
https://www.ahschools.us/studentsupport
https://www.ahschools.us/chemicalhealth

Episode 6: Hunger and Homelessness

Did you know that there are over 650 students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District that are currently homeless, and 13,000 students facing food insecurity? 
Tune in to this month’s Parent Engage 360 episode as we interview Jessica Jasurda, homeless liaison for Anoka-Hennepin Schools, and Rob Williams, founder of Every Meal. 
Every Meal is a Minnesota-based non-profit on a mission to fight child hunger and supply kids with food that is nutritious and delicious. Every Meal has been a great partner of Anoka-Hennepin for many years, but even more so during the pandemic. From March 2020 to Sept. 2020, meals have increased by 400% due to the impact of COVID-19.
National Hunger and Homelessness week begins Monday, Nov. 15 and community members are encouraged to help share the message and spread awareness on some of the hardships students are facing.
If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community this holiday season, Every Meal, a 100% community-funded organization, provides the opportunity to volunteer your time at their warehouse or donate to their organization at everymeal.org. Additionally, if you’re interested in working directly with the district, you can donate to Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation’s Agility Fund at ahef.us or contact your local school directly to inquire about needs.

Episode 5: Internet Safety

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, on this month's Parent Engage 360 podcast, as she discusses internet safety with Merve Lapus, vice president of outreach and national partnerships for Common Sense Education. Hear about the difference between passive and active screen time, ways to use technology as an extension of learning and various protective factors within the realm of internet safety. Is what you are posting purposeful and appropriate? Are there technology topics you should be addressing with your children? Are there components that you as a parent should brush up on? For all these answers, tune in to this episode of the Parent Engage 360 podcast.
Links:
Common Sense Media researches, rates and reviews everything kids want to watch, read or play so all families can feel confident about their media and technology choices.
Common Sense Education supports K-12 schools with lesson plans, edtech reviews and everything else educators need to empower a generation of digital citizens.
Common Sense Kids Action advocates for all families to have access to quality, safe media and for technology that benefits all communities.
What does it mean to be a digital citizen?

Episode 4: Support in Schools

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she dives deep into the world of school supports. Sam Hicks, school counselor at Champlin Park High School, and Liz Mihalchick, elementary mental health therapist, take us through their roles in schools and give insight on the various opportunities students have for support - both education and health-related.
To see what supports are offered at your student's school, click here.
For more information on Headway and Anoka-Hennepin's partnership: www.headway.org

Episode 3: Back to School

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she discusses the return of the school year with Ross Giles, Anoka-Hennepin Student Achievement Advisor and Gene Roehlkepartain, Senior Scholar at Search Institute. Get equipped with tips on how to get your student(s) re-acclimated after ending the last school year in a distance learning setting and topics to discuss with your student(s) as we enter another atypical school year.
Search Institute is a national nonprofit organization that partners with schools and other organizations to conduct and apply research that promotes positive youth development and advances equity.
Resource Ad link: KeepConnected.info

Episode 2: Chemical Health

Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she discusses chemical health topics and parenting tips with Colleen O'Neil, Anoka-Hennepin Schools Chemical Health Prevention Specialist, and Kjirsten Anderson, Regional Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator.
Discover what parents need to know about chemical health, especially during COVID-19, i.e. warning signs, conversation starters, resources and ways to support their child.
https://www.ahschools.us/studentsupport
https://www.ahschools.us/chemicalhealth