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Student Services Events at Tyl.

Mrs. Bedard and Mr. McGuire are hosting a series of evening events just for parents, to discuss today's top teen issues.

Parenting a teenager today is one of life’s biggest challenges. This is the time that your child needs you the most, but also the time when they need to assert their independence from you. When you have tough questions about today’s teen issues, who can you ask?

The school counselors at Tyl are here to help!

Event #3 Internet Safety

Do you know who your child is talking to on the internet? Does your child know who he or she is talking to on the internet? They may think they do, but in this eye-opening session you will learn who they may be talking to and why you should be monitoring this closely.

Where: Tyl Middle School, Auditorium
When: Tuesday, May 15th at 6:00pm

The first event was held on January 23rd. Here is the Montville Times article about it:

Communication is Answer at Forum
Tyl hosts panel discussion for parents about teen issues

By Andrew Parrella
Montville Times Staff Writer

Leonard J. Tyl Middle School is hoping to bridge communication gaps between middle school children and their parents by offering open panel discussions at the school.
“This forum gives parents comfort in being able to learn about the children so they are more equipped to deal with teen issues,” said Amy Geary, a special education teacher at Tyl.
Last Tuesday, about 12 parents attended the forum, ready with tough questions for the panelists, who were Montville High School students and counselors from the middle school.
Facilitating the forum were counselors Mark McGuire and Sheila Bedard.
Discussion ranged from smoking, drug and alcohol abuse to promiscuity.
“Would you talk with parents and tell them what you were doing… and if you had a personal issue, would you go to them for help?” one parent asked to the panel.
Student Elliot Myers responded, “I would go to a peer. I feel that I am helping people by doing this forum.”
Another parent asked, “Do you feel your parents know who you are and do you feel more independent in middle school?”
This invoked a quiet moment by the panelists as they gathered their thoughts.
Students who transition from middle school to high school often go through a process of making new friends. This can often be difficult for some students to adjust to.
“Parents trusting their kids is important,” said one student. “When you (the child) break that trust, it will be hard to get it back. Children want to please their parents.”
Communication with boys and girls is different, a parent said.
“Boys are a little more closed, where girls talk more,” she noted.
“I am comfortable with telling my parents who my friends are,” said one student.
Another parent asked, “What about older female students ‘coming on’ to younger high school boys?”
This question invited answers on how the public school system is dealing with the issue.
A female student panelist noted, “Boys are still eating bugs in the sixth grade!” invoking laughter.
The middle school and high school both have a sexual harassment class that all students take.
“You just have to be able to read your child,” Bedard said. “I have brought my son to a counselor. Many kids, especially boys, are suffering from depression. By just asking them, giving them the opportunity to talk to someone else, can often help them.”
Bedard noted that proper counseling and referral can change the outcome of many situations.
Principal Thomas Girard added, “Face-to-face talk is sometimes difficult, therefore a journal is suggested in some cases to help the student communicate with staff and parents.”
Assistant Principal Jeffrey Burt said the forum should ease the transition from middle school to high school.
Girard said the forum’s goal was an ongoing effort to increase parents’ involvement with their children’s lives. Last year’s forum was presented to the Parent Teacher Organization and administrators; this year, it was planned for a larger audience.
Future parent forums are planned on March 8 and April 10 and parents were asked to fill out a topic selection sheet which included subjects such as Internet safety, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving and bullies. Parents were encouraged to also list other topics of interest.