Greenwich Free Press (https://greenwichfreepress.com/category/parenting/page/42/)
At the Venus Clinic, no one has to make an appointment. Services are free. Testing for STDs, HIV and pregnancy are offered. There is birth control information and referrals. All services are confidential, as per Connecticut State Law. Continue Reading →
“We went to a local gas station and purchased one successfully without being asked for identification despite, the fact that we clearly attended Greenwich High School.” – Matt Pignataro and Courtney Oarr, GHS ’14 Continue Reading →
In Greenwich, resources abound for teenagers. The annual Wellness fair at GHS allowed students to connect with organizations like: Liberation Programs, Venus Clinic, GEMS, The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education, Volunteer Square and a dozen others. Continue Reading →
By Leslie Yager
At the heels of week in which a spurned prom invitation resulted in tragedy, a Father’s Forum talk on cultivating resilience in children was timely. GHS Wellness teacher Kathy Steiner said she had recently been talking about stress, stressors and stress management with her 9th graders. Fear of Failure – You Must be a Super Star
Steiner said, “I don’t care how old or young you are, or how much money you make, we all have stress.” But for her what matters is a person’s ability to turn their stress into opportunity. Steiner said it is sad when a young person turns down opportunities as a result of a fear of failure. Continue Reading →
There are cases of Measles in Greenwich. Measles are highly contagious. Know the signs. Continue Reading →
Dr. Paul Lowe, of Greenwich Admissions Advisors, stays up-to-date on changes in leadership, culture and even specific needs within departments at top colleges. His advice goes beyond dog-eared advice books. Part of his job is making clients aware that their competition goes beyond their urban or suburban communities, and is fact global. Continue Reading →
“By the time my boys had migrated to GHS I was on the receiving end of the affects of the rampant drug/alcohol problem. I had meetings with high school officials accompanied by a lawyer, offering to buy/rent/provide a drug sniffing dog. I was told that my worries originated from a vacuum. Even when I surrendered ‘proof’ that there was a drug ordering business run from the acre size cafeteria I was again rebuffed. By ordering business I mean this: A student orders Hydromorphone tablets, 4 mg size please. Then a legion of runners would go locate it from the cabinets located in some parents’ bathrooms (who counts pills?!). But the process was both inherently specific and infinite.” – A former GHS parent’s recollection of administration response to his complaint that drugs were rampant at the school back in the 1990s Continue Reading →
Good manners never go out of style. DeMuyshondt’s book is at its heart a primer on manners. Think Barclay classes, minus the dancing. Add a healthy dollop of Dale Carnegie’s timeless hit, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Continue Reading →
This comment from Greenwich Free Press reader Will was submitted in response to last week’s feature “GHS Grads Break Silence on Drugs from Marijuana to Heroin.” The piece focused on the story of Mark Pelazza, who shared this story of addiction and recovery during a parent seminar hosted by the YMCA of Greenwich and Liberation Programs. The story was widely shared, drawing 397 likes on the GFP Facebook page and thousands of views. “Certain drugs are easier to access and more readily used in Greenwich, and other places in the area such as Rye and Harrison, because of the affluence of the town and lack of activities available to teenagers. These towns are built for 30- and 40-somethings with families who still want to work in New York City but have a safer environment to raise their children. Unfortunately a byproduct is a lack of entertainment available on the weekends: Concerts are expensive and often 21+, non-alcoholic dance clubs are 18+, the beach closes at 3pm in the winter, Arch Street has turned into a middle school ritual, GHS rarely has weekend events, etc. Continue Reading →
By Leslie Yager
Substance abuse and misuse, especially amongst young people, was the theme for the meeting at UConn Stamford of a group of professionals including social workers, counselors and police officers. The Lower Fairfield County Regional Action Council (LFCRAC) includes professionals from Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and New Canaan who share the goal of reducing and preventing substance abuse and misuse. The group discussed topics including marketing of e-cigarettes and alcohol to teens and regulations for Narcan, the opiate antidote used for heroin overdoses. Discussion also touched on “doctor shopping,” binge drinking and deaths of young people from falling off balconies and out windows, and drunk and distracted driving. Officer Jason Kim from New Canaan Police gave an overview of what happens when police suspect someone of drunk driving. Continue Reading →