EL MONTE – El Monte Union is hosting several workshops to provide parents with information, resources and guidance on the challenges their children may be facing as they tackle the rigors of high school, from bullying and goal-setting to drug use and anxiety – part of the District’s overall efforts to engage parents to have a hand in their child’s success.

The Spanish-language parent-child workshops are hosted by Foothill Family Service, a District partner that provides a broad range of community-based mental health and social services to students and families.

“We are proud to partner with so many amazing organizations that aim to provide all of our students with every opportunity to succeed in school by helping them overcome whatever obstacles they may be facing,” Director of Student Services Alejandro Leon said. “Among them are organizations like Foothill Family, which works to educate parents and involve them in their child’s academic and personal success.”

Mountain View High School recently hosted the fourth in a series of monthly workshops for about 20 parents, who learned more on online bullying, social media and the challenges of teens living in a technology-rich environment.

“I’m interested in understanding what my kids might be going through,” said parent Ofelia Pasillas, whose two 11th-grade children attend the school. “There are many parents who have no idea what their kids are doing or are experiencing because they’re not engaged. Parents need to be more involved and be prepared for what could happen.”

El Monte Union schools have hired community liaisons and created opportunities for parent involvement through booster clubs, PTSAs, school site councils, scholarship committees, parent centers, college nights and parent academies.

The parent workshops offered also touch on socio-emotional needs, such as community and stress management, and college and career readiness.

The District is exploring a strategic plan for parent engagement, focusing on parenting skills that emphasize student achievement; learning at-home strategies to help students with homework and academic decisions; shared decision-making in schools through diverse advisory committees; and volunteering as mentor parents to build partnerships between schools and families.

“El Monte Union is committed to working together as a community to provide our students with the support system they need to achieve in the future – but the seed to that success is planted and nurtured at home,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “Parent engagement is critical to our students becoming thriving members of society and we will continue to explore new ways in which to collaborate for the shared goal of empowering our students.”

The Foothill Family Service workshops will be held Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. They include a goal-setting workshop on Feb. 21 at Arroyo High School; a workshop on bullying and social media on March 14 at Rosemead High School; a workshop on teen depression and anxiety on April 18 at El Monte High School; and a workshop on healthy adolescent-parent relationships on May 9 at South El Monte High School.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

020618_EMUHSD_PARENTS1: El Monte Union High School District and Foothill Family Service have partnered to host informative workshops for parents that touch on challenging issues their children may be facing, including bullying and anxiety. The workshops are part of an overall effort to engage parents and increase their involvement.

020618_EMUHSD_PARENTS2: Parents at Mountain View High School, which hosted a workshop on bullying and social media, ask questions during the event, hosted by Foothill Family Service, a District partner that provides a broad range of community-based mental health and social services to students and families.