Iona Prep Bullying, High School Readiness Workshops Offered To Schools

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Workshops aimed at fighting bullying and getting students ready for high school and college are being offered to area Catholic elementary and middle schools by Iona Preparatory School.

Students at Iona Prep wear shirts with their chosen colleges. A successful parent/teacher program covering bullying, high school readiness and other topics is offered by Iona Prep to other schools.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Donna Christopher

08/07/2016 10:21 a.m.

The offering grew out of the successful "Speakers' Bureau" pilot program for teachers and parents at Iona, said Greg Quirolo, director of school counseling.

“This program allows to us to share in the mission of Catholic education with local Catholic elementary and middle schools,” he said.

Iona social worker Nancy Kessler is one of the professional speakers. She has 30 years of experience working with parents and children as a counselor and presenter. In 2016, Kessler was recognized as an “Unsung Hero” by Westchester Magazine for fostering student achievement through sensitivity, empathy and guidance.

In her presentation, Kessler aims to help parents support their children as they navigate the pre- and early teen years, said a press release.

She shares coping tips for families during what often becomes a stormy and stressful time.

“I find that since life is so complex and busy, and parenting can feel that way at times, it is best to, as the expression goes, keep it simple,” she said. “I will break down some parent strategies we have all heard over the years into simple, easy-to-remember tips.”

Speakers include Terence Houlihan, an educational consultant and speaker. Houlihan is a textbook author, Iona Prep school counselor and adjunct faculty member at Lehman College in the Bronx.

The following workshops are available:

"How to Prepare for the High School Prep Experience."
"Bullying 101" – An overview of bullying and victim behavior and strategies for middle school students to deal with the complexities of verbal, physical, emotional and cyber peer abuse.
"Crucial Skills for Parenting your Middle School Adolescent," which looks at the balance between dialogue and discipline or communication and consequences.
"Tips for Parents of Teens: It’s All in Their Heads!"
"Students Can, Do and Will Succeed in Catholic Schools."
"The Developing Adolescent Brain: Implications for Middle School Educators."

Click here for more information about the Iona Preparatory School workshops.

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