Build A Stronger Family

And Community

To the Editor:

I have attended Parent University for the past two years both as a volunteer and as a participant. In my experience, the choices of workshops appeal to everyone who interacts with children and cover a very broad range of subjects. Although the Newtown Parent Connection is committed to substance abuse prevention, and a few sessions are focused on that topic, Parent University really offers information that is relative to all aspects of child rearing.

As I believe information is empowering, the “courses” that are being presented this year are sure to enlighten anyone who wishes to increase their knowledge of what our children face growing up in the 21st Century. With all of the pressures and challenges facing our youth, it’s great to see workshops such as those that reinforce the idea of “play,” the pitfalls of cyberspace, and the effects that substances have on the brains of our developing adolescents.

I invite all of the community to join me in taking a short block of time on this first day of spring to take in all or part of the offering at this year’s Parent University; I understand that participants can attend for the entire time or just part of the morning. Our presence at Newtown Middle School on Saturday, March 20, is one of the best gifts we can give to our children. It helps insure our futures by building stronger families and a stronger community. You have nothing to lose in sparing a couple of hours to attend this great event, and everything to gain.

Sincerely yours,

Reggie Cernick

157 Mt Pleasant Road, Newtown                            March 17, 2010