Parent Connection Presents Programs To School Board

By Larissa Lytwyn

Parent Connection, a recently reformed group of local parents dedicated to raising substance abuse awareness and prevention, discussed its goals with the Board of Education during the board’s September 9 meeting.

“I am here to tell you that this is a problem that can happen to anyone,” said Donna DeLuca, former principal of St Rose School and co-founder of Parent Connection.

Board member Lisa Schwartz asked Ms DeLuca and Dorrie Carolan, also a Parent Connection founder, how they envisioned Newtown schools to be.

Ms Carolan talked about the importance of working with the district’s existing prevention and counseling center, headed by Health Coordinator Judith Blanchard.

Although Ms Carolan said it is important to keep lines of communication open between parents and children, she quickly added that there is no one predictor of substance abuse.

Parent Connection presents its first open forum, facilitated by nationally renowned substance abuse expert John Hamilton, at Newtown Middle School on September 24, from 7 to 9 pm. For more information, contact Ms Carolan at 426-8591 or 426-6424, or Ms DeLuca at 426-9280.