The Samohi PTSA has planned a series of relevant and dynamic Parent Education Evenings for 2020-2021. As a community, we all need to work together to support and empower our students. Parent Education Evenings are designed to support our parents in being informed about the issues impacting our students. Please save the dates and plan to attend.

9/22/20 Let’s Talk: The impact of COVID and Distance Learning on Our School Community – Our own Samohi and SMMUSD mental health experts share how COVID and Distance Learning may impact our students, parents, and teachers’ social-emotional wellbeing. Presenters will also share strategies on how parents can support their children during this time, and local resources for additional support. To view a recording of this presentation, CLICK HERE and enter the passcode: 5ZG2=uon

10/20/20 FAFSA Night, presented by USC Financial Aid – Get help filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form that determines your financial aid from the government and most colleges. All grades and parents are welcome. This presentation is highly recommended for Seniors and their families, as FAFSA opens October 1st. More information. Register here.

11/17/20 Drug and Alcohol Awareness Presentation by CLARE|MATRIX – Guest speakers will provide information on current trends and issues including Juuling and vaping, why students use drugs and alcohol, signs and stages of use, how to speak with your student about use, and resources available to help families struggling with these issues.

12/15/20 Preventing Youth Exploitation – Presented by iEmpathize, (with hubs in Los Angeles, Denver and Orlando): The exploitation of minors is an alarming reality in the US. And the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the US is part of a 32 billion dollar criminal industry. Perpetrators of crimes of sexual exploitation target youth who often have no idea what is really happening to them until it is too late. The purpose of the Empower Youth Program, therefore, is to equip students with strategies to stay safe from all forms of exploitation. We will learn more about this program and prevention strategies that are working to keep youth and schools safe from child exploitation.

1/19/21 The Law, Safety, and You – Help protect your teens by hearing from the City Santa Monica’s Youth and Family Services Support Coordinator, Ana Jara, on various serious issues including rules for new drivers, consequences of drinking and drug use at parties for both teens and their parents, teen sexting, sexual consent, and sexual violence. This presentation includes mature content: high school students and their parents only, please; parental discretion is advised. There will also be a short presentation by Be SMART, developed by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, to help parents and adults prevent child gun deaths and injuries.

2/23/21 Financial Consulting for College by Stephanie Hancock – Financial Advisor and College Aid Expert Stephanie Hancock has helped countless students attend college affordably. Recently, she launched the “Make College Affordable with the College Aid Lady” podcast, for which she is the host. At this presentation, she will show you how to compare financial aid packages and discover sources to find and apply for scholarships.

3/23/21 What They Don’t Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them – Young people coming of age today face new risks, expectations, and laws that didn’t exist when their parents were young. Author Jonathan Cristall will discuss his book What They Don’t Teach Teens , which provides teens, tweens, and young adults with up-to-date, realistic strategies to protect themselves against the pitfalls of adolescence. For more information or to order the book, visit https://www.wtdtt.com/

4/27/21 Social Media: Fears and Concerns about Social Media and how to deal with them - An important discussion around social media and its dangers and how to manage it as a parent of tweens and teens, April 27th: THE SOCIAL DILEMMA: A panel discussion with film maker and subjects of this popular Netflix documentary-drama which explores the human impact of social networking with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.
Director Jeff Orlowski will be joined by film interviewees in a panel moderated by doc film maker Greg Barker in a webinar style parent ed meeting exploring the impact of social media and the mental health issues associated with it.

5/18/21 Race, Equity and Belonging - A Follow-up with our Student Affinity Groups at Santa Monica High School