We are off to a fantastic start for the 2019 – 2020 school year and I am excited to report that our Meet the Teacher Nights in all of our schools have been extremely well-attended by families and staff members. On Thursday evening, September 26, I spoke briefly to our Tappan Zee High School families about the meaning of these Meet the Teacher events. Families typically attend Meet the Teacher Nights for two reasons: First, they are looking to “connect the dots” between their children’s interests, talents, and life in the South Orangetown Central School District (and beyond); and, the second reason is more a function of parenting instincts. As I explained to the audience, parenting instincts come from the immeasurable love that we have for our children and the great lengths that we are willing to go to ensure their safety, health, happiness, and, success.
I only had a few minutes to speak to the parents at the TZHS Meet the Teacher Night, and I told the audience that I would provide additional information regarding how to negotiate the high school experience as a family. So, as promised, here are several links that I believe will guide and support our families as they have conversations with their children concerning interests, talents, and the role that schooling plays in developing the whole-child:
- How to Help Your Child Succeed in School, by Jessica Lahey (New York Times, 2019). This is an article that was recently published in the New York Times that helps to put parents and guardians in the proper mindset to make schooling a productive experience for children. While most of our families are familiar with the concepts in this article, it is always a helpful reminder to each of us to value the process of education over the product. This is especially important in light of the fact that most children do not fully understand their interests and talents (because of their youth) and those opportunities that are connected to these yet-to-be developed (or discovered) talents and interests.
- Introduction to High School – A Parent’s Perspective. I also wrote a blog post back in 2017 that speaks specifically to life at Tappan Zee High School and provides additional links to counseling and student trajectories beyond high school. Please visit the TZHS For Students page for additional information on student resources, counseling services, and college and career readiness.
Enjoy these years as the parent of a TZ Dutchman. As we start to have discussions about life after high school, we must remind ourselves to cherish this very special time. It is especially important that you assist your child in discovering their passions and how those passions allow them to better interact with the world. These high school years are a great time to develop ideas about what academic areas are of interest (or, equally important, not of interest) to them.
Best wishes for a great year!
A list of “Key Dates to Remember” for 2019 – 2020 is posted under the “College Readiness” section on both the TZHS For Students and For Parents webpages. The direct link is: http://blogs.socsd.org/tzhs/key-dates-to-remember/