The Hilton Central School District is proud to partner with Parents as Partners to present these valuable and informative webinars which will address a variety of issues being faced by today's families. Please watch for links to register for upcoming sessions as they become available.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Thornton at: ETHORNTON@hilton.k12.ny.us or (585) 392-1000 x6055.

See below for further descriptions of each session and to register.

OCTOBER 16 - Co-Parenting: Strategies for Making it Work for the Sake of the Kids

(Target audience is families with children of all ages)

Jennifer Bashant

This topic was requested by several parents at the end of our last series, which is not surprising

given that more than half of parents are divorced. Co-parenting is something many families with

school-age children face, yet there is little guidance about how to make it work. During this

webinar, Jennifer will share many strategies and tips for co-parenting, while acknowledging that

each situation is unique and not every strategy will work for every family. Click here to register:

OCTOBER 20 – Ways to Encourage a Love of Reading and Strengthen Your Early Reader’s Literacy Skills

(Target audience: families with elementary students)

Renee Beaulieu

During this webinar, the presenter will introduce various strategies to engage your child in

developing vocabulary, background knowledge and verbal reasoning to enhance your child's

reading skills. We will discuss the skills that are foundational to the science of reading and how

you can use these comprehension skills to reinforce your child's learning. We will look at several

ways to engage your child during outings, while engaging in daily activities and creating word

games you can play throughout the day. Click here to register:

NOVEMBER 3 - Strategies for Developing Executive Function Skills at Every Developmental Stage

(Target audience is families with children of all ages)

Jennifer Bashant

Executive function and self-regulation skills provide critical supports for learning and

development. These skills allow us to retain and work with information in our brains, focus our

attention, filter distractions, and switch mental gears. For various reasons, some children and

teens need explicit instruction and many opportunities to practice these skills. During this webinar,

participants will learn strategies to help their children develop and use these critical skills. Click here to register:

NOVEMBER 20 - How to Talk with Your Teen About Depression and Suicide (and how to let your boys know it’s OK to ask for help!)

(Target audience is families with a teen)

Jennifer Bashant

The teenage years are defined by changes, sometimes dramatic changes, in behavior. These are often

difficult years for families, even when mental health challenges are not present. So, how do you know

what are considered normal changes, and when the changes in mood, isolating behavior and loss of

interest in certain activities is clinical depression? This is not an easy question to answer, but we will tackle

it during this webinar. We will look at the symptoms of depression and warning signs for suicide, and you

will learn ways that you can support your teen and get them professional help if needed. It can be

overwhelming and difficult to find a therapist who is also accepting new patients, so we will look at tips

for finding a therapist who will be a good fit for your teen. Click here to register:

DECEMBER 4 – Parenting a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Building on Strengths and Developing Skills for Success

(Target audience is for families with children of all ages)

Renee Beaulieu

The completion of daily tasks and routines that many parents take for granted can be a real challenge

for parents with a child with ASD. Many parents also feel alone in the struggle because it can be hard to

find someone who understands. During this webinar, Renee will introduce strategies for establishing a

positive environment at home and building the social and emotional skills needed for flexibility, emotion

regulation, and communication. Renee is a special educator with many years of experience working with

students with Autism. Click here to register:

DECEMBER 16 – Navigating Loss: A Guide to Bereavement for Families

(Target audience is families of all ages)

Kim Perone

Kim Perone, Certified Life Coach and Grief Educator, shares her own story of loss and information

for families on the stages of grief and how to be with others in grief. This is a difficult topic

that Kim shares with heart and humor to help us handle loss, which is universally felt and shared,

yet uncomfortable to talk about. Click here to register:

JANUARY 8 - Five Practices to Train Your Nervous System for Calm

(Target Audience is families with children of all ages)

Jennifer Bashant

There are endless ways that we are stretched as parents raising children and teens. It can be

difficult to remain calm when stressors are adding up and we feel pressure to do it all and keep

everything running smoothly in the household. During this webinar, Jennifer will introduce five

practices you can incorporate that will help you regulate your stress response and remain calm,

even when the pressure is on! Click here to register:

JANUARY 27 - Parenting a Child with ADHD and/or Oppositional Behaviors

(Target audience: families with mid-elementary through middle school children)

Jennifer Bashant

Parenting a child with ADHD and/or oppositional behavior can be very challenging, often leaving

caregivers exhausted and at a loss for what to try next. This webinar will be based on a researchbased

process developed by a psychologist for improving behavior and reducing stress in the

home. The focus will be on how to give a command, how to use a time-out as a break from

positive reinforcement, and how to effectively use praise and reprimands. There will also be an

opportunity to ask questions of the presenter, to share resources and to provide support to other

parents and caregivers in attendance. Click here to register:

FEBRUARY 12 – FOR STUDENTS: Nature in Your Own Home: A Guide to Building and Maintaining a Custom Bioactive Terrarium

(This webinar is intended for children and teens to watch with their caregivers)

Bennett Beaulieu

With the aquarium business now valued at over $3.6 billion and the exotic pet business not far

behind, an animal husbandry hobby offers something for everyone. One of the fastest growing

trends is the demand for ultra-realistic, enriched enclosures that mimic natural habitats and

provide vital stimulation for the animals. During this webinar, you’ll learn how to create living

ecosystems that are not only visually stunning but also beneficial for the health and wellbeing of

your pets. Click here to register:

MARCH 3 - Using a Strengths Perspective to Navigate Life with Your Adolescent

(Target audience: families with middle and high school children)

Jennifer Bashant

The teen years can be challenging in a lot of ways, but there are many things to celebrate as well.

Focusing on your teen’s strengths and interests can be a powerful way to enhance your

relationship and foster motivation. During this webinar, Jennifer will share some strategies and

tools for discovering strengths and building upon them, as well as ways to look for and focus on

the good in (almost) every situation. Click here to register:

MARCH 19 – FOR STUDENTS: How to Start and Maintain a Correspondence with Your Favorite Celebrity or Athlete

(This webinar is intended for children and teens to watch with their caregivers)

Bennett Beaulieu

Since the late 19th century, sports and media fans alike have sought after their favorite celebrity’s

signatures. Though the autograph hobby has changed considerably, a love for collecting unique

memorabilia has remained. In this webinar, you will learn how to contact your favorite

celebrity/athlete, begin and maintain a correspondence with them through the mail, and properly

store the memorabilia. In addition to being introduced to a rewarding hobby, you will enhance your

investigative and writing skills to increase your chances of success. Click here to register: