WHITTIER – Hundreds of Santa Fe High School parents packed into campus classrooms on Oct. 22 to learn about issues relevant to teens today – from college and career options to dating and social media – during the school’s annual Parent Education Day.
 
Launched in 2003, Parent Education Day is an informal and free way to engage Santa Fe High parents and provide them with information on ways to help their children succeed, with each having the opportunity to attend three, 45-minute workshops on a variety of topics.
 
“Teenagers are facing many issues in their lives these days. These workshops are meant to enhance parents’ knowledge and help them develop an understanding of these concerns,” counselor Cheryl Redgate said. “With this day of presentations, it is our goal to work together to provide parents the tools necessary to raise healthy and successful kids.”
 
Led by a team of counselors, teachers and community agencies, 16 workshops covered topics, in both English and Spanish, on senior projects, college and financial aid applications, the Aeries online grading system, community service opportunities, career mapping and planning, resources for foster youth, NCAA standards, and connecting home and school for success.

The program also offered parents a guide to such topics as social media, substance abuse, teen depression, and teen dating and safety.
 
Santa Fe High parent Aisha Leakes attended this year’s program to help her daughter, Ayanna, a senior at the school, plan for college.
 
“I wanted to come and be a part of what the school is offering and I figured if they have the resources, I might as well take advantage of them,” said Leakes, who attended the College 101 workshop. “With this being my daughter’s last year in high school, I want to make sure we can pull from every direction so that she can be successful in her next step to college.”
 
Exploring these topics early on in a students’ high school career is critical to preparing them with the skills necessary for today’s global market, Principal Craig Campbell said.
 
“While it is important to provide parents information on what it takes to get to and succeed in college, it is also vital to expose them to other areas of equal importance to student achievement – their social and emotional well-being,” Campbell said. “I want to thank the teachers and counselors who helped run this successful event, and we hope that parents gained valuable information.”