School Stress: Panel Talk on Dangers for both Kids and Parents

The high school years can be a very stressful time for both parents and students. The pressure is on to succeed in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities, especially in a community like Wilton that is so focused on achievement. Parents often struggle with how best to help their children, while children themselves struggle to balance the academic, social, emotional and developmental pressures they face.

Project 2016 is pleased to present a panel discussion on School Stress on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 7-8:30 p.m. at Trackside Teen Center. The evening is open to all parents and will allow ample time for questions. There is no charge for this event.

Among the topics, the panel will discuss learning how to recognize signs of stress in your child, how much stress is too much, and strategies for managing it. Ample time will be provided for questions.

The panel will include:

Jill L. Barron, MD MHS Dr. Barron is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist who trained at the Yale University School of Medicine, where she received her Masters in Health Sciences and is currently an assistant clinical professor. She has served as the president of the CT Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the director of medical student education in psychiatry at Yale. Dr. Barron is a consulting psychiatrist to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) where she treats firefighters with PTSD from the events of 9.11.01. She served as an advisor to leadership in Newtown in the wake of the Sandy Hook Tragedy. Dr. Barron served as a consultant to the UN/UNICEF in post-Soviet Georgia where she was on a multidisciplinary team charged with creating a comprehensive National Early Childhood Development Program. Whether working with an individual, a family, a community, or a country, Dr. Barron takes a highly trained approach to creating specialized supports to meet their needs.

S. Kate Venison, LMFT A graduate of Fairfield University Marriage and Family Therapy program, Venison has worked extensively with families experiencing high levels of distress and trauma, including those families with legal and multiple agency involvement, families dealing with divorce, chronic illness, domestic violence and sexual abuse. Currently the clinical head of Stratford Community Services, Venison also has a passion for training and working with interns and new therapists, in addition to working with individuals, couples and families in private practice.

Genevieve Eason Eason is the parent of three daughters in the WHS classes of 2013, 2016 and 2019. She has resided in Wilton since 1999.

This program is designed for parents. Questions? Please contact Genevieve Eason at 203.761.9199 or genevieve.eason@gmail.com.

Project 2016 is part of the Wilton Youth Council Class Projects. Class Projects provide drug and alcohol-free social or educational events for the parents and teens of each individual class. They offer an opportunity for parents to meet, network and support one another in dealing effectively with adolescent issues. The events also serve as fundraisers for the class. Over the five years for each project, many events are scheduled, culminating with the all-night Post Graduation Party. The events are open to all members of the class regardless of the school they attend. Parent involvement is essential.