St. Joseph Catholic STEM School in Waconia invites parents, grandparents, caregivers and community members to join its Parent Partnership Series, a yearlong series of conversations designed to help families navigate some of the challenges of raising children today.
Created by St. Joseph School Counselor Lynn Gerebi and Head of School Deacon Bruce Richards, the Parent Partnership Series grew from a simple idea: schools and families are strongest when they work together.
Throughout the school year, St. Joseph will bring families together to explore topics that affect children at home, at school and in the wider world. The goal is not simply to provide information, but to give parents practical strategies, encouragement and resources they can take home and use with their own families.
And St. Joseph wants the entire community to know: you do not need to have a child enrolled at St. Joseph to attend.
Head of School Richards states, “Parents today are raising children in a world that is changing at an extraordinary pace. Technology changes, culture changes and even some of the strategies we use as parents need to change with them. But the fundamental role of a parent has not changed. Parents remain the primary educators of their children, entrusted with helping them grow into responsible adults who are rooted in virtue and know what it means to serve, show mercy, and love others well. Our Parent Partnership Series is about walking alongside families as they navigate what is new while holding firmly to what is timeless.”
The series addresses a wide range of topics parents encounter as their children grow, including technology and screen use, resilience, friendships and boundaries, literacy, faith and family life and healthy conversations about sexuality.
The Parent Partnership Series includes:
- October 5 — Discover ScreenStrong: Kids’ Brains & Screens
- November 2 — Raising Resilient Kids Intentionally
- December 7 — Peer Dynamics and Boundaries
- January 19 — Hallowed Be Thy Home Parent Night: Holy Hour & Workshop
- February 1 — Literacy Night
- March 1 — Holy Habits: A Joyful Road to Personal and Family Growth
- April 5 — Modern Sexuality and Theology of the Body
Regular Parent Partnership sessions are scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. The Jan. 19 Hallowed Be Thy Home event is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m.
The next event, Discover ScreenStrong, will take place Monday, October 5, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the St. Joseph Catholic STEM School gymnasium.
The session will focus on helping families build healthier relationships with screens. Parents will learn more about how screens can affect developing brains and explore strategies for establishing healthy boundaries and habits at home. The introductory workshop will include the ScreenStrong approach to screen-addiction prevention along with practical family solutions parents can begin using right away. It is designed for parents of children of all ages, from preschool through the teen years. Parent Partnership Series
The October program is generously sponsored by St. Joseph parent and local business owner Shannon Turek of Shred With Shannon.
While some of the conversations in the series will reflect St. Joseph’s Catholic identity and mission, the invitation extends beyond the school community. The school hopes the Parent Partnership Series becomes a place where families from throughout Waconia and surrounding communities feel welcome to come, learn and connect.
St. Joseph School Counselor Gerebi continues, “The Parenting Partnership series is bringing trusted content experts to our community to share and workshop practical guidance parents and caregivers can integrate at home. The one-hour sessions will be interactive, allowing time for open dialogue and questions.”
The Parent Partnership Series reflects St. Joseph’s broader commitment to partnership between school and home and its belief that supporting children also means supporting the adults who care for them. All parents, grandparents, caregivers and interested community members are welcome.
