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Northland Foundation Presents Nationally Renowned Speaker

Michael Gurian on The Minds of Boys & Girls
Helping Our Children Do Their Best in School and Life

Bestselling author, international speaker, and co-founder of the Gurian Institute, Michael Gurian will explore the differences in girls’ and boys’ brains and how gender affects the way children behave and learn. He has pioneered efforts to bring neuro-biology and brain science into homes, schools, corporations, and public policy.

Monday, April 12, 2010,
6:30-8:30 PM
Inn on Lake Superior, Northern Lights Ballroom, Duluth

For parents, teachers, early childhood & youth development professionals, medical & mental health providers, and concerned adult community members

Free; no RSVP necessary
CEU’s are available for Duluth Public Schools & cooperating school districts

CONTACT:
Northland Foundation @ 218-723-4040 / 800-433-4045

• • Are you a parent of young children?
• • Do you struggle with questions like these:
• • What is sexuality?
• • When and how do I pursue this subject with my children?
• • Is it ever too soon or too late?
• • What is normal sexual development?
• • How do I handle specific questions, behaviors, and situations?
• • What about differing family values when it comes to beliefs, discipline, and guidance?

Please join us for an interactive forum where you can explore your role as the primary sexuality
educator of your children. Our small group will discuss parenting opportunities and challenges and
learn about typical developmental stages. The session will also help us understand signs that might
indicate that a child’s personal safety is being compromised, as well as give practical tips on how you
can talk with your children about sexual abuse.

Facilitated by:
Robbie Weisel, Parent-Child Programs Manager at Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Jolyn Techar, Education Groups Facilitator of Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County

Wednesday April 21st – 10 to 11 a.m.
Arrowhead Building (next to the Salvation Army)
505 12th Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792

Please RSVP by April 16th – group size is limited to 10 participants.
218-749-4725 (ask/leave message for Jolyn)
(A second program will be offered if there is enough interest.)

Sponsored by:
Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

• • Are you a professional who works with parents of young children?
• • Do the parents you work with struggle with questions like these:
• » » What is sexuality?
• » » When and how do we pursue this subject with children?
• » » Is it ever too soon or too late?
• » » What is normal sexual development?
• » » How do we handle specific questions, behaviors and situations?
• » » What about differing family values when it comes to beliefs, discipline, and guidance?

Please join us for a collaborative session on PASE (Parents Are Sexuality Educators) with:
Robbie Weisel, Parent-Child Programs Manager at Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Jolyn Techar, Education Groups Facilitator of Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County

Robbie and Jolyn will engage us in a conversation on helping parents and children navigate the lifelong
learning process around our human sexuality. The session will also help us understand signs that might
indicate that a child’s personal safety is being compromised, as well as give practical tips on how
parents can talk with their children about sexual abuse.

Wednesday April 21st – Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Arrowhead Building (next to the Salvation Army)
505 12th Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792

Please RSVP by April 16th – group size is limited to 10 participants.
218-749-4725 (ask/leave message for Jolyn)
(A second program will be offered if there is enough interest.)

Sponsored by:
Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

Participants will learn: Practical techniques for effective educators; how to avoid power struggles and effective limits for all students; how to have more fun and laugh with your students.

Target Audience:  Paraprofessionals (special education, general education, Title One, substitutes)

April 17, 2010, Cost $15 (includes refreshments, materials & lunch)

9 am to 3 pm at the Northeast Service Cooperative, Mt. Iron, MN

Register on-line, click on the orange workshop registration tab.  Call Tasha Honkola at 748-7605 with questions.

Fitness for Children with Disabilities: Developing Programs Using High-Intensity Strength Training, Agility and Balance Training

Saturday, April 17, 2010
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration begins at 8:00

Proctor High School, Proctor, MN
Room S128 & Fitness Center
Enter through Door #5 (faces the parking lot)
131 9th Avenue, Proctor, MN

Target Audience: Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists, Regular/adaptive physical education teachers and coaches. This workshop is approved for Category 1 Credits from MN APTA.

Proposed Schedule:
8:00 - 8:30 Registration
8:30 - 9:00 Introduction; Overview
9:00 - 12:00 Strength Training: Lecture and Lab; includes 15minute break
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch and Networking
1:00-2:45 Agility and Balance Training: Lecture and Lab; includes 15 minute break
2:45 - 3:45 Putting it All Together: Developing Fitness Plan
3:45 - 4:00 Final Comments; Evaluation

Cost: $35.00

Please register online at: www.nesc.k12.mn.us. Click on the orange workshop registration tab to find this workshop. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if accommodations are needed to participate in this event, please contact TashaHonkola at 218-748-7605 at least 10 days prior to the session.

We Believe that Parents are “Experts” in the Autism Spectrum Discovery Process and that’s what makes The Discovery Series so unique. Staff and parents who belong to the Autism Society of Minnesota present these courses. Each small-group course allows participants to meet a variety of parents who share practical ideas and insights on parenting a child on the autism spectrum.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Northeast Service Cooperative
5525 Emerald Ave.
Mt. Iron, MN 55768

The goals of the course are to:
� Understand Asperger Syndrome
� Learn about community resources
� Help parents gain skills and expertise in handling their day-to-day challenges
� Provide insight and support for parents on the joys and challenges of rearing a child with ASD
� Learn how to work effectively with local school districts

Each session is tailored to the participants’ needs and level of knowledge. Regardless of background in ASD, each person will gain crucial insights into the realm of autism during the Discovery Series.

Topics
� Definition of Asperger Syndrome
� Feelings experienced by parents
� Working with schools
� Learning about therapies – ABA and Floor time
� Teaching daily living skills, like dressing and toileting
� Helping with sensory needs
� Understanding how your child’s socialization impacts daily life
� Strategies to change problem behavior
� Using social stories
� Ideas to improve family life
� Community resources

There is no cost for this workshop. Lunch and materials will be provided. Participants take home a resource book on these topics to reference for years to come.

To register, contact Tasha Honkola at (218) 748-7605 or thonkola@nesc.k12.mn.us.

This training is for the SMART brand of interactive whiteboards that are being installed in many schools.  Before registering, check out what brand of interactive whiteboard you have in your school.  8:15 am registration, the training begins at 8:30 am and runs until 2:30 pm. Cost is $110 per person. Register at  http://www.nesc.k12.mn.us/registrations or call Jeanette Mellesmoen at 748-7617.

The training schedule is as follows:
March 9, 2010 Level 1 (beginner) Smartboard Training
March 12, 2010 Level 2 (for users who’ve had their board approx 6 months)

5:00 to 5:30 p.m., January 25, 2010, Parkview Learning Center Library
A certified pet trainer will discuss the best way to approach an animal, how to read an animal’s body language, and how parents help their children have a loving relationship with family pets. Free. CEU’s available. Call 742-3805 for more information.

Professional Development Activies required for Teacher Licensure Renewal
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday, February 8, Northeast Service Cooperative, 5525 Emerald Ave., Mt. Iron
This day long workshop will cover four areas needed to renew a license: mental health; positive behavioral intervention; accommodation, modification, & adaptation. Cost is $40 for lunch and materials. CEU\’s are available. Registration deadline is January 28, 2010. Call 741-0750 or go to www.nesc.k12.mn.us and select workshop registration.

Because more and more people are receiving information from social media these days, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) recently joined the social media movement by establishing a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

We are using these tools to complement our other communication efforts such as the state of Minnesota parent Website (www.mnparentsknow.info), periodic listserv distribution and the regular Early Learning Services information on the MDE Web pages. One of the main benefits of Facebook and Twitter is speed – if you are following us on either of these sites, you will hear about Web-based parent tools, videos, resources and announcements.

We encourage everyone interested in child development, early childhood education and parenting topics in Minnesota to become a “fan” of our Facebook page and a “follower” of our Twitter account. Users can find our Facebook page by searching for the Minnesota Department of Education and follow our Twitter updates at MnDeptEd.  Also, visit YouTube for Department videos at http://www.youtube.com/mndeptofed.

Here is a link to get you started on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roseville-MN/Minnesota-Department-of-Education/158627528952?ref=nf.