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Getting Ready for Back-to-School

On August 17 and again on August 18, Region II of the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) will be offering free training for parents, general and special educators, paraprofessionals, agency personnel, and others who work with children and students. The training, offered in partnership with Havre Public Schools, will feature Dr. Jay H. Berk at the Havre High School Auditorium.

The topic for Tuesday’s session is Electronic Addiction. A pioneer in electronic addiction in youth, Dr. Berk, is a licensed psychologist in two U.S. states and an expert in working with children, adolescents, and families. He also conducts social-skills groups for children and adolescents.

His book Parent’s Quick Guide to Electronic Addiction offers a wealth of practical tools to help parents identify, prevent, and intervene when their child's electronics use becomes a problem. Although some theory may be discussed during his workshop, the primary focus will be on helping attendees with what they can do to facilitate rapid and effective changes when Facebook, video games, online friends, iMessage, and other electronics distract users from doing much of anything else.

On Wednesday, in a workshop entitled “Returning Back to School for Students with Trauma and Additional Stress,” Dr. Berk will share ideas for working with students with trauma and additional stress.

To register for either one or both of these workshops, interested individuals should go to http://www.blueponyk12.com and click on the Staff tab. Next, clicking on Staff On-Line Resources and then clicking on 2021 August Institute will open the registration form and a menu of choices. Select the desired workshops.

Regional Coordinator, Aileen Couch cautions, “Please DO NOT try to register through CSPD; instead, use the steps outlined. If you need help, simply email me at cspd@blueponyk12.com.”

Other questions can also be directed to Couch through email or by calling (406) 395-8550 ext. 6714. As a professional courtesy, Couch asks that anyone needing to cancel a registration to please contact her office.

Six OPI renewal units or Professional Development (PD) credits are available for these trainings, which will begin with sign-in at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 a.m. on both days.