Parent Education - Parents - McDonogh School

Parent Education

Each year, the school and the McDonogh Parents Association (MPA) host a variety of parenting education events. Information about events and speakers is also shared in the bi-weekly electronic newsletter, Parent News

LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES

Join fellow parents for engaging conversation with experts about raising children in today’s complex world. Lunch will be provided for those who can attend in person. We will share a Zoom link for those who wish to join the discussion online. For both sessions, the speakers will be joining virtually. 

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers with Lisa Damour

Thursday, April 11
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Mullan Board Room
RSVP

Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of three New York Times bestsellers: UntangledUnder Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, which have been translated into twenty-three languages. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News. During this session, we will be discussing Damour’s book The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, a guide to help parents understand their teenagers’ intense and often fraught emotional lives—and how to support them through this critical developmental stage.

Past Parent Education Events

Combatting the Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace

On February 7, 2024, author and award-winning reporter Jennifer Wallace joined parents for a "Lunch and Learn" webinar to discuss her book, Never Enough. Drawing on interviews with families, educators, and an original survey of over 6,000 parents, Wallace’s book exposes how the pressure to perform is not a matter of parental choice but baked into our larger society and spurred by increasing income inequality and dwindling opportunities. 

Listen to the discussion here

Book Club: The Assignment

On January 23, 2024, parents gathered in the Mullan Board Room for dinner and a discussion about The Assignment by Liza Wiemer. On December 12, 2023, Wiemer engaged with parents, faculty, and staff during a Lunch and Learn session. Read about her visit. 

Let's Talk About Drugs: Annual All-Division Webinar

On January 17, 2024, The MPA hosted a panel discussion on the current trends impacting our children, including the legalization of marijuana and the fentanyl crisis. Panelists talked about the potential risks and offered practical tips on how to have open and honest conversations with children. 

Panelists included Nancy Love, Director of Wellness at McDonogh; Scott Shellenberger, Baltimore County State's AttorneyGreg Hobelmann, M.D., M.P.H., Co-CEO of Ashley Treatment CenterIfeoluwa Omitowoju, MD; and Leah SeraPharmD, MA, BCPS.

View the program.

Discussion with Author Liza Wiemer

On December 12, 2023, the McDonogh Parents Association, in collaboration with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, teamed up with the Jewish Library of Baltimore to invite Liza Wiemer, author of The Assignment, to campus. Wiemer engaged with more than forty parents, faculty, and staff during a Lunch and Learn session, discussing her journey in writing The Assignment and advocating for the importance of being proactive against injustice. Read more about her visit. 

EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO DO THE GREATEST GOOD IN THE WORLD

On April 18, 2023, Director of Greatest Good McDonogh Bridget Collins provided an overview of the integrated coursework and experiential learning that is inspiring empathy and philanthropic engagement in our students.

How to Raise Successful Kids Without Overparenting

On March 2, 2023, the MPA hosted an informative and engaging evening with New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims. Drawing on her experience as a mother, the former dean of freshmen at Stanford University, and research with educators and admissions officers, Julie led a thought-provoking talk and offered practical strategies underlining the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary to become healthy, thriving adults. 

 

Parent Education Calendar

MPA Calendar