Free Program for Parents Offers Expert Information on helping Teens Manage Transition to High School
Tuesday, May 10, 7:00 p.m., at the Highland Park High School Auditorium
Sponsored by District 112
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., – The transition from middle-school to high school can be difficult for teens. There’s no field guide to this transition, and every child experiences the process differently. What’s normal? What’s not? When should you seek help? How can parents help their kids succeed?
Parents of middle-school aged children can find answers to these questions at a free, panel discussion – Teens and Transitions – Tuesday, May 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Highland Park High School Auditorium, 433 Vine Ave., Highland Park, Ill., 60035.
The panel will address issues kids encounter as they transition to high school including social and educational challenges, academic expectations and support, drinking, drugs and meds, triggers and signs of stress and depression, when to seek help, and resources available in our community for helping kids cope.
Experts with first-hand experience in our community will lead the discussion, including:
 Dr. Henry Gault, M.D., Child and Adolescent PsychiatristDr. Gault is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Life Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners in both general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry and is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He is also a spokesperson of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Gault has been in practice for over 30 years and provides consultation, evaluation, and psychotherapy for adults, adolescents and children. Dr. Gaults’ special areas of interest are school related programs and community consultation. He has worked with Deerfield, Highland Park, Northbrook and Lake Forest school systems. |
 Dr. Thomas J. Koulentes, Highland Park High School PrincipalKoulentes has been a Highland Park Giant for the past 21 years. During that time he has served as a classroom teacher, Director of the Bilingual Program, Assistant Principal, and the Principal for the past two years. Koulentes believes that high schools today must not only provide students with strong academic skill development, they must also focus on nurturing student resiliency and social-emotional skills |
 Alesia Margetis, HPHS Counseling Department ChairMargetis is the Department Chair of Counseling at Highland Park High School. She has been a member of the HPHS faculty for 20 years. Prior to her role as Department Chair, she was a counselor at HPHS and a teacher prior to that. As a counselor, she coordinated the services in the Drop-In Center, the hub for social/emotional support for students. At the beginning of her career, she worked with adolescents in a substance abuse inpatient treatment center and realized her passion for counseling. |
 Gus Pappadimas, Ed.S., CADC HPHS School PsychologistFor the past 24 years, Pappadimas worked as a school psychologist at Highland Park High School providing counseling, support in the Drop-In Center, psychoeducational evaluations, and crisis intervention. Early in his career he worked at Youth Outreach Services in Chicago as a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) and program director of a Regional Safe School Program with WEST 40 ISC. |
“We know that change is the one thing we can always count on, yet those changes are often difficult,” said Don Miner, City of Highland Park Manager of Youth and Senior Services. “The transitions experienced by teens are difficult for the teen, parent, and entire family. The more prepared we are for a transition, the more successful it will be.”
The event will include a moderated discussion followed by a question and answer period. The program is free and open to all. Questions about the program can be directed to Kathleen Illes, program coordinator, illeska@comcast.net.
The program is brought to you by Rebecca’s Dream, a 501 (c) 3 Foundation which promotes awareness and compassionate understanding of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases. Find more information at www.rebeccasdream.org.
Media Contact:
Kathleen Illes, 847-681-1986 or 773-960-0413
Illeska@comcast.net
