Albany Middle School hosts town hall for parents

ALBANY — Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend Albany Middle School’s annual Family Town Hall Wednesday afternoon. The meeting will cover topics such as Title I school programs, testing, parenting skills, bullying and more.

J.D. Sumner, an employee with the Dougherty County School System’s Public Information Office, said the town hall will also include information about general school operations, how and why Albany Middle and its school days are structured the way they are, what programs the school offers — such as magnet opportunities, honors classes, multimedia, law, etc.

“Overall, it’ll just be a really broad introduction into life at Albany Middle and how parents can be more involved and engaged in it,” Sumner said. “That’s ultimately the key: making sure that they are a part of their children’s education just as much as we are.”

When the town hall’s topic turns to parenting skills, Sumner said the session will be a mix of seminars, handouts and demonstrations.

“There’ll be some information presented on various skills,” he said. “Like how to cope with stress related to parenting, discussing controversial topics or hot-button issues, the ways for parents to learn how to keep an eye out for behavioral changes in their children. If they’re not coping with things that are happening at school, how do you recognize that?”

On the topic of behavioral changes, Sumner said the meeting will help parents identify when their child perpetuates and is a victim of bullying.

“Often times, that chronic, habitual being picked on by another student, students tend to carry that by themselves without necessarily telling anybody,” Sumner said. “So we’ll help parents spot some warning signs about bullying and talk about what they can do if they see it and help us become aware of bullying. Because until we’re brought aware of it, we can’t really do anything.

“Kudos to Albany Middle for taking a forward, proactive approach at it, because it’s got to be a partnership between parents and the school when it comes to helping kids with being bullied.”

Sumner said the school created a mentorship program through which boys can play games and bond with the school’s male staff, churches, fraternities and other youth groups, while girls can participate in the Girl Scouts Be a Friend First program.

The Family Town Hall will take place at 1700 Cordell Ave. and last from 5-7 p.m.