Summit School Offers Free Seminar at Community Center

Any parent knows there are few feelings as helpless as watching your child struggle in school and feeling as though you can’t help.

Well, Summit School wants parents to know you can help, and you’re not alone. 

The school's executive director Dr. Joan Mele-McCarthy will present “Is Your Child Struggling In School?”— a free seminar for parents, on Wednesday at the Severna Park Community Center.

“The purpose of this is to provide education to the community,” Mele-McCarthy said. “We’re going to talk about, if you’re child is struggling in school, what does that mean? What could be happening, and what you can do about it.”

Located in Edgewater, The Summit School educates bright students with dyslexia and other learning differences. Mele-McCarthy said Wednesday’s seminar would focus on kids with learning differences who are struggling in school.

If your child is having trouble in the classroom, Mele-McCarthy said it’s important to not only talk to your child, but the teacher as well.

“The first step is to have an honest conversation with the teacher. Ask what is the child struggling with what the teacher sees in school,” Mele-McCarthy said. “Then ask your child why is school hard for them.”

Mele-McCarthy said the biggest piece of advice she can offer parents is not to be afraid to ask the question, “Why is your child struggling?” If something is not right, she said parents need to ask why, and then decide how they can help.

“It’s also important to remember, just because your child is struggling now does not mean they will always struggle,” Mele-McCarthy said. 

The free seminar will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Severna Park Community Center. It is free and open to the public. Parents may RSVP to seminars@thesummitschool.org.