Risky Behavior Panel at Staples High

How do you find out where your teens will be this weekend? How can you learn the consequences of risky behavior? 

Attend the Staples High School PTA/PYD Risky Behavior Panel discussion Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. 

Parents are invited to hear an expert panel that will include a Westport paramedic, Westport's Youth Detective, Westport's DARE Officer, a private attorney, an SHS faculty advisor, and SHS Peer Advisors.

It is critical that parents know the implications of their teen's behaviors, the PTA/PYD Risky Behavior Panel says. This is an opportunity to find out what to watch for and learn what the kids are doing. Even if parents think their student is not involved in risky behaviors, teens are affected by what they hear is going on.

Acording to the February For the Wreckord, comments from attendees at previous Risky Behavior Panels sponsored by SHS PTA/PYD in the past include:

• "A child under the age of 16 cannot give consent for sex. There is no such thing as consensual sex under the age of 16. And that means all sexual activity, not only intercourse. If charged and convicted of this crime, the offender will be sentenced to a mandatory nine months in jail, which cannot be suspended by any judge. They will then be required to register as a sex offender." – attorney
• "The biggest mistake made by parents and kids is not calling 911 when they suspect alcohol poisoning. Just remember the police are on your side; they want to help the kids, not get them into trouble." – paramedic
• "If you take away only one thought from this evening, it should be listen to your kids, really, really listen to them."- attorney
• "I was surprised to hear so many kids are looking for unsupervised homes after school." – Staples administrator
• "Being upstairs and knowing you have liquor in an unlocked liquor cabinet downstairs where your child is with friends is the same as providing the liquor to them."- attorney
• "Using cell phones, kids call taxis at 2:30 in the morning and ask to be picked up on their street corner. They sneak out and go to other people's homes." - police officer
• "Some of the most dangerous cases coming across my desk these days involve interaction between sexual predators and minors over the Internet. These are extremely dangerous people who try to persuade kids to meet up with them in person." - police officer 

Attend the panel discussion to learn more and share your thoughts with other parents.