Newton Citizen

CONYERS - Rockdale County Public Schools is known to help students with their transition to high school, but this year, one group also is focused on helping parents with that transition.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, parents are invited to the Rockdale County High School auditorium for a special discussion, What Parents Need to Know to Smooth the Transition to High School.

Presented by the Conyers Sylvan Learning Center and 11Alive News, Stacey DeWitt, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based multimedia education consultant company Connect with Kids, will speak to parents of high school students about what they should expect.

The event is free and open to the public.

"Even if they are not first-time high school parents, this information could be beneficial to helping them make their child successful in high school," said Lori Patterson, president of the RCHS PTA, which helped organize the event.

DeWitt plans to present to parents statistics about the generation, stress and anxiety, Internet realities, academic challenges and other information that might affect their lives.

Patterson wants parents to attend this event to stay involved in their children's lives.

"Parent involvement is almost nonexistent compared to the elementary level," Patterson said. "I saw the need. I understand that by the time they get to this age, that they are mobile ... and think they are independent. But they are not so much. They still need (their parents) in their lives."

She hopes that events such as this one will help parents realize that they need to be more active in their students' lives, no matter their age.

"It's hard to change society's view ... but that's my goal," Patterson said. "They think they are invincible and indestructible ... but they are still kids and need their parents."

Michelle Floyd can be reached at michelle.floyd@newtoncitizen.com.

SideBar: If you go

· What: What Parents Need to Know to Smooth the Transition to High School

· When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Rockdale County High School auditorium, 1174 Bulldog Circle N.E., Conyers

· For more information: Visit www.connectwithkids.com