Moorestown students want to talk. We need to listen.
SpeakUp! will return to Moorestown High School on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Registration runs from 6 to 6:40 p.m., and the event runs from 6:45 to 9:30 p.m.
SpeakUp!, sponsored by Moorestown High School, the Home and School Association and CASA (Community Alliance on Substance Awareness), is a program intended to spark conversation among parents, high school students and educators in regard to some of the most important issues that students are confronted with everyday. SpeakUp! has reached more than 85,000 youth, parents and educators at more than 150 schools since the program started in 2000.
A committee of MHS students planning SpeakUp! chose five topics for this year’s event including drugs and alcohol, relationships, stress, acceptance and sex.
The opening speaker will be internationally renowned youth motivational speaker and MTV MADE Teen Life Coach, Jeff Yalden. For more information visit www.jeffyalden.com.
Following the opening speaker will be breakout sessions on the five topics in which students, parents and educators can voice their opinion on the topic in a safe and nonjudgmental manner. This gives everyone an opportunity to look at the topic from different perspectives. Parents and their child will not be in the same breakout session to allow for comfort and openness.
Some goals of the SpeakUp! Committee are:
• Have more adults attend.
• Better communication and understanding between parents and students.
• Create a comfortable atmosphere so everyone can share.
• Hear others’ perspectives.
• Make an impact in someone’s life.
All parents, high school students and educators are encouraged to attend.
To pre-register, visit www.speakup.org. Only students that pre-register and attend the program will receive community service hours. Please register early.