Newport Pediatrics urges parents to 'Get Schooled!'

NEWPORT-Newport Pediatrics' Partners in Parenting Program urges everyone in the community to 'Get Schooled!' as the 2017-2018 school year gets underway.

The Partners in Parenting program, which began May 9, is under the direction of Newport Pediatrics Patient Centered Medical Home Director Alicia Dalton, her administrative assistant Shannon Barnes, and Family Nurse Practitioner Macy Hooper Layman and continues to present monthly programs addressing the total care of their patients and their families' needs.

On Thursday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. they will host a free community event at Newport City Park Pavilion. Called 'Get Schooled!', the program will focus on keeping children healthy, happy and in school, according to Dalton.

"We're working with the Cocke County School System to develop community partnerships promoting school attendance and discourage chronic absenteeism. By working together, our goal is to make a positive impact on negative behavior by educating parents, children, teachers, and other community members who serve as role models about the available resources to overcome barriers to education and to provide them with the needed tools to become healthy, happy, educated adults," Dalton explained.

Noting the increased attention given to school attendance from all quarters, Dalton said, "We here at Newport Pediatrics know that it takes a village to raise a child and have found that sometimes our community groups and programs do not converse among themselves. We're working to try to open the lines of communication and know our community is full of wonderful people and resources.

"We are looking for groups, both within and outside the school system who can serve as role models and mentors to children who may need a little extra help. They may be a children or youth program at church, an after-school activity that promotes friendship, a service organization that emphasizes teamwork and self-worth, or any group that cam provide resources to fellow parents and students the night of Get Schooled! We want to hear from you and how you and your organization can help."

Dalton said plans for the Get Schooled! Celebration already call for food and inflatables (provided by Wilton Springs Hardware) and vendors bringing educational materials relevant to student/parent needs. "We're going to have a dunking booth so children can practice their aim while soaking community leaders, such as Cocke County Schools Attendance Supervisor Dennis Balch, Judge Brad Davidson, and Dr. Jennifer Sauceman of Newport Pediatrics," Dalton announced.

"We also have short presentations relating to the new absenteeism policy that all parents and children need to hear, plus other information about barriers to education, such as bullying and separation anxiety," she continued.

"We want to add to this program," she concluded and said that any organization wishing to set up a table of information to call Newport Pediatrics at 423-623-0653.