U Matter » Events

Why Worry About Underage Drinking – Event

Vision works — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:28:03 +0000

Effects of Cyberbullying

Vision works — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:53:26 +0000

The University of Missouri School of Law and the Missouri Law Review will host a two-day symposium on the effects of cyberbullying among elementary and secondary students. The symposium, “Cyberbullying: Emerging Realities and Legal Challenges,” will feature an array of national experts, including keynote speaker John Palfrey, co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and vice-dean at the Harvard School of Law. The symposium will address the extent to which the First Amendment restricts cyberbullying regulation, the psychological effects cyberbullying has on children, and practical concerns facing teachers and school administrators as they implement legislative mandates to combat cyberbullying.

Week of the Emotionally Healthy Child

Vision works — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:54:26 +0000

It’s not every day teachers and child advocates tell the community to put less emphasis on the academic needs of children.

That is the situation this week as local organizations hope to remind the community of the emotional needs of children as part of the“Week of the Emotionally Healthy Child.”

“Emotional health is the foundation for everything else,” Dr. Gerald Newmark, author of “How to Raise an Emotionally Healthy Child,” said Monday morning. “If we don’t have that, we have the world we live in now. You have conflict at every level.”

Newmark visited from California this week to take part in the events organized by Columbia Cares for Kids, a coalition of 15 local education and community groups. Activities began Monday morning with nearly 50 community members gathering at Field Elementary School for a proclamation from Mayor Bob McDavid recognizing the importance of emotional health.

Parenting Expert speaks in Columbia

Vision works — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:13:00 +0000

A psychologist known for his expertise on how brain science can inform better parenting will visit Columbia this week as part of an effort to highlight important discoveries about children’s brain development.

David Walsh, an expert on children, parenting and brain science, has been invited to lead events for the “Week of Parenting with the Brain in Mind,” sponsored by the local coalition Columbia Cares for Kids. The coalition — spearheaded by Central Missouri Community Action, or CMCA — consists of 17 local organizations.

Coalition members agreed Walsh would bring the most appealing information to the community, said Bryon White, family and community administrator for CMCA.

“He’s not just talking about the specifics of the brain and the science behind it,” White said. “He’s actually talking with the community about strategies that they can use to help children thrive in terms of their brain development.”

Walsh will present “Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids” at Smithton Middle School on February 9, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.

Should parents be held responsible for underage drinking?

Vision works — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:19:46 +0000

Parents of teens: If you think a drinking disaster at your kid’s party can’t happen at your house, not with your kid because he’s a good kid, it’s time to wake up and smell the whiskey bottle tossed on your lawn.

Because of the high risk of underage drinking and driving this time of year, many parents open their homes to partying teens as a way to keep them off the roads. What some might not know is liability laws can leave Mom and Dad vulnerable to lawsuits, fines and even jail time if underage drinking is found to be going on under their roof.

Parents can get in trouble even if they didn’t know about the drinking.

Mother of cyber bullying victim speaks to Smithton, Gentry students

Vision works — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:07:43 +0000






: Smithton Middle School students raise their hands in response to a question that Tina Meier asked Tuesday afternoon during a presentation at the middle school. Meier, whose daughter Megan Meier committed suicide at age 13, spoke to over 900 Smithton Middle School students about bullying.

When Tina Meier asked the students of Smithton Middle School how many of them had a Facebook profile, nearly everyone raised their hands.

The same response was given when Meier asked who had a cellphone with picture messaging. The Internet. Or knew someone with a fake social media page.

Meier, whose daughter Megan killed herself after being bullied on the Internet, spoke to students at Smithton Middle School Tuesday afternoon. Meier also gave a presentation at Gentry Middle School on Tuesday morning.

UMatter Summitt

Vision works — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:16:05 +0000

While the U Matter Campaign happens all year long, U Matter Week is the annual kick-off of U Matter activities. October is also National Bullying Prevention Month and Red Ribbon Week falls in the month of October. During U Matter Week each year we bring national speakers into all of our secondary buildings for special assemblies focusing on substance abuse prevention, bullying, and making positive choices. We also host, with the support of our community partner YC2, a U Matter Summit for 150 middle school students. The summit was held on Oct. 5, which was an early release day. The students participated in the morning all-school assemblies at their buildings and then came together in the afternoon for break-out sessions, put on by our guest speaker,s that focus more intensely on the positive messages and leadership building they heard earlier in the day. The students were really engaged and involved in the activities.

Additionally, as part of the U Matter activities this year, each middle school student and faculty member was provided an anti-bullying T-shirt in their school’s colors. The T-shirt was designed by two Gentry Middle School students at the end of last school year. The students and their teacher were inspired after Tina Meier visited their school to talk about bullying and her daughter Megan, who committed suicide.

How To Protect Our Children Against Bullying and Cyberbullying

Vision works — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:17:58 +0000

Parents and community members are invited to hear the Megan Meier story and learn how to protect their children against bullying and cyberbullying! Tina Meier’s presentation provides an overview of the technology that students are using in today’s world. Life is much different for students today than it was even four years ago. As parents and community leaders, it is imperative that we continually educate ourselves to become better equipped to help our children. Megan Meier’s story will be shared along with the topics of bullying, bystanders, cyberbullying and sexting. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Free Parent & Community Presentation
Tuesday, January 10, 6 p.m.
Launer Auditorium
Columbia College
1001 Rogers Street

Sponsored by Columbia Public Schools with support from Columbia College

U Matter presents Ty Sells

Vision works — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:29:02 +0000

Ty Sells is an alcohol and other drug-free presenter who entertains and motivates young audiences to live drug-free lives and deal with peer pressure by looking inward to personal strengths.

Click here to see his presentation to Gentry Middle School.

One way to stay safe online

Vision works — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:05:16 +0000

Since we saw yesterday how more and more teens are having their accounts hacked, here are some ideas about how to keep you accounts safer:

Passwords are the first line of defense against cyber criminals. It’s important to pick strong passwords that are different for each of your important accounts and to change them regularly. Here are some ideas to help create strong passwords.