Speakers Series

As an educational leader in this community, LCDS is honored to provide a speakers series open to general public.

Upcoming Speaker Series events

Speakers Series events for the 2008-2009 school year:

Rebecca Curtis, author and political blogger, will be giving an open reading and book signing on October 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Steinman Theatre at Lancaster Country Day School. Curtis will be reading from and discussing her collection of short stories, "Twenty Grand and Other Tales of Love & Money," (HarperCollins), a collection the Village Voice called, "An instant classic". Curtis’ fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, Harper's Bazaar, McSweeney's, Open City, and Conjunctions; currently, she is a political blogger for the Huffingtonpost. This event is free and open to the public.

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Speakers Series events from the 2007-2008 school year:

November 6: Author Phil LaMarche visited LCDS on November 6. His first novel "American Youth" (Random House, April 2007) was nominated for the 2007 Quill Book Award in the category of general fiction.

LaMarche spent time with writing and English students at LCDS. That evening, he held a reading and discussion at the School. This event was free and open to the public.

Speakers Series events from the 2006-2007 school year:

April 24: "Raising Kids in A Digital World." Blogging, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, instant messaging: These are high-tech tools that give our children new ways to get into trouble.

Come hear Robin Raskin, a nationally recognized expert, present a hands-on demonstration of how children use the Internet and what parents can do to make the experience less dangerous. She'll provide tips that will give you an understanding of how the technology works and what technology tools can help parents stay ahead of the curve.

Robin is featured as a columnist on Yahoo! Tech. She's been the Editor-in-Chief of FamilyPC, editor of PC Magazine, and columnist for USA Today Online and the Gannett News Service. Raskin has authored six books about parenting in the digital age for publishers including Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Hyperion. Her most recent book, "A Parents’ Guide to College Life" (Random House, 2006) provides parents with practical answers to 180 “must ask” questions.

March 21: Tina George, LSW, spoke about preventing drug use by teens. Tina discussed such topics as current drug trends, signs and symptoms of teen drug use, how to communicate with teens regarding drugs and alcohol, and setting boundaries. Tina also discussed adolescent treatment and services available to schools and families through the Caron Foundation.

February 22: “A Forum on Immigration: Then and Now” will feature civic leaders and residents from Lancaster and Berks counties.

The Forum, organized by Lancaster Country Day School faculty member Chip Smedley, was a complement to an oral history project developed by LCDS juniors in conjunction with the Lancaster County Historical Society.

Topics discussed during the Forum included the different experiences of immigrants 50 years ago vs. now; the role of ethnicity and race in the immigrant experience; reactions of communities; and political reactions.

January 11: "College Advising: Ensuring the Right Fit." One-hour program demystifies the world of college guidance for students and parents alike. Hear from Linda Campbell, LCDS director of college guidance, current parents, and an LCDS alumna who will reflect on how the school's college advising process helps students achieve the "right fit." Program participants will be given a packet of information about college advising at LCDS. Program will be held from 7 - 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Events from the 2005-2006 school year:

“Knowing how they learn is just as important as knowing what they learn.”

How does your child learn? Verbally or visually? Through written word or hands-on experience? What is your role in the teacher-parent-student dynamic? By exploring these questions, you can become a more effective advocate and partner in your child’s education.

Join us as Karen Mersky Ph.D., a psychologists specializing in psychological and psycho-educational evaluations of children, adolescents, and adults will discuss the cognitive shifts in children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Joining her in her presentations will be Lower and Middle/Upper School teachers, Rudolph Sharp, Jr. Ph. D. and Dianne R.L. Cooney, M. Ed.

March 27, 2006 – for parents of children in kindergarten - fifth grade 7 - 8:30 p.m.

March 29, 2006 – for parents of children in sixth - twelfth grade 7 - 8:30 p.m.