FAQ for PARENTS

Fort Bend County AAUW “Expanding Your Horizons” 2006

 

 

Do I have to attend the conference with my daughter?

 

No, parents do not have to attend the conference.  There will be plenty of adult supervision including an on-site school security officer for added safety.  However, we do offer some adult sessions that we would love for you to attend.  Please see the EYH website for adult workshop details.  If you would like to have lunch at the conference, the fee is $5 per adult.

 

May dads attend the conference?

 

Yes, we welcome moms and dads.  Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate siblings who are not attending the conference.

 

Do you offer childcare for younger children?

 

No, unfortunately we don't have the space or resources to offer child care.

 

May I attend the student workshops?

 

No, we don’t allow adults (other than the presenter and her volunteer assistants) in the student workshops.  It has been our experience that even the most well-meaning adults quickly steer the student workshops into an adult-to-adult conversation, leaving the girls little time for direct interaction with the presenter. Teachers and Girl Scout Leaders who chaperone groups may attend provided they sit quietly. We have tasks for adults who wish to serve in a volunteer capacity at EYH.

 

May my middle school-aged son attend the conference?

 

No.  Although we recognize that there is a great need for a program like EYH to introduce boys to careers in math, science, and technology, our program is designed specifically for girls.

 

Are there free registrations available?

 

We want EYH to be available to everyone, so there are a limited number of free registrations available.  Please call Margo Johnson at 281-499-3327.

 

What is the deadline to register?

 

The last day to register will be Friday, February 3.  However, we can only accommodate 300 girls, so registration will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.  We do not keep a waiting list but we do overbook by a small percentage to allow for no-shows and last minute cancellations.

 

After I mail in my registration form, how do I know that I am registered?

 

If we have your correct mailing address, you should receive a postcard confirming your registration at the beginning of February.  If you have not received a postcard by February 14, you may email us at EYHfortbend@aol.com .  Please include the student’s name, grade, and school in your inquiry.

 

What if registration is closed when my registration form is received?

 

If your form is received either after we are full or the deadline has passed, your form and check will be returned to you immediately.

 

Will my money be returned if my daughter is unable to attend or decides not to come?

 

If we have offered your daughter a seat at the conference (that another student could have taken) and she does not attend the conference, our policy is not to return your money.  When we confirm a registration, we incur certain costs (such as the cost of the lunch) that we can not recoup if she decides not to attend.  However, if you encounter a scheduling conflict BEFORE the registration deadline of Friday, February 3, you may email us at EYHfortbend@aol.com and withdraw your daughter and request a refund.

 

How are students assigned to workshops?

 

Students tell us their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice categories for both morning and afternoon workshops, and then our computer randomly assigns each student to 4 workshops within her choices.  The workshops are assigned on a first come, first served basis in the order that the registration forms are received.

 

What’s the difference between a category and a workshop session?

 

A category is a general area of interest.  A session is a particular workshop within a category.  If you daughter chooses the Healthy, Wealthy and Wise category for one of her morning workshops, she may get the “There’s a “U” in Nursing” workshop or one of the other 3 workshop choices in that category (providing they aren't already full).

 

Can my daughter sign up for a particular workshop?

 

No.  Students choose categories not workshops.

 

What if my daughter doesn’t get the exact workshop she was hoping for?

 

There is no way to guarantee that a particular student will get a particular workshop.  Our goal is to introduce your daughter to math, science, and technology careers and to give her a taste of what careers are available to her if she continues taking math and science courses in school.  The particular workshop she takes may give her more information about a career that she is already considering or it may open her thinking to something that she had never considered before.

 

When will my daughter find out what workshops she has been assigned to?

 

When your daughter arrives at the conference and checks in, she will be given her schedule for the day as well as a nametag and lunch ticket (and a goodie bag).

 

What about lunch?

 

Lunch will be provided to each student at the conference (and to each adult who indicates that on her registration form).  The lunch consists of a sandwich, chips, a drink, and dessert.  If you or your daughter has any special dietary needs, please plan to bring a sack lunch.

 

What happens if my daughter gets sick or hurt during the conference?

 

We have volunteers throughout the school who will take your daughter to the nurse on the premises.  If necessary, we will also contact you or your emergency contact person at the phone numbers that you gave us on the registration form.

 

Will my daughter be photographed at the conference?

 

Your daughter may be photographed for promotional purposes.  If you object to having your daughter’s picture taken, we certainly respect your decision, but we ask that you do not register her for the conference.  During the day, we will have volunteers taking pictures of the workshops to be used in press releases, thank you notes to presenters and sponsors, etc.  With 300 girls in attendance, it would be impossible for us to prevent one particular girl from having her picture taken.

 

What will the workshops be like?

 

Student workshops take place in a classroom or lab at Stafford Middle School.  There will be a maximum of 15  6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls along with a high school volunteer, an adult volunteer and an adult presenter (or presenters).  For the most part, the girls will be busy doing a hands-on activity.  For example, at EYH 2004, a group of architects had the girls building bridges out of building materials while the botanists had the girls planting flowers.  The presenter will also spend a little time talking about her job and what courses she took in order to pursue her career.

 

Will my daughter get to stay with her friends and classmates the whole time?

 

Your daughter will be with her friends and classmates at lunch and during the opening and closing sessions.  Since the workshops are randomly assigned to each girl, your daughter may not be in the same workshops with any friends that she came with.  She will be with girls who share her same interests as they complete their hand-on activities in the workshop.

 

When will you offer this wonderful program again?

 

We offer EYH once every other year, usually in the month of February, so our next EYH will be in 2008.   It takes a tremendous number of volunteer hours to put on a conference of this magnitude.  There are other EYH programs in the greater Houston area and throughout Texas.  Visit the Expanding Your Horizons website at www.expandingyourhorizons.org for a complete list of locations.

 

For More Information:

 

If this website did not answer all of your questions, please email us at EYHfortbend@aol.com or you can contact our busy registrar Chris Gould at 281-980-3658.