Teen Sleep A to Zzzz: Improving Well Being Through Adequate Sleep
Thursday, May 3, 2018
New Canaan High School Wagner Room
7:00 pm

The national conversation on adolescent sleep and school start times has persisted for decades. In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement that middle and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 am. In the last few years, the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control, and several other major medical and youth organizations issued similar recommendations. As health professionals warn about sleep-deprived teens, school districts continue to wrangle with the complexities of changing start times.

On Thursday, May 3, at 7:00 pm in the Wagner Room of New Canaan High School, an expert panel led by Craig Canapari, MD, Director of Yale Pediatric Sleep Center, will explain the short- and long-term effects of inadequate sleep on adolescent physical and mental health, the importance of school start times, and strategies for optimizing teen sleep.

Following Dr. Canapari’s keynote presentation, local pediatrician William Flynn, MD, of New Canaan Pediatrics will speak about teen sleep patterns that he sees in his own practice. Dr. Flynn, trusted by generations of New Canaan families, also treats infants through teens from neighboring towns like Wilton, which changed to a later start time in 2003, and Greenwich, which changed in 2017. Tracey Masella, LCSW, from Silver Hill Hospital will describe the link between sleep and anxiety.

In 2006, the League of Women Voters of New Canaan conducted its own study on the subject and ultimately advocated for a later start time for NCPS 7th-12th grades. The cause and position, more recently and vigorously revived by a grassroots group called Start School Later New Canaan, reflects growing local concern of the negative, long-term effects of sleep deprivation in teens. Ridgefield will go to a later start time for teens in 2019, and Westport is said to be not far behind.

There will be time at the end for audience Q&A. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by Start School Later New Canaan and the League of Women Voters of New Canaan. Parents are welcome to bring their children in grades 7-12.