The Fall River Parent Academy, a community-driven initiative designed to provide educational resources to parents and families, was launched at a two-hour event held on November 21, 2015 at the Kuss Middle School. The event offered parents the chance to learn more about the Academy as well as to sample some of the sixty-eight free classes that will be offered starting in January. "It was a really fun event," commented organizer Barbara Allard, "especially with the Hills Mills Clown Band roaming the halls with their catchy tunes." Following a brief introduction in the school auditorium by Ms. Allard, Superintendent Meg-Mayo Brown encouraged parents to take advantage of the many offerings that have been assembled. Academy courses will include topics on helping students achieve, personal growth, family health and wellness, parenting, community resources and career and professional growth. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. Click here for the Launch video.  Click here for photos and video of the initial planning meeting in April at Bristol Community College. For more information about the project, contact Fall River Parent Academy Coordinator Barbara Allard at 508-675-8367. (Photos courtesy of James Barron) 

(Top row, left) School Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown enters the Kuss Middle School as the Hills Mills Clown Band plays, and parents sign in at the registration tables. (Row two) Ms. Allard starts a brief program in the auditorium before the Superintendent speaks and people are dismissed to attend some of the sample classes. (Row three) Parents leave a session on Healthy Meals in the Community Room and then head to a family Zumba class with Nasha Macedo and a session on Homework Help offered by math coaches Kathy Sanson and Kelly D'Ambrosio in the library. (Bottom row) Jackie Theis from Bristol County Savings Bank offers a sample of her course on Financial Fitness while UMass Extension Nutrition Educators Sue Loughlin and Andrea Gulezian demonstrate how to prepare an easy healthy dish and a parent gives one of the fathers some tips on changing a diaper in the Daddy Boot Camp..