Parents, educators, and members of the community came together in early November at Heritage High School for the second Parent Academy. More than 60 parents were able to take sessions like understanding Standards of Learning and Adequate Yearly Progress, presented by Superintendent Paul McKendrick. Teachers from Linkhorne Elementary demonstrated how to incorporate cooking into reading lessons. And representatives from Sweet Briar College talked with parents about how to help their children get the most of the college search and admissions process. There were 15 other unique sessions as well. In addition, twenty-two family friendly businesses were on hand to give parents ideas and activities to explore around Lynchburg.
The goal of the Parent Academy is to create a strong bond between parents and LCS staff while giving parents the tools they need to enhance the success of their children in school. The Parent Academy is always free to parents and babysitting is provided.
And there are already plans for a spring event! On March 29, 2011, the Academy will host keynote speaker Dr. Adolph Brown, III at Dunbar Middle School. Dr. Brown overcame an upbringing of extreme poverty and violence, welfare, fatherlessness, and a single-mother led household to become a popular media personality, a noted author, award-winning educator, trained anthropologist and psychologist, columnist, business consultant and coach, sought after motivational speaker, husband, and father of seven. Dr. Brown’s speech will begin at 6:30 p.m. Come early to take a walk down “Opportunity Avenue” – a place where parent, students and the community get together for family friendly fun.