On Jan. 30, the first Parent Academy event of 2016 was held at Jones High School with 681 Orange County students and parents in attendance. The purpose of the Orange County Public Schools’ (OCPS) Parent Academy is to enhance student achievement through the support of community and family involvement.
The first event of the year was themed “STEM: Launching Pathways to the Future,” and OCPS experts educated parents on the importance of STEM in their child’s education. A variety of breakout sessions were available to break down the curriculum for parents including STEM in the Early Years, Have No Fear When Fractions are Near and Florida Standards: A Family Toolkit for Student Success. The Orlando Science Center even presented a session called KABOOM!.
Parent Academy events are free, and the whole family is invited to attend. Refreshments are provided and there is an interactive Children’s Academy for kids ages 4 to 12 and a Teen Academy for students ages 13 to 18.