CMS Parent University Spring Family Fun Day
Draws Families to the Arts

Take a beautiful Saturday…draw in more than eight cultural arts venues in uptown Charlotte…color it with 15 school performance groups…and you’ve got a “picture perfect” Family Fun and Education Day. That’s what thousands of CMS students, parents, and educators enjoyed on Saturday, April 9 as part of the “Going from STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Math) Family Fun and Education Day.

The CMS Parent University event, which was held in partnership with the Arts & Science Council, provided families with an opportunity to experience the uptown “Cultural Mile” from the Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts to the McColl Center for Visual Art. The arts venues offered activities for families from hands-on workshops, to performances, to arts scavenger hunts and face painting. More than 15 CMS school groups shared their talent through dance, music, and art. Schools performing included Endhaven Elementary, Myers Park Traditional Elementary, South Charlotte Middle, McAlpine Elementary, Nathaniel Alexander Elementary, Carmel Middle, Hopewell High School, Hickory Grove Elementary, First Ward Elementary, Hawkridge Elementary, Nations Ford Elementary, University Park Elementary, Irwin Avenue Elementary, Barringer Academic Elementary, Huntersville Elementary , Bradley Middle School and Idlewild Elementary.

In addition, the annual PTA Reflections awards were presented at the Mint Museum. The theme for the 2010-11 PTA Reflections awards was “Together we can…” Nationally, the program has six arts areas—dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts—and four grade divisions—primary, intermediate, middle/junior, and senior.

The third annual Parent University awards were presented to strong supporters of the program for the 2010-11 school year. Winners of the Parent University awards were:
- Hidden Valley Elementary – School with the Highest Attendance at a Parent University workshop (more than 300 in attendance)
- Allenbrook Elementary – School with the Highest Overall Attendance for Parent University Classes (430 in attendance)
- Friendship Missionary Baptist Church – Partner Group Hosting the Most Parent University Workshops (monthly workshops for families)
- Statesville Road Elementary – School that Hosted the Most Single Parent University Workshops (7 workshops)
- Abby Boyd – Top Parent University Presenter (presented the most workshops and offered most support to the program)
- Annie Stockton, Garinger High Business and Finance parent – Attended the Most Parent University Workshops (9 total classes)

Families attending the event expressed appreciation for the chance to visit the outstanding arts facilities in uptown Charlotte for free or reduced prices. Arts venues opening their doors to families included Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, North Carolina Dance Theatre, McColl Center for Visual Art, Levine Museum of the New South, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and The Light Factory. Other supporters who helped make the day possible were Arts & Science Council, Jason’s Deli (free kid’s meal coupons), and door prize sponsors WFAE (Carpe Diem gift certificates and tickets to Children’s Theater of Charlotte Performance of Lyle the Crocodile), Arts & Science Council ($50 Carolina Tix gift certificates), Melange Health Solutions (Target gift card and bicycle), McCrorey YMCA (3 month YMCA Metro passes and t-shirts), and TLI Concepts (dish set, hot and cold insulated basket and dishes, plus more). 

In addition, hundreds of CMS employees and community volunteers donated their time  to help make the event a success.

 “Research continues to indicate that arts education is critical to student learning and growth,” stated Jerri Haigler, executive director for Parent University. “The Family Fun and Education Day opened the door to the arts for many families and exposed them to arts and cultural venues in uptown Charlotte. It was wonderful to see students and their extended families spending time together having fun and learning at the same time.”