Over 150 parents and students came to the Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River on October 14, 2016 for their first ever Family Fun Night organized by Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard. The program engages both adults and children in some healthy movement while learning about nutrition and a range of community resources that they can access to maintain or improve their health. Participants were led in some healthy movement by Fitness Leaders Mike Ramos and Shelli Pereira and joined Chef Jessica Williams of Creating Healthy Solutions to a new way to think about food choices. Participants also had the opportunity to speak with representatives of sixteen agencies including the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, Bristol County Sheriff's Office, the Children's Advocacy Center,  Fall River Parent Academy, Family Service Association, Katie Brown Education Program, Mass in Motion/Walk Fall River, New Bedford Vets Center, People Incorporated, Saint Anne's Hospital, Samaritans, Southcoast Health, Stanley Street Treatment and Resources, Tufts Network Health, and the WIC Program, along with Partners for a Healthier Community covering its Soda-Free Challenge. Click here for a 30-minute video of the event. Click here for photos and video of a similar event at South Elementary School and links to other events. For more information, contact School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard at 774-319-0107.

(Top row) Families arrive at the Argosy Collegiate Charter School on Hamlet Street where Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard begins the evening that will end with a door prize drawing for over twenty gifts. (Rows two and three)  Chef Jessica Williams of Creating Healthy Solutions talks about making healthy food choices by balancing fats, protein and carbohydrates. (Rows four through six) Fitness Leaders Mike Ramos and Shelli Pereira lead three groups in movement to music that families can do at home. (Row seven) Claire McVicker of the  Katie Brown Education Program talks with a parent while Matt Charestte of the New Bedford Vets Center talks about their services and Lt. Queila Raposo of the Bristol County Sheriff's Office offers some literature. (Row eight) Angie Bras of Partners for a Healthier Community talks about reducing sugar-sweetened beverages as part of its Soda-Free Challenge while Janice Velozo of Mass in Motion/Walk Fall River and Dr. Uma Kolli of Saint Anne's Hospital talks about safe sun exposure. (Bottom row) Principal Kristen Pavao and School Nurse Tiffani Crook select the winning door prize tickets for over twenty families.