Parents and students learn a few yoga poses from yoga instructor Nancy Hayes during Barkley Bridge Elementary’s Family Wellness Night. | Joy Haynes

Barkley Bridge hosted their first Family Wellness Night Thur., Jan. 22, featuring a spaghetti dinner and eleven 20-minute sessions of family learning and activities.

Principal Susan Hayes said the program was one of the family nights the administration and PTO had decided to host during the year. Their first program of the year was their Splish Slash Bash at the Hartselle Aquatic Center, which was attended by about 300-400 people.

The Family Wellness Night had a smaller turnout with about 60 people, but Hayes said she had positive feedback from parents and volunteers.

“We put out a comment sheet, and the reaction has been very positive,” Hayes said. “I was also able to talk to some people involved, and I’ve had good feedback. Just looking around, we have about 60 or more people. We know the wet weather plays a big factor, but we are already thinking of ways we might get more people next time.”

Sessions included Internet safety and your digital literacy with Amanda Godsey and Kim Hargett; family game time with Maureen Matson, Phyllis Bradford, Angie Harris and Kelly Meadows; grieving together with Kim O’Leary; surviving the cold and flu season with Dr. Lindsey Smith and Juliana Clark; the nightly homework challenge with Lee Ann Petty and Leslie Adams; what’s for dinner with Brenda Stout; what parents should know about preparing wills with Attorney Cindy Slate Cook; family fitness with Tisha Bates; reading together with Cindy Hagemann and Ed Land; yoga for families with Nancy Hayes and movie time for children.

Hayes said she and the leadership team at Barkley Bridge determined the session topics.

“I tried to think about what parents seek advice on the most from me or other administrators,” Hayes said. “I also asked for ideas from the leadership team, and they were able to come up with what we thought would benefit our families most.”

PTO president Leslie Johnson said she was very happy with the sessions she attended.

“As a parent I thought this was an awesome cost-free opportunity to help my kids,” Johnson said. “I really learned a lot of brand new things, and I had a hard time picking which topics I wanted to attend because they all seemed so helpful. Even the ones that might not apply to my family right now would be so helpful in the future. I especially learned a lot from the web class. They really made me think of the Internet in a different way.”

Johnson said this was a school-sponsored event, so the PTO was happy to help provide volunteers for the spaghetti supper.

“The school planned all of the wellness night activities, and the PTO just helped with the supper,” Johnson said. “We all owe a big thank you to Susan Hayes for putting all of it together. Her husband Jeff fixed all of the spaghetti, so thanks to him, too. This was a great family night event.”

Hayes was able to find teachers, administrators and volunteers from the community to lead each session.

“We had so many gracious volunteers, and no one asked for any sort of reimbursement,” Hayes said. “We have such wonderful support from the Hartselle and Morgan County community. We also had several HHS volunteers from HOSA or other service groups. This program was not a fund raiser of any sort, it was just a way to help our families, and I think it went well.”

Barkley Bridge will host another family night in March that will feature math and engineering.

“Our next family night will hopefully allow students to showcase engineering projects in some way,” Hayes said. “We are really trying to offer our families what they need and keep them up-to-date on the changing curriculum standards. We hope these family nights will show the parents what we are learning here.”