Local school districts team up for parenting fair

Walled Lake Schools announced that the 22nd Annual 2014 Parenting Education Fair is expanding its reach and participation to become the Western Oakland County Parenting Education Fair.

Parents, educators, teachers, administrators and childcare workers are invited to the fair from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 at Walled Lake Northern High School (6000 Bogie Lake Road, Commerce). The event will feature keynote speaker Jim Fay.

The newly-formed partnership with the PTAs and staff from Farmington Schools, Huron Valley Schools, the Oakland County Youth Assistance, Oakland Schools, Walled Lake Schools and West Bloomfield Schools is planning an expanded parenting education experience.

Gold sponsors for this event include Dance Dynamics, DMC Huron Valley Sinai Hospital, Henry Ford Hospital and Oakland Community College.

"The purpose of the Western Oakland County Parenting Education Fair remains the same – It is to educate, inform and provide resources for parents and caregivers," said Kristin Rendi, Oakley Park Elementary School principal and chair for the event.

This year will include two tracks and three rounds of breakout sessions, featuring more than a dozen different presenters. There will be a track of sessions geared toward preschool through fifth-grade parents and another track of sessions specifically for parents with students in grades six through 12th grade.

Child care will be available for $3 for one child or $5 for two or more children, including lunch.

All participants are invited to purchase a complete box lunch prepared by the Walled Lake Food Service Department for $8.

Visit the Walled Lake Schools website (www.wlcsd.org) and click on the Western Oakland County parenting fair link to learn more about the fair and pre-register for this year's event. Tickets are $12 online, $15 at the door.