Disappointed about the cancellation of Hudson School's annual field day, the Parent Teacher Association set out to find something even better for the students at the Union City elementary school this year. After going to different schools in the area for ideas, Luz Rivera, the PTA President, decided to try a Family Day instead. On June 19, the kindergarten through sixth grade students attending Hudson School and their families enjoyed arts and crafts and many information tables when the school hosted their first Family Day. The idea of Family Day helped the school to begin their whole school reform program that they will begin next year. According to Assistant Principal Michael Cantor, the school will be following the Comer Model of developmental process, which encourages parental involvement through better communication with the homes. Family Day allowed the parents to come into the school and work with their children. "When parents feel comfortable with the school and coming into the school," said Cantor. "It helps with the education process." Rivera, who organized the event, mostly modeled the day after Washington School's family day. "I added some more entertainment for the kids," said Rivera. "I wanted everyone together." The day included many activities that the parents could enjoy with their kids along with health information for the parents. The kids enjoyed decorating their own picture frames, face-painting and a hula hoop contest among other games with their parents. Parents were able to get health information provided by the North Hudson Community Action Corporation and also the D.A.R.E. program. There was also a chiropractor on site and information about the school and the PTA. Cantor added that Family Day was also a continuation of Peace day, an annual event within the school district to promote conflict resolution. Those conflict/resolution teams were also providing information at Family Day. Family Day was not only limited to the parents of the children. Rivera said that any adult relative to the child was able to attend the event. This way, if a child's parents could not get off of work, a grandparent or other relative could spend the day with them. The PTA and the school hope to make family day an annual event. "We didn't have a lot of time to put it together," said Rivera. "Everything was done in one day. Now we know what we have to do to make it better." "It was amazing," said Rivera. "Many of the parents and students said they didn't want field day anymore." "We were very pleased with it," added Cantor. "Everybody liked it and seemed to have a fun time. It was just a fun day."