(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) With just 10 days left before St. Joseph School District students return to the classroom, InspireU hosted its first-ever Back to School Bash to help families unwind and create lasting memories.

The event, designed to ease the stress of back-to-school preparations, offered a day of fun activities, giving parents a break while keeping kids entertained.

"Preparing for school can sometimes be overwhelming with shopping, registration, and everything else," said Katherine Patterson-Paronto, InspireU director. "We thought this would be a great new tradition to celebrate summer and get ready for the school year."

Families enjoyed a cookout, crafts, dancing, and other activities at the bash.

For parents like Adelaide, who attends InspireU events regularly, the gathering provided a welcome break from daily responsibilities.

"There's a lot of external sources of entertainment and engagement that I really value," Adelaide said. "The creativity opportunities for her are really good, that's something she really enjoys."

Patterson-Paronto emphasized the importance of small breaks and rituals for both parents and children, especially during transitions like the start of a new school year.

"Parents will tell you that transitions can be the hardest times with very young children, and having a ritual often helps," she said.

With the success of the Back to School Bash, InspireU hopes to organize similar events for holidays like Halloween and New Year's.