On Oct. 14, Gates Elementary and the school’s PTA partnered to host a vibrant and engaging Literacy and Lego Family Night. The event drew families into a fun-filled evening that celebrated reading, creativity and community connection.
In the gym, children and parents explored interactive Lego stations inspired by books featured in the school’s book fair, which was held simultaneously in the library. The cafeteria was transformed into a family hub, offering PTA-provided snacks, a bookmark-making station and take-home resources to help parents support literacy at home. A highlight of the evening was a giant chessboard, where students had the opportunity to learn and play chess, thanks to our community partner, the Discovery Center at Stony Point.
Events like this are an important part of Gates Elementary’s mission to foster strong family engagement. These experiences:
Encourage families to take an active role in their child’s learning in a fun, welcoming environment.
Strengthen the home-school connection by offering practical ways for parents to support reading at home.
Provide informal opportunities for families to connect with teachers, staff and other parents.
Reinforce the idea that reading can be imaginative and playful, especially through book-themed Lego builds, storytelling activities and creative crafts.
Support literacy development by engaging children in activities that build vocabulary, comprehension and narrative skills.
Promote a positive school culture where all families feel included and valued.