Family Night

Students sing and dance in Mrs. Sennett’s music class during Family Night

Jennifer Nesson

Our school offers many ways to engage students and involve their families. We hold regular events such as Title One Bingo Night, among many other activities. We are a trauma-sensitive school that strives to create an environment where all students feel safe, supported, and empowered by their education.

Art, music, physical education, and health are important to our students. Specialist classes are where our students truly shine and show off newly learned skills. They can express their emotions while boosting their self-esteem and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Specialist classes are where our students truly shine and show off newly learned skills.

I am fortunate to work with three of the best specialist teachers: Michelle Sennett, Jamie Lynn Hosty, and Cheri Sullivan. A couple of years ago, we were asked to create an evening event for students and their families, and the first Family Specialist Night for pre-K to second grade was born.

Mya, grade two, creates a face from recycled materials.

Rotating Events
Each of the specialist teachers developed a few quick activities in their respective subject areas. Students and their families participated in each activity for about twenty minutes.

In art, silly faces were made from recycled materials such as cardboard, marker and bottle caps, craft sticks, feathers, foam pieces, and oil pastels. Students and their families enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with a variety of materials.

The health teacher, following a unit on nutrition, stressed the importance of healthy eating. A green smoothie recipe was handed out, and guests blended the nutritious ingredients to create a healthy drink. During our second Family Specialist Night, guests participated in a meditation exercise and stretched in yoga poses.

In music, students and their families sang songs and danced their hearts out. The silly song “Tooty Ta” was a huge hit, bringing smiles and laughter to the room.

In physical education, participants rotated through various stations set up in the gym. Activities included rope climbing and swinging, balance beam, basketball with a huge inflatable net, ball percussion drumming, and snowball fights using soft pompoms.

Positive Feedback
At the end of the night, guests filled out a brief survey to tell us about their experience, and many expressed that they enjoyed the night and would like to see another Specialist Night tailored for older students. We are looking forward to planning even more Specialist Nights in the future.

Jennifer Nesson is an art teacher in Brockton Public Schools in Brockton, Massachusetts. jenniferlnesson@bpsma.org