Lake County Gazette

East families participated in an engaging evening of hands-on learning Wednesday as they rotated through classrooms dedicated to literacy, math, science, and movement. Each event was led by an East staff member and designed for students and families to explore together.

"The goal was to provide an opportunity for students to 'teach' their parents about concepts they've learned while giving parents an opportunity to engage in fun learning activities with their children," said East Principal Jennifer Boettcher.

The evening began with a free pizza dinner provided by the East PTO in the cafeteria. Following dinner, families embarked on their exploratory journey, receiving passports to document their participation in each classroom.

One popular destination was the library, where Reading Specialist Gretchen Bolanos hosted a character scavenger hunt. Families worked together to search for book characters hidden throughout the library using riddles as clues.

In another room, Math Specialist Sarah Johnson introduced interactive math games that students had been practicing in class. "It’s wonderful seeing parents and kids collaborating on these games," Johnson said. "You can see the kids’ excitement in showing what they know. "

Science Teacher Mark Adler transformed his classroom into a mini-laboratory with simple experiments that families could conduct together. "We wanted something accessible that parents and kids could both enjoy and learn from," Adler explained.

Physical Education Teacher Carla Ramirez led a movement session in the gym, incorporating activities designed to get everyone moving and having fun. "It's all about promoting a healthy lifestyle while enjoying time together as a family," Ramirez noted.

As families completed their quests around the school, they collected stamps in their passports for each area visited. At the end of the night, students who participated received small prizes as mementos of their adventure.

"Seeing our students share their learning with their families has been truly rewarding," Principal Boettcher remarked at the close of the event. "We're grateful for our dedicated staff and supportive community who made this night possible. "