Cougar paw chips served as game pieces and all players waited eagerly for the next number to be called. A simple, exciting, and socially interactive game — nothing brings together a crowd like Bingo. The game was the main — but certainly not only — event at the Flood Brook Family Game Night.
Feedback from a parent survey indicated that they were feeling isolated from Flood Brook School (FBS). “Many parents felt disconnected from the school since the pandemic,” said behavioral interventionist Johanna Davis. “Safety practices put in place to deal with COVID created an element of parent/school separation that lingered after the school returned to normal. We decided something needed to be done to rectify the situation.”
Flood Brook has a robust tradition of parental involvement going back to its founding. The middle school sports program, for example, creates a strong bond between parents and the school. An elaborate school playground has always been a year-round source of community connection. Events at the school were well attended with programs designed to bring the entire community together.
To rekindle this spirit, the FBS staff raised the issue of parent involvement as a focus of the school’s Continuous Improvement Plan. Parental involvement with the sports teams bounced back quickly, but more outreach needed to be done.
“We wanted to reach out to all families to make them feel welcomed at the school,” said FBS Principal Johanna Liskowsky-Doak. “Parents are essential to our success at Flood Brook and we want to earn their trust.”
Liskowsky-Doak launched a program of discussions over coffee with parents and other interested parties. Parents were also invited to attend All-School Meetings in the gymnasium and All-School Celebrations each trimester. In another effort to increase the interaction of students, parents, and staff the idea of a Family Game Night came up.
“Games create an informal environment for kids, parents, and families to interact with each other,” says Davis. “A simple card game like Uno can be played by kids and adults alike and age is not a factor in who can win. Everyone can play. ”
The format for the Flood Brook Family Game Night was simple and allowed for the games to work their magic. The evening opened with everyone playing a variety of games, while munching on popcorn. In addition to Uno, other attractions included Ticket-to-Ride and Jenga, where players showcase their skills in building and supporting wooden towers — until they collapse.
As the evening drew to a close everyone came together for a few games of Flood Brook Bingo, complete with game cards and prizes. By the end of the evening it was clear that Family Game Night is a keeper on the school’s calendar.
(Photo above: A family, immersed in a contest of Jenga, attempts to keep the tower standing.)
This Flood Brook family engaged in a game of Zingo!
Flood Brook’s Johanna Davis joins in with a group playing Ticket To Ride Jr.
A Flood Brook teacher plays the dice game Quixx with a student.