The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Longfellow celebrates Family Literacy
With classroom doors decorated and chocolatecovered strawberries and other chocolate-themed desserts served, Longfellow Elementary School in Eastlake was transformed into Willy Wonka’s Longfellow Chocolate Factory for an evening of family entertainment.
The singing and dancing on Feb. 28 was part of Willoughby-Eastlake Schools’ series of Family Literacy Nights events.
Principal Allison Aber said that with more than 500 staff, students and family members in attendance, this was probably the largest turnout for this type of event.
The highlight of the evening appeared to be the first- and second-graders’ performance of songs and dances from Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
The event was the culmination of the school’s One School One Book program.
“One School One Book builds a community of readers through a shared reading experience at home, and it’s supported by exciting activities at school,” Aber said.
In addition to the performance, the school had multiple stations set up for family activities, including a craft project where participants created large paper lollipops; trivia questions; and library and dental booths.
The event also featured a family boat gallery where the boats families created together were on display. Students also received free books.
Willoughby Fine Arts Association was on hand for the evening with a readers’ theater workshop.
Jeannie Flemming, director of education for the organization, described the readers’ theater workshop as taking books and dramatizing them, bringing books to life through the art of theater.
Fourth-grader Brooklynn Meyer thought the entire evening was good, but The singing and dancing on Feb. 28 was part of WilloughbyEastlake Schools’ series of Family Literacy Nights events.
found her favorite part to be the chocolate-covered strawberries and the songand-dance performance by the first- and second-grade students.
First-grade student Adam Babcock thought the performance was the best part of the evening and that his favorite song was the one performed by his class, “The Oompa Loompa” song. Meanwhile, his mother Shawna Babcock praised the kids and thought the event was well organized.
Mary Steelman, who attended the event to watch her niece perform, thought the event was fantastic.
“Watching the first- and second-graders sing, they were very enthusiastic, and the event was made for everyone
to come to, so it’s a good family night,” Steelman said.
Addison Metrick, a second-grade student gave the entire evening a big thumbs up.
“In the words of Willy Wonka, ‘In your wildest dreams you could not imagine that such things could happen to you! Just wait and see!’,” Aber said. “I am amazed by the community of readers we built over the last few months, last night’s turnout and the excitement of the program.”
The Family Literacy Nights are funded by Title 1 federal programs and focus on family literacy while allowing participants to engage in fun and interactive events, Alison Ciferno, gifted coordinator for the Willoughy-Eastlake Schools, said through a media release.
“We have found that participation in events such as Family Literacy Nights help to promote a love of literacy through fun and engaging activities,” she stated.