
"It's
scary
how
much
fun
it
is,"
shared
one
student
who
attended
Slime
and
Crime,
an
event
held
at
Vaughan
Elementary
School
to
promote
family
engagement
and
show
parents
what
their
student
is
learning
at
school
and
how
they
can
assist
their
student
at
home.
The
event
provided
students
and
their
families
with
several
activities
including
a
math
and
science
project
-
making
slime
out
of
household
materials.
Families
could
also
attempt
to
solve
a
mystery
surrounding
a
stuffed
animal
crime
scene.
Students
were
given
background
information
and
could
use
inferences
and
observations
to
make
deductive
decisions.
Teachers
used
this
activity
to
show
parents
how
they
could
help
their
students
read
at
home.
"I
think
a
lot
of
parents
are
working
eight,
nine,
10
hours,"
admitted
Antuan
Lee,
a
parent
at
Vaughan
Elementary.
"These
events
are
opportunities
to
see
what
their
students
are
learning
and
meet
their
teachers.
It
lets
your
kids
know
that
you're
concerned
about
their
education."
Students
were
also
provided
souvenirs
at
the
event.
They
could
select
a
pumpkin
from
a
pumpkin
patch,
candy
from
trunk-or-treating,
and
a
free
book
to
take
home
and
read
with
their
family.
"We're
hoping
that
the
families
can
come
into
the
school
and
feel
like
part
of
the
community
again,"
explained
Kayla
McNamara,
a
Title
I
teacher
at
Vaughan.
"It's
been
a
while
since
we've
been
able
to
host
these
community
events,
so
we're
very
excited
to
welcome
our
community
back
and
get
them
involved
in
the
students'
learning
again.
Family
engagement
is
such
an
important
piece
in
building
the
school-to-home
connection
and
relationship.
We
are
happy
to
provide
our
families
with
resources,
strategies,
and
tools
to
continue
their
students'
success
at
home,
as
well
as
at
school."
Mark
Boyd,
principal
at
Vaughan,
shared,
"Years
of
research
have
proven
that
when
a
school
fosters
partnerships
with
parents
and
families,
students
benefit.
Now
more
than
ever,
it
is
imperative
that
we
re-engage
with
our
families
to
support
our
recovery
efforts
from
the
COVID-19
pandemic.
It
will
be
a
heavy
lift,
but
with
the
support
of
the
entire
community,
we
can
support
every
student
with
the
tools
that
they
need
to
be
successful."