Ahoy, Book-Lovers!

Cascade Elementary was transformed into a seafaring wonderland Tuesday night as families gathered for the annual Family Reading Night. The theme? Pirates, of course! The Title 1 family engagement event brought in parents, teachers, and eager young readers for an evening of literacy-boosting fun on the high seas.

Families came ready to tackle reading like true swashbucklers. Teachers manned each station in the school's library, guiding students and parents through the adventure.

The night began at The Pirate's Code, where parents learned about the importance of reading together at home. After collecting some pirate-worthy reading tips, students got to design their own bookmarks, and families crafted reading pledges to encourage daily reading habits.

Next, it was time to set sail to Out to Sea! Here, budding pirates listened to a pirate tale before rolling up their sleeves to make their very own pirate hats. Kids transformed into mini-pirates, complete with headgear fit for a captain. These homemade pirate hats added a fun and interactive element to the night.

At The Greatest Treasure, students and parents put on a show by reading and acting out a short pirate play. The highlight? Crafting their own pirate hooks to take home! Students got creative with their designs, adding a personal touch to the pirate accessories they could proudly wear.

At the How I Became a Pirate station, students unleashed their imaginations and wrote their own tales of how they found the pirate life. With pens in hand and ideas flowing, young writers created stories of treasure hunts, daring escapes, and swashbuckling adventures.

For those looking to relax, the Pirate Cove offered cozy corners for families to snuggle up and read a variety of pirate stories. Parents and kids lounged among plush pillows, surrounded by tales of treasure, adventure, and mischief in the shadow of a pirate ship. It was the perfect place to unwind after all the pirate excitement.

Over at Dig for Buried Treasure, students literally dug for words in search of new vocabulary. Each student unearthed a "treasure chest" of vocabulary words to take home and learn. Turns out, a treasure trove of vocabulary can be just as exciting as gold doubloons!

At the Treasure Map station, families created their own word games to take home. This station provided a chance for everyone to get creative with language while developing their literacy skills. The word games served as a fun way for families to continue practicing reading at home.

Hungry from all that treasure hunting, families stopped by Pirate Plunder Snack, where students assembled their own pirate-themed snacks-a tasty reward for a night of hard work! The kids enjoyed creating their own snacks, while parents appreciated the healthy options that complemented the fun theme.

Finally, at the Treasure Trove, students picked out a book from the donated book exchange to take home. Walmart even donated small stuffed "reading buddies" for each child-a little plush companion to keep the reading spirit alive at home.

A big "Yo-ho-ho" goes to Cascade School's elementary teachers for making this event such a success. Thanks to their efforts, the evening was filled with fun, imagination, and literacy. May the spirit of reading continue to fill our sails!