Popular family event returns to Patrick Hamilton Elementary

Class will be in session inside the halls of Patrick Hamilton Elementary School during the evening of Thursday, Jan. 22 — for both children and parents.

On the lesson plan for the evening: cooking, dancing and other thrilling activities for young and old alike.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the school will host its third annual Family Fun Night. Patrick Hamilton students and their family will have the opportunity to spend an evening learning new and exciting skills, taught by members of the  community.

Started several years ago by Principal Heather Nash and her staff, the event gives students a chance to expand their horizons beyond the type of learning they spend most of their day doing while in class, in hopes of sparking interest in the types of extracurricular activities they can dive deeper into as they get older.

“Students who are busy outside of school feel more connected to the community,” Nash said. “We wanted to let them know what kinds of things they can do outside the classroom. We also wanted to give them ideas of things they can do at home, that home, that would keep them busy and motivated.”

Last year, the event drew over 200 people to school, with students having the opportunity to learn how to cook, how to dance, how to craft and even how to wrestle. Volunteers from around the community led the instruction that night, ranging from a culinary teacher from South Bend to members of the Dowagiac Police Department lending a hand.

For the upcoming event, the school has lined up 11 different activities for the kids to participate in, taught by members of the local Boy and Girl Scouts, MKSOD, and other volunteers. Besides the return of several old favorites, students this year will be have the opportunity to meet with members of the Chieftains football team, who will be reading books.

Each child will also be given a free book as they leave the school that evening as well, Nash said.

“We’re trying to make the event more literacy friendly this year,” she said. “Not only do we want to let kids know what the community can do for them, but we also want parents to know what they can do help encourage more reading inside the home.”

The event is offered completely free of charge, and is open to all Patrick Hamilton students who register.