Families pack Jefferson Elementary for literacy-focused evening
Jefferson Elementary hosted its annual “Books and Beyond” Family Reading Night on Thursday, welcoming more than 250 students and family members for an evening devoted to literacy and learning. Classrooms were transformed into themed reading spaces featuring everything from cozy “campfire” corners to outer-space adventures.
Throughout the night, families rotated through read-aloud sessions, make-and-take literacy activities, and a bilingual story station. Volunteers from the high school National Honor Society helped younger students choose books and led small-group reading games in the gym.
“Events like this show students that reading isn’t just something we do for homework—it’s something we can enjoy together as a family,” said Principal Renee Johnson. Every student who attended went home with a free book courtesy of the school’s community partners and the Springfield Education Foundation.