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‘Wild About Books’
The Vindicator
Photo
Aaliyah Leavell, a third-grader at Taft, tries to guess the number of animal crackers in a jar during Family Night at the school Wednesday. At right are her father, Charity Leavell, and brother, Andre Leavell, 3.
The Vindicator
Photo
Curtis Megginson III and his son Curtis Megginson IV work on a coloring project during Family Night at Taft Elementary School on Youngstown’s South Side. The boy is a kindergarten student at Taft.
Taft Elementary School hosts Family Night
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Curtis Megginson IV and his dad, Curtis III, huddled together at a table inside the cafeteria at Taft Elementary School, completing a project.
“It’s a giraffe,” said Curtis IV, 6, and a kindergarten student at the school.
Father and son were participating in Taft’s Family Night Wednesday. The theme was “Wild About Books.”
The young Curtis got a temporary tattoo emblazoned with “Wild About Reading” above a lion and an elephant.
Laura Sullivan, literacy coordinator at the school, said the evening focuses on state standards, particularly math and reading.
“The main reason we do this is to see parents and students working together,” she said.
Principal Mike Flood greeted parents and children as they came into the building.
At another station, Raymond Logan, 8, a third grader, and his brother, Michael, 5, who is in kindergarten, colored pictures of giraffes to glue to paper bags.
“It’s a puppet,” Raymond said.
Their dad, Raymond Logan, said this marks Michael’s first family night at Taft while his older son was enjoying his third night. The boys were having a good time, he said.
At each station, the teacher marked the child’s passport, showing his or her travels. The kids got bookmarks, stickers and other goodies for their efforts.
Teachers donated items for a raffle and children showed off their talents for their parents.
In another room, Jungle Terry Sullivan of Ashtabula showed his cadre of critters from a cute and cuddly chinchilla to snakes and tarantulas.
First grader DeMarcus McElroy, 8, brought his mother, Dana Carlock, grandmother, Denise Carlock and little brother, DaMari Clark, 4, who is in Head Start, to the Wednesday event.
Children had to guess the number of animal crackers in a full jar. To provide perspective, another jar contained 100.
“We had to count the crackers,” DeMarcus said.
With help from Mom and Grandma, he guessed 525.
“He loves school,” Dana Carlock said. “His favorite subject is math.”