Verdun Elementary’s Starry Night of Literacy Around the Community Campfire
by Dan Mullins
Verdun Elementary School recently held its first-ever literacy evening, a warm, camp-themed event for cycle one students designed to engage families and foster a love of reading. The event was the product of dedicated planning by Verdun’s educators, who worked to create an evening that was as fun as it was enriching.
As families arrived, they were welcomed into a carefully designed space where classrooms had been transformed into interactive literacy stations. The school’s auditorium became a cozy camping scene, complete with tents, flashlights, and even a starry sky projection. Children curled up in soft, cushioned canoes, surrounded by books and the ambient sounds of crickets, creating an atmosphere that made reading feel like an adventure. “I didn’t see the vision at first,” admitted Lori McKergow, principal of Verdun Elementary, who supported the project. “But when I walked in and saw the Christmas trees set up like a forest, the tents, the canoes—it was incredible.”
The idea for the event stemmed from Verdun Elementary’s participation in a Professional Development and Innovation Grant (PDIG) alongside three other schools: Clearpoint, Christmas Park, and St. Patrick Elementary. Educators from Verdun attended the well-established literacy night at “St. Pat’s” and drew inspiration from the experience.
As part of this initiative, known as a “literacy push,” educators engaged in curriculum mapping, examined the progression of learning, and worked on strengthening literacy instruction by developing literacy blocks and specialized reading groups. Laura Scaramella, a resource teacher at Verdun, played a major role in shaping the literacy night, with support from Devon Warnock, the school’s Consultant in Inclusive Education. The entire resource team, along with cycle one teachers, worked together to ensure the event ran smoothly.
Throughout the evening, families moved freely between stations, engaging in hands-on activities designed by the school’s cycle one teachers. Children guided their parents through games they had learned in class, reinforcing literacy skills in a fun and familiar way. “We wanted parents to see how easy it is to incorporate literacy into everyday life,” explained Samantha Greco, one of the resource teachers. “At the end of the night, every family left with a set of games they could play at home.” Students also received books provided by community partner United for Literacy, along with a loot bag containing a flashlight, playdough, and a finger spacer.
Beyond the games, there were many other elements that made the night special. A dedicated quiet room provided snacks and drinks, allowing parents a chance to relax while their children explored. A photo booth featuring a giant, hand-crafted book cover gave families a playful way to commemorate the evening. Community partners, including J’Apprends avec mon enfant (JAME), Suspicious Fish, and the Heart and Hands Clinic, were also present to offer resources and support. In the reading room, books were available in every corner, alongside iPads with QR codes leading to digital stories. “The whole night had such a warm, welcoming vibe,” said Meghan Louie. “Parents kept telling us how much they appreciated it and how excited they were for next year.”
A bake sale held at the school provided all the necessary funding for the event, making it a completely community-driven effort. While this was Verdun’s first literacy evening, it is unlikely to be the last. “We worked so hard to put this together, and seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces made it all worth it,” said Greco. “We’re just going to keep building on this and making it bigger.” Next year, the school hopes to expand the event to include students from cycle two.
With its strong start and enthusiastic reception, Verdun Elementary’s literacy night has set the stage for a new tradition—one where families, educators, and students come together to celebrate the power of reading.
