Second-grader Lilianna Flores showed off her sharp memory during a morning card game of Memory with her dad,

Anthony.

“I get to play games here with my dad at my favorite place,” Lilianna said. “I love school. I get to learn, I have fun, I like my teacher and my friends.”

The game was part of Horizon Elementary’s Family Engagement Week, held near the end of the school year. Families received activity kits based on the animated character Bluey, filled with card games to promote learning at home and at school. The week culminated in a before-school game morning.

First-grader Peyton Farmer, a Bluey fan, was especially excited to play—and win—a round of war against her dad, Ashley, who enjoyed visiting her classroom. 

“It’s fun to play with him,” she said.

Principal Mindy Ball said this event followed the success of a similar game and breakfast morning the previous year.

“This year, we’re focusing on math games, because a lot of what we do already in school is focused on reading so this gives families some math resources,” she said. “It’s a fun way to build community and family relationships and tie into a math learning activity and practicing skills such as cooperation and turn taking.”

Ball highlighted the value of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for families.

“We focus a lot on community and the diversity in our school and so bringing people together and spending time in a school setting along with teachers is valuable. It creates a sense of belonging for all of them; we want to create an inclusive learning environment, where all students feel they belong in a community. That will hopefully help them be successful in their academics,” she said.

In addition to the card games, other Bluey-inspired activities included a backyard picnic where students used math to follow simple recipes and a boot camp session designed to “get everyone moving and grooving,” Ball added.

The school also hosts a fall carnival and a winter family night.

Parent Jenna Weiss joined in with her third-grade son Benjamin, his 3-year-old siblings and his dad.

“We love playing games together as a family,” she said. “It’s just fun and enriching. It creates special memories for
our kids.” λ