Ossining Schools, Public Library Sponsor Game Nights to Promote Family Engagement

After listening to a story about a dog that was inspired by the popular “Puss in Boots” protagonist to buy fancy footwear, roughly 40 Park School families played an original board game in which they raced one another home from the shoe store.

They drew cards that told them how many spots to advance on the board, and their speed depended on the type of show they had (flippers, high heels and skis, for example) and where they were. The game, which Ossining Public Library children’s librarian Kevin Robinson designed, was the highlight of the Park School Family STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) Game Night Feb. 28.

The Family Game Nights are sponsored by the school district and Ossining Public Library. They are an outgrowth of the school district’s A.C.T.I.O.N. Committee, which stands for Acting Conscientiously to Ignite Opportunity Now. The volunteer group of district staff and community members also organizes food pantries with the Food Bank for Westchester; collects and distributes winter coats and scarves; and sets up book-lending libraries throughout the community; among other activities.

“It was a great night of children and their parents working together, learning together and having fun together,” said, Megan Mastrogiacamo, the community school leader at Park School and co-chair of the A.C.T.I.O.N. committee.

At Park School, about 10 Ossining High School students volunteered to help run the game Mr. Robinson created.

The Family Game Nights are being held at the elementary schools this year. The one at Brookside was held in January. Claremont’s is March 15 and Roosevelt’s is March 22. Each family gets to take home a copy of the original board game.

“We believe these opportunities are so important,” said Superintendent Raymond Sanchez, who co-chairs A.C.T.I.O.N., a voluntary group he and other staff members launched in 2015. “I love to see our families coming together to learn hands-on games they can play at home. Also, I so appreciate our collaboration with the library.”

Mr. Robinson said he enjoys playing games and creating new ones for children to play. Before he develops one for a Family Game Night, he finds out if there are any themes he should focus on that tie in with the curriculum.

For Roosevelt’s upcoming STEAM event, Mr. Robinson is developing a cooperative game that involves championing a cause. The theme ties in with the school’s Capstone Project, in which students pick an advocacy group they want to learn more about. They use their skills in technology, research, reading, writing, speaking and presentation to create the project.

Mr. Robinson said he develops the games and tests them out with children at the library. The Park School game is a simple variation on Candyland, but Roosevelt’s is more involved. “My game for the fifth grade is taking a lot longer than the others did,” he said.