Chilly Nights Warmed by Family Events at Mayfield Intermediate School

Despite snow, rain and sub-freezing temperatures, hundreds of Mayfield Intermediate School families attended Math and Literacy Nights recently at the school.

Families participated in classroom-planned games celebrating math—on a stormy evening on Feb. 19—and literacy, a few weeks earlier, amid record-setting cold temperatures and impending snow.

 Last week, crowds thronged around the Math Karaoke station where children and adults donned glitter wigs, strummed inflatable guitars and sang math-related lyrics set to the melodies of popular songs. Sixth grader Ben Giboney sang "The Coefficient Song" to the melody of "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen. "I liked that somebody made up math words to go with the music," he said, adding, "I didn't expect to have that much fun!"

 Math Night co-organizer Kathy Bacon estimated 300 people attended the event—about the same size crowd as Literacy Night last month. Technology was the star of that event, said Reading Specialist Erin Karicher.

Participants played Word Monkey on iPads and grammar games on iPods; read favorite titles on e-readers; and vied against family members in "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" on interactive whiteboards. Karicher was "constantly surrounded by students waiting for me to call their raffle ticket numbers," she said. More than 250 books were given away throughout the night.

 "We're excited families braved the elements to share learning activities with their children, our teachers and the community," Principal Jeff S. Abt said. 

Teacher Kathy Bacon added, "I'm proud this has become part of Mayfield's culture. Families count on us hosting Math Night each year; they look forward to it."

 Mayfield Intermediate School serves fifth and sixth grade students and is apart of the Manassas City Public Schools division.