BRILLIANT — Two Buckeye Local elementary schools are inviting students and their families for a night of learning fun during their literacy night events this week.

Buckeye North Elementary in Brilliant will host “Rock the Block” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, while Buckeye South Elementary in Tiltonsville will hold “Reading Gives Us All the Feels” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Both events will feature education-based activities designed to bring families together and promote a love of reading.

First-grade teacher Heather Andes, who shares organizing duties with literacy night committee members Anne DeCesare, Lindsey Bland and Principal Susan Nolan, said the event centers on a block party theme and community groups and businesses will join in the fun.

“We want to do a book tasting in the gym with a ‘Starbooks’ Cafe and will have tables set up. We will serve free coffee, hot chocolate and cookies and participants will receive a pamphlet with books on the tables,” Andes explained, adding that the student council will have a stand to sell some of their specialty drinks.

The event has drawn between 100 and 200 people in the past and attendants may sample new stories, take part in hands-on fun and games, and enter drawings for book baskets and other prizes. Officials said the goal is to provide family-friendly learning experiences and community coming together. Activities will also be provided from coloring sheets about kindness to bookmarks and classrooms have been designated to showcase businesses and organizations including U.S. Bank, the Brilliant Volunteer Fire Department and Wells Township Police Department. Areas and doors throughout the building have been decorated to denote the groups, and Andes said representatives will explain how they help the community.

“Vendors will take over the classrooms with the fire department discussing fire safety, the police department playing games with the kids, U.S. Bank offering activities and discussing savings and the Brilliant Library will be here,” she continued, adding that J.B. Green Team, SportsHub, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, district Early Learning Center and Buckeye Local Panther also on hand.

The school sensory room will be open for families in need, and a block party will be held in the hallway, complete with reading activities, popcorn, and more. Participants who submit their RSVP may enter a drawing for prizes, while reward punch cards will be provided, and those who visit each site receive a hole punch. They will also receive tickets for book raffles and take part in other games, plus the Scholastic Book Fair will be open in the music room to purchase literature and other merchandise.

“Literacy night promotes reading and literacy for kids,” Andes added. “We thought the community was important to highlight.

Jenny Potts, a kindergarten teacher at South, is spearheading her school’s literacy night along with committee members Rachel Scott, Kim Malechowski, Aubrey Rubright, Beth Young and Karen Eddy.

“Students will visit stations located around the school and the theme is based on the movie ‘Inside Out.’ We were inspired by all of the feels that reading can give us through books,” Potts explained. “There is also a Scholastic Book Fair where the students can shop during school or during the event.”

Community organizations will also be on hand, including the Dillonvale Library, J.B. Green Team, Warren Township Lions Club, Jefferson County Family Recovery, PAX and more, plus representatives of the Wheeling Nailers are scheduled to make an appearance.

“Every year we celebrate reading by holding this event. The theme may change but the fun still remains,” Potts noted. “In previous years we have had a magic show, visits from Mario and Luigi, our police and fire departments, Elsa, Batman, the Washington Wild Thing and Pittsburgh Pirates Parrot.”

South’s festivities have drawn 100-150 participants and she said the purpose is to remind and teach students that reading can be fun.

“We look forward to this event every year,” Potts said.

For information about Buckeye North’s festivities, contact the school at (740) 598-4589. If an organization would like to be part of South Elementary’s event, email Potts at jenny.potts@buckeyelocal.net.