Families at Fort la Reine School in Portage la Prairie gathered for a fun-filled family craft night this past week, creating special back-to-school mementos together.
The event saw students and their parents building unique picture frames designed to look like the back of a school bus.
Using popsicle sticks, paint, and glue, each family constructed a frame and then placed a photo of the student in the window.
Raela Giesbrecht, the school social worker and community schools program facilitator at Fort la Reine, says the night was a success.
"We made a back-to-school picture frame, so it was like the back of a school bus, and then we got to print out a picture of the students and put it in the frame, so it was pretty cute," Giesbrecht says.
She was pleased with the turnout and how the evening unfolded.
"I think it was good, it worked well this time, which was great. Sometimes our craft nights can be a little spotty, so it seemed to go well. The kids enjoyed painting the sticks, then the parents managed all the gluing, and it worked out pretty well," Giesbrecht explains.
A student's perspective
Grade 1 student Axel was one of the young creators in attendance.
He succinctly described his project, saying, "We made a picture of us with us in the back of the bus."
When asked about the materials used, he listed, "Popsicle sticks, paint brushes, paint, and... I think that's it."
His final verdict on the experience was a simple and cheerful, "Good."
Building community through craft
The craft night is part of a regular series of events held at the school.
Giesbrecht says she plans to organize them about once a month, often choosing projects tied to the season or that offer a fun, messy activity best suited for the school setting.
These events provide a valuable opportunity for families to engage with the school community and create lasting memories, one popsicle stick at a time.