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Metro Charter Academy Brings Families Together for Game Night

Board and card games aren’t just fun—they’re also great tools for learning! What many people don’t realize is how many skills kids practice while playing, from reading and counting to sharpening their math skills.

K-8 School in Romulus: Students and parents play board games together at Metro Charter Academy's game night.

Metro Charter Academy recently hosted its first Family Game Night, a mix of fun and learning that brought together students, families, and staff. Cammi Carnes-Mcwatt is an instructional coach at Metro and helped organize the event. “Game night was an absolute blast!" she said. “It was so nice to see families and staff coming together in a way that makes learning feel like play.”

With more than 80 people attending, families had the chance to try out educational games provided by Learning Gizmos, a company known for their reading and math-oriented games. “The best part about these games is that they’re modeled after real board games, and the learning is secondhand. I think that’s why everyone had so much fun,” explained Carnes-Mcwatt.

K-8 School in Romulus: Students and parents play board games together at Metro Charter Academy's game night.

There were games for all age groups, including the little ones. "We had a special section for the younger kids, and even the middle schoolers were engaged," Carnes-Mcwatt noted. One of the most popular games was a card game called Treats or Trash, where players learned about number placement in a fun, but competitive way.

The event turned out to be a great way for teachers to connect with students and families outside the classroom. “So many of them told me how much they appreciated the chance to interact with students without the usual pressures—like watching for behaviors or measuring progress. It was just about enjoying the moment,” she shared.  "It’s also important because parents got to see how we engage with their kids, and it was a great way to show that learning at home can be fun too."

K-8 School in Romulus: Students and parents play board games together at Metro Charter Academy's game night.

At the end of the event, each family received a $15 coupon to purchase their own game. With such a great turnout, Metro is looking forward to making Family Game Night an annual tradition.

Want to host your own family game night? Carnes-Mcwatt has some game recommendations you might already have at home! For younger kids, try classics like Chutes and Ladders, Candyland and Bingo. Older kids will love games like Sorry, Uno, Go Fish, and War—all fun ways to practice important skills while enjoying quality family time.

K-8 School in Romulus: Students and parents play board games together at Metro Charter Academy's game night.

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About Metro Charter Academy
Metro Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Romulus, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.

Visit Metro Charter Academy's blog to read more stories like this.