BELLFLOWER – Bellflower Unified’s Thomas Jefferson Elementary School drew 327 family and community members to its first-ever TJ Turkey Night on Nov. 16, part of a program of monthly engagement events designed to strengthen family connections with school programs.

The event featured a full turkey dinner served at cost ($5 a plate), crafts and student performances. More than 100 students and parents completed crafts and four turkeys and six pies were given out as part of opportunity drawings.

“Our Turkey Night was a major success,” Principal Tiffany Dominguez said. “Everyone had a wonderful time, we had a chance to engage with our families and there was plenty of delicious food for all.”

Dominguez said Thomas Jefferson launched the monthly family programs in 2015-16 to create a stronger sense of community with parents. Other events include Bingo for Books, in which families play bingo to win books; Star-Gazing Night, hosted by astronomers; and Family Clay Night, in which students and parents decorate clay holiday ornaments fired in Jefferson’s kiln.

The student Turkey Night performances were recorded and projected onto a large screen for families to watch as they ate. Families were also encouraged to bring canned goods with them to donate to a local charity, Dominguez said.

PHOTOS

111816_BUSD_TJ_1: Thomas Jefferson Elementary administrators, faculty and staff prepare for their first-ever TJ Turkey Night on Nov. 16. More than 300 community members attended.

111816_BUSD_TJ_2: Thomas Jefferson Elementary students and siblings helped serve during the school’s inaugural TJ Turkey Night. More than 100 parents and students completed crafts and 327 community members dined on a full Thanksgiving meal during the Nov. 16 event.
111816_BUSD_TJ_3: Some 327 community members attended Thomas Jefferson Elementary School’s inaugural TJ Turkey Night on Nov. 16.