The District Family Coding Night flipped the switch on an annual celebration of creativity, problem solving, and exploration at all age levels, with RJB students leading the way in every possible sense. As the district’s first coding opportunity of the year and the kickoff to Computer Science Week on December 8, the event built upon the skills students have developed over the past two years. More than a coding event, the evening invited families to collaborate, think outside the box, and work through challenges together. Students, who have been learning coding fundamentals throughout the year, took those skills and stepped confidently into the role of teachers for their families.
“Beyond coding, another fundamental part of the lesson is perseverance,” said Kelly Verdina, GCSD Director of Technology. “Students are learning to drive their own thinking, collaborate, and problem solve, not just follow directions.”
At the Ozobots table, the self driven nature of the work was on full display. Sixth grader Stefan explained how the tiny robots interpret color coded commands, but the real challenge was designing a path from scratch. “First you start with an example map and use the colored markers to create movement for the bots. Next, you get to draw your own map,” he said. “I made my map more difficult and chose movements like U turns.”
Instead of simply completing a task, students and families had to plan, troubleshoot, and revise their ideas, demonstrating the kind of independent thinking and problem solving the district hopes to nurture through experiences like this.
Other coding stations included Code-a-pillar, Tale-Bot, Pixicade and Scratch. Divian, an eighth grader at Woodlands, worked intently on a Scratch based coding game for his mother. “I love my Computer Science class,” he shared. “We are learning about writing code through Scratch, which is something I’m really interested in.”
A new addition this year was the student selected Minecraft Education Edition, a platform that blends STEM, coding, and history through game based learning. Pixicade, introduced last year, also returned, this time with students leading the activity entirely on their own.
Throughout the night, learners became leaders, guiding adults and younger students through challenges, puzzles, and creative projects. Families were encouraged to experiment, adjust, try again, and discover creative solutions alongside their children. Seeing families and students come together in this way reinforces the importance of learning and community and creates a shared sense of pride that students carry with them. The tasks at each station required collaboration, experimentation, and out of the box thinking, reinforcing skills that extend far beyond a single coding lesson.
The event marks the beginning of a broader celebration, the districtwide Months of Code, with activities taking place in classrooms across all schools throughout December and January. These experiences highlight the district’s commitment to STEM education and student agency, giving learners skills that will benefit them well beyond the classroom. Happy Coding, Happy Families!