Hazleton Area brings students, families together for SHINE Family Night

HAZLETON – Earlier this month, the Hazleton Area School District welcomed families to both Maple Manor centers for an engaging and interactive SHINE Family Night they say brought students and their loved ones together for an evening of learning, collaboration, and fun.

“This is what meaningful family engagement looks like,” said Dr. Brian Uplinger, Superintendent of Schools. “Our SHINE program creates opportunities for students to explore, create, and grow while bringing families into the learning process. When we provide hands-on experiences and consistent support, we help keep students engaged and set them up for long-term success.”

The evening began with families sharing a hot, nutritious meal before transitioning into a hands-on STEM challenge designed to spark creativity and teamwork.

Families were tasked with designing a parachute using only the materials provided. Each parachute had to be attached to washers or paper clips and successfully slow the fall of a small figure when dropped from a height.

Throughout the challenge, families worked side by side to plan, build, test, and redesign their creations.

The activity encouraged critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration while reinforcing key STEM concepts in an accessible and engaging way.

Students and family members supported one another, celebrated successes, and learned from each redesign.

SHINE is a dynamic program that offers students hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, in addition to live gym and yoga classes, art lessons, Spanish lessons, and homework help.

The program is designed to keep students actively engaged in their education during challenging times while providing a safe, supportive environment that extends learning beyond the traditional school day.

The SHINE Family Night highlighted the strong partnerships between the district, the SHINE program, and the families it serves. The atmosphere was filled with learning, laughter, and quality time that reinforced the district’s commitment to supporting the whole child and strengthening connections between home and school.

The article Hazleton Area brings students, families together for SHINE Family Night first appeared on The Shenandoah Sentinel.