John Mills and Elmwood Host Family Learning Events

Families at both John Mills and Elmwood recently took part in two exciting events focused on learning and student engagement.

STEM Night at John Mills

John Mills hosted its first-ever STEM Night, giving students and families the opportunity to explore hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math activities together. The event featured 10 interactive stations that sparked curiosity and experimentation, including activities focused on drones, slime making, lava lamps, pollination, taste buds, 3D printing, animation, and more.

One of the most popular stations of the night was Alka Rockets, where students launched plastic caps from test tubes using chemical reactions. Another favorite was the calf heart station, where students had the opportunity to get an up-close look at anatomy and science concepts in action.

Students wait for the chemical reaction at the Alka Rockets station

The event featured a special appearance from the school’s Trojan mascot, who greeted students and took photos with them. Representatives from Chick-fil-A of Melrose Park and the Elmwood Park Public Library were also on hand to support the event and connect with guests. Attendees enjoyed snacks and refreshments, received gift bags, and were entered into raffles for prizes.

STEM Night was made possible through a National PTA STEM + Families Science Festival grant, which helps schools create learning experiences that encourage family STEM involvement. John Mills teachers, PTA members, community partners, and students and staff from EPHS all volunteered to help make the evening a success.

Learning Celebration at Elmwood

On the very same night, Elmwood Elementary welcomed visitors for its first-ever Learning Celebration, highlighting student accomplishments and projects from throughout the 2025-26 school year.

Families explored hallways filled with student work from a variety of subject areas, along with first grade classrooms showcasing student-built dioramas. These activities helped the students build confidence, as they were proud to elaborate on their projects and show what they’ve been up to. Several students from grades 3-5 even participated in an open mic event in the gym, where they read examples of their own writing aloud to an audience. 

First grader Sagan Armand-Klumb shows his family the komodo dragon diorama he created

Another fun way that student work was celebrated was the Elmwood “Walk of Fame.” There, students were able to draw or write about their biggest accomplishments from the year. It was a creative way for the kids to receive recognition for their hard work.

Throughout the Learning Celebration, families also met with teachers about student growth, received assistance with registration, and visited the Scholastic Book Fair!

Both events provided meaningful opportunities to celebrate learning while strengthening connections between school and community. Thanks to all for an incredible night across both schools!

Check out our SmugMug photo galleries for each event below.

John Mills Photo Gallery
Elmwood Photo Gallery