Community and Family Fun for All at Roanoke
Event Aims to Build Community Bonds and Garner Student Excitement for School
RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK (APRIL 2025)—The Roanoke Avenue Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) will host its inaugural family fun community day on May 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Roanoke Avenue Elementary School. Attendees will enjoy a variety of games, activities, basket raffles, vendors, resources, entertainment, and delicious treats for all ages and are encouraged to bring their friends and neighbors with them, as the event is open to the entire community. Admission is free, and parking will be available near Riverhead Town Hall.
“It takes a village to raise children, and this event intends to foster real connections between our school, students, families, and community,” said Alexia Van Houten, a Roanoke Avenue Elementary School second-grade teacher and one of the event’s coordinators. Ms. Van Houten is also a Riverhead Central School District alumnus of the class of 2015. “We deeply thank the PTO for their support and encouragement of this large-scale event. It is amazing to have dedicated families that see our vision and are ready to try something new.”
The family fun community day is part of Roanoke Avenue Elementary School’s mission to enhance student excitement to attend school, cultivate meaningful partnerships with families, and build a lasting relationship with the community. To further bolster student enthusiasm and attendance, Roanoke has also implemented the “Principal of the Day” initiative—supporting student leadership—and play periods, in which one class is chosen at random to engage in play-based learning in the morning.
“We express our gratitude to our building and district administrations for supporting this exciting venture,” said Ms. Van Houten. “We recognize and applaud the dedication, hands-on work, and generosity of our teachers, staff, security team, and custodial team that made this event possible. We also thank the participating local businesses and organizations, whether through their presence at the event or the donation of gift certificates or baskets for the raffle. We would love to see everyone attend as we celebrate our first family fun community day!”
In addition to entertainment, there will be food trucks, an ice cream truck, vendors, community resource tables, and a wide array of games and activities, including face painting, rock painting, a planting station, a temporary tattoo station, and additional hands-on activities from participating organizations. There will be a basket raffle with over 100 items, including tickets to Splish Splash water park, Top Golf, Safari Adventure, All Star bowling alley, gift cards to local restaurants, and more. Riverhead Community Awareness Program (CAP), Long Island Science Center, Bright and Early Discoveries, the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, Riverhead Free Library, the Riverhead Police Department, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, and additional organizations will all have resource tables at the event.
If any businesses or organizations are interested in donating to the raffle, please email roanokecommunityday@gmail.com.
For more information about the Riverhead Central School District, please visit the district’s website at www.riverhead.net. Happenings in the district can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/riverheadCSD. #BlueWavesPride.
The Roanoke Avenue Elementary School family fun community day flyer
The Roanoke Avenue Elementary School family fun community day flyer