Mustangs strengthen literacy skills during family engagement night at zoo

June 3, 2026

Meadow Lane Elementary School highlighted its educational “whys” by enjoying zoology, literacy and community during a fun night for all this spring.
 
Hundreds of students, teachers and family members gathered at Lincoln Children’s Zoo for the school’s Zoo Night. Children in grades K-5 learned facts about animals, collected free books to read and formed new friendships. The community engagement activity also gave parents a chance to talk with teachers in a casual setting.
 
Lincoln, Lindsey and Ryker were among the Mustangs who gave the evening two thumbs-up. Lindsey, a fourth grader, and Lincoln, a second grader, said they were happy to spend time with their classmates next to the giraffe enclosure. Lindsey was just starting to stamp her passport for zoo activities, and Lincoln had already looked at several animal exhibits.
 
What did they think was the best part of Zoo Night?
 
“The teachers and how friendly they are,” Lindsey said.
 
“I got to see the tigers and pandas,” Lincoln said.
 
Ryker, a fifth grader, smiled as he talked about meeting four friends in The Secret Jungle play place area of the zoo. He was especially excited about receiving a copy of “Miles Morales: Spider-Man” in his free learning bag. Meadow Lane provided every Mustang with books to encourage them to pursue enriching literacy-based summer activities.
 
Ryker said Zoo Night was a good way to celebrate the end of the school year.
 
“It was really fun,” Ryker said.

 
Chantelle Schroeder said those reactions confirmed that Zoo Night had been a success. The Meadow Lane instructional coach organized Zoo Night to increase family engagement. She also wanted to help staff and families build positive relationships with each other and showcase Meadow Lane’s caring team.

Zoo Night became a reality after Schroeder applied for a $10,500 Parent Power Grant from LPS Federal Programs. The grant’s goal is to increase parent and family engagement at Title I schools. The money paid for literacy and math activities, books for students and transportation for families to attend the event.

“The response we had to this event was incredible,” Schroeder said. “We would love to continue this event, or similar family engagement opportunities, in the future. Events like these provide meaningful opportunities for families, students and staff.”
 
Meadow Lane parents like Nicole Keena and Alexis Moneto said they noticed that kind and thoughtful presence at Zoo Night. Both said their families were impressed with the atmosphere of trust that Meadow Lane staff members displayed throughout the evening. Students enjoyed talking with their current and former teachers while they watched camels, penguins and red pandas.
 
“They get to run into their teachers, and it’s like they never left,” Keena said. “They’ve all got great relationships. My kids love their teachers.”
 
“It’s amazing staff, as you can see,” Moneto said. “They all are pretty much family.”

 
Moneto said it filled her heart with joy to watch her two children share smiles with everyone. She said many Meadow Lake teachers have supported them during their LPS careers. She felt Zoo Night was another example of the inclusive environment the school has cultivated.
 
“It means a lot, especially with them having autism,” Moneto said. “It’s a place they feel safe in, they can be themselves in and can identify with other students and everything like that. It makes them feel safe and happy, which is every parent’s priority.”
 
Moneto said the event also reinforced her own positive feelings about the school. She said it was inspiring to see Meadow Lane take a proactive approach to promoting community involvement.
 
“It’s so nice to be around people that you just feel so familiar around,” Moneto said. “It makes the public event just that much more exciting, I think.”
 
In addition to boosting student and family well-being, Zoo Night also served as an academic launching pad. Meadow Lane leaders filled every learning bag with a wide array of educational books and activities. Schroeder said each bag was designed to support literacy and math development skills throughout the summer months.
 
“The materials were a fun and engaging way to practice skills at home,” Schroeder said.
 
Meadow Lane added Zoo Night to a full list of community events during the 2025-26 school year. Families attended book fairs, game nights, bingo nights, a science fair, a color run, an art fair and Stay and Play Night. Classrooms featured various activities for Read Across America Week and Red Ribbon Week.
 
LPS and Meadow Lane Parent-Teacher Association also sponsored numerous field trips for Mustangs throughout the year. They visited orchards and pumpkin patches, walked through the Nebraska State Capitol’s hallways and explored mammoth bones at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Morrill Hall.
 
Schroeder said Zoo Night showed why Meadow Lane staff members are passionate about providing top-notch educational opportunities for everyone at school.
 
“The students enjoyed spending time with their families, friends and school staff outside of the school day while exploring the zoo and participating in the activities,” Schroeder said. “It was a unique opportunity to learn, connect and make memories together.”
 
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