Spaghetti Nights Family Workshops
Launched in 2012, Spaghetti Nights Family Workshops are a series of free, monthly two-hour workshops for parents, guardians and families developed through a collaboration between Branches, the Kahnawà:ke Education Center, and the Riverview Community Learning Centre (CLC). Many of the families who participate also have children in Branches' Homework Zone After School Mentoring Program.
The monthly workshops provide accessible information and practical tools for parents and guardians to support their children’s academic, personal, and social development. Spaghetti Nights is a safe, supportive community space for families to learn together and from each other.
The workshop topics are developed based on input from parents and guardians, and are facilitated by McGill staff and faculty, and Montreal-based professional educators. Some of our past workshops include:
- How to create a home environment for learning and school success
- Attachment: The cornerstone of parenting
- Making healthy meals quickly and on a budget
- Parents’/guardians’ tools for helping kids with their homework
- Financial planning for secondary and post-secondary education
How it works
Workshops are offered once a month in local schools on Thursday evenings and begin with a free spaghetti dinner at 5:30 pm for families, volunteers, and facilitators. Following each dinner, a workshop is given for parents and guardians from 6:00 – 8:00 pm while childcare is provided by volunteers under the supervision of a Family Care Animator.
What we offer to families
- Engaging workshops and discussions in school spaces that send families home with new ideas, shared experiences and concrete tools on how to thrive in school and at home
- Free spaghetti dinner
- Free childcare
Learn more and get involved
Read more about the program in the McGill Reporter and in the press, and plan to join us for the next event.
Volunteer for childcare
Looking for a fun experience to add to your co-curricular record? McGill students can volunteer to assist our Family Care Animator in providing a fun and safe atmosphere for kids, while their parents attend the workshops. This includes a free dinner - and public transit tickets available upon request. Staff and faculty are welcome to apply too. Want to join?
Facilitate a workshop
We are currently looking for McGill staff and faculty and Montreal educators to run workshops on topics suggested by parents/guardians, such as: understanding the growth mindset, how to get kids interested in math, how to manage tantrums, how to save for your child’s education, family time management, raising children with special needs, how to cope with stress and anxiety, and transitioning from youth to pre-teen. Interested?
