Crossroads Elementary's Starbooks Café Honors Military kids
On April 11, 2025, Crossroads Elementary School, part of DoDEA Americas region at Marine Corps Base Quantico, turned its second-grade classrooms into a lively book café for the annual “Starbooks Café” event, held during Military Kids Week. This special day celebrated military-connected students by combining a love of reading with fun, hands-on activities, while also recognizing the unique experiences of military families.
Students and their parents explored “book tasting” stations offering genres like mystery, family, and adventure. Books such as My Daddy is a Hero and Lunch Lady highlighted themes of strength and family, striking a chord with military kids who are honored each April during the Month of the Military Child. Families teamed up for activities like writing book reviews and creating digital projects with tools like Wixie, blending classic reading and writing skills with today’s technology.
Teachers and reading specialists added to the café vibe by serving coffee, cocoa, and snacks, while classrooms featured decorations, student work, and cozy seating. The event did more than just show off the kids’ reading talents—it brought military families and the school community closer together.
Lynsey Lee, Assistant Principal captured the event’s significance, saying, “The event is a testament to our students’ hard work and the strength of our military families. It’s inspiring to see everyone come together to celebrate literacy and community.”
For military kids, who often deal with moving to new places or time apart from loved ones, events like this offer a sense of connection and comfort. The Starbooks Café encouraged a passion for books and writing, laying the groundwork for success in school. Playing with books and tech tools also sparked ideas for future hobbies or jobs, like writing stories or designing websites, while building confidence and toughness that will help these kids in school and beyond.
Military Kids Week shines a light on what makes these students special, and the Starbooks Café showed how a supportive community can make a big difference. By bringing families and teachers together, the event celebrated military families and helped grow the next generation of readers and leaders.
