On a recent evening, dozens of people filed in and out of Beachwood Elementary School.

In the school gymnasium, Sgt. Jonathan Dao, a soldier assigned to the 555th Engineer Brigade, attempted to hula hoop with his son, Anthony, 7, and his daughter, Alana, 23 months.

Although he fared better with a jump rope, he appreciated the opportunity to attend the event.

"I just returned from a deployment in September," Dao said. "I think it's great that the school is offering programs like this.  It gives me a chance to spend time doing some fun things with my kids."

Dao was one of dozens of soldiers and family members who attended the Beachwood Elementary Night Deployment and Reintegration Fair.

The event was geared to let parents know that they are not alone during deployments, said Kristie Rodriguez, a 4th-grade teacher at the school who helped plan the event.   Rodriguez passed out free board games, handouts with ideas for games to play at home, and information for a letterbox scavenger hunt.  The activities were intended to help connect school and family.

"There are so many soldiers leaving," said Rodriguez, whose husband is deployed. "We figured it out, and about 70 percent of our student body has a parent who is deployed, will be deploying, or is coming home soon.  We would like to see trust built between parents and the school.  We want parents to know that we can't bring their family member home any sooner, but we're here for them."

Back in the gymnasium, Nick Helmer, the physical education teacher at Beachwood, was at the helm.  Several soldiers from the 555th Engineering Brigade volunteered their services to help Helmer run stations that included jumping rope, push-ups, hula hoop, and sit-ups.

Navy officer Lt. j.g. Corey Tomala was at the event to add to the soldier presence, he said.

"I think it is good to interact with the community," Tomala said. "A lot of the soldiers here tonight are single.  I think it's a great chance for them to get out there and interact with the kids."

Elsewhere in a classroom, Sean Collins and his sister, Emily, were playing with Hug A Soldier Dolls that they had received at the fair.  Sean explained to Emily what they were supposed to do with the dolls.

"Emily, a picture of dad goes right here," he said, sliding his hand into a plastic pouch on the stomach of the doll.  "Then when we hug it, it will be like hugging dad, only not the same."

Their mother, Spring Collins, stood nearby listening to and watching her children.  She brought the kids so they could participate in the events but also to give thanks.

"The women who make the quilts gave one to one of my kids," said Collins, the wife of Warrant Officer 1 Andrew Collins. "I knew the quilters would be here so I wanted to come and thank them."

The wives of retirees and volunteers, the women - Marty Alexander, Nancy Phillips, and Monica Dixon - were busy quilting in another room making quilts for kids having trouble with deployment.

In addition to fun activities for the kids, the program was designed to give family members information and access to resources.  A program called United Through Reading Circle of Communication enables the service member to read a book while being recorded.  Then the DVD of the reading is sent home to his or her children to watch.