Free vaccinations and school supplies highlight the event
by Shawn Nowlin
It’s that time of year again when Roanoke City Public School (RCPS) students close the chapter to their summer breaks and get ready to embark on a new chapter, the start of a fresh academic year.
For many Roanoke families, purchasing basic school supplies can be a challenge. To ensure their school year gets off to a great start, more than 1,000 RCPS students of all ages and their families took advantage of the ‘Back to School Extravaganza’ on Aug. 20. Now in its second decade, this year’s event was held at William Fleming High School from 9 a.m. to noon.
In addition to receiving school supplies, students and their families also got an opportunity to meet various school personnel and thanks to the Carilion Clinic, receive a vaccination if interested.
Most of the roughly 2,700 bags of school supplies given out came from a “Load the Bus” event earlier this summer. Courtesy of Roanoke City Public Libraries, students were able to take home more than 500 books. Gun locks, as well as the annual Family Safety Pledge, were also handed out. As has been the case since day one, everything was free of charge.
Transportation to and from various areas throughout the Melrose neighborhood, Jamestown Place, Lansdown Park, Hunt Manor, Indian Rock Village, and Bluestone Park was provided.
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year? When asked that question, Jaylen Walker, 17, said, “making memories with my friends and securing at least a 3.1-grade point average because I want to get into Howard University.”
Michelle Jackson, who graduated from high school in 2004, says it is hard to fully grasp that her daughter will be a junior this year. “Our journey together has flown by. One day, I’m getting Layla Barbie dolls from the store, and the next, she is studying to take her learner’s permit at the DMV,” Jackson said. “It was her idea to arrive at Fleming early and ask all the questions she had written down on her tablet. We both know this year is going to fly by so my advice to her was to enjoy every second of it.”
Educate VA is an organization that helps people transition into a teaching career. Its director, Kimberly Ogden, was on site to answer all questions asked of her. Several other local businesses had representatives do the same throughout the morning.
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On hand also to help give out supplies and answer questions was Superintendent Verletta White. Explaining why this event serves more than one purpose, White said, “We are one big, diverse family. Anytime our students and their families get an opportunity to take advantage of the community resources are a win-win for everyone.”
Gestures like Saturday’s back-to-school event go a long way during these challenging times. “Everywhere that I looked, I saw nothing but smiling faces. No student should have to go to school without the necessities,” Leslie Pullen said before adding, “it warms my heart to witness so many families take advantage of the resources available to them.”
