Annual event prepares kids for school

By Chuck Stewart, Jr.

(Newburgh) - Last Saturday the Newburgh Enlarged City School District hosted their annual “School is Cool - Back 2 School Bash” program at the Activity Center at Delano-Hitch Park.

Students and parents eagerly formed a line outside of the Activity Center beginning at 9:00 A.M. for the ten o’clock backpack giveaway. As they entered the Center, children and parents received information from the various organizations offering everything from health care insurance to after school programs and tutorial assistance.

After filling out a brief questionnaire, Pamela Buxton-Peterson explained to the parents, that the information packets they received, contain information to assist them in becoming more involved in their child’s education. “We want to make sure that parents have all the information on the programs offered,” said Dr. Annette Saturnelli, Superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

Each child was then given a color-coded ticket which they would exchange for the grade appropriate backpack. The backpacks were divided into four groups: pre-k, elementary, middle school and high school. In each of the backpacks were supplies the children would need for their particular grade level. The pre-k backpacks were filled with crayons and notebooks. The elementary backpacks were filled with crayons, glue sticks, notebooks, pens and pencils. The middle school backpacks were filled with folders, notebooks, pens and pencils. And the high school backpacks were filled with pens, pencils notebooks, folders, and calculators.

The goal of the “School is Cool” activity is to equip students from low-income families with the supplies and materials needed to do school and homework. In partnership with local community and business organizations, the District distributed backpacks and school supplies to families whose children attend Newburgh schools.

“School is Cool” was established in 2003 to introduce the District’s Parent Effectiveness Program, a program which teaches parents how to effectively advocate for students and schools and how to partner with school personnel to support their children’s academic achievement. According to Dr. Annette Saturnelli, the District distributed 620 backpacks this year. “It’s wonderful to see so many of the students taking advantage of this program,” Dr. Saturnelli said. “As I was driving over, I saw children walking down the street with their new book bags, ready to start the school year,” Saturnelli said.

By the looks on many of the children’s faces, they agree. With backpacks in hand, filled with goodies inside, they can’t wait for the new school year to begin.